Kassandra was running a tad behind schedule. With the summer months, she’d turned off her alarm, and had yet to adjust it properly for the school year — despite arriving about a week early. Kass had a tendency to show up early to Wellington Academy to get to know her cottage leader for the year, and sort of take a leadership role in the place. Kassandra liked structure, and order, and she was happy to find out that Nico, the man who’d be overseeing the cottage she was staying in for now, was much like her. He took it seriously, perhaps
too seriously, but Kass would be lying if she said she didn’t like that about him. It was a serious deal!
Unfortunately, Kass was lagging too far behind to leave right when Nico passed by. It wasn’t like she could follow after him then and there. She’d hardly woken up twenty minutes ago, and despite her best attempts to freshen up with a shower and vigorous moisturizing afterward… Kassandra was hardly awake. She was awake, but there was really nobody behind the wheel, at least not yet. She needed coffee. As ashamed as she was to admit it, Kassandra was somewhat reliant, even addicted to the stuff. All she could do was offer Nico a wave of apology as he passed by, and glance at the Keurig that was currently filling her mug.
Internally, Kass was cringing. It was embarrassing, an awful showing for day one of what was supposed to be a good year. How was she supposed to leave a good impression now? She already knew Nico planned to walk down to the gate, instead of driving — could she catch up? Would he accept her apology?
Stupid, stupid. Forget to set the alarm, really? You’re better than that, Kassandra. Way to look bad.She would have to think of something to make it up to him, because simply showing up late wasn’t going to do it from her perspective. As the last of the coffee dripped into the cup, Kassandra took the steaming mug from its plate, and took a huge gulp without waiting for it to cool down. It wasn’t her normal method, but the burn to her tastebuds was like a self-punishment for messing up. At least once she’d taken the gulp, she could feel the warmth radiate through her body and her mind start to come to life.
Looking back at the Keurig, she shrugged her shoulders and did the only thing she could think of, setting a thermos on it, and flicking it back on… It was the best she could think of.
7:03 AM
Before long, Kass was hurrying along the trail, and as she looked at the scenery, she could tell why Nico preferred this method to taking the golf carts down. If only she didn’t have to rush quite so much… but Kass wasn’t going to be that late, not to something as important as this. Even looking beyond her failure, and the potential let down she’d left Nico with, Kass still wanted to hurry. This was a big day; there were new students coming! It was, for some lucky young (and some older) students, the first time they’d lay eyes on the grounds… and she wanted to see their reactions!
Between Kass hurrying, and Nico taking a somewhat leisurely pace, she was able to make it there just a few minutes after he’d arrived — but too late to talk to the new kids. With a wave and a smile, Kass pushed away the harsh thoughts floating in her head, and instead walked toward Nico as he headed back up the trail, and thrust the thermos out to him.
“Sorry I’m late… I overslept a bit. I made you some tea, though.” Kass’s apology was stuck inside the thermos, and she turned her attention to the more pressing matter once Nico took the damn thing: the new kids. Ramona, and Ely she believed. She’d spent enough time peering over Nico’s shoulder at paperwork to know who was who.
“Elysia, right?” She asked, glancing at the ever so slightly smaller girl. Geeze… she looked soft. Kass would have to be careful when making sure she was comfortable. The girl looked like if Kassandra spoke too loudly, she might explode.
“My name’s Kassandra. I’ll be your roommate for this year, okay? Let’s make sure it’s a good one!” She gave a thumbs up, and then took another gulp of coffee. At least it had cooled down to… ‘not molten.’