New Haven

DORMS, FUTURE BOYFRIENDS AND DID I MENTION THE CREEPY TREE

New Haven Preparatory was big, beautiful, and uniquely designed. Dusk looked around getting off the bus and noticed that she couldn’t see the shore or anything, but green fields and trees. There were three separated buildings only connected together by stairs and bridges, which made it, look like one big building. Dusk and Dawn stopped walking with their things and stared up at the massive building in awe. They noticed the people and students around them, as they approached the entrance to the school. They saw that some students were in uniform and others hung about with parents greeting old friends. When they finally reached the welcoming table, that held all the brochures and pamphlets located at the very top of a massive accumulation of stairs did they finally get to meet their tour guide.

“Welcome to New Haven Preparatory School” The young- energetic boy behind the counter said turning his attention to them. “Last names please,” he asked grabbing his chart list.

“Freshmen class, Nightingale comma Dawn and Nightingale comma Dusk.” David said as Sara looked over the brochures on top of the table.

They waited patiently as the boy looked over the list. “Yes” The boy said with a smile, “Here you are Nightingale. Your tour guide today will be Clowe Sparrow. She’s running a little bit late, but she’ll be right with you if you can just wait for her over there.” He said directing them to some seats in the corner where they could sit and wait. As soon as they started to get comfortable a woman with a slender figure in a black suit approached them.

“Dusk and Dawn Nightingale” She said with a smile that chilled both girls as she extended her hand to their parents and then to them, “Welcome to New Haven Prep. My name is Ms. Haven. I am your headmistress.”

David smiled shaking her hand, “I’m David Nightingale and this is my wife Sara. These are our daughters Dusk and Dawn, your new students” David finished.

Ms. Haven smiled at them as she quickly turned back to David and Sara, “Well your guide will soon be here and she’ll show you every part of the grounds and answer any and all questions that you may have” She said as David and Sara both listened carefully to her. Dawn and Dusk didn’t really pay attention. Instead, they watched as a girl with glasses was bumping into everyone as she approached them.

“Hello sorry for being late,” She spoke breathlessly. “I’m Clowe Sparrow and I’ll be showing you around campus today.”

Ms. Haven put her hand on Clowe’s shoulder, “Ms. Sparrow is the President of the freshmen student body council” she said, “Your girls are in good hands with Ms. Sparrow.”

Ms. Haven started to leave but was stopped as David called her name, “I would like to ask you some more questions if you don’t mind.”

“Of course I wouldn’t mind.”

“Should we wait David?” Dawn asked her father.

“No, you girls go on ahead with Ms. Sparrow. Sara and I will meet up with you girls later.”

Dusk glanced back at David and the headmistress. They were already deep in conversation when Clowe began their tour. Clowe first started with her personal information as they started walking. From what she had told them, she’d been coming to New Haven since she was nine. She had a wealthy father with major influence over Tokyo based companies that specialized in research into technological advancements for military purposes. Dusk smiled every time Clowe became animated in her talking because it caused her glasses to slide down her nose, forcing her to have to push them right back up. Clowe looked like a stereotypical over achiever straight out of a TV show. Her long blond hair was tied up in a ponytail while tons of baby hairs were popping out of everywhere. She had green eyes and wore four gold stars on the collar of her shirt that apparently meant she’d been on the student council for four years.

“I bet she knows everything,” Dawn whispered to Dusk as they both sized up Clowe. Dusk smiled at Dawn shaking her head, “what?” Dawn said looking innocent as they continued to walk around the massive campus. Dusk saw that besides living on campus with boys, which their father was not going to be please about. The uniforms the students were wearing weren’t as horrible as she originally thought they would be. According to Dawn, the uniforms were totally decked out.

The student body as a whole looked like they had just stepped out of a Japanese manga. Dusk noticed that the girls had on black or checkered skirts, white blouses, red vests, and black ties. The boys seem to have the same with one difference, their vests weren’t red but black and their ties were red. Some of the school jackets were black or red, some of the jackets had sleeves where as other jackets had no sleeves at all, but no matter what color the jacket was, each jacket had hoods. Even Clowe had on a black one with the school’s crest on the left side of the jacket.

