IN BETWEEN

NEW HALLS, NEW RULES

The morning sun slipped through the blinds of apartment 4C, brushing against the girls' tired but eager faces.

First day.

Raina stood Infront of the mirror, her hair tied in a ponytail, she wore a thrifted but polished outfit - a crisps white blouse tucked into navy trousers. Imani rocked an orange crop top and black jeans and a bold patterned blazer, her signature confidence in full effect not forgetting her dangling earrings.

"You ready to be brilliant?" Imani smirked, checking her lipstick on the microwave reflection.

Raina took a deep breath. "Let's go be the girls they didn't see coming."

The school.

The fashion and design school was tucked into the heart of Manhattan - a tall building of glass and iron, with sleek signage and students who looked like they'd walked out of a magazine.

Inside the lobby buzzed with energy - espresso machines hissing, heels clacking, and voices in every accent imaginable.

Culture shock hit for fast.

Students walked past wearing feathered jackets, neon pants, or all- black with sunglasses.

Raina clutched her folder tighter.

"Did we just step into a vogue spread?" She whispered.

I am obsessed," Imani grinned eyes sparkling. "Look at that girls hair!, and his boots!".

They found the admisions office after a simple direction from one of the teachers who easily noticed them as new students.

After the Admin thoroughly examining their letters, they were given their schedules and IDs printed on the spot.

"You'll start in Foundation Design and History of Fashion, " the admin said without looking up. "Studio orientation starts tomorrow."

Outside the office, Raina peeked at her schedule.

"Room 304. Textile Principles. Sounds intimidating."

"You are intimidating," Imani nudged. "You just don't know it yet."

The Hallways

Everything felt big - the walls, the stairs, the future.

They got a few curious stares- not unfriendly just curious - Two new girls who didn't come from legacy names or elite prep schools.

But Raina held her head high.

She didn't come from money.

She came from grit.

And grit she reminded herself, was louder than gold when you wore it right.

As they climbed the stairs towards their first classroom, Raina glanced around one more time, her heart pounding with excitement and nerves.

"This is it," she thought to herself.

Her future had already begun.