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"Inhuman Behavior" by saraheolson

Lyra arrives at her dormitory for her first day of college, but she is no normal college student, she's not even human. With the help of her friend Marc, Lyra must learn how to blend in with the rest of the students while learning as much as she can about the humans around her. Within one human lies the answer to her heart's desire, but will she be able to pass for a human long enough to find him?

Category: Book: 1st Chapter

Tags: fantasy, young adult, fiction, romance, paranormal

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Chapter One

"Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd."

Voltaire

 

As the faint glow of sunlight signaled the start of a new day, Lyra knew that something had gone terribly wrong. Marc should have been here a half hour ago, and yet there was still no sign of him. She craned her head past the evergreen branches that were obstructing her full view of the sidewalk. In the foggy morning light, she could only see a few feet in front of her. Marc must be in trouble. She considered going for help, but there was no one who could help her. As she made the decision to turn back, forgoing all the careful preparations they had made over the past few months, a shadowy silhouette appeared on the far end of the sidewalk. The figure walked slowly towards the cluster of trees, and then stopped directly in front of the spot where she was hiding. Knowing that no one else would have been able to discern her cloaked figure in her dark hiding spot, she relaxed and stepped out of the evergreens.

“Mornin’ Lee! How was the trip?” Marc asked, yawning as he ran his hand through his unruly brown hair. He had obviously just gotten out of bed.

“Where have you been?” Lyra hissed. “I was worried that you were not going to come for me after all!”

“Calm down, Lyra! I’m just a few minutes late. Here,” he said as he flung a black canvas duffel bag at her feet.

“Where do you expect me to change?”

“Just change in the trees there. It’s still pretty dark; no one will see you.”

“Please tell me that you are joking.”

“Lee, we haven’t got much time! You can’t walk around here dressed like that. I’ll keep a watch out for you while you change.” Marc faced away from her and gazed out at the quiet street in front of them.

Lyra groaned and slid back into her hiding space between the evergreens. “You had better not turn around while I am changing!"

“Don’t worry, Lee. I won’t look.” She could hear him chuckle, and though he was facing away from her, she knew he had a smug grin on his face.

Lyra took another look at the outfit Marc had brought out for her. “What is all of this, Marc? Did you bring me pants?”

Marc’s laugh was louder this time. “Yes, I brought you pants. Girls around here wear pants most of the time, sorry to say, so you’re just gonna have to get used to it. Put the pants and that shirt on for now, and I‘ll explain the rest to you later. Oh, and you’ll need shoes too, so put those sandals on.”

Lyra moaned. This was not going to be as easy as she thought. She unhappily struggled into the stiff, uncomfortable blue jeans and threw on the black cotton t-shirt that Marc had supplied to her. She emerged from the bushes with a deep frown on her face.

“All set?” Marc turned Lyra around in a circle to evaluate her ensemble. “Aw, aren’t you cute? Stuff your cloak into the bag and let’s get moving. We’ve got a lot to do today!”

Lyra stuck out her tongue as Marc walked away. The exhilaration she had felt all week had changed swiftly into fear and apprehension. Marc’s nonchalance was not helping to set her at ease. She shoved her grayish-green cloak into the duffel bag, and ran a few steps to catch up with him.

The sky was much lighter now, and she surveyed the street as they walked. To their right was a large brick building, and on the left was a street with a line of parked cars. Lyra had never seen a car before, but Marc had shown her pictures of them. “Are there always so many cars on the street?”

“Oh, this is nothing! Wait until rush hour, the streets will be full of them! Just wait until you have to dodge them while crossing the street. You’re gonna flip out.”

Lyra stared at the street as they walked. She couldn’t fathom trying to dart across a street full of moving cars. She realized she had stopped walking when she felt Marc draw close to her.

“Are you okay, Lyra?”

Lyra closed her eyes, took a deep breath and nodded.

“I was nervous the first time I came here too. Everyone is at first. It’s natural.” He flashed her the wide, goofy grin that, under normal circumstances, always made her laugh. She forced herself to return his smile, but she was sure it ended up looking more like a grimace.

As they reached the end of the sidewalk, Lyra’s heart raced as she saw a few cars speeding down the road in front of them. This road was much wider and it was much more intimidating. She faltered as they reached the street, not sure if she'd be able to summon her legs to move out into the dangerous road. Marc did not stop as he reached the corner; instead, he turned right and continued following the sidewalk on the same side of the street. Lyra sighed in relief and followed Marc around the corner of the massive brick building.

