Stormy followed me up the staircase and ran her fingers against the banister.
"I'm sure there's tons of dust," I said.
"No, not really," she said as if she was disappointed.
"Wow - " she said as I showed her into my room. "This is cool."
My room was broody and moody even with the lights on. I couldn't take my dresser mirror down, nor my full-length one on the back of my door. So instead, to avoid any issues for Sto Sssuignrmy, I had covered them with sheets. She didn't even mention it.
She was intrigued by the macabre decor and rummaged through my closets as if they were her own. I sat back and watched with ease at the genuine interest she displayed examining my things. It was only afterward that she thought she was being rude.
"I guess I shouldn't be doing this," she said. "Mother would kill me if she saw me acting this way."
"No, please, go ahead. It's really awesome to see someone interested in my stuff."
"This is so fabulous. You have the best room."
"You think so? No one's ever said that," I admitted truthfully. Now, maybe Alexander liked my room - but no one else had complimented my decor.
"And my room at the Mansion is fabulous, too," she said with a grin.
"Do you really like your room there?" I asked. "I wasn't sure what you'd think of it."
"I do. No one has ever done something like that for me," she said, genuinely.
"Really?" I asked.
"Yes."
Not even Luna? I wanted to say. But I didn't want to bring up her name or hint that I might be envious of their prior friendship.
"I expected your room to be different somehow," she said.
"How do you mean?"
"Luna's room was really girlie."
There it was! Not a moment later. That name. I bit my lavender-stained lip.
"Like a fairy's room," she continued.
"I can only imagine it's really cool," I said, trying to hide any tension in my voice.
"Yes, it is very pretty."
I nodded my head and grinned.
"But yours is like what I'd want mine to be," she said.
"Really?" I asked, surprised.
"Yes, I mean, besides the one you decorated at the Mansion. I mean, this is what I like, too. I didn't S. Ight="0emexpect you'd have a room that I'd want to have."
I wasn't sure what she meant, but I assumed it was a compliment.
"So what did you think it would be like?" I pressed, wanting more information from her.
"I'm not sure, really. I just didn't think it would be so cool."