Chapter 41
Chapter 41
After lunch, the group headed back to the lab building, the air thick with awkwardness thanks to the forum drama.
Mia was practically glowing with smug satisfaction, but the others worked hard to lighten the mood. Briar was the youngest in their crew, after all, and they felt a protective urge to look out for her.
Plus, the way the forum was piling on Briar felt like a jab at the entire Traditional Medicine Department.
Their department was small enough as it was–when push came to shove, they had to stick together and face the world as a unit.
Richard steered the conversation to safer ground. “Hey, Briar, have you checked in at the dorms yet?”
Briar blinked, caught off guard. She’d been whisked straight to the lab by Marvin upon arrival, and if she hadn’t done her homework on Shoneport University beforehand, she’d have no clue where anything was. “I actually bought a place off–campus. Wasn’t planning on staying in the dorms.”
Richard wagged a finger at her, grinning. “Nuh–uh, doesn’t work like that. Even if you’re not living there, you still gotta register. Traditional Medicine students get their own little safes for storing rare herbs and stuff.”
That was news to Briar.
A dedicated safe for medicinal supplies? She hadn’t come across that in her research.
Since it was a school requirement, she wasn’t about to make a fuss. “Alright, I’ll head over to register now.”
Mia seized the moment, her voice syrupy sweet. “Briar, do you even know where our department’s dorms are? Want me to show you the
way?”
Briar met Mia’s overly cheerful smile, catching the glint of mischief in her eyes. “Sure, that’d be great. Thanks.”
Frank was surprised Mia volunteered, but when he saw the way Briar seemed completely unfazed–as if she could already see through whatever Mia was planning–he relaxed. After all, Briar didn’t look like someone who would get taken advantage of. “Alright then. Let Mia
take you.”
As the two turned to leave, Frank called out, like he’d just remembered something. “Oh, hold up, Briar! Let’s swap contact info. We’re all in the same lab group, and I’ll add you to our chat.”
“Cool, add me.” Briar didn’t hesitate, pulling out her phone and letting Frank find her on WhatsApp.
Once she accepted the friend request, Frank sent her a smiley emoji. Then he pulled her into the lab group chat, tossing in a “Welcome, new teammate!” sticker.
The group chat lit up with messages, everyone chiming in with warm welcomes.
Even Mia dropped a generic “Welcome!” emoji, playing along.
The vibe loosened up, laughter and banter picking up steam. Briar gave a casual wave. “Alright, we’re heading out.”
The Traditional Medicine dorms were tucked at the very back of the campus housing complex, their building slightly larger than the others. complete with a small extra room for lab–related storage.
Mia led Briar to the dorm office, where they picked up Briar’s room key and safe key before heading to her assigned floor. Mia stopped in → front of a door marked 2015, dangling the key with a sly grin. “Well, isn’t this a coincidence? Looks like we’re roommates, Briar
Chapter 411
Briar arched an eyebrow, her lips curling faintly. “Small world.”
With Traditional Medicine being Shoneport’s smallest department–and female students in the program even rarer–it wasn’t exactly shocking that she and Mia, both in the same lab, would end up sharing a room.
Besides, considering how enthusiastic Mia had been just now, Briar had already guessed that.
She’d bet anything Mia had already seen the new roommate list at the dorm office that morning.
AD
