Lilith started sketching out the basic shape of a phoenix hunched over, its wing curled around itself and starting to turn to ash. It would be so epic. She had done the basic outline and features, and was about to start the wings when she heard a voice say politely,

“Hello and excuse me but I was admiring how well you draw. My name is Aisling. I am new to Haleton." The sentence shook her out of the trance she was always in when she drew, and she looked up to see a girl long, red, slightly messy curly hair that framed her deep green eyes and freckled cheeks. She was slightly shorter than Lilith herself.

The words took a few seconds for Lilith, who was still recovering from her trance, to process. She offered the other girl a small smile. She seemed nice enough.

“Hi, Aisling, I’m Lilith. Thanks for the compliment; it means a lot to me. Haleton is a pretty cool town. I hope you enjoy it here.” Realizing she probably sounded like those creepy robotic hotel employees, she added. “Since you’re new, you can sit with me at lunch and I’ll introduce you to my friends.” Lilith hoped that she would. Then she’d have someone to talk to about actual important stuff, like art and music.