Claire stirred on the bed, long brown hair a halo around her head. Her pillow had fallen to the floor as she lie curled atop the blankets in a white cotton nightgown.

As the door creaked, Claire opened her light hazel eyes, groaning slightly at the light entering the room. She moved to raise her head, a wave of dull pain moving through her body.
Again? What was happening to her? Was she sick? This was the second day in a row she had woken up, not remembering how she had gotten to bed. And both times she woke up aching....all over.

Claire pushed herself upright with a soft moan, hand pressed to her lower stomach. She turned to regard the new arrival through bleary eyes.

"Mmmm....hello....who are you?"

She rubbed at her eyes in a vaguely childlike manner, both hands rising to her face like a raccoon as she scrubbed her eyes against the backs of her thumbs. When she lowered her hands to her lap, her eyes looked clearer, more focused. Her face was now framed by her unbound hair, a pale countenance turned slightly to one side in curiosity.

Claire tilted her head to one side in a birdlike manner. The small, frail girl's expression clouded with confusion as she turned to look at the luggage on the other side of the room.

"I...don't know. Maybe while I was asleep? My name is Claire. It is very nice to meet you...Linea? Did I get that right?"

The pale girl smiled openly, her hand reaching up to brush her dark brown tresses away from her face. Her voice had a distinct lack of accent, the words pronounced precisely. She turned on the bed, tucking her knees under herself demurely, unconsciously smoothing the gown out to cover her bare feet.

She eyed the luggage askance, wracking her brain for clues as to how it had arrived.
Why don't I remember her luggage getting here?

Claire's eyebrows furrowed as she looked at the cases for a long moment, the smile fading from her face. Her hands twisted into the lap of her gown as she began to feel a faint gnawing fear in the pit of her belly.
What was wrong with her?

---------

On Claire's side of the room, her luggage had already been stowed neatly away. On the shelf over her bed sits an old and well worn Bible, black cover cracking in places from frequent handling. Sitting next to it are a rosary, the beads a dark red glass leading down to a gold filligree cross, and a pale blue hairband curled around it. The only other piece of adornment to her side of the room is a wooden painter's easel, standing devoid of canvas like a thin legged scarecrow.

Claire shook her head slightly, putting aside her worries for the moment.

"I'm not entirely sure myself. My uniforms c-came the right size. Maybe the book store?"

She dresses so...so...lewdly. I hope she isn't one of those girls.Claire kept her expression friendly, not wanting to put her new roommate off with a rude comment. She felt a bit intimidated by the taller girl.

"If you'd like...I c-can come with you to find it?"

You've got to make friends with her. She's your roommate and God doesn't put people in your path without a reason. Claire rose from the bed, wobbling slightly as her feet touched the ground. She winced as she pushed herself up, her whole body feeling sore and achey. Perhaps a walk around the campus with her, hopefully, new friend would help clear her mind. She turned and picked up the dark blue headband from the shelf over her bed, walking slowly into the bathroom to brush out her hair. She looked back into the room, smiling at the picture on the nightstand.

"Are those your p-parents?"