Chapter Text
First week of January is always bitterly cold. The bright sun is blocked by gray clouds that look like they will let snow fall, but never do, making Torrington Academy look more like a sinister castle than a school in an old building. The school is more lively inside, as the students move back into their dorm rooms, the majority of students happy to see friends again.
If only Martin would shut up. Diana just wants to talk with Jenni in peace, but of course Martin followed her, making them both uncomfortable.
“The old theater is playing The Thing later this week-” Seriously??
“Martin! Don’t you have a place to be?” Diana yelled.
“Like what?” he asked, looking confused. Can’t this dumbass take a hint?
“I don’t know, maybe your dorm? Can’t you just leave us alone!?”
“Yeash Di, I’m just trying to be friendly.” His eyebrows moving in a flirtatious way at Jenni.
“By asking out my friend in front of me? You literally can’t go one day without flirting.”
“Yes I can!”
“You wanna bet?"Maybe I can get him to do my Center paperwork this time. She thought as the sound of the intercom interrupts them.
“Diana Lombard, report to the Principal's office please.”
“OOOOO!! Looks like someone’s in trouble!” Martin sings.
What did I even do?“I haven’t even unpacked my bags!” Was it something I did before break? No, mom, Gerard, and dad would have heard about it during break.
“Well, good luck. See you in the cafeteria later?” Jenni asked as she touched her arm, trying to comfort her.
“Yeah, if i don’t get expelled.”
“You are not getting expelled.”
“I don’t know Jenni, maybe she forgot a citation on an essay and is in trouble for plagiarizing.”
What! Did I? No, no I didn’t. Well maybe…I don’t remember all of my sources for my history paper! I’m so screwed!
“Martin, stop making her more anxious than she usually is.” Jenni says bring Diana back from her spiral. “Di, you are literally the smartest student in this school. There is no way that Mr. Pebbleton is going to kick you out.” She said with so much conviction there was no room to argue with her.
“Okay, I believe you.”
“Good, see you later.” She said as she walked away towards the stairs.
“Hate to see her go, but love to watch her leave.”
He can’t go one moment can he?
“Martin” Diana growled.
“Okay, okay I’m going!” He said with his hands up in surrender, as he turned in the direction of the elevator to the dorm room floors.
Unfortunately, when she got to the main office, the anxiety came back in full force. Very rarely does getting called into the office end on a good note. Diana had only been called to the office a few times. Most were to be checked out to go to the doctors or dentist, but there were no appointments today. What could she be in trouble for?
The door to Mr. Pebbleton’s office was propped open with the door stopper. He was sitting at his desk looking at his computer, the light of the screen glaring off of his small glasses. Okay, try to remain calm.
“Whatever it was, I didn't do it!” she yelled. So much for calm.
“Didn’t do what Miss. Lombard?” He asks looking up.
“Um.. What did you want to see me for?”
“I wanted to ask one of Torrington’s brightest students if they could show Miss. Nightingale around.” he said as he gestured to the wall behind Diana.
Standing next to the door frame was a girl around Diana’s age and height. She had long black hair in a low ponytail with a purple beanie on, a long V-neck black sweater, bright purple leggings, and blue converse. She waved nervously at her.
“Oh! Sorry, I didn’t see you there. I’m Diana,” She waved her hand back and turned to the principal “and I’d be happy to show her around.”
“Great, Miss Nightingale, here is a copy of your schedule. You two have fun.”
“Thank you sir.” Nightingale said in a quiet voice.
As they were walking away Diana was able to shake off the rest of her nerves, and switched her focus back on the new girl. Her beanie had a cute neon green ghost pin that definitely glowed in the dark, but her hat and pin were the only items that looked new on her. The sleeves of the sweater had some fraying strands, so did the leggings. Her shoes looked pretty worn too. It almost reminded Diana about a kid they found during an investigation. Focus Diana!
“So what’s your first name?”
“What?” She asked, her blue eyes blinking rapidly. Glad to know I’m not the only one that gets lost in thought.
“I got your last name from Mr. Pebbleton, but not your first.”
“Oh, Danielle, but everyone calls me Ellie.”
“Cool, sorry if I freaked you out earlier. I don’t get called to the office that much.”
“It’s okay. I take it you’re a goody two shoes?” she smirked.
“WHAT? No! I.. I’m cool. I break the rules..on occasion.” Diana stuttered. She crossed her arms as she felt a bead of sweat move down her forehead.
Ellie laughed, “I didn’t mean it as an insult. You just remind me of a cousin I have.” She sighed. She must not be used to being away from home.
“Where are you from?”
“I’m from the US, Illinois to be exact.”
“Wow, that's far. What made you transfer to Canada?”
“Long story.” She said looking sadly at the floor. What could have caused that reaction?
Diana didn’t have time to think about it as she slipped, and almost fell backwards. Thankfully a friend was there to catch her.
