Later that evening
"Selena?" Astoria said as she entered their shared dorm. Selena had given her the key after they had finished unpacking all of her belongings. She was just at the library, checking out the collection of books at the school. They had an impressive assortment of books, though most were probably for research and the like. Astoria personally preferred fantasy or romance novels as her own collection portrayed.
She walked in with her favorite book in her hands, Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare. She loved all the Shadowhunter Chronicles but The Infernal Devices were by far her favorite. It was one of the greatest love triangles ever written. It was never just about the tremendous love Will and Tessa shared nor the one Tessa and Jem shared. It was about the love they all shared for each other. Together they were their own little family.
"Yeah?" Selena responded. She had a fluffy white bathrobe on, her hair was dripping wet as she grabbed a towel from inside her closet. She started to rub the towel through her hair trying to dry it as much as possible.
"Did I do something to offend Jacqueline? She seemed annoyed with me practically all day. I ran into her at the library and she just gave me the stink eye and left," she asked as she set the book down on the nightstand by her bed. Astoria was genuinely confused. She had just met the girl and she didn't want people to start hating her already.
In middle school, a lot of people were jealous of her. She was rich, she had all the clothes, makeup and accessories any girl her age would want. To top it off, she was a complete daddy's girl, who just happened to be close friends with the principal. A lot of her classmates thought her good grades only came from money or Julian's friendship. She was often alone, books being her only solace, her best friends. When she wasn't alone, she was surrounded by mocking classmates, bullying girls who backed her into a corner. A corner she spent too long in. For the first two and a half years she didn't tell anyone. One day, when Julian came home from a business she just ran into his arms and cried. She cried her heart and soul out. She told him everything that had happened in the school.
The next day, every single one of the offending students were either suspended or expelled. Some families were sued because of the ordeal. For the rest of her middle school years, Astoria studied at home via online charter schools or the sort. She didn't mention that to her new "friends" though. She thought it would seem like she was begging for attention or pity or something. It would make her seem weak and Astoria wanted to be everything but that foul word. After being the impersonation of that word, she decided she was done. Never again would anyone see her as weak. She was Astoria fucking Anderson and no one in their right minds would call her weak.
"Well Jackie's a pretty closed off person to people she's not close and to be frank, you're the newbie." All Selena got in return was a raised eyebrow. "I mean, like, -- shit, I don't know how to explain it. Like, a lot of people tend to steer clear of new people and they always attract a lot of attention, no offense. Especially with you, being who you are, attract a lot of attention and Jackie kinda hates attention. Again no offense. She'll get over it in a couple of days. Regardless, I'll talk to her and tell her to knock it off." At this point she had her pajamas on and had proceeded on to brushing her hair in front of her small vanity.
Astoria strode over to her own vanity and took out a pair of glasses and contact lens case along with the cleaning fluid and anti-irritation eye drops. Selena's gaze flitted over to the other girl in the room.
"I didn't know you had contacts," she stated as she set the brush down and opened the drawer to look for a ribbon to tie her hair back. Astoria moved on to her left eye as she blinked from the change in her vision.
"Yeah, I don't exactly like telling people. They like to assume my eye color is fake because of that. I was born with these eyes and I'd never change them. I usually stick to clear contacts anyways so it's not that big a deal." Just like that she was done. She'd been wearing contacts since she was thirteen so it was easy as pie now. She squeezed the bottle and dripped one drop into each eye and then blinked it away. She brushed her hair a few times, and tied it back as she went into the bathroom to complete her nightly routine.
By the time she was out, Selena was already fast asleep. Astoria smiled softly at the petite girl curled up in her bed hugging a teddy bear.
"Goodnight," came her soft whisper before she, too, retired for that night.
A couple of weeks later
"Tori! Tori! Tori, get up! We have to get to class! We were late yesterday, too! " Selena shouted as she ran around the dorm, grabbing her socks and shoes.
"Selena, another day won't do anything to minds that will never learn. We're gonna be late, might as well be late with some style," came Astoria's muffled voice from the jumble of pillows and blankets that was her bed.
"ASTORIA CELESTE ANDERSON YOU-" She was cut off by a rapping on the door. Glaring at the other girl who tried to find the way out of the blanket, she opened the door. She was greeted by the pleasant sight of Jacqueline standing at the door with a couple of donuts on a plate.
"Foooood. Thank youu, Jackie!" She opened the door a bit more so she could come in. As Jackie set the plate on the coffee table, Astoria tumbled out of her bed onto the ground.
"Found it," she groaned. She glanced up at the clock. "What the hell, Lena?! It's only 7:23! Classes don't start till at least another hour!"
"Well, at least you have enough time to get ready now. You said you wanted \to take a shower today anyways."
The girl huffed as she stood and headed over to her closet to pick out the ensemble of the day. She slammed the door of the bathroom as she headed towards the shower. The past couple of weeks had been good. Selena and she got along really well. Jacqueline though was another thing altogether. She still didn't really like Astoria. They got along as acquaintances but that was as far as she was willing to go. It was always a bigger issue when Selena was around for some reason. The redhead was strangely protective of her. Not that she didn't appreciate it, but it always seemed to kind of upset Selena too.
Astoria turned the knob to turn the shower off. She looked over to the shelf where her clothes were. No towel. Of course not. She had forgotten it. She stepped out of the shower stall, trying not to make a mess everywhere, and headed towards the door. She was about to knock when she heard a couple of loud whispers.
"Selena, I really don't like her!" Jackie whisper-yelled.
"Well, I don't care. She's my friend and she's a good person," Selena countered. Astoria knew they were talking about her but it shocked and pleased her to hear she thought that. Most people tended to pick out the bad in her and focus all their energy on only that.
"You don't even know her yet! She's only been here for a couple weeks."
A sigh. "Jacqueline, I honestly don't understand what you have against her. Please, tell me what this is really about." Her voice was soft, almost pleading.
Silence.
"Jacs?"
"I'm sorry, it's just that-- ughhhh. Why is this so hard?!?! I'm just jealous, okay?! It's always been the two of us so it feels weird having her here, too" Astoria had to stifle a giggle as she heard Selena openly doing so.
"That's it? Aww, you don't have to worry, Jackie. I'm yours, okay?" Astoria had a feeling she shouldn't have heard that. She quickly pulled her head back from the door and knocked. She poked her head and asked Selena for a towel. Jacqueline's face was bright red. The blond smirked.
"What happened to your face, Jacqueline?" Selena snickered. Jacqueline cleared her throat.
"It doesn't matter. And, please," her gaze flitted back to the raven-haired girl. She sported an encouraging smile. "Call me Jackie." Astoria grinned widely.
"All my friends do."