Heart beating fast, Erin feared she would never make it out of this maze. There seemed to be no end to the interlocking hallways. Seeing a water fountain, she stopped for a break. She was so nervous. Already she was having issues. She couldn’t even find her first class. She was so hopeless. Then a sound sweeter than the angels welcoming her home rang out across the hallway.

It was her name.

“Erin!”

Coming torwards her was Will, with the most beautiful, illuminescent smile on her face.

“What are you doing? You are gonna be late for class.”

“ I don’t know where to go. This stupid school is so big!”

“Again with the “stupid school” crap? Anyway, let me see your schedule? Hm... We have the same classes until, after lunch. Cool. Come on, we have Chemistry with Ms. Liliam.”

And so Erin followed happily behind her roomy. She was so glad she had help for this new adventure. They arrived just in time for class.

“Ah, girls, how nice of you to join us? Nice to see you again, Will. I am hoping that this year will go by without any major explosions. And you must be new.” She looked ast Erin. She seemed nice enough, but something about her also demanded respect. “ I am Ms. Liliam. I’ll be your teacher for first period this year. I see you have already met one of my more, unique students. May I ask your name?”

“Erin.” She was too nervous to be friendly.

“ Erin. Ok Erin, I am going to show some faith and partner you with Will. You two will sit over there, at lab 4.”

The two marched to their lab and took their seats. The y mostly spent the class reviewing rules and such. Torwards the end, they played a trivia game. When the bell rang, Erin wasn’t sure she wanted to go to her next class.

“Ok, next we go to Geometry. We have Mrs. Kerrian. Another score. Erin?”

Will’s voice snapped Erin out of her trance. She had been so submersed in her own thoughts that she had followed Will into the hallway without even noticing it.

“You aren’t going loopy on me are you? You didn’t casually forget to mention that you are actually an escaped nutter or something, did you?”

The smile that caught her eye, brought her the most wonderful sensation. It had been awhile since Erin had had a friends to joke around with.

The rest of the day went on in the same manner. If they had different classes, Will would show her where to go, and would be there waiting when she came out. At lunch they ate outside on the grounds. Will showed her where her favorite spot was. There was an old willow tree torwards the western wall. They passed through it’s ancient curtain into a beautiful sheltered world. There were flowers scattered about. The long leaves of the tree left a green tint to the sunlight streaming in.

“This is amazing.”

“I know,” Will said with a dreamy voice,”I wish I could just stay here forever. It reminds me of home.”

This caught Erin’s attention.

“How so?”

For one, it just makes me think of my old life. It reminds me of my parents calling my name.”

Erin just stared.

“My name I am registered under at the school is Willow. But who has a name like Willow. That’s why I go by Will.”

So the two sat together under the tree as long as they could. They didn’t talk, but just sat. They didn’t dare speak, and risk someone hearing. For as long as they were there, it felt like the real world couldn’t find them.