Anna led me to the beach home that housed the students. Nearly identical to the other cottages, I wondered how it contained all the people I'd seen on the beach that night. When I posed the question out loud, she merely smirked and pushed open the front door. I almost dropped the box I was carrying.

A long corridor dotted with dozens of doors spilled out in front of me further than I could see. Metal numbers adorned each door. Some had decorations hanging off of them. Deflated balloons, plastic flowers, and photographs were the standards. Instead of tile or linoleum, the floor was gleaming hardwood, and the walls were painted a soothing blue gray. Aside from the higher end look, I imagined this was much like any other school dorm.

"I'd ask how, but I imagine this is the result of someone else's Talent."

"Actually, no. It's a spell. The Children employ several witches."

"Of course they do," I responded, not at all surprised that witches existed. I'd have to ask for more information on that topic later. I followed her until she stopped in front of a room and knocked. My palms sweated as I waited for my new roommate to answer. The reality of living in a small space with another person hit me, and I began searching for an escape route.

"You alright?"

Drawing a deep breath, I started to tell Anna I couldn't do this when the door swung open revealing a petite girl with a riot of brown curls surrounding her heart-shaped face. She peered at me curiously, recognition sparking in her eyes. "You're Camille. From the beach."

"You're Chloe, right?"

"Yeah, I guess I should've figured it'd be you when Instructor Brennus told me I was getting a roommate. Come on in," she said, stepping aside, so I could enter.

"Whelp, I'll just let you two get acquainted."

"Instructor Brennus," I mouthed, but she said nothing and gave me a little finger wave after handing me the other box of clothes.

"Traitor," I grumbled, moving down the short hallway into the heart of the room. I don't know what I was expecting to find, but my nerves settled as I took in my new lodgings.

A large sitting room was cozily decorated in shades of gray and white. A braided rug covered the hardwood, while coral pillows on the gray couch added happy pops of color. The room spilled into a tiny kitchenette. Chloe was either extremely neat or she'd cleaned in preparation for a new roommate. Her dishes were stacked in a cabinet without a door, and a cheerful vase of flowers topped the table.

"You can change anything you want, of course," Chloe muttered behind me.

I turned towards her, shaking my head. "I can't imagine anything I would want to change. It looks great."

She gave me a grateful smile. "Your room is through that door," she said, her voice much brighter than before.

I went into the room and flipped on the light. Though the space was much smaller than my room at the other house, the furnishings were just as nice. My bed had been downgraded from a full to a twin. A tall, matching dresser and nightstand were the only other furniture in the room. A perfect blank canvas.

Depositing my belongings on the bed, I sat on the edge and peered out of the small window. This house was closer to the shore, and even with the window closed, I could hear the waves breaking against the sand. The sound had become a balm to my soul, and I was glad for the proximity to the beach.

I glanced up. No curtains hung from the rod, and I decided that acquiring a set was going to be my first order of business. Full morning sunlight would hit me directly in the face otherwise, and mornings were already a chore. Poor Chloe would request a new roommate within the first week if I didn't get curtains. Morning Camille was not pleasant.

Knowing that I would have a separate space soothed the panic that I'd experienced earlier. Chloe, despite her attachment to Bri, appeared to have a sweet spirit. I didn't feel the same sort of instant kinship I'd experienced with Anna, but I thought we might have a chance at an alliance, if not a close friendship.

A tentative knock sounded on my door, and I opened it to find my roommate shyly holding out a small flat box. "Someone just dropped this off for you," she murmured as I took the proffered package.

"Thanks."

"Um, Camille, I usually eat in the Commons, but if you'd like, I have items for lunch here. You're welcome to help yourself. We get to order room groceries and supplies every two weeks. Tomorrow is order day, so things are a little bare. If you'll make a list of things you need and food you like to eat, I'll make sure they get included."

"I'll get settled in here and let you know. I've already thought of a few things I'd like."

Shutting the door, I turned my attention to my delivery. Pulling the top off the box, I found a new smartphone, a shiny credit card, and a folded note. Setting the device and card aside, I opened the note.

Camille,

You'll be able to order many of the things you need through the School Store, but for anything else, you can use this card. On the rare occasions that we have a student without a family or sponsor, we give them an allowance. I have programmed the phone with the numbers of all your instructors and classmates. If you need anything else, please let me know.

I'd like you to know that I am very sorry about the part I played in deceiving you. I mentioned earlier that I was very perceptive, and I knew from the beginning that while you were hiding something, it was not with the intention to harm us; however, I allowed my judgment to be clouded by others. I will listen more closely to my conscience next time.

Fleur

The words were written in an elegant cursive script, not at all what I would've expected of a doctor. A vision of her sitting at a desk, penning the apology with her dark glasses sliding down her nose, flitted through my mind. Knowing about the extended lifespan of the Children explained so many inconsistencies I'd picked up in my new friends' personalities, like why Fleur could rock a Hello Kitty T-shirt while speaking like she belonged at a cotillion.

I picked up the phone and swiped to open the screen. Navigating to the contacts, I scrolled through all the people who were now in my life. For the second time that day, my eyes welled up with tears. Not once had it crossed my mind to ask about my old phone. I no longer had anyone to call.

The names whirled by as I scrolled through them. I counted the names I recognized, holding my breath as I reached the C's. Calum's name was the third name in the C column. My thumb hovered over it, but I scrolled on by. I now knew our differences were too great. I was damaged goods, and he was far older and wiser than me.

I nearly dropped the phone when a loud ping sounded in the quiet room. A bar flitted across the screen, telling me I had a text message. Surely, he wouldn't reach out to me via text message. Calum seemed much more like a face-to-face kind of guy, most likely because most of his life had been spent with minimal technology.

Kent: Ur digits showed up on my phone 2day. Must be joining the rest of us newbs.

Of course. Kent. While my heart didn't flutter and my skin didn't overheat at the thought of the man, I couldn't say that his kiss hadn't been pleasant and his arms warm around my body.

Me: Yes, they're tossing me to the wolves, it would seem.

Kent: Won't b 2 bad. Uve got me.

Cringing at his use of shorthand, I typed out my response: Yeah, what a lucky girl I am. Though, I don't know if Bri is going to be thrilled. Especially because I'm rooming with her friend.

Kent: U and Chloe?

Me: Yep!

Kent: Bri will just have 2 get over herself. She's used 2 being the hot thing around here. Not nymore.

Me: Shut up. I'll see you later, I guess?

Kent: Of course. I can't wait to c u.

Pushing the boxes out of the way, I crawled beneath the covers and stared at the dark screen of my phone. The game I was playing with Kent could be dangerous, considering we were about to be spending a lot of time together. Kent had a reputation as a player, and even without the warning, I would've picked up on that particular personality flaw. He didn't ooze subtlety when he was flirting with me, but I had no fears of being another one of his weeping, female conquests. Was it wrong that I enjoyed being made to feel wanted? I didn't think so, and as long as it became nothing more than that on both sides, all would be well.

I rolled over to my back and thought about tomorrow. Anna had spent a little time filling me in on the trainees. Most of the students here had been born knowing they would become Guardians. Their powers had surprised a few after generations had passed with no one manifesting a Talent. But regardless of beginnings, they all trained to fight the evil forces in the world. And if I got nothing else out of throwing my lot in with these people, that fact alone was worth it.