Chapter 7: "A Warm Welcome"
Mrs. Lavender's phone rang, and she looked worried after answering it. "Honey, I need to leave now," she said, as she hugged Nell tightly.
Nell's eyes widened with concern. "Is everything alright?" she asked her mom.
Her mom smiled reassuringly. "It's your grandmother. She fainted, but don't worry, she's awake now."
Nell nodded, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. Her grandmother had been fainting recently, and Nell had been worried sick about her.
Her mom hugged her again. "All the best, darling. Make me and your granny proud this time too."
Nell smiled, feeling a surge of determination. "I will, Mummy. Take care."
Her mom kissed her on both cheeks, and Nell kissed her back. She stood at the door, watching as her mom's back disappeared from view. A tear rolled down her cheek, and she quickly wiped it away.
As she turned back into the room, she was startled to see two pairs of eyes staring at her. Gabby immediately turned away, busying herself with her own things, leaving only one pair of eyes still fixed on Nell.
The girl, Trisha, carefully got out of her bed and walked towards Nell. Gabby smirked, and Nell felt a flutter of anxiety in her chest. She thought she was going to be bullied, and her heart began to pound in her chest.
Trisha raised her arms, and Nell immediately closed her eyes, thinking she was going to be slapped. But instead of feeling a blow, she felt arms snaking around her neck. She gasped and opened her eyes to see Trisha hugging her tightly.
"Welcome, I'm Trisha," Trisha said, her voice sweet and warm.
Nell looked at Gabby, who seemed fine, probably guessing that Trisha was just being friendly. Gabby quickly turned away, avoiding Nell's gaze.
Nell smiled and hugged Trisha back. "Thanks, Tris," she said, using the nickname that Trisha seemed to prefer.
They stopped embracing, and Trisha took a step back. She was indeed beautiful, with big green eyes that sparkled with warmth. Her blonde hair was tied up in pigtails, and she wore a white plain t-shirt and baggy khaki pants.
"Your name?" Trisha asked, staring at Nell with a smile.
Nell smiled back. "I'm Nellie Lavender. Nice to meet you."
Trisha's eyes lit up. "Nice name you got. Thanks, I like yours too."
Nell laughed, feeling a sense of ease with Trisha. "Now let's get your stuffs packed," Trisha said, pointing to the bags that Nell had brought earlier, which were still on the floor.
The bags were a mess, with clothes and books spilling out of them. Trisha grinned mischievously. "Don't worry, I'll help you unpack. We'll get you all settled in."