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She wished the teacher would get back. It felt sort of rude waiting outside the room alone without a teacher to introduce her. Like ambush. Imogen looked down at the letter she’d received with her room placement on it again, even though she remembered the name of her new roommate well enough. Cordelia Carden. It was a pretty name and the teacher had opened the door ready so Imo had got a glimpse of Cordelia’s side of the room – well not side of. Not yet. Cordelia’s whole room. Still even getting a look at that was not much to go on to try guessing what she’d be like. Imo hoped she was nice.

Cordelia had a room to herself due to an odd number of girls. But now Imogen had got into Crystal, part way though this year, they had been paired together. Needs must after all.

The teacher had gone to organise things and left Imogen waiting outside the open door like a right goose. She’d have gone in and sat on what looked like the spare bed but she didn’t want to intrude on Cordelia’s space until it was time to.

She tucked the letter away, feeling happy and nervous and looking it. She fiddled with a ringlet of red hair and looked up and down the dorm corridor. Couldn’t be long now…

This had to be her. Imo had half-turned, a bit late for she'd been lost in her thoughts, when she'd heard someone coming. Soon enough to help avoid being walked into at least. Her first impression of Cordelia was she seemed a bit short (but then she also looked busy with all that stuff piled in her arms) and that she had really nice hair. Sort of blue-black. Very nice.

"No, I'm not, thanks. One of the administration people showed me up here. Would be good if they were here now but - " She put on her usually friendly smile and bit the bullet. What was she, five years old at a strangers birthday party? She was a big girl. She could introduce herself. Better sum it up and get straight to the point though because it looked like Cordelia needed to put her stuff down before it fell down.

"I'm called Imogen. I just started here and I've been assigned to share your room."

“Pleased to meet you! Oh, and my last name is Farrago.” She picked up her backback she had with her and followed Cordelia inside. The rest of her stuff was still somewhere. The administration people hadn’t liked her attempt to lug her own big suitcase up the stairs – maybe Crystal girls didn’t do stuff like that? She had so much to learn.

“Yes, I’m sort of new to Destiny City.” Sort of in new to the city in that they’d just moved here before she ‘died’ and then spent a year in a fake school apparently run by organ-traffickers until just recently. So Imo had not exactly had time to take in much of the bright lights big city atmosphere just yet which on the plus side meant she still had lots to go out explore when she wasn’t busy at school. On the downside…well it was a big downside. But nothing Cordelia had to know about anyway.

Imogen didn’t know if other Barren Pine’s kids were being more open or maybe even were bragging about what had happened to them. It was sort of an achievement to have got out alive she supposed. However she wanted no fuss to be made about it. Just to get on being normal again which would be hindered if she actually told people about it since so far it always led to a bunch of questions…

"Have you been at Crystal long? The letter they gave me just said you had space for a roommate, it didn't elaborate beyond that."

"My mother said something like that on my getting in here. That Crystal would help build character. Whatever that means." Imo waved her hand briefly in a vague gesture that could have been dismissive or just admitting that she had not clue. Could be taken either way, but from her tone of voice and smile, was clearly no meant to be taken badly as an insult to either of their parents. Probably the latter possibility then.

"Yes, I don't mind shopping at all. Though I did visit one of the smaller malls recently. So many books to pick up, uniform to get fitted for...school supplies, a few things for the dorm, you know." She perched on the edge of what would be her own bed. Weird to think she'd be sleeping here tonight and from now on, excepting the weekends. Imo hoped it'd be alright to put up a couple of posters, make the place seem a bit homier. She looked around thoughtfully before seeming to realise she was zoning out a bit and she turned that smile back on Cordelia.

"But I would love to go with you sometime. Thank you." It didn't occur to her that her being short on money would be a problem yet, now having accepted two Crystal girl's offers of shopping trips. They sure did love to shop around here.

"That'd be fun. I've never really decorated anywhere before. My friend recently got a new apartment so I'll help there but that's no for me. She's picking everything." Imogen brightened. She'd been so nervous and worried about upsetting this girl but so far things where going well. Sharing a room wouldn't be so bad this rate. At Barren Pines, her dorm room had been her own, but she'd not been able to personalise it too much. It'd be a new thing to do, decorate with her new roomie. She loved new things.

"It's pretty packed right now. I have all these extra catch-up sessions and a few exams I need to sit. " To test whether she was at the right level and to help her catch up with everyone else, because fake schools? Did not hand out transcripts. Being legally dead had thrown a huge spanner in the works in more ways than you could imagine.

"My old school...had a fire recently and we were studying from a different syllabus in some subjects. Such a drag but nothing to be can done about it. I suppose. Lucky we get the weekends off!" That'd sounded just nonchalant right? Perfectly natural. It explained everything fine without too much hassle and it wasn't quite a lie.

"That's true." She chirped, watching interestedly as Cordelia brushed her hair, checked it out - Imogen could have told her it looked lovely, like silky and dark as ink - and put her brush down. She thankfully didn't think that this was a girl she'd get a crush on. That would have been beyond awkward. But Imo could appreciate she was pretty and besides, nothing much else to watch.

"I have been told that it's a honour to wear this uniform and I should be proud to wear it every minute I can." Imogen intoned solemnly, in a voice that wasn't quite hers, frowning at the other girl and moment before she laughed. The assistant a the posh outfitters where she got the uniform had told her that, and Imogen had heard him saying it again as she was leaving the shop to his next customer too. She wondered how many Crystal girls had heard that line.

"As if. I'm more of a 'weekends are me-time' person too. I plan to pack as much into my weekends as I can."

"I turned sixteen this November." What a fun birthday that had been! If Imogen had been able to remember, she'd spent it trying to ignore a ravenous craving for human flesh while she worked on fortifying the room she had locked herself in so she couldn't try to satisfy that craving if she gave into it. Bundles of fun. Best birthday bash ever. No greenie girl had ever had such a sweet sixteen as Imo had.

Thank goodness she couldn't remember.

"How about you?" Imogen asked as she picked up her backpack and pulled out a small packet of assorted sweets. She selected a cola sweet for herself and popped it in her mouth before holding it out, offering Cordelia one.

"So um...what do you do for fun Cordelia?" Harmless enough way to keep chatting and break the ice, no? She was rather optimistic, thinking that maybe they could end up friends. It'd be pleasant enough having a nice roommate but much better if she was friends with her

"I'm guessing shopping for a start." She joked, putting the little bag of sweets on the side by her bed. Might as well settle in with what she had. The admin person'd be back soon enough she supposed with the bulk of her things. Though Imo was still amused she just hadn't been allowed to carry the suitcase up herself.