ROOM 96
1141 Words
The hostel was already crowded when I got there.
Students were moving around with their bags, parents were saying goodbye, and everyone seemed to know exactly where they were going.
I, unfortunately, did not.
I checked the paper in my hand.
Room 96.
I dragged my suitcase down the hallway, looking at the numbers on the doors.
91.
92.
93.
Then I saw 69.
I stopped.
I looked at the paper again.
96.
Then at the door.
69.
I frowned.
Maybe I was just tired.
I opened the door.
“Hello?”
No answer.
I stepped inside and dropped my suitcase.
I was about to look around when I heard a door open behind me.
I turned.
A boy was standing there.
We stared at each other.
Then he looked at me.
“Can I help you?”
I glanced around the room.
“Is this Room 96?”
He looked at the door.
“No.”
I followed his gaze.
69.
Oh.
I wanted the ground to open up.
“I thought it was 96.”
He looked back at me.
“It says 69.”
“I can see that now.”
He smiled.
I wasn't amused.
“Sorry.”
I grabbed my suitcase and headed for the door.
“Room 96 is two doors down.”
I stopped.
“Oh.”
I turned around.
“Thanks.”
“No problem.”
I left quickly.
I didn't even look back.
There was no way I was going to see that boy again.
At least, I hoped not.
---
I found Room 96 a few minutes later.
This time, I checked the number twice.
Inside were three girls.
One was sitting on a bed, another was unpacking her clothes, and the third was arranging something on her desk.
The girl on the bed looked up.
“You're Mia, right?”
“Yeah.”
She smiled.
“I'm Valerie.”
She pointed at the others.
“That's Paige and Abby.”
“Hi,” Paige said.
Abby smiled.
“Hi.”
“Nice to meet you.”
I put my suitcase beside the empty bed.
“So we're roommates?”
“Looks like it,” Valerie said.
I smiled.
At least I wasn't going to be completely alone.
We started unpacking, and after a while, the conversation became easier.
“So, do you know anyone here?” Valerie asked.
“No.”
“Same.”
Paige nodded.
“Me too.”
Abby shrugged.
“I don't know anyone either.”
I smiled.
That actually made me feel better.
At least we were all starting from scratch.
I was arranging my books when Valerie suddenly looked at me.
“Wait. Why were you gone for so long?”
I froze.
“I got lost.”
“How?”
I sighed.
“I went to the wrong room.”
Paige looked at me.
“Which room?”
I hesitated.
“69.”
There was a short silence.
Then Valerie burst out laughing.
I covered my face.
“Please don't.”
“You actually walked into Room 69?”
“Yes.”
Paige started laughing too.
Even Abby was smiling.
“It wasn't funny.”
Valerie tried to stop laughing.
“Okay. Sorry.”
“You're still laughing.”
“I know.”
I shook my head.
“Whose room was it?”
“Noah's,” Paige said.
I looked at her.
“Who's Noah?”
“Noah Blake.”
I nodded.
Honestly, I didn't want to know anything else.
I'd already embarrassed myself enough for one day.
---
Later, all the freshers were called to the hall for an official welcome.
Valerie, Paige, Abby, and I walked there together.
The hall was already full when we got there.
Everyone was talking until a teacher stepped onto the stage.
“Good afternoon, students.”
“Good afternoon, sir.”
He welcomed us to the school and started explaining everything we needed to know.
School rules.
Classes.
Clubs.
Hostel rules.
Activities.
Basically, everything we were expected to know before the semester properly started.
I tried to remember as much as I could.
There were a lot of rules.
Definitely more than I expected.
When he finished, another teacher walked onto the stage.
She smiled at us.
“I have one more announcement.”
The room became quiet.
I looked at Valerie.
She looked back at me.
“What?” she whispered.
“I don't know.”
The teacher smiled.
“I know you've all had a long day, but I'm sure you'll be interested in this.”
That got everyone's attention.
“The annual Westbridge Prom will be held later this semester.”
For a second, nobody said anything.
Then the whole hall exploded.
People started cheering and talking all at once.
“Wait, what?”
“When is it?”
“What's the theme?”
“Are we allowed to bring dates?”
I stared at everyone.
Seriously?
Valerie grabbed my arm.
“Did you hear that?”
“Yes!”
“Prom!”
“I know!”
She laughed.
I looked around the hall.
People were already discussing outfits and dates like the prom was happening tomorrow.
I turned back to Valerie.
“Why is everyone this excited?”
“Because it's prom.”
“We haven't even started classes.”
“So?”
I shook my head.
“This school is something else.”
Paige laughed.
“You're coming, right?”
“To the prom?”
“No, to the next math class.”
I looked at her.
She laughed.
“I'm joking.”
I smiled.
The teacher tried to continue the announcement, but everyone was still whispering about it.
I couldn't blame them.
It did sound exciting.
I just wasn't expecting it to come up on my first day.
By the time we left the hall, Valerie was still talking about it.
“I need to start thinking about what I'm wearing.”
“You have months.”
“Exactly. That's not enough time.”
I laughed.
“You're ridiculous.”
“You'll see.”
I shook my head.
I had a feeling she was serious.
---
That night, I sat on my bed and looked around the room.
Valerie was talking to Paige.
Abby was arranging her things.
Everything still felt new.
New school.
New roommates.
New people.
It was strange.
But not completely bad.
I had been so worried about starting over that I hadn't really considered the possibility that I might actually like it here.
Maybe I would make friends.
Maybe I'd enjoy my classes.
Maybe I'd even join one of the clubs.
I smiled to myself.
A quiet semester.
That's what I wanted.
Just school, friends, and staying out of trouble.
Nothing complicated.
Nothing dramatic.
I had no idea how badly that plan was about to fail.
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