Betty POV. 

I couldn’t believe what was happening. My old rival, Megan, was really my roommate. Sweat began to form on my face, and before I knew it, I went after the dorm mistress.

“Ma’am, please,” I said quickly. “There must be a mistake. I can’t stay in that room. Can you change my roommate?”

The dorm mistress stopped and looked at me with a straight face. “No changes, dear. The rooms are already full,” she said and turned to leave.

“But” I tried to speak again, but she was already walking away, her footsteps fading.

I just stood there, speechless.

When I turned around, Megan was leaning on her bed, smiling like she’d just won a lottery. 

“Problem, Betty?” she asked in that same teasing voice.

I looked at her and felt my stomach twist. I wanted to say something back, but the words wouldn’t come.

Megan sat quietly on her bed while I unpacked my things.

 I could feel her eyes on me, even though she didn’t say anything.

The room became quiet as none of us refused to talk to each other.

I folded my clothes and tried to look busy. Still, she kept watching.

After a while, she finally spoke. “Do you want me to help?” she asked softly.

I stopped and looked at her for a second. “No, thanks,” I said quickly. 

She nodded a little. “Alright. I’ll give you some space,” she said and stood up.

As she reached the door, she turned and added, “If you want, I can show you around the school later.”

I didn’t answer. I just kept arranging my things like I didn’t hear her.

When she left and closed the door behind her, I let out a deep breath. At last, I can finally be alone. 

I sat down on my bed and slowly looked around the quiet room. It suddenly felt too big, too empty.

 I pressed my lips together and pouted a little, whispering, “I miss Claire, I really wish she were here.”

My voice cracked a bit as I said it. The thought of her made my eyes sting. If Claire were here, she’d know exactly what to say to make me laugh. 

I hugged my pillow tightly and blinked fast, hoping the tears wouldn’t fall.

After a while, I shook my head and tried to smile a little. “Come on, Betty,” I whispered. “Don’t think too much.”

I stood up and went back to work. I folded my clothes, put my books on the shelf, and placed my small photo frame on the desk.

 But my mind kept going back to Grandma. I hadn’t called her since I arrived, and I started to worry if she was okay.

I picked up my phone and called her.

On the third ring, she finally picked up.

“Grandma?” I said quickly, sitting on the bed.

There was a short silence before she spoke. Her voice was soft and slightly weak.

“Betty, my dear,” she said quietly.

Grandma sounded calm when she picked up the call. “Betty, my dear! How are you doing?”

“I’m fine, Grandma,” I said with a smile. “Just trying to settle in. I miss you already.”

“I miss you too, sweetheart,” she said warmly. We talked a bit about my trip and how things were at home. Everything felt normal.

Then, Grandma suddenly went quiet.

“Grandma?” I called, thinking the call had cut off. But then I heard her voice again. It was soft and low but talking to another person.

“She doesn’t know it yet,” Grandma said. “She’s too young to understand.”

My heart raced. Was she talking about me?

Before I could listen more, the call ended suddenly.

I looked at my phone, confused. Grandma never hung up like that.

I kept thinking about what she said. She doesn’t know it yet, she’s too young to understand.

Those words kept playing in my head, making me more and more curious. What didn’t I know?

Then, I heard a loud thud coming from outside. BANG!Interrupting my thoughts.

It sounded very close to the door.

I slowly put down my phone and walked towards the door as my heart was beating fast.

I peeped through the keyhole and looked outside. But everywhere became quiet.

Something didn’t feel right. I kept staring, trying to see where the sound came from. Then, I thought I saw something move in the shadows.

I gasped softly and stepped back, my heart racing.