The gates of Maplewood Hostel stood tall, their rusted edges telling stories of years gone by. It was the beginning of a new term, and the place was buzzing with life—students dragging their suitcases, parents giving last-minute advice, and the hostel warden already yelling at someone for breaking a rule.
Lemon Elise Carter – Sharp-minded and logical. Observant, and always noticing things others don't.
Riley Morgan – The rebel. Loud, sarcastic, and fiercely protective.
Scarlett Vaughn – The heart of the group. Warm, uplifting, and always there for others.
Hazel Amelia Sinclair – The strategist. Fearless, calculated, and the voice of reason.
Evelyn Mae Mercer – The risk-taker. Adventurous, energetic, and always chasing excitement.
Autumn Clarke– The unpredictable wildcard. Witty, daring, and thrives on chaos.
Lemon adjusted her backpack and sighed. "Here we go again."
"Another year of sleepless nights and tasteless food," Riley muttered, dragging her suitcase beside her.
Scarlett rolled her eyes. "You say that every time, and yet, here we are."
The six girls had been roommates since their first year at Maplewood. Over time, they had gone from strangers to best friends, sharing everything from secrets to stolen snacks. Their dorm room—Room 306—felt like a second home.
As they walked in, Hazel clapped her hands together. "Alright, same bed arrangement as last year?"
Evelyn dumped her bag on the bed by the window. "Dibs on this one!"
Autumn groaned. "You always take that one!"
"Because I like waking up to natural light," Evelyn grinned.
Lemon shook her head, smiling. It was moments like these that made hostel life worth it.
After some unpacking and a quick catch-up, they headed to the common area. The hostel was old, with wooden floors that creaked under their footsteps. The walls were covered in student-made posters—motivational quotes, event notices, and faded pictures from past years.
As they settled into their usual couch, a group of students walked in—new faces.
"I guess we have freshers this year," Scarlett said, eyeing them.
"They look... so weird" Riley whispered.
Lemon glanced at them briefly before shrugging. "Maybe they're just nervous. We were the same in our first year."
"Yeah, probably," Riley said, shaking off the thought.
The conversation moved on, laughter filling the space. Another year at Maplewood had begun—new memories to make, new people to meet. For now, everything felt just like it always had.