Conspiratorial plans aside, Aracelia was excited about one piece of her new life especially; the co-ed dorms. While at Hainesworth, it'd been decided for her that she would stay home rather than live on campus and fully indulge in the experience she wanted. Her parents thought it was the best way to keep her from making bad decisions and putting their legacy at risk.

Little did they know, she had several false alarms that would've driven her mother hysterical. Now that she was at Belgrave, the thought of having a few more was more than entertaining. Besides, what was the point of dabbling in magic if she couldn't use it to save her from her own mistakes?

She walked into the lobby of the dorm, acquainting herself with the layout and faces of other students. Her gaze had just passed over a bleached blonde male accompanied by a pretty and short female with caramel skin and spiraling dark hair when she suddenly heard her name called out. Aracelia looked around, the space mostly empty aside from the few strays, but didn't notice anyone she recognized. She was prepared to write it off as her imagination when she heard it again.

This time, she found the over enthusiastic source bounding towards her; the girl with the curling hair that she barely noticed before. The girl smiled, wide and obviously fake, as she came to a stop before Aracelia. She attempted to stand in a regal way that was meant to make her seem taller and more in- charge. Instead, it only served to remind Aracelia of a child playing pretend.

"Do I know you?" Aracelia asked bluntly, watching the boy her intruder had been with slip away down the hall. "Actually, you don't have to answer. Because I know for a fact that I don't know you."

"Sorry, I'm just so used to everyone knowing me," the girl said with an exaggerated laugh and roll of her eyes. Aracelia looked on, unamused. "My name is Gabrielle Dupres, but most everyone calls me Gabby. I have been asked to guide you through campus and dorm life the next few days since you'll be rooming right across the hall from me."

"I didn't ask for that," Aracelia shrugged.

"No, but Chancellor Stone did," Gabby returned, voice sounding tense and strained. Her dark eyes looked Aracelia over, registering the duffel in one hand and the backpack over her shoulder. Her features morphed into curiosity and disbelief. "Is that all you brought with you? I mean, they told you you have a single, right?"

Aracelia sighed, already exhausted by the girl's presence. She supposed she should've realized that Magus Stone would want to keep watch over her, but this was the least thrilling way she could think of. "The rest of my stuff is in my car, in the lot out back," she answered, unable to hide her annoyance. "I couldn't exactly carry it all in one trip."

"Oh, thank God," Gabby replied, visibly relieved. "I thought you were gonna be one of those girls that just leave their room drab, no personification at all." She leaned forward, pitching her voice only slightly lower as if she were about to reveal a secret. "I mean, how are you supposed to bring someone back to your room to—you know—when it looks and feels like a prison cell. Like, we're in college, not Alcatraz, you know? Have some class." She rolled her eyes and shook her head as she turned, just missing the judgemental look Aracelia shot her way.

Not only was she being baby-sat, but it was by a girl who really believed that her and her thoughts were the most important things in the world.

"Anyway, just follow me and I'll show you to your room," Gabby continued over her shoulder, leading the way. "Thought, I should warn you that I won't be able to help you with the rest of your things. You know, getting them from your car and stuff? I have something important to attend to, I hope you understand." Something about her voice told Aracelia that she was lying. More than likely to get out of helping and doing what she didn't want to do.

Lucky for Gabby, Aracelia didn't want or need her help.

They rode an elevator a few floors up, Gabby talking a mile a minute about all of the best places to party while Aracelia stared at the metal door. The moment it opened, she quickly walked through them glancing down each direction of the hall as if hoping for a sign pointing to her escape. Instead, she sees a couple of other students chatting in the hall.

Her eyes linger a little longer on a tall, lanky boy with short curly dark hair atop his head. He was leaned comfortably against the wall, joking with another guy, shaking his head at whatever they said. As if feeling he was being watched, his head turned in her direction, dark eyes locking with hers. His smile stretched, bright and inviting across his face.

Aracelia was tempted to visit it up close but was torn away by the unfortunate guide behind her.