Lyra leaned back as she craned her head up to view the full expanse of the building. The area next to them appeared to be only a few stories high, but the tower at the end of the building was much taller. She had never seen a building so tall; it must have been at least ten stories high.

Marc turned towards her and gestured towards the building next to them, “Home sweet home!”

“We are going to live in there?” Lyra grimaced at the sound of her own voice, high-pitched and screechy, as the words escaped her lips.

“Yep. Dawson Hall. Pretty cool, huh?”

Lyra stared blankly at the dark brick exterior and decided to remain silent until she could master control of her voice.

“We’ll get you checked in after breakfast.”

The next hour was a blur to Lyra. She followed Marc blindly through the lobby of the building and into a large cafeteria. Only a handful of people were seated in the large dining room, each eating their breakfast solemnly and alone. Marc explained that most of the students would be arriving at the dormitory today, and they would go back to the lobby to check Lyra into her room after they were finished with their breakfast. While Marc ate heartily, Lyra merely stirred the spoon around her bowl of cereal until he was finished.

When they returned to the lobby, Lyra was amazed at how quickly the large room had filled. The long lines of students waited in line in front of a row of tables that were set up at the far end of the lobby. Most of the students carried their luggage with them and talked cheerfully with others in line. The noise of conversation was almost too much for Lyra to bear. She’d never been in such a small room with so many people before. Marc chatted animatedly with the people next to him as they waited, and though he tried to include her in the conversation, she was too overwhelmed to speak. Finally she made it to the front of the line.

“Name?” The elderly woman behind the table did not even bother to lift her eyes up from the sheet of paper in front of her.

“Lyriana,” she replied meekly.

“Your name?” The woman repeated again, unable to hear Lyra’s weak response. This time she looked up at Lyra, looking directly into her eyes as she waited for a response. Lyra blushed and lowered her gaze, unable to speak.

“Lyriana Vansdottir,” Marc replied for her.

The woman surveyed Marc as she adjusted her glasses and then looked back down at her paper. “Ah, there we go, Room 903. Here’s your packet. It has your course schedule in it, some maps of the campus, and other useful information. Sign here please,” she said as she pushed forward a sheet of paper.

Lyra was coherent enough to know that she was supposed to respond, but she was so overcome with anxiety that she could not move. She had not heard anything that the woman had said to her, and she looked at Marc in a panic. Marc slid the paper closer to Lyra and put a pen in her hand. He leaned towards her and whispered in her ear, “Just write your name here, Lyra,” and pointed to the line on the paper next to her name. Lyra gripped the pen in her shaking hand and managed to scrawl out an illegible signature. “Sorry, she’s just a bit nervous. She’s never been away from home before.” Marc gave the woman his irresistibly goofy smile, and Lyra was not surprised when the woman giggled. Marc was always so charming. It seemed like nothing ever unnerved him.

“No problem, dear. Where are you from?”

“We’re both from Iceland. I’ve been here for a couple of years, but she just arrived this morning and I think she’s a bit overwhelmed.” He winked as he yanked the pen out of Lyra’s hand, gave it back to the woman behind the table, and grabbed Lyra’s packet.

“Goodness, Iceland! Well, isn’t that a long way off? How long was the flight?”

“Oh, it’s about eight hours or so, depending on if you fly direct or not. Not too bad. So, room 903, we’d need to go to the elevators on the left?”

“Yes, just over there. Good luck on your first week of school!” The elderly woman smiled as Marc steered Lyra away from the table and towards the elevator.

“How did you know how long the flight was from Iceland?” Lyra looked at Marc in amazement. He had answered the woman’s questions without a moment of hesitation. Lyra couldn’t imagine being that cool under pressure.

“Someone asked me that question once, when I first got here. I just spit out some response at the time, but I figured it would be useful knowledge to have the next time someone asks me about it.”

“Marc, are you sure that I will be able to do this? How will I handle all these questions?” Lyra wondered how Marc managed to lie so easily. She was definitely going to have to master that particular skill if she wanted to stay here.

“Don’t worry, Lee! I’ve got it all covered. Just hang tight for a few weeks and you’ll figure it out!”

Marc ushered her towards a metal door on the left side of the lobby, and pushed a button on the door marked with an arrow pointing upwards. The metal doors opened slowly, and they stepped inside the small chamber. He then showed her how to press the button marked with the number nine, and the doors began to close.