“Yo, Clowe,” Dawn said.

“Yes”

“Is there like some kind of a catalogue or something that we could look at? For like the uniforms, you know.” Dawn asked Clowe.

“Yes, it was in your welcome packet given to your parents so you can see it when we meet back up with them,” Clowe then opened her arms wide and motioned to a very dull looking brick stone building.

“So does anyone have any questions for me, before proceeding to the last part of the tour?” Clowe asked.

“Yeah…um…one question,” Dawn said turning towards Clowe, “What the hell is that?” Dawn asked pointing to the huge building in front of them. It looks like something out of a Supernatural episode, Dusk thought jokingly to herself, Maybe we’ll meet Jensen Ackles inside.

“These are the dorms” Clowe answered Dawn.

“Ha. I’d rather meet Jared Padelecki.” Dawn jokingly answered to Dusk’s previous thought.

“Who’s that?” Clowe asked looking at Dawn, “I thought you guys didn’t know anyone at this school?” Dusk glanced at Dawn as she stood there shocked.

“Oh, we don’t. It was a joke.” Dusk said before Dawn could say anything.

“I don’t get it” Clowe concluded.

“Yeah, she didn’t tell it right,” Dusk said eyeing Dawn.

“Oh, that’s okay. That happens to me all the time.”

“Oh look, there are the parentals!” Dusk said pointing behind them to where their parents were walking down a huge hill. The girls waved and jogged up to meet their parents.

“Thanks for that,” Dawn whispered to Dusk who just nodded her head.

“Hey girls. Are we having a good time so far?” Sara asked and the girls nodded in response.

“So are these the dorms?” David asked pointing to the huge grey building ahead of them.

“I think so honey,” Sara answered, “The girls and boys room in the same dorms together. Am I right about that?” Sara asked pointing at some male students that had just exited from the building. It seemed more of a statement then a question and Dusk knew that Dawn was hoping that that was exactly the case.

“Yes, both the boys and the girls reside in the same dorm building, but as you will see when you enter, they are located on completely different sides of the building.” Clowe said as she guided the nightingales’ towards the dorm building. She opened the doors showing them exactly what she had meant. When they entered the building they saw three opened floors. It looked like a huge mall. The first floor was the studying room and living room. There were snack machines, tables, sofas, computers, and fireplaces for students to just to hang around. The whole room could be seen from the entrance like a mall. The second and third floors held all the dorm rooms. The freshmen and sophomore students were on the second floor. The juniors and seniors were located on the third floor. Dusk and Dawn observed four sets of stairs. Two were on the second floor for the freshmen and sophomores. The other two were on each side of the floor leading up to the third floor. That was where the juniors and senior apartments were. There stood a guard posted in the middle of every bridge that connected the two sides of the dorm building. Walking underneath the stairway arch it looked like little apartment buildings with balconies. Students were calling their friends from the stairs to come to their rooms. Others were just hanging around watching all the new kids do the tour. Dusk had never seen dorm rooms like these before. It was an amazing sight to look at. Clowe showed them the wall of rules that were written on the wall behind the staircase, which students were always to obey. Dusk looked over them and saw that they were your standard house-dorm room’s rules like students are to remain on their own side of the dormitory after hours; no one was allowed to be out of their rooms after the ten o’clock curfew. All the normal rules like that.

“Are we gonna have to wear the uniforms all the time?” Dawn said as she pointed to some students who were passing by, a panicked look in her eyes.

Clowe smiled and shook her head, “No. We only have to wear them during school hours and on special occasions. All students will be given a syllabus for the entire year on Friday. You’ll also be getting your schedules and uniforms.” That seemed to calm Dawn down. During the tour Dawn and Dusk had time to sneak away to explore the campus a little bit by them selves, while Clowe finished talking to their parents.

