[center][u]Outside Male Dorms[/u][/center]

[i]"Now, leave the poor guy be. I mean, he can't be too bad. If they let bitches like you in before this I'd say they went uphill from your year."[/i] Tyler turned, surprised that someone actually came to his “rescue”, though he hardly felt that the situation called for such. Still, he was grateful for the backup. The guy who spoke looked several years older than him, and was wearing a simple black and red tuxedo with a black and red mask, which almost seemed to amplify the cold stare he was shooting at the girls.

Said girls in question seemed to morph from mocking to downright murderous at his comment, and Lilly immediately switched her focus to him, raising an accusing finger and jabbing it at him. [i]“How [/i]dare[i]-“[/i] she started to hiss, before being interrupted by yet another voice. [i]“Excuse me.”[/i] Tyler turned again at the quiet voice, finding this time a blonde girl only seeming a year or two older than him. [i]“I believe there is a strict no bullying policy you signed… you’re not Freshmen after all—and that’s the only reason you’re acting this way toward them, right?”[/i] Her voice wavered a bit, giving away her lack of confidence, and the other girls picked up on it almost immediately, bursting into a wicked laughter. The blonde girl fiddled with her fingers.

[i]“Odessa is that you?”[/i] Victoria laughed, [i]“Easy to say something you’re unrecognizable, isn’t it?”[/i] She briefly closed in on the girl, as if to include her in the group ridicule before Lilly finally seemed to cave. [i]“Forget them, a waste as always.”[/i] She sneered, signaling their exit before the two walked off. Tyler sighed in relief, glad that the confrontation was over, and looked towards the ‘Odessa’ girl. She refused to look neither him nor the other guy in the face, but spoke more towards the ground or the air around them. [i]“They are trying to assert their dominance, I guess…Apologizes. You probably shouldn’t have worn such flashy outfits, makes you easier to spot.”[/i] The way she held herself vaguely reminded Tyler of a rabbit or a doe – if you moved too quickly or spoke too loudly, she might just run off.

[i]” I am Raven--by the way, only my nemeses call me Odessa…”[/i] She continued, [i]”Aren’t you two going to be late? The doors will be locking soon.”[/i] Tyler pursed his lips, nodding. “Thanks,” he looked over at the other guy, “To both of you, I guess. I’m Tyler” he sighed, looking in the general direction of the impending ball, “And yeah, we should probably all head to the Grand Hall, before it’s too late.”