“Ooh, you’re on the top floor, Lee! Penthouse suite!” Marc whistled as the elevator lurched, and Lyra completely lost control.

“What is this thing, Marc? Are we moving? WHAT IS GOING ON?” Lyra jumped towards the doors and tried to pry them open with her fingers. All of the frustration and anxiety of the morning had worn out her remaining reservoir of self-control. Her porcelain skin became brighter, more intense, and a faint glow was visible around her body, as if a lamp had been turned on underneath her skin. Her chocolate hair blew around her face though there was no perceivable wind. In contrast to her luminous skin, her coal black eyes sparkled like onyx with crystalline tears forming in the corners of her lids.

Marc’s eyes widened in fear as he watched her transformation. “Lyra! Calm down, calm down! It’s just an elevator. It’s how you move between the different levels of the building. Please calm down!” Marc desperately avoided the urge to put his arm around Lyra to try to calm her down. Girls around here would appreciate being comforted like that, but he knew how offensive it would be to Lyra. He doubted she’d ever been touched by any man before, including her own father. 

Lyra was sobbing as she slid to the floor. She tried to rein in her self-control, but she couldn’t stop the jerking movements of her chest, nor the tears streaming down her cheeks. She resolved to at least compose herself enough to stop glowing, and she used all her remaining energy to focus on that task.

Marc stood with his hands outstretched, trying to think of a way to calm her down. He’d never seen Lyra upset before, and it reminded him how precarious their situation here was. He resolved to keep a very close eye on her for the next few days. “It’s a good thing we’re alone in here or you’d have given us away already. At least it’s a slow elevator,” Mark mumbled under his breath.

“You could have warned me. There are no elevators at home.” Lyra hated that she sounded so childlike and sullen, but she couldn’t help feeling that Marc was partially to blame for her meltdown.

“There’s going to be lots of new and strange things here, Lyra, you just have to relax and take it all in stride.”

Lyra was disappointed to find the hallway crowded when the elevator doors opened. She had managed to calm down enough to blend in with the rest of the students congregating there. Lyra kept her head down and followed directly behind Marc as he maneuvered down the hallway. “Ah, here we go. 903. After you, my lady,” Marc gestured towards the door he opened for Lyra, beckoning her inside with a bow.

Lyra surveyed the room where she was to spend the next nine months. It was a small room. The smallest closet in her bedroom at home was at least twice this size! Directly in front of her were two beds, one on top of the other. “Ooh, bunk beds!” Marc yelled as he jumped forward and landed on the bottom bunk. Marc was obviously more excited about her new living situation than she was. She took a deep breath, and looked around at the rest of the room. There was another single bed next to the door on her left. Beside the bed was a desk with a bulletin board directly above it. Looking to her right, she saw a small, bare closet. Otherwise, the room was empty.

“Three beds! There is not enough room for one person to live in here!” Lyra crumpled down onto the single bed opposite Marc, tears stinging her eyes once again.

“Oh Lyra, relax a little. You’re here to meet new people and experience a different way of life. What better way to do that than with two new roommates?” Marc gave her a hopeful grin as cocked his head to the side and shrugged.

“This place is so different from home. How can I possibly manage to fool these people, especially when we live in such close quarters?”

Marc pulled himself off the bed and crossed the room to sit down next to Lyra. He remained silent for a few minutes, and then said, “Lyra, just give it a shot. Stay a few weeks, and if you don’t like it here, you can go home and forget this ever happened. I know it’s hard, but I absolutely believe that you can do this. And I really think you’ll end up liking it too! I do!”

Lyra sighed, and wiped away the tears from her face. She couldn’t remember crying so much in one day. “I thought I was prepared for this, but it is all so overwhelming.”

“I know, Lee. But you’ll get used to it. You will!” He expected Lyra would have a hard time today, but he was pleased that she had made it this far. Lyra was so sheltered, and he longed for her to experience the world outside the confines of her home. He had spent the past few months trying to describe to her everything she might encounter here, but he was bound to miss a few things, like the elevator.

The door opened suddenly and two young girls walked into the room. They were talking loudly to each other as they walked in. They glanced quickly at Marc and Lyra, but kept their own conversation going as they moved towards the bunk beds across the room. One of the girls had shoulder-length blonde hair, hazel eyes and a rounded body. Her nose was slightly upturned and her cheeks were freckled with pimples. The other girl was slighter, had gray eyes and long, greasy brown hair. Both were dressed simply in jeans and t-shirts.