Dawn and Dusk were walking in the common area when they noticed a group of students. They hung out by the windows. They stood out from the rest of the kids roaming around. A long red haired girl in the middle of the group seemed overly confident and vain. She brushed her hair over her shoulder and giggled with two male class mates who couldn’t stop drooling over her. The boy on her left was another long haired blond who seemed like the silent type, just standing there reading and minding his own business. Even sitting down Dusk could tell that the boy had a great build to him. The girls who surrounded him just stared and giggled to one another making Dawn smile at their foolishness as she watched them.

Dusk looked toward the third person with them who was a boy sitting on the window frame staring outside towards the ocean. He had dark brown hair, which was the only thing Dusk could see as his back was turned to her, yet his uniform was unlike the others. The helm of his long jacket had an unusual design that blended into the jacket of his uniform, which only showed when he moved. It looked Celtic, sort of, and if Dusk hadn’t had been staring she wouldn’t have even notice. On his right arm his uniform sleeve had a red band with the initials S.B.C on it. The school crest was printed on the back and not the front left side of the long jacket. Whoever he was he didn’t have just her attention Dusk noticed, but every other girl did as well. That she could observe. Even some of the mothers that had accompanied their children in were starting to stare at him. Dusk couldn’t help but smile just a little as she watched the older women drool.

She didn’t know when it was that he stopped looking out the window, but when she finally turned back to look at him, he was staring at her with very familiar light blue almost grey eyes. Dusk couldn’t help but stop breathing as she thought about the blonde haired boy with the same light blue eyes that she had met back on the ferry. Dusks’ body shivered as the chills she had seemed to carry off the ferry with her started melting away. Suddenly the room became very warm, making her un-do the first button of her shirt. Dusk felt at ease as she watched him watch her.

“Hey, come on Dusk! Dawn!” she heard David calling them both from around the corner. Snapping out of the trance he had put her in. Dusk felt her cheeks redden as she was caught staring at him by Dawn who stood there smiling at her.

“Shut up” Dusk said.

“I didn’t say anything” Dawn said shrugging her shoulders.

Dusk started to turn around as she saw the red headed girl angrily glaring at her. Dusk ignored her. She started walking away with Dawn following right behind her. She could feel his eyes on the back of her neck as she walked away. She exhaled as she and Dawn caught up to their parents. David and Sara were both singing the school’s praises by the time they caught up with them. The tour was coming to an end as Clowe started walking up the left side stair case. Dusk noticed that every tour guide seemed to be dropping off their groups at their rooms when Clowe stopped just outside a dark wooden door.

“Welcome to your dorm room. Dawn and Dusk it looks like you’ll be roommates with Miss. Eve and me,” Clowe said happily with obvious nervousness.

“Wait,” Sara said. Dawn stared at Dusk as Sara spoke to Clowe, “There are four roommates to a room?”

“Yes, but it’s really fine because the rooms are huge as you will see.” Clowe answered nervously.

“What about Miss. Eve….?” Sara asked.

“Oh Holly’s great! Though, I’m not much fun, sorry.” Her voice quivered slightly as if she was really trying to say ‘Sorry, for being the nerdy boring type’.

“I think being roommates will be fun,” Dawn answered.

“Me too” she said nervously.

“So, when can we unpack for tomorrow’s student orientation,” Dusk asked feeling a bit tired.

“You can unpack right now if you’d like,” Clowe smiled opening the door to their dorm room. Dusk and Dawn let their new surroundings sink in. Clowe was right. Their dorm room was huge!

“These two beds on the right are assigned for you guys,” she told them as they put their things down on the two empty beds that had been left for them. Dusk chose the one next to the large window while Dawn chose the bed closest to the door. The beds themselves were placed on each wall so that every student could have their own individual space.

“Do you guys want time to get settled or do you want the room tour?” Clowe asked.

“Sure,” the girls said in unison.

