A New Roommate

Miss Peale knocked on Regina's door and then opened it. Regina was at her desk, light streaming in from the open window behind her, head bent over her Latin homework. She looked up, a little surprised to see her housemother.

"Is it time for chores already?" she asked, sounding confused.

"No, Regina. Miss Porter asked me to send you to her office. You're going to get your roommate finally." Miss Peale smiled as though being alone was a fate to be avoided at all costs and surely Regina had been praying for someone to share her space.

In truth, Regina enjoyed having the room to herself. She loved climbing out on the roof to watch the sunsets, feel the cool breeze off the ocean and to free her head from her worries. A roommate was the last thing she wanted. For half the term, she'd had the room all to herself and was much envied by the other girls.

Once in Miss Porter's office, Regina stood awkwardly in the doorway.

"Regina," Miss Porter said with a smile. "Please come in. I'd like you to meet Faith Faraday. Faith is a new student in your year and she's going to be your new roommate." The headmistress turned to the brown-haired girl sitting with her parents. The girl's strong features were clearly inherited from her father, except in a more feminine version. She had pale skin, clear golden-brown eyes and a down-turned mouth. Her father's legs were drawn up awkwardly as he fidgeted on the upholstered floral divan. Faith's mother was tiny, well-dressed and clearly more at ease than the girl's father. Her blue eyes were full of interest as they scanned Regina's face.

"Faith, this is Regina Reynolds," Miss Porter said. "Regina's from Kentucky and she's been with us since the start of the term."

Faith was silent. Regina stepped closer to the glum trio and nodded a greeting to the other girl. "Hello," she ventured, looking to Miss Porter for guidance.

"Well," Miss Porter said briskly, "Shall we let Regina take Faith on a tour of the campus and show her their room while we discuss the details?"

Faith's parents exchanged a glance and her mother took her father's hand. Without waiting for a response, Miss Porter once again took charge. "Regina, please show Faith around and we'll meet you both in the dining hall in half an hour or so. Faith's trunks will be delivered to the room while you're out.

"Thank you, Regina."

Looking to her new roommate, Regina offered up another smile. She didn't know anything about this girl and now they were going to be sharing a room. A room she'd gotten used to thinking of as her own.

What if they didn't like each other?