“Thanks Java” she said, very relieved.
“Floor wet. Very slippery.” He said in his deep voice as he put her down slowly.
“Oh Java, this is Ellie, a new student. Ellie, this is Java. He is the main custodian, and helps in the kitchen.”
“Nice to meet you.” She said as she shook his hand.
“Nice meet you.” He said back smiling. Ellie smiled back.
“I have to show Ellie the dorms Java, but we’ll see you later.” Diana said as she handed the mop he dropped.
“Bye!” He says waving as they walk away towards the elevator.
“He seems nice.” Ellie says as the door closes.
“Yup, from helping you find an earring to listening you vent about your brother, he’s there to help.”
“Sounds like you two are good friends.”
“Yeah, me and my brother are pretty friendly with him.” Diana widens her eyes. I have to warn her about Martin! “Speaking of my brother, Martin, I want to apologize in advance.”
“Apologize in advance for what?”
“He’s a major flirt, almost to the point of harassment. If he ever bothers you, tell me and I’ll kick his ass for you.” She said as she kicked the air for a demonstration.
“I’ll keep that in mind, but just so you know I can handle myself.” Ellie kicked the air in a similar motion to Diana. Sadly as she did that the fabric of the leggings gave out, leaving a large hole and exposing her knee. “Dammit these were my good ones.” If those were her good ones, I’d hate to see the others.
“I think we’re the same size, I can lend you a pair.”
“Don’t worry about it. My stuff should already be in the room. I’ll change real quick.” she said as the doors opened.
“Do you know where it is?”
“I’m at 204.”
“Well lucky for you I’m 206.” Diana says as she takes the first left down the hall. When they reached the rooms both girl’s stomachs began to gargle. Ellie’s being louder than Diana’s.“After you change, and I go to the washroom, let's go to the cafeteria. If I remember correctly they’re serving lasagna today.”
“Sounds good, just give me around five minutes, and I’ll meet you at the elevator.”
Diana knew that students at Torrington were well off when it came to their finances. No one was an elite by any means, but no one at the school was considered less than middle class. All of this to say Diana thought the quality of the cafeteria at the school was average, but after seeing Ellie’s reaction, she’ll have to find out what average really means, at least by American standards. She was almost drooling at everything in the line. Maybe she didn’t have breakfast before coming in? Diana was able to get Java to give her an extra piece of garlic bread to give to Ellie. After leaving the line it wasn’t hard to find Jenni.
“See I told you weren't getting expelled.” She said as she hugged Diana.
“You thought you were getting expelled?” Ellie’s appearance was so quiet it made Jenni jump.
“Yeah, I know it’s dumb.”
“It’s not dumb it’s just anxiety. It’s like a caffeine addiction, everyone’s got one.” Ellie said like it was a popular saying.Well, that’s not a concerning sentence.
“Anyway, Jenni, this is Ellie, she will be joining us for the semester. Ellie, this is Jenni, one of my best friends.” Seeing the face Jenni made when shaking Ellie’s hand, Diana could tell she had similar thoughts to her. At least the only thing wrong with the jeans was they were too long.
“Welcome to Torrington. Stick with us, and you’ll have a good time.” she finally smiled and winked.
They started to make decent small talk when the topic of boys came up.
“Hey weird question. What does it mean when a guy says a type of girl is ‘easy’?” Ellie asks.
Oh no.
“When a guy says that it means the girl is easy to get into. If you ever hear a guy say that to you, kick him in the nuts, and dump your drink on him.” Jenni says after chewing her food.
Martin! What did you do?
“What do you mean by ‘into’?” Ellie asked, confused.
Oh sweet summer child.
“Um easy to you know, have sex-”
“I think she gets it Jen.” Diana says with a warning in her tone. A few emotions cross Ellie’s face, before landing on one that scares her.
“Hey, Diana” Oh that’s a tone you don’t want to hear.
“Yes”
“I accept your apology from earlier.” OH GOD! Do I even want to know?
“What did Martin do?”
“I haven’t done anything yet.” Martin says standing next to Ellie. Speak of the devil, and he will appear. “I haven’t planned out any pra-” Somehow, Ellie got up without anyone noticing, and kicked him in the nuts. Martin kneeled on the ground in pain, as she poured her soda on top of him. The students at the surrounding tables began to laugh as they usually do when Martin gets his comeuppance.
“You thought American girls were easy, think again! I am not some doll to ‘get into’. You want a girlfriend, try actually respecting women!” Ellie walked away, not even glancing back. Jenni was the first to snap out of shock, then Diana as they got up to follow Ellie out of the cafeteria.
“Java, help! Man down!!” Martin groaned. At least he isn’t dead.
“Ellie, it's official,” Jenni wraps her arms around her and Diana as they walk out. “You, along with Di, are my two best friends in the whole world.”