“Okay, great! Let’s start with the facilities!” Clowe said smiling overly excited, “All the dorm rooms are setup with a complete bathroom,” Clowe walked over to a door on the left side of the room as she spoke. When she opened the bathroom door Dawn nearly fainted from the shock. “The bathroom comes with both a shower and a bath; a toilet and a bidet with two sinks and a small closet that’s divided like lockers for each individual persons towels and things.” Clowe said as she opened the ‘small’ closet for them to see, “If it gets too busy in the mornings there’s a girls’ shower room on the first and the fourth floors that you can use.” The girls left the bathroom as David and Sara stayed behind whispering about it.

“Forget the girls. I want to move in here,” David said opening the shower door.

“That’s a good idea honey. You stay here and I’ll take my children home with me. We’ll see you in a year or two, or four.”

“Aww, and people say you don’t think about me,” David told his wife; blowing a kiss at her. Clowe walked to the middle of the room to where there was a wooden table at about knee height.

“What’s this?” Dusk asked Clowe.

“Is it like a study table or more like a coffee table?” Dawn asked Clowe. She was just as confused by the piece of furniture as her sister seemed to be.

“It’s a fridge!”

“What?!”

Clowe smiled at Dusk and Dawn as she bent slowly over and pressed lightly on the side of the table. There was a small sound of air escaping from the table as a triangle shaped portion lifted up. It revealed a compartment full of frozen ice cream. Dusk and Dawn stood speechless as the triangle shaped side of the table lifted.

“That was amazing” the girls said together.

“It must be Japanese made,” David commented, pressing the rest of the sides so that all four openings were up at the same time.

“I know right!” Clowe told Dawn excitedly. “There are four compartments meant to be used for four roommates. Holly thought it would be best if we separated it by categories and then just shared,” Clowe told them. When Dusk and Dawn didn’t respond Clowe took it as if they didn’t agree, “but if that’s not all right with you, then we can change it. I mean…I would need to talk to Holly,” she told them sheepishly, “I could ask her…later…or…”

“It fine Clowe,” Dusk said.

“Yeah, totally, I mean this is awesome! This whole dorm room is awesome!”

“And I haven’t even shown you the closets yet.” Clowe said to Dawn smiling.

“The closet? Oh, we need to start with mine!” Dawn told them. Clowe walked over to where Dawn’s closet was and slid open the door.

“We have walk in closets?”

Clowe nodded her head at Dawn, “Each girl has their own walk in closet space on their side of the room,” Clowe said. “It’s not that big but…”

“It’s bigger then the closet I had to share with Dusk back home,” Dawn yelled to Clowe from inside her closet. Dusk shook her head at Clowe as she walked over to her side of the room to check out her own closet. Clowe followed Dusk’s lead.

“Walk in closets, bathrooms that are bigger than ours…why would they ever want to come home?” Sara mumbled to herself.

“It’s nice, right?” David replied. Sara glanced at her husband shooting daggers through her eyes. David laughed nervously at his wife as he walked over to where Dusk stood inside her walk in closet. “So kiddo. How do you feel about all this?” David asked his daughter.

“It’s okay Dad. Everything’s really great.”

“Dad? Wow, tell me how you really feel,” David joked with his oldest.

Dusk rolled her eyes, “No, really David. Everything’s really great.” Clowe walked over to her side of the room and sat down on her bed. Her bed covers were bright yellow and her night stand had one lamp on it with a book, Dusk noticed. The study desk on the other side of her bed looked perfect. Her side looked neat, organized and plain, unlike the bed on the other side of the room.

“Who sleeps there?” Dawn asked as she pointed to the other side of the room. The unknown roommate’s bed covers were orange with black cats and pumpkins. The girl’s wall was painted dark purple with white framed funeral pictures hanging with jackal lantern lights put around the frame of her wall. She had a perfect line down the half of the window fame that separated her side from Dusk’s. To Dusk’s amazement, she even noticed that the girl had half of the window painted white with black cat outlines. Whoever this roommate was she had a total Adams family theme going on to her side of the room. It was crazily overdone and it was easy to see how everyone overlooked Clowe’s plain side of the room.