Marc stood up and addressed the two newcomers. “Hi, I’m Marc and this is Lyra. How are you?” Marc was always able to start conversations easily with strangers. Something Lyra had never been good at. But then, she had never had many opportunities to converse with strangers at home.

“Andrea,” The brunette responded without looking away from her friend. “She’s Julie.” They turned away and dumped their bags next to the closet in the corner of the room.

“You guys from around here?”

“Yep. So you’re taking that bed, then?” Julie pointed to the bed where Lyra sat.

Lyra shrugged as she looked up at Julie, who stared directly back at her. Lyra quickly shifted her eyes down towards the ground and stared at the green carpet.

“Well, if you don’t care, then I’ll take that bed.” Julie moved towards the bed and tossed one of her bags down at the foot of the bed without waiting for an answer. Lyra stood up awkwardly and shuffled towards Marc, who was standing in the center of the room.

“I’m taking the bottom bunk. I can’t believe they gave us bunk beds.” Andrea dropped down onto the bottom bunk and closed her eyes. Julie had retrieved a magazine from her bag and sprawled out on her bed to read it.

Marc threw Lyra’s duffel bag onto the top bunk. “How ‘bout we go check out my new roommate, Lyra? We’ll see you guys later, then.” Marc waited for a response from Lyra’s new roommates, but after waiting a few moments for a response, he shrugged and started to move towards the door. Marc had hoped that her roommates would have made more of an effort to be friendly. If Lyra found made some friends here, she’d be more likely to stay.

As they left the room, Marc glanced at Lyra and saw the disheartened look on her face. “Give them a little time to get settled in, and I’m sure you‘ll end up being great friends. Just promise me you’ll try to make an effort to get to know them.” Marc raised an eyebrow as he waited for Lyra’s answer.

“I promise that I will try, Marc.” Lyra tried to sound convincing, but her stomach was clenched so tightly that she could barely breathe. At this moment, Lyra felt that going away to a human college was the worst decision that she had ever made.



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Category Name: Character Development

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1. Chapter One

2. "Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd."

3. Voltaire

4.  

5. As the faint glow of sunlight signaled the start of a new day, Lyra knew that something had gone terribly wrong. Marc should have been here a half hour ago, and yet there was still no sign of him. She craned her head past the evergreen branches that were obstructing her full view of the sidewalk. In the foggy morning light, she could only see a few feet in front of her. Marc must be in trouble. She considered going for help, but there was no one who could help her. As she made the decision to turn back, forgoing all the careful preparations they had made over the past few months, a shadowy silhouette appeared on the far end of the sidewalk. The figure walked slowly towards the cluster of trees, and then stopped directly in front of the spot where she was hiding. Knowing that no one else would have been able to discern her cloaked figure in her dark hiding spot, she relaxed and stepped out of the evergreens.

6. “Mornin’ Lee! How was the trip?” Marc asked, yawning as he ran his hand through his unruly brown hair. He had obviously just gotten out of bed.

7. “Where have you been?” Lyra hissed. “I was worried that you were not going to come for me after all!”

8. “Calm down, Lyra! I’m just a few minutes late. Here,” he said as he flung a black canvas duffel bag at her feet.

9. “Where do you expect me to change?”

10. “Just change in the trees there. It’s still pretty dark; no one will see you.”

11. “Please tell me that you are joking.”

12. “Lee, we haven’t got much time! You can’t walk around here dressed like that. I’ll keep a watch out for you while you change.” Marc faced away from her and gazed out at the quiet street in front of them.

13. Lyra groaned and slid back into her hiding space between the evergreens. “You had better not turn around while I am changing!"

14. “Don’t worry, Lee. I won’t look.” She could hear him chuckle, and though he was facing away from her, she knew he had a smug grin on his face.

15. Lyra took another look at the outfit Marc had brought out for her. “What is all of this, Marc? Did you bring me pants?”

16. Marc’s laugh was louder this time. “Yes, I brought you pants. Girls around here wear pants most of the time, sorry to say, so you’re just gonna have to get used to it. Put the pants and that shirt on for now, and I‘ll explain the rest to you later. Oh, and you’ll need shoes too, so put those sandals on.”

