[Color=pink]Melanie Rose Pourri[/color]
[I]Eukary University Cafeteria w/ [color=dodgerblue]Kayla Samson[/color][/i][hr]
[Color=dodgerblue]"That's the spirit! How about you join a club, too? Lots of clubs are looking for help with the Winter Carnival. Drama Club could use some stagehands and help with decorating, I'm sure that's up your alley. Um, there's the school newspaper. I know you're not an English major but you're a great writer! Or you could take photos for them since you're handy with a camera! Or you could join the Film Crew, they work with drama club a lot--ooh, I wish I was a good actress! Then there's Open Mic every week, you could just watch or you could go on stage and...."[/color]

Melanie gulped her last bite of veggie burger and shook her head vigorously. [Color=pink]"No, no, no... I don't think I'm ready for any of that yet. Maybe I'll try to make friends with someone in class, or go to one of the dorm activity nights, but joining a club could full of strangers? Going on stage? My tail is twitching just thinking about it!"[/color] Mel admitted, truthfully. 

[Color=dodgerblue]"Hey, don't worry so much! You're such a sweet girl, everybody would love you given the chance to know you better, like me,"[/color] Kayla assured her with a smile. Melanie nibbled at the last few scraps of food on her plate doubtfully. [Color=pink][I]Three schools full of people got to know me and not a single person liked me... I'm lucky Kayla hasn't turned her snout up at me yet.[/i][/color]

[Color=pink]"Thank you, Kayla. You're a good friend,"[/color] Melanie replied with a sad smile. [Color=pink]"Are you ready to head back to the dorm?"[/color] the skunk-girl asked. Kayla nodded. [Color=dodgerblue]"I am!"[/color] 

The two girls got up from their seats, pushed in their chairs, and took care of their trays. Melanie was grateful to be getting away from the hustle and bustle and gossip of the cafeteria. 

On the way out, they passed by a very large rodent (a capybara?) who actually towered over her, reminding Mel that this wasn't small-town living anymore. She smiled up at him as she walked by. The people were different here. And maybe they would see her differently, too.[hr]
[I]Eukary University Campus w/ [color=dodgerblue]Kayla Samson[/color][/i]

The two girls walked quietly across the campus, taking in the beautiful scenery. White Christmas lights were hanging up, and there were wreaths hanging on the light posts. A light snow was falling and had blanketed the ground. Melanie rubbed her arms against the cold and watched her breath float away in the cool air. It was a lovely walk, except for one thing.

[Color=pink]"Do you feel like somebody is watching us?"[/color] Melanie asked, her fur on end. [Color=Dodgerblue]"No, why?"[/color] Kayla asked, looking around. There was no sign of anybody else, but Mel was grateful to see one of many safety alarm poles installed throughout campus. [Color=pink]"Oh, no reason I guess. Let's hurry back, though. It's cold."[/color][hr][I]Eukary University Female-Only Dorms w/ [color=dodgerblue]Kayla Samson[/color][/i]

Around an hour later Melanie was in bed worrying about the days soon to come. Would she really be able to make more friends like Kayla thought she could? Could an undesirable species, poor and shy as she was, make a [i]good[/i] name for herself? Or would she lose everything as she had so many times before...