Terra was still in a daze by the time she stepped into the main lobby of her cabin… Former cabin. The papers she held containing information on her new team and the Leader documents crinkled in her death grip. No one else was here thankfully, so she didn’t bother to try to put on a brave face. She didn’t know what she was feeling yet, but she knew her expressions would be a dead giveaway.

She glanced around at the decorations and Welcome-To-Schesi materials that littered the walls and tables. It had been just last night that the Residential Assistants had thrown a party to celebrate completing their first week. Her team (former team) had been less than excited, but Terra had fun talking with the other people in their cabin. Each of the four main rooms held one team of four people; most were co-ed, but Terra had landed in an all-girl. It was interesting to see how the other groups were handling the big changes. The rest of her team mostly kept to themselves, which was a bit awkward, but it was still a good night.

But now, all of that seemed to have been a waste. She wouldn’t be living with any of them anymore.

Terra swallowed the lump in her throat and turned to rush towards the side of the cabin their room was. Most everyone was out for the day, either exploring nearby Axwill City or attending new-year events the staff was holding. Terra would have loved to join in, but she didn’t think she could take seeing her roommates’ faces… or anyone, really. So she was going to take advantage of the busy day to start repacking what had barely been unpacked.

That was, until she heard the muffled laughter coming through her door.

She didn’t mean to eavesdrop… Well, not at first, anyway. She was only standing there, trying to decide what to do now, and then a sickening, familiar feeling washed over her, and she couldn’t not listen. She needed to know what she did. She needed to know what they would do if she walked in.

“…think she’s told her yet?”

“Ugh, god, I hope so. I never want to talk to that annoying bitch again.”

An icy stab hit her heart. That was Slaine’s voice. Her former leader.

“Was she really that bad?” an unfamiliar voice asked.

There was a wry laugh. Luanne’s. Terra thought she was the nicest of them. “Tali, she does. Not. Shut. Up. There is not a moment of silence with her! And it’s never anything we care about!”

“It’s like she doesn’t know how to keep a thought to herself,” Tulay chimed in. Terra almost didn’t know her voice; she’d been so quiet all week.

“And she never leaves us alone!” Slaine huffed. “Every time we try to shake her off, she just follows! It’s like the worst kind of stray dog!”

“It wouldn’t be so bad if Luanne didn’t keep acting nice while talking to her.”

Luanne scoffed. “Come on, she has to know I’m being facetious. I’m barely even trying.”

“Yeah, but Terra is stupid.”

“I’ve literally never met someone so dumb in my life.”

The unfamiliar voice cackled. “Oh, that’s perfect! This is the perfect revenge against those Prevail bitches. They think I’m a shitty leader? They won’t know what’s coming.”

“I almost feel bad for them.”

“I don’t. They deserve it.”

“It’s what they get for ganging up on Tali like that.”

“Whatever. I just can’t wait for this bitch to get her shit and leave.”

It should have been the perfect cue, but Terra’s feet were freezing in her boots. The papers were crumpled completely by now; she was surprised they hadn’t heard them crinkling.

She needed her stuff, but… Maybe it wasn’t safe right now. Maybe she should wait in the lobby until they left.

With misty eyes and shaking hands, Terra slipped out of the hall and sat, silently and alone.