A quick knock on the door startled me. Before Alicia could even answer, a girl barged in; tall, dark, long silky black hair, and huge brown eyes.
“Hello?!” Alicia snapped, clearly not impressed. “What’s the point of knocking if you’re just going to barge in?”
“Holy crap…” the girl said in hushed tones, breathless. “Betty Boop just caught Eric Martinez in Jessie’s room.”
Alicia slapped her hand to her mouth. “Oh my god…”
I got the feeling that this was a huge scandal. Oh boy… a boy in the girls’ dorm. I smiled wide. “Is Eric cute?!” I asked, not knowing what else to say. This was all new to me. I figured it was the question to ask in a girly situation like that.
Tall girl turned to me, surprised. I think she hadn’t realized I was there. “Oh, hi…”
Alicia smiled, excited. “This is my new roomie, Anna.”
I stood and offered my hand, completely uncomfortable – I hate introductions. “Hi.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Kendra. Welcome to Freak Academy.”
What?!I eyed them both with a cocked brow.
Alicia chuckled out loud, her laugh infectious. “It’s what we call this place. We’re all a bunch of freaks here.”
“Weirdos unite,” Kendra cheered.
I laughed. “I like that. I like that a lot.”
7
“Where are you from?” Kendra asked.
“I’m from Illinois… suburb of Chicago.”
She nodded, not too interested, and turned to Alicia. “You better put those away. Betty Boop is around and she’s not happy.”
“Oh crap,” Alicia twirled the top of her Cheetos bag and quickly tucked it in the bottom drawer of her night table.
Kendra turned to me. “Contraband,” she explained. “We’re not allowed junk food. They think it will mess up our chakras or something,” she said with a roll of her eyes, “mess with our abilities.”
Alicia pulled a face. “Yeah… lots of rules around here.”
I nodded. I’m okay with rules. I’m a good girl, but no way was I about to admit that. “Bummer.”
Kendra settled her rear right on top of my suitcase. She was one of those people who is just comfortable doing anything she pleases. I envy people like that. I’m always too worried about offending people, about coming off the wrong way. She wore plaid lounge pants and the same Ramones t-shirt I have.
“So you like the Ramones?” I asked, attempting conversation.
She cocked a brow, confused and then looked down at her shirt. “Oh no… never heard them. I just like the t-shirt.”
So she was one of those people who wear shirts with logos of bands they’ve never heard. I usually hate those people but I kind of liked her – she had a nice yellow aura.
“So who’s Betty Boop?” I asked, curious.
Alicia perked up. “Miss Baker. Betty. She’s the dorm master here. She keeps us all in check.”
“Yeah, she makes sure we have absolutely no fun at all,” Kendra scoffed. “She’s really uptight and she looks like Betty Boop… short dark pixie cut, wears tall heels, frilly blouses, and tight little skirts.”
Alicia laughed. “You’re just jealous because you can’t wear tight little skirts.”
Kendra cocked her head. Her gaze darted across the room and lingered on Alicia’s uniform hanging on the doorknob of the closet. “Yeah… uniforms bite.”