“Holly’s really into Halloween. She’s not Goth or anything weird like that she’s just really into Halloween or anything that’s creepy looking,” Clowe said looking down at her watch. “Oh wow, look at the time. I’m sorry but the ferry’s going to leave in about fifteen minutes. That means the bus will be leaving soon,” Clowe told their parents. “I’ll give you guys some time alone.” Clowe began to walk out the room as Sara began to bawl over Dusk and Dawn.

“Remember…to visit on weekends….holidays…if you miss…us…,” Sara said in between hiccups and sobs. Dawn promised her mother to visit every chance that they got. “You can visit…during the…school week…I’ll write a note…or a doctor’s note. I was really good at forging notes when I was your age.”

“That’s the spirit honey, just keeping pushing our children towards a life of crime. Keep adding more to their already colorful rap sheet. They’re future employers will be really impressed.” David replied sarcastically.

They hugged their parents and said their goodbyes. They promised David and Sara that they would be good and would visit every weekend. More importantly, they made a promise not to get into trouble anytime soon. David and Sara kissed Dawn and Dusk one last time and then left with Clowe. She escorted the parents back to the bus that would take them to the ferry. Dawn glanced over at her sister.

“I guess we should start unpacking” she said.

“Sure,” Dusk said as she went to close their dorm room door. While closing it she spotted the boy with the light blue eyes and dark hair. He had been staring out the window walking down the hallway on the opposite side of the building. He stopped at the door directly across the bridge from hers and lingered by the door knob of his dorm room. Dusk stared at the boy confused as he stood paused just outside his door. Quickly, he moved away from the door just seconds before someone tried to tackle him. Dusk stood surprised the boy who had tried unsuccessfully to tackle the window watcher and landed face first onto the floor.

Dusk jumped at the sudden attack as Dawn came up behind her laughing, “Ha!” Dawn said, “What a dumb ass!”

The boy on the floor had short reddish-brown hair with black tips. There was a carefree feel to him. He laughed stupidly at himself and as he looked up in their direction.

“O- Buddy! Happy Birthday to me” He said as he picked himself up from the ground. He stared straight at Dawn with honey colored eyes from across the building. He jogged across the bridge to get to them.

“I’m Dean! Dean Fuller from room 16B and the coolest guy here,” He said stopping right in front of them. He wasn’t even out of breath as he gave a small bow to the girls. He came up with a dazzling and well practiced smile. This Dean clearly thought of himself as a charmer. “I also like long walks under the moonlight, poetry, and I’m not afraid to cry” he said, “and I love the Notebook. That Rachel McAdams is a bright and talented actress.”

“Yeah and she’s hot too,” Dawn said.

“Touché,” Dean replied winking at Dawn, “My kind of girl.”

Dusk felt her self smiling at him even though he did the corniest thing and grabbed her hand to kiss it. “And they said chivalry is dead,” Dusk responded.

Dean looked down at her hands, “Wow your hands are cold” he commented then looked up into Dusks’ eyes and said, “You know they say the fastest cure from the cold is body heat.” Dusk’s smile faded as she glanced behind Dean and saw the window watcher boy looking at them. Suddenly he entered his room and shut the door behind him. Dean waved his hand in front of Dusk grabbing her attention back to him, “Hello you okay?” he asked glancing behind him, “Were you looking at Alec? Don’t mind him he’s always gloomy like that. He’s got that whole tortured soul thing that the girls just love. He’s also my roommate,” Dean said proudly. “We’re like this,” he crossed his fingers, demonstrating, “But don’t worry. He’s not tortured. He’s just really bored, one of those beautiful mind genius guys. You know.”

“Sure, yeah,” Dusk said smiling shyly at the boy. Her cheeks reddened slightly at being caught staring again.

So his name is Alec, Dusk thought as Dawn offered her hand to Dean as well.

“Hi! I’m Dawn and this is my older sister Dusk.” She said. Dean stared at Dawn with a weird expression on his face.

“Dawn and Dusk?” he c****d to his head to the side, obviously thinking that they had made a joke. Then understanding those were their real names, he recovered his smile, “Cool parents.”

