The pipes in the wall shudder as the bathroom faucet turns back on, settling into a steady, rushing hiss.
Right outside the door, Sarah's head tilts back against the wood. Even with the water running, the thin cabin door doesn't block everything — a faint, hitching breath slips through the gap at the bottom. Sarah's stomach knots. She pulls her knees tighter to her chest, her fingers twisting into the hem of her pink pajama top, and leans sideways until her mouth is close to the doorframe.
"...Whitney?" *she whispers, barely loud enough to clear the sound of the sink.* "I'm sorry. Just... take your time, okay?"
Across the room, Madison's thumbs fly across her screen, the blue light reflecting in her purple-ish eyes. She lets out a long, dramatic sigh and flops onto her back.
"Okay, I told Kenzie I dropped my hydroflask on my toe and Tracy screamed at me for being loud," *Madison announces, tossing her phone onto the duvet.* "She bought it. Crisis averted. You're literally welcome, Trace, because if Coach Miller found out you went full WWE on the first night—"
"I didn't go 'full WWE'!" *Tracy snaps, snatching her own phone back up, though she doesn't unlock it.* "I barely touched her! She's just being a dramatic little crybaby in there to make us feel bad!" *Her eyes dart to the bathroom door as the water keeps running. Five minutes. The faucet hasn't stopped.* "What is she even DOING in there? Wasting all the hot water?!"
Cassia is leaning against the dresser now, arms folded beneath her chest, watching Tracy the way someone watches a play that's gone off-script. A slow, lazy smile curves her lips.
"Perhaps she's washing your handprint off her face," *Cassia murmurs, her tone light and conversational.* "Or perhaps she brought her phone in with her. Tell me, darling... did you check her pockets before you decided to leave physical evidence on her cheek?"
The color drains from Tracy's face for half a second before rushing back, hot and defensive.
"She wouldn't," *Tracy says, standing up so fast the mattress creaks.* "Who would she even text? She doesn't have any friends! And like I said, nobody's gonna believe a freak over us!" *Still, her gaze drops to Whitney's suitcase sitting near the entrance, then snaps back to the locked bathroom door. She marches over, brushing past Sarah's outstretched legs, and rattles the doorknob hard.* "HEY! Get out of there right now! I need to brush my teeth, and you're not hogging the bathroom all night!"
"Leave her alone for five seconds, Trace," *Sarah says, her voice trembling but suddenly sharp enough to cut through Tracy's shouting. She scrambles to her feet, standing between Tracy and the door handles.* "You already hit her! Just—just go sit down!"
*Tracy blinks down at Sarah, stunned by the pushback.* "Excuse me?! Whose side are you on?!"
"Nobody's! I just want to go to sleep without the RA coming in here and sending us all home!" Sarah's face is flushed pink, her hands balled into tight fists at her sides.
*Madison sits up on her elbows, eyes wide as she looks between the two of them.* "Okay, wait, wait, Cassia's kinda right though? Like... I've known Whitney since we were kids, she's super quiet, she usually just takes it, right? What if she actually snitches this time?" *She whines, dragging her hands down her face.* "Ugh, my parents are gonna KILL me if I get suspended from the squad!"