17. Lyra moaned. This was not going to be as easy as she thought. She unhappily struggled into the stiff, uncomfortable blue jeans and threw on the black cotton t-shirt that Marc had supplied to her. She emerged from the bushes with a deep frown on her face.

18. “All set?” Marc turned Lyra around in a circle to evaluate her ensemble. “Aw, aren’t you cute? Stuff your cloak into the bag and let’s get moving. We’ve got a lot to do today!”

19. Lyra stuck out her tongue as Marc walked away. The exhilaration she had felt all week had changed swiftly into fear and apprehension. Marc’s nonchalance was not helping to set her at ease. She shoved her grayish-green cloak into the duffel bag, and ran a few steps to catch up with him.

20. The sky was much lighter now, and she surveyed the street as they walked. To their right was a large brick building, and on the left was a street with a line of parked cars. Lyra had never seen a car before, but Marc had shown her pictures of them. “Are there always so many cars on the street?”

21. “Oh, this is nothing! Wait until rush hour, the streets will be full of them! Just wait until you have to dodge them while crossing the street. You’re gonna flip out.”

22. Lyra stared at the street as they walked. She couldn’t fathom trying to dart across a street full of moving cars. She realized she had stopped walking when she felt Marc draw close to her.

23. “Are you okay, Lyra?”

24. Lyra closed her eyes, took a deep breath and nodded.

25. “I was nervous the first time I came here too. Everyone is at first. It’s natural.” He flashed her the wide, goofy grin that, under normal circumstances, always made her laugh. She forced herself to return his smile, but she was sure it ended up looking more like a grimace.

26. As they reached the end of the sidewalk, Lyra’s heart raced as she saw a few cars speeding down the road in front of them. This road was much wider and it was much more intimidating. She faltered as they reached the street, not sure if she'd be able to summon her legs to move out into the dangerous road. Marc did not stop as he reached the corner; instead, he turned right and continued following the sidewalk on the same side of the street. Lyra sighed in relief and followed Marc around the corner of the massive brick building.

27. Lyra leaned back as she craned her head up to view the full expanse of the building. The area next to them appeared to be only a few stories high, but the tower at the end of the building was much taller. She had never seen a building so tall; it must have been at least ten stories high.

28. Marc turned towards her and gestured towards the building next to them, “Home sweet home!”

29. “We are going to live in there?” Lyra grimaced at the sound of her own voice, high-pitched and screechy, as the words escaped her lips.

30. “Yep. Dawson Hall. Pretty cool, huh?”

31. Lyra stared blankly at the dark brick exterior and decided to remain silent until she could master control of her voice.

32. “We’ll get you checked in after breakfast.”

33. The next hour was a blur to Lyra. She followed Marc blindly through the lobby of the building and into a large cafeteria. Only a handful of people were seated in the large dining room, each eating their breakfast solemnly and alone. Marc explained that most of the students would be arriving at the dormitory today, and they would go back to the lobby to check Lyra into her room after they were finished with their breakfast. While Marc ate heartily, Lyra merely stirred the spoon around her bowl of cereal until he was finished.

34. When they returned to the lobby, Lyra was amazed at how quickly the large room had filled. The long lines of students waited in line in front of a row of tables that were set up at the far end of the lobby. Most of the students carried their luggage with them and talked cheerfully with others in line. The noise of conversation was almost too much for Lyra to bear. She’d never been in such a small room with so many people before. Marc chatted animatedly with the people next to him as they waited, and though he tried to include her in the conversation, she was too overwhelmed to speak. Finally she made it to the front of the line.

35. “Name?” The elderly woman behind the table did not even bother to lift her eyes up from the sheet of paper in front of her.

36. “Lyriana,” she replied meekly.

37. “Your name?” The woman repeated again, unable to hear Lyra’s weak response. This time she looked up at Lyra, looking directly into her eyes as she waited for a response. Lyra blushed and lowered her gaze, unable to speak.

38. “Lyriana Vansdottir,” Marc replied for her.

39. The woman surveyed Marc as she adjusted her glasses and then looked back down at her paper. “Ah, there we go, Room 903. Here’s your packet. It has your course schedule in it, some maps of the campus, and other useful information. Sign here please,” she said as she pushed forward a sheet of paper.