Clowe came back and tried to make her way past them, but was stopped as Dean placed his arm around her shoulders. Dean started laughing unabashed by Clowe’s confused and shy expression. She looked slightly nervous, but she didn’t try to shrug Dean’s arm off her shoulder. She continued to look embarrassed and shy. Dawn and Dean were play flirting with one another; shamelessly, when suddenly the whole group was startled by a loud scream.

“Aaaaa….” Everyone turned in the direction of the sound. Dusk and Dawn had no idea what was going on. Suddenly the front doors of the dorm building swung open and they saw two girls sprinting up the stairs and through the hallways. Dusk and Dawn watched as an Asian girl with short blue hair with black streaks came dashing towards them. She ran as if being chased by a rabid dog. The Asian girl was dressed with the same long jacket uniform that the window watcher Alec had on. In fact, so did the other girl who was chasing the Asian girl.

They watched as the girl with the blue hair started to hide behind the very people she had only a minute ago tried to push out of her way. The closer she got to the group the more Dusk noticed she was running away from something the other girl had in her hand.

“Come on Holly! It’s just a little bunny. You have to face your fears sometime.” The chaser yelled at the blue haired Asian. Dawn and Dusk looked at each other completely confused.

I think that girl’s actually afraid of the bunny. Dusk thought to Dawn as the blue haired girl suddenly changed direction and charged towards them. Dusk backed up and grabbed Dawn instinctively, pulling her back towards their dorm room. The Asian girl ran past Dean, with his arm still around Clowe’s shoulders, straight into the girls’ dorm room. The girl slammed the door shut behind her. Leaving Dawn and Dusk and the curious Asian wonder trapped inside the girls room.

“Holly Eve, you come out of that room this instant! This is stupid,” the chaser said as she banged persistently on the door. Holly, Dusk and Dawn assumed that was her name; put her back against the door as if to help maintain it closed looking completely terrified.

“This is Holly? That’s freaking awesome. I always wanted a psycho for a roommate,” Dawn whispered into Dusk’s ear. The Asian girl had her eyes closed as she shook her head, making her blue hair look like, layers of silky feathers. She didn’t even acknowledge that they were in the room with her until after the knocking had stopped, the girl finally looked up.

“Hey,” Dawn said as she waved at the petrified girl, “We’re your new roommates.”

“Holy…Holly. My name is Holly…Holly Eve,” the blue haired Asian said with her eyes still closed shut. At that moment they heard talking coming from the other side of the wooden door. Holly opened her eyes and immediately looked relaxed as the sound of a male voice overpowered the chasers voice on the other side of the door.

“Holly, open the door please,” A male voice said. Dusk immediately noticed that the tone of the voice was very calm and deep. Whoever he was obviously made Holly feel safe enough to open the door to him. Once the door opened Dusk could see the boy who was standing there practically took up the whole door frame. He also wasn’t wearing a uniform of any kind. He was maybe a Junior or Senior Dusk guessed. He had on normal dark blue jeans and a plain black t-shirt, which made his blue eyes, seem like they’d come straight out of that sci- fi movie Dune. His raven hair was so dark that it put his black shirt to shame.

What is with this school, Dusk thought to her self as she looked the boy-man over again. There must be some rule that only hot guys are allowed at this school. Dawn covered her smile as she listened in on her sister’s thought.

“Damn straight. Not that I’m complaining” Dawn whispered into Dusk’s ear.

He stood with his hands on the very top of the doorframe as he leaned in looking down on Holly. She had wrapped her arms around him and planted her head into his chest. She looked tiny as he brought his arms around her as he hugged her closer, while another boy came into the room behind the man. He looked related to him but much younger. He, unlike the two embracing each other, was dressed with a plain white shirt and beige cut- offs. He actually looked very normal. Looking back at the man and girl, Dusk felt slightly embarrassed for watching. It seemed like such a tender moment. Both Dawn and Dusk looked away and just smiled at each other.