"Come on, our rooms are this way," Gabby declared, splitting off in the other direction. Aracelia sighed, turning away to follow suit; so much for getting started on her more entertaining plans.

The pair passed a few closed doors before Gabby looked to the left, hand on the knob of a door with a white board declaring it to be hers. "So, this is my room," she said anyway, eyes skittering about with nerves. "I have to grab something before I go...do the thing I mentioned. So I'll be leaving you here, but your room is a few feet down on the right. It'll be the only door that's open with a devastatingly empty inside."

"Gee, thanks," Aracelia mumbled sarcastically, beginning to leave when Gabby spoke again.

"Oh, and be ready by 11:30 tonight, I'll meet you downstairs so we can go."

"Go...where, exactly?"

Gabby took a step closer, leaning in once more and pitching her voice to a true whisper as someone passed by them. "We have a meeting tonight," she answered. "We need to be at the temple before midnight."

"Temp—hold on, you're in the order?" Aracelia couldn't help but ask skeptically.

Gabby scrunched her face in offense, all nicety dropping away. The shift in her personality seemed more natural and comfortable for her, intriguing Aracelia. She may have been too quick to judge the girl. "Is there a reason that's such a shock to you?"

"Not one particularly," Aracelia answered calmly, clearly aggravating her more. "You just seemed a little too chipper for Vera's taste."

"Yeah, well, I happen to be one of Magus Stone's most trusted—"

"With babysitting?" Aracelia interrupted mockingly, watching the color rush to Gabby's face.

"I'm no one's babysitter," she snapped in response. "And that includes yours; find your own way around campus. Hope you don't cross any hungry wolves." With that, she disappeared into her room, slamming the door shut behind her.

Aracelia couldn't help but chuckle to herself at how easy it was to lose her tail. She continued on her way until she entered her new place of dwelling and winced.

Gabby hadn't been exaggerating in her comparison of the room to a prison cell; it was just barely more glamourous. The walls were painted white but looked darker from age, making the room itself gloomy despite the light streaming in through the single window. Flooding with most of that light was the desk just before it, the single full size bed against one wall and a small dresser against the other.

Nothing like the single dorms her friends had back at Hainesworth. She cringed, dropping her bags on the bed, half expecting dust to fly up from it like a cloud. "Kinda wishing I had that help now," she sighed.

Aracelia glanced at her phone before double checking that her room key was on the ring with the rest. She took one more forlorn look at the room before closing the door behind her and heading back to the elevators. With her phone still in her hand as she walked, she sent her sister a text of her meeting with Vera, followed by a complaint on her living situation. A few feet away from them, Aracelia heard the warning ding of the elevator doors and looked up in time to see them start to close, the toe of someone's shoes just visible. "Wait, hold the elevator!" she called, picking up the pace slightly, though not very hopeful.

She was a little surprised to see the doors change direction, a slim hand holding them open so she could enter. "Thanks," she said, pocketing her phone and looking over at the helpful stranger beside her.

To her luck, it was the guy she'd locked glances with before. He flashed her the same bright smile he had before, stepping back to stand tall beside her. Now that they were closer, she could see his dark eyes and chiseled features; the sharp edges a contrast to the laid- back, playful aura she felt from him. "No problem," he replied, all attention on her. "A gentlemen never makes a lady wait."

"And who says I'm a lady?" she returned playfully, his smile widening.

"It's kind of like the whole innocent til proven guilty thing. You're a lady until you prove to be a freak."

"Mmhm, I see," Aracelia said with amused roll of her eyes. "Well, I don't know how Belgrave does it, but guys usually ask for my name, at the very least, before requesting that side of me."

"I guess that's the trick then, isn't it?" he chuckled with a shrug. "I wasn't asking."

"Cocky."

"Carpio, actually," he said, raising his hand for her to take in greeting. Aracelia reached out in return, only slightly caught off guard when he took hold and bowed somewhat to kiss her hand, never breaking eye contact. "Randall Carpio."