40. Lyra was coherent enough to know that she was supposed to respond, but she was so overcome with anxiety that she could not move. She had not heard anything that the woman had said to her, and she looked at Marc in a panic. Marc slid the paper closer to Lyra and put a pen in her hand. He leaned towards her and whispered in her ear, “Just write your name here, Lyra,” and pointed to the line on the paper next to her name. Lyra gripped the pen in her shaking hand and managed to scrawl out an illegible signature. “Sorry, she’s just a bit nervous. She’s never been away from home before.” Marc gave the woman his irresistibly goofy smile, and Lyra was not surprised when the woman giggled. Marc was always so charming. It seemed like nothing ever unnerved him.

41. “No problem, dear. Where are you from?”

42. “We’re both from Iceland. I’ve been here for a couple of years, but she just arrived this morning and I think she’s a bit overwhelmed.” He winked as he yanked the pen out of Lyra’s hand, gave it back to the woman behind the table, and grabbed Lyra’s packet.

43. “Goodness, Iceland! Well, isn’t that a long way off? How long was the flight?”

44. “Oh, it’s about eight hours or so, depending on if you fly direct or not. Not too bad. So, room 903, we’d need to go to the elevators on the left?”

45. “Yes, just over there. Good luck on your first week of school!” The elderly woman smiled as Marc steered Lyra away from the table and towards the elevator.

46. “How did you know how long the flight was from Iceland?” Lyra looked at Marc in amazement. He had answered the woman’s questions without a moment of hesitation. Lyra couldn’t imagine being that cool under pressure.

47. “Someone asked me that question once, when I first got here. I just spit out some response at the time, but I figured it would be useful knowledge to have the next time someone asks me about it.”

48. “Marc, are you sure that I will be able to do this? How will I handle all these questions?” Lyra wondered how Marc managed to lie so easily. She was definitely going to have to master that particular skill if she wanted to stay here.

49. “Don’t worry, Lee! I’ve got it all covered. Just hang tight for a few weeks and you’ll figure it out!”

50. Marc ushered her towards a metal door on the left side of the lobby, and pushed a button on the door marked with an arrow pointing upwards. The metal doors opened slowly, and they stepped inside the small chamber. He then showed her how to press the button marked with the number nine, and the doors began to close.

51. “Ooh, you’re on the top floor, Lee! Penthouse suite!” Marc whistled as the elevator lurched, and Lyra completely lost control.

52. “What is this thing, Marc? Are we moving? WHAT IS GOING ON?” Lyra jumped towards the doors and tried to pry them open with her fingers. All of the frustration and anxiety of the morning had worn out her remaining reservoir of self-control. Her porcelain skin became brighter, more intense, and a faint glow was visible around her body, as if a lamp had been turned on underneath her skin. Her chocolate hair blew around her face though there was no perceivable wind. In contrast to her luminous skin, her coal black eyes sparkled like onyx with crystalline tears forming in the corners of her lids.

53. Marc’s eyes widened in fear as he watched her transformation. “Lyra! Calm down, calm down! It’s just an elevator. It’s how you move between the different levels of the building. Please calm down!” Marc desperately avoided the urge to put his arm around Lyra to try to calm her down. Girls around here would appreciate being comforted like that, but he knew how offensive it would be to Lyra. He doubted she’d ever been touched by any man before, including her own father. 

54. Lyra was sobbing as she slid to the floor. She tried to rein in her self-control, but she couldn’t stop the jerking movements of her chest, nor the tears streaming down her cheeks. She resolved to at least compose herself enough to stop glowing, and she used all her remaining energy to focus on that task.

55. Marc stood with his hands outstretched, trying to think of a way to calm her down. He’d never seen Lyra upset before, and it reminded him how precarious their situation here was. He resolved to keep a very close eye on her for the next few days. “It’s a good thing we’re alone in here or you’d have given us away already. At least it’s a slow elevator,” Mark mumbled under his breath.

56. “You could have warned me. There are no elevators at home.” Lyra hated that she sounded so childlike and sullen, but she couldn’t help feeling that Marc was partially to blame for her meltdown.

57. “There’s going to be lots of new and strange things here, Lyra, you just have to relax and take it all in stride.”

58. Lyra was disappointed to find the hallway crowded when the elevator doors opened. She had managed to calm down enough to blend in with the rest of the students congregating there. Lyra kept her head down and followed directly behind Marc as he maneuvered down the hallway. “Ah, here we go. 903. After you, my lady,” Marc gestured towards the door he opened for Lyra, beckoning her inside with a bow.

