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Standing there, witnessing Charlene's high school graduation, Mrs. Craig realized how far they had come since that snowy day on December 15th. Her little Charlene was growing up into a young lady. She wiped away the tears of excitement that threatened to fall from her eyes.

**One month later**

"I can't wait to finally be a student at Vintage College, my dream school," Charlene gushed with obvious excitement as she imagined college life.

"Dumbo, your mom's driving us to college already," Charlotte stated with an eyeroll.

"I hate you, killjoy," Charlene playfully glared at her. She couldn't really get mad at her because they had been friends since childhood.

"I love you too, baby," Charlotte winked, trying to patronize her.

"Girls, I want you both to promise me that you will always have each other's backs, no matter what," Mrs. Craig, who was behind the wheel, pleaded with the girls. She had watched them grow up together, and she didn't want to see them grow apart over something trivial.

"We promise, Mom. Right, bestie?" Charlene asked Charlotte.

"Right," Charlotte replied, nervously itching her hair.

Charlene continued to stare out the window as her mom drove. Things were about to change, as she had never been away from her mom, not even for a day. Now she was going to be away for the entire semester, four months in the hostel, away from her mom's care and nagging. She was surely going to miss her mom.

"I love you, Mommy," she suddenly said, causing Mrs. Craig to stop the car.

"I love you too, my darling," she said with an affectionate gaze before refocusing on the road.

****

"Still no sign of her?" a young girl sitting on a mat in a shaman's temple asked the shaman, who was dressed in royal regalia.

"You worry too much, young girl, forgetting that no matter how long it takes, the prophecy must be fulfilled," the shaman replied skeptically, wondering how she had found out about the girl with the scent.

"I'll take my leave then," she said, standing up to leave.

"Diamond, rid your mind of any evil thoughts so you don't ruin your life," the shaman said seriously. The girl bowed shortly before leaving.

"I wonder how she found out," he mumbled and sighed.

****

"I'll miss you, Mom," Charlene sniffed, clinging tightly to her mom and not wanting to let go of her blouse.

"I'll miss you too, sweetheart," Mrs. Craig replied, trying to hold back her tears as the thought of four months without her daughter sank in.

"Acting like they're both going to die," Charlotte scoffed jealously as she watched them from where she was standing.

"I'll miss you, Charlotte. Take care of yourself. I'm sure your parents will visit you once they return," Mrs. Craig said as soon as Charlene let go of her.

"I'll miss you too, Aunt. Take care," Charlotte replied with a smile.

"Bye, girls," Mrs. Craig winked, walking back to her car.

"Let's go. I can't wait to settle in so I can see Jace," Charlene said, blushing.

"Look who's blushing? As if you weren't crying seconds ago," Charlotte mocked.

****

"Charlene Craig, room 175. Charlotte Winston, room 65," the hostel administrator said, handing them their room keys.

"Not the same room?" Charlene grumbled, disappointed. She had thought that since Charlotte and herself were admitted on the same day, they would be roommates.

"Apparently not, Miss Craig. Hurry up to your rooms. Your orientation and freshman party are this evening," the hostel administrator replied, dismissing them.

"You couldn't even ask her to let us share a room," Charlene glared at Charlotte as soon as they left the office.

"C'mon, Charl. She looked scary. I couldn't risk it," Charlotte replied casually.

"I don't want new friends. I don't want anyone coming between us," Charlene pouted, already getting emotional.

"Friends forever. Nothing and no one can come between us," Charlotte said suddenly, teasingly smiling, trying to trigger something in Charlene.

"Our childhood promise," Charlene giggled, and they hugged before making their way to their separate rooms.

Charlene dragged her luggage tiredly, searching for room 175. "I can't believe I have to use these stairs every single day," she grumbled, hating the fact that her room was on the fifth floor.

"Finally found it," she grinned when she finally found the room. She inserted her keys into the keyhole.

An astonished gasp escaped her lips as she stepped into the room, which was much girlier than her room at home.

"Awesome," she whispered, looking around. "You might want to close your mouth," she heard a scoff.

"Roommate?" she asked in surprise, staring weirdly at the girl.

"Obviously," her supposed roommate scoffed.

"Rude," Charlene muttered, walking angrily to the closet, hating that she would have to share a room with a rude brat for the entire semester.

"I'm Hazel," her supposed roommate smiled, walking towards the closet.

"You smile, huh?" Charlene asked sarcastically.

"W

ho doesn't smile? I was thinking of being friends with you, but damn, I changed my mind," Hazel hissed.

"You're annoying," Charlene spat, and Hazel grinned, seeming amused.

"I'll help you out," she volunteered, and Charlene stared at her, trying to figure something out before simply shrugging.

"Finally," Charlene exhaled as soon as she and Hazel finished arranging her stuff.

"Lazy thing," Hazel chuckled, amused, wondering why a teenager would be that tired just from arranging her own clothes.

"Thanks, Hazel," Charlene said with a genuine smile.

"You're welcome... Charlene," Hazel trailed off, realizing she didn't even know her name.

"Nice name. Let's go prepare for orientation. I heard there's going to be a party afterwards," Hazel grinned.

"Here goes another party freak," Charlene groaned, remembering that Charlotte was also obsessed with parties.

**After the orientation**

"Don't tell me you're going to the freshman party dressed like this," Hazel asked, staring amusingly at Charlene, who was wearing a long, flared gown with a scarf tied in her blonde hair.

"Of course. It's just a party. Besides, what's wrong with my dress?" Charlene asked, looking at her reflection in the mirror.

"C'mon, you look like my mom. I mean, the dress is way too big for you," Hazel chuckled.

"You wish," Charlene scoffed, seeing nothing wrong with her dress since it was a gift from her mom.

"Anyway, the orientation was pretty boring. I should get ready for some drama," Hazel grinned.

"What drama?" Charlene asked curiously.

"You'll see, but please don't cry too much. And self-acceptance is important," she replied.

"What are you getting at?" Charlene furrowed her eyebrows suspiciously.

"Nevermind. I guess I'm just talking too much," Hazel replied, and Charlene shrugged.

"Gotta go. Catch ya later," she said, leaving Hazel alone in the room.

****

"Charlotte, I don't know what's going on with Jace. He hasn't been answering my calls," Charlene whined, barging into Charlotte's room.

"Good evening to you too, Charlene. And what are you wearing? We're not going to a service," Charlotte replied, getting annoyed.

"I don't have the strength for sarcasm right now," Charlene cried.

"Let's just go to the party. Maybe we'll bump into him. But Char, who wears a flared dress to a party?" Charlotte asked.

"Let's just leave already," Charlene said, ignoring the dressing aspect.

"Let's go then," Charlotte replied, giving up.

****

"Finally found her scent?" a young man asked, walking into the shaman's temple.

"Not yet," the shaman replied.

"For how long will you keep saying 'not yet'? We have to find her before they do, or you know what will happen," the man said, his expression

tense.

"Arnold, no matter how long it takes, the prophecy must be fulfilled. Not even the Nickels can stop it," the shaman replied.

****

"Whoa!" Charlotte screamed as they walked into the hall where loud music was already playing.

"I missed this. Let's go get a good spot," she grinned, dragging Charlene, who had been silent the whole time.

Hazel scoffed from where she was watching. "Some people aren't worth it," she muttered, taking a sip from her drink.

A few minutes into the party, Charlotte spotted someone leaving and excused herself. Charlene kept looking around for any sign of Jace, but he wasn't in sight.

Suddenly, the urge to urinate hit her hard, and she had to answer nature's call. As she entered the restroom, she froze on the spot. Jace, her boyfriend, was making out crazily with...

To be continued...