Aracelia couldn't help but laugh at his cute and corny charm. "Really? James Bond intro?"

"Hey, I can't help it if the girls like him. I just use it."

"Yeah, well, this girl isn't much of a fan, so..." Aracelia turned her head away slightly, as if uninterested and then exited slowly as the elevator delivered them to the dorm lobby. "Cute try, though," she added over her shoulder.

To her delight, Randall took the bait, long legged stride catching up to her easily before turning to walk backward, facing her. "And I assume this girl has a name?" he inquired. "One that she'd maybe like to share with the audience?"

Randall wagged his eyebrows at Aracelia, succeeding and breaking yet another laugh out of her. "Aracelia."

"And what's your last name, Aracelia?" he continued, removing his phone from his pocket and beginning to type.

"What would you need that for?"

"For when I write our names in heart doodles during class, obviously," he answered with false exasperation before waving the question away. "But more immediately, for your contact information in my phone. You know, in case I run into another Aracelia; I wouldn't want to text the wrong person. Trust me, that can get awkward." He cringed to emphasize his point before meeting her gaze again and waiting expectantly.

"You held the elevator for me and now I'm giving you my number."

"You are?" Randall said with feigned surprise, handing Aracelia his phone. "Wow, this is sudden, but I mean, if you insist."

Aracelia took a moment to stare at him in disbelief before moving her eyes down to his outstretched hand. She scoffed, snatching the phone from Randall in an act of annoyance before putting in her cell number.

"And if you could just..." Randall added, one arm crossed over his torso while he used the hand of the other to gesture at the screen. Aracelia rolled her eyes but conceded anyway, entering her last name.

"Here."

"Nice," Randall declared, saving the contact information and looking at her again. "Do you want to give me your phone for my contact?"

"Not really," Aracelia smiled innocently.

Randall was undettered. "You know what, you're right," he said, messing with his phone once more. "This will be easier." He held his phone at an angle just above him, snapping a picture before assessing it and doing something else. Aracelia felt a sudden buzz in her pocket as he put his phone away. "Now you'll have a photo of me too."

"How thoughtful," Aracelia replied, tapping him on the tip of his nose with her finger. "Now do you mind? I have several trips from my car back to my room to make and I'd like to do it sooner rather than later."

"Why didn't you say so?" Randall said, suddenly clapping his hands together. "Tell me where you parked and I'm yours for the rest of the afternoon."

This time his words did catch her off guard, confusion setting on her brows. "What?"

"You said you're going to have to make several trips, right? I have an extra pair of hands and nothing to do 'til later tonight, so let me help. It's the least I can do for you letting me get away with all those cheesy pickup lines." He smiled at her with an adorable sense of self-awareness but Aracelia was otherwise preoccupied by his words. She got the sudden feeling he was another babysitter sent by Vera Stone and she didn't like it.

"You have plans tonight?" she questioned slowly, analyzing every movement on his face.

Randall stared back curiously, his head cocking a bit to the side. "Yeah, me and some friends were going to get some drinks later. You're welcome to join if you want. Maybe make some friends that aren't hitting on you before classes start next week." He laughed at the little dig at himself and waited for her response.

After another silent moment of assessing, she ruled his interaction with her too genuine to be fake. What his motives, they weren't to spy on her. "I don't know, I mean, friends that hit on me are a much appreciated ego boost," she replied with a smirk.

"Happy to be of service," Randall countered with a wink.

"Cornball," Aracelia teased, slapping a hand against his chest playfully. A buzz of intrigue went through her to find it was more solid and toned than expected. She moved to walk by him before she wasted more time. "Come on, we're burning daylight and I'm not letting you change your mind about helping me."

"Whatever you need, my lady," Randall teased back, earning a scowl from Aracelia. Turning to share it with him, she found him staring after her with the full effect of his gorgeous smile and twinkle in his eyes that almost did her in. Instead, she whipped her head back around to keep her mind on her agenda.

If she stayed the right amount of focused, there would be plenty of time to play with Randall.