59. Lyra surveyed the room where she was to spend the next nine months. It was a small room. The smallest closet in her bedroom at home was at least twice this size! Directly in front of her were two beds, one on top of the other. “Ooh, bunk beds!” Marc yelled as he jumped forward and landed on the bottom bunk. Marc was obviously more excited about her new living situation than she was. She took a deep breath, and looked around at the rest of the room. There was another single bed next to the door on her left. Beside the bed was a desk with a bulletin board directly above it. Looking to her right, she saw a small, bare closet. Otherwise, the room was empty.

60. “Three beds! There is not enough room for one person to live in here!” Lyra crumpled down onto the single bed opposite Marc, tears stinging her eyes once again.

61. “Oh Lyra, relax a little. You’re here to meet new people and experience a different way of life. What better way to do that than with two new roommates?” Marc gave her a hopeful grin as cocked his head to the side and shrugged.

62. “This place is so different from home. How can I possibly manage to fool these people, especially when we live in such close quarters?”

63. Marc pulled himself off the bed and crossed the room to sit down next to Lyra. He remained silent for a few minutes, and then said, “Lyra, just give it a shot. Stay a few weeks, and if you don’t like it here, you can go home and forget this ever happened. I know it’s hard, but I absolutely believe that you can do this. And I really think you’ll end up liking it too! I do!”

64. Lyra sighed, and wiped away the tears from her face. She couldn’t remember crying so much in one day. “I thought I was prepared for this, but it is all so overwhelming.”

65. “I know, Lee. But you’ll get used to it. You will!” He expected Lyra would have a hard time today, but he was pleased that she had made it this far. Lyra was so sheltered, and he longed for her to experience the world outside the confines of her home. He had spent the past few months trying to describe to her everything she might encounter here, but he was bound to miss a few things, like the elevator.

66. The door opened suddenly and two young girls walked into the room. They were talking loudly to each other as they walked in. They glanced quickly at Marc and Lyra, but kept their own conversation going as they moved towards the bunk beds across the room. One of the girls had shoulder-length blonde hair, hazel eyes and a rounded body. Her nose was slightly upturned and her cheeks were freckled with pimples. The other girl was slighter, had gray eyes and long, greasy brown hair. Both were dressed simply in jeans and t-shirts.

67. Marc stood up and addressed the two newcomers. “Hi, I’m Marc and this is Lyra. How are you?” Marc was always able to start conversations easily with strangers. Something Lyra had never been good at. But then, she had never had many opportunities to converse with strangers at home.

68. “Andrea,” The brunette responded without looking away from her friend. “She’s Julie.” They turned away and dumped their bags next to the closet in the corner of the room.

69. “You guys from around here?”

70. “Yep. So you’re taking that bed, then?” Julie pointed to the bed where Lyra sat.

71. Lyra shrugged as she looked up at Julie, who stared directly back at her. Lyra quickly shifted her eyes down towards the ground and stared at the green carpet.

72. “Well, if you don’t care, then I’ll take that bed.” Julie moved towards the bed and tossed one of her bags down at the foot of the bed without waiting for an answer. Lyra stood up awkwardly and shuffled towards Marc, who was standing in the center of the room.

73. “I’m taking the bottom bunk. I can’t believe they gave us bunk beds.” Andrea dropped down onto the bottom bunk and closed her eyes. Julie had retrieved a magazine from her bag and sprawled out on her bed to read it.

74. Marc threw Lyra’s duffel bag onto the top bunk. “How ‘bout we go check out my new roommate, Lyra? We’ll see you guys later, then.” Marc waited for a response from Lyra’s new roommates, but after waiting a few moments for a response, he shrugged and started to move towards the door. Marc had hoped that her roommates would have made more of an effort to be friendly. If Lyra found made some friends here, she’d be more likely to stay.

75. As they left the room, Marc glanced at Lyra and saw the disheartened look on her face. “Give them a little time to get settled in, and I’m sure you‘ll end up being great friends. Just promise me you’ll try to make an effort to get to know them.” Marc raised an eyebrow as he waited for Lyra’s answer.

76. “I promise that I will try, Marc.” Lyra tried to sound convincing, but her stomach was clenched so tightly that she could barely breathe. At this moment, Lyra felt that going away to a human college was the worst decision that she had ever made.

77.

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