“Looks like we’ve got quite the decorator here.” Monica nodded approvingly as she circled the white fuzzy rug in front of our beds, flanked by black butterfly chairs.
“That’s all Shanda.” I couldn’t help but smile at my new friend. Maybe I could even get her to blush.
“Thanks.” Shanda finally glanced up from rearranging her closet, the tiniest curl tipping up the corners of her mouth. “But don’t let her fool you. Little Miss Thing over here didn’t love everything I did.”
We both eyed the posters hung all over the white cinder-block walls. Mostly pictures of Paris or New York, mixed with a handful of bare-chested boys.
“I just thought too many boys might distract us from our studies.” I pointed to one of the pop-star posters.
Shanda’s grin widened. “I couldn’t disagree with that logic. So we made a deal. I left the black and white ones up.”
I chucked under my breath. “And she left the pop of color to me.” My only contribution to the room was the bulletin board above my desk with bright fuchsia polka-dot paper and my family photos. A cute, scrapbook-like window into my life back home.
“I’m glad you girls could work it out on your own.” Monica ticked off a few more items on her clipboard. “I hope you’ve had a good first week at the academy. I know it can be hard settling into a new school, but it seems like you’re both getting along well.”
“We are.” I couldn’t help but smile at my new friend. She was already more than a roommate to me.
“Did we pass inspection?” Shanda chewed on her lip.
“Of course you did. You girls definitely have the neatest room on Nelson Second Floor.” Monica turned the clipboard our way to reveal a line of check marks in the “Exceptional” category. “If you have any problems or just want to chat, my suite is down the hall in 201.”
“Great.” Shanda inched toward the door for a water bottle, as if to herd Monica out.
“I’ll scoot on out of here and let you two get your weekend started.” Monica’s accent twanged as she flashed her perfect white teeth and waved goodbye.
As soon as the door closed, Shanda almost spat out her water. “Sheesh. Our RA should get Mean Girl tattooed on her forehead. Why on earth would she bring up your brother like that?”
I blinked at the closed door, my jaw slack. “I guess everyone knows about my brother the Nexis president who ran off to Europe. Yet, I have a feeling there’s plenty more secrets to uncover.” I snapped my mouth shut and glanced at Shanda who turned toward her closet.
“Who says the word scoot? And who scoots, anyway—can you scoot?” She dug through a box until she found a pair of black boots. She pulled them on and freestyled around me. “Look at me. I’m the Queen of Scooting.” She strutted her stuff like Michael Jackson, completely ignoring my almost-meltdown. What a good roomie.
I busted out laughing. “Is that scooting? Looks like a moonwalk to me. All you need is a sequined glove.”
“That’s a Shanda scoot.” Her cackle echoed off the walls. She studied her bare wrist, announcing in a Gone with the Wind accent, “It’s time for us to scoot to dinner. But I haven’t a thing to wear.”
Biting back a laugh, my brain flashed back to drama club and the Georgia accent they made me practice for hours. “Don’t be silly, Scah-let, dahling. I saw all those gah-geous clothes you were unpacking. How about this one?”
“Too bright. Why do I own orange pants? Your turn.” Her accent faded out as she pranced to my closet, flapping a sequined shrug in my face like a pompom. “How about this?”
I batted it down. “Not on your life.” Back in my flashy days with Jake, he loved the bling like he wanted to show me off. No more trophy girlfriend for me.
She pulled out a suede belt and a genuine smile lit up her whole face. “Try this. I bet it’ll go great with your dark hair and those big brown eyes.” She tugged me in front of the mirror.
“Not bad.” I wrapped it around my waist. “Too much with the glitter on my shirt?”
“No way, the shimmer brings out the gold flecks in your eyes. It’s fabulous. You should wear it tomorrow night.” Shanda’s almond eyes flashed as she slung the belt around my neck.
Nervous energy fizzled up my arms. “How could I forget?”
Her smile greeted me in the mirror. “Hey, it’ll be fun. Don’t worry. I’ve got your back, girl.”
A tiny weight lifted off of my chest. Maybe I wasn’t quite ready for a double date, but at least I’d have her by my side.
~
Wispy shapes moved and danced like clouds around me. A white horse pranced on the fluffy clouds with a tall rider, his face vaguely handsome … and vaguely familiar. The white-clad rider dismounted and floated into the wind.
The dorm room door burst open and Shanda’s heels clicked across the hardwood.
“Oh, c’mon. Just one more minute.” I jerked out of dreamland and clamped the pillow over my eyes. Even my subconscious betrayed me. At least Prince Charming had no specific face … and no specific eye color.
“Wake up, sleepy.” Shanda snatched the pillow from my face and snapped open the blinds. “It’s almost noon.”
Stripes of light burned across my lids and I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. “Why are you punishing me?”
“We’ve got a big night ahead of us. Remember, dah-ling?” She clanked her dishes into our little in-room sink. “How about some breakfast?”
I padded over to the windowsill and flicked the blinds shut. “You mean like eggs and toast?”
“No, I mean like cereal.” She huffed and handed me a bowl. “I’m not your mama.”
“Too bad.” I shuffled behind her to the mini fridge by the door she’d set up as a clever