“Hello, you girls must be Holly’s new roommates,” he said shaking both the girls hands with Holly still determinedly hanging around the man’s waist, “I’m Logan Eve. I’m Holly’s older brother and this is our little brother Seth.” Logan said nudging the boy next to him forward. “He’s a seventh grader in the junior high school section of the school.”

Both girls smiled at Logan and Seth as Dawn extended her hand first to Logan, “Hi I’m Dawn Nightingale and this is my sister…Ow!” Dawn pulled her hand away fast when a spark of electricity shot out between her and Logan the moment their skins touched. It surprised everyone in the room.

“Wow… that was weird.” Dawn giggled as she blushed. Logan didn’t seem to think it was weird, but he did seem surprised; as a matter of fact, Logan seemed to be blushing. He was turning a deep crimson color as he looked at Dawn like she was suddenly made of Gold.

“Yeah, it was,” He said while staring at his hand. He looked at Dawn “it actually felt kind of nice.” He smiled.

“Glad I could help” Dawn said as she smiled at him flirtatiously, “You’re not one of those psychos who like getting shocked right?” she asked playfully.

Logan smiled at Dawn, “Maybe,” he replied as they both started laughing. Holly finally let go of her brother’s waist and began staring at Logan and Dawn who were grinning at each other. She tugged at Logan’s shirt to get his attention.

“Where’s Angel?” Holly asked looking around.

“I asked her to put the bunny back in its cage, ok.” Logan said as he placed his hand on top of her head. Holly immediately looked more relaxed as Dean and Clowe came into the room.

“Is the coast clear?” Dean asked.

“Yeah, it’s all good. What’s up man?” Logan said giving Dean a bro hug as Seth, Logan and Dean all went over and sat on the table/fridge in the middle of the room. Dean pressed on the empty side of the table and helped himself to some ice cream.

“Hey! You could ask! That’s Clowe’s ice cream,” Holly complained.

“What I’d do,” Dean replied with a full mouth of ice cream. He turned to Clowe who was trying to hold in her laughter, “Its cool right?”

Clowe smiled and nodded her head at Dean, “Its fine. Actually, there’s enough for everyone if you guys want some?”

“Is there any soda in that fridge?” Dawn asked, her mouth already salivating at Clowe’s offer. “I’m thinking root beer floats’ with all this ice cream.”

“Dawn,” Dusk told her.

“What? She offered,” Dawn grabbed a jug of ice cream out of the fridge and made Seth scoot over as she sat next to Logan. “So like I said, is there any soda?”

“There’s root beer cans downstairs in the vending machines,” Seth told Dawn. “I could get some for everyone.”

“Thanks Seth, but I’ll take an orange soda instead,” Dean said as everyone else in the room began to put in their orders for soda.

Seth left the room and the others began to talk about what they did over their summer break. Dawn began to play twenty questions with everyone in the room. Dusk got up from where she was sitting and walked over to the window. She wasn’t in the sharing mood. She didn’t want to ruin any ones fun. Including Dawn’s many over exaggerated stories about how much trouble they used to get into in their previous school. Dusk noticed that her dorm room had an ocean view from the window. She could also see one of the schools many court yards directly below her. Dusk noticed a dead looking tree that stood in the middle of the court yard. She turned and saw that Dawn and everyone were still having their fun, so she didn’t want to interrupt them. Quietly, Dusk grabbed her jacket from the bed and walked out of the room. She found the entrance to the court yard and stood in awe of the sight before her.

The tree stood in the middle of the court yard on top of a patch of green grass with vines growing up its bark. The green vines were the only color the tree had because remarkably, the tree itself was pure black. The dark purple flowers that blossomed from the green vines growing on the tree made the tree seem more enchanting. The tree itself had a beautiful velvet charcoal texture to its appearance. Dusk was breathless. She had never seen a tree like this before in her entire life. Yet, the tree itself seemed incredibly familiar.

She stared at it for a long time trying to remember where she had seen it before. Then, the memory struck her like lightning. Dusk had drawn this exact tree. She had drawn it, painted it, sculpted it, and had even had dreams about it.

“My creepy tree,” Dusk whispered to her self.

“Nice willow tree isn’t it.” Logan said as he approached her. Dusk nodded at him never taking her eyes off the tree, “The school was actually built around it about a century ago” he said. Dusk could feel Dawn walking up beside her, “But one day the school’s main hall and this tree where burnt down to the ground. No one knows what happened but they say that the tree just started growing looking like that, ash and coal.” He said pointing out more of the tree’s history to them.

“That tree’s always given me the chills” Clowe said as she rubbed her arms up and down trying to warm them up.

Dusk walked up to it placing her hand on the bark, “It’s so soft and it’s actually warm” she said making Dawn curious as she leaned in and touched it too.

“What are you talking about Dusk? It’s cold. It’s super hard too” Dawn said placing her cheek on it. She smiled wrapping her arms around it, “I love it.”

Clowe took a chance and walked up to the tree placing her hand on it, “You’re right Dawn, it is cold” she said pulling away from it.

Logan smiled, “That’s what they say” he said looking at Clowe and then back at Dawn who was still hugging it.

Dawn glanced back at Logan, “That’s what they say?” she repeated in question form. Dusk and Dawn looked at each other before looking at Logan, “You’ve never touched it before?” Dawn said looking at him confused.

Logan shook his head and smiled, “Nah, I’m not much of a tree hugger” he said. Dawn pulled away from the tree as Logan found a bench near by to sit on. Dusk stood there listening to everything Logan said as he continued talking about the origin of the tree and its connection to the school’s history. Dusk and Dawn listened to Logan’s stories with Clowe and stayed the rest of time outside in the abandoned court yard until the evening. The bell rang stating that dinner was ready.

“We’ve got to get back now guys,” Clowe said. Dawn shivered at the cold as they all stood up from the bench. Logan took off his uniform coat and hung it around Dawn before she could protest. Dusk could tell by the way her sister was blushing as she looked up at Logan that she really didn’t mind at all. Logan put an arm around Dawn’s shoulders as they all walked back to the cafeteria together for dinner. Afterwards, they would all be going back to the dorms for their first night in their new home. Dusk suddenly stopped. She felt a chill creep up her neck. She turned this way and that way, feeling as if someone were watching her. Dusk looked behind her at a tall tower that she hadn’t noticed before.

“Hurry up Dusk! I’m hungry.” Dawn yelled to her sister, who had fallen behind from the group.

“You’re always hungry,” Dusk mumbled to herself still staring up at the tower. She stared at a darkened window at the top of the tower. After a few more seconds Dawn continued to yell for Dusk to hurry up, “I’m coming, hold your horses you fat kid.” Dusk yelled turning back towards the group.

“You know it,” Dawn yelled back laughing. Dusk took one last glance back at that darkened window before she ran to catch up with her sister and the others.

Ms. Haven watched Dusk behind the darkened window in the tall tower. It acted as her ‘on campus’ home during the school year. She watched as those girls smiled and raced up the hill towards the cafeteria with her students.

“They look so normal,” she commented to herself as she took a sip from her glass.

“Having a drink already Dihedra?” Harold Hollows said walking into her office. “Bit early isn’t it?”

“Don’t start with me Hollows.”

“Aw, what? Hard day? Shouldn’t you be attending to your students right now?” Hollows asked amused.

“Shouldn’t you be attending to yours?”

“Touchy,” Hollows smiled walking next to her, “Just wanted to see how your new students were getting along,” he said looking out the window down at the girls “Huh, that one looks just like her mother doesn’t she?” Harold Hollows asked Ms. Haven. Ms. Haven smirked at the comment as she stared down at Dusk. “They truly are striking wouldn’t you agree?” Hollows asked her as he turned away from the window heading towards the door. “See you around Dihedra,” he said as he stopped in front of the open door, “Play nice now. Do try to remember that they are only children.”

Dihedra smirked and gulped the last of her glass, “Yeah, we’ll see.”