THE SUN IS slowly setting and a crap but pleasant chill has swept over the campus. The large buildings create shadows over concrete paths and untamed gardens. The sky slowly shifts to a dark pale blue.
After the amazing introductions in my new two-person down room, Noah had taken me on a tour through the school and pointed our historic Caldwell Artefacts. Such artefacts as a wooden bench that sacral girls have lost their virginity, places to smoke weed where teachers don't look at when on duty and the best vending machines to steal snacks from.
Levi headed back to his dorm room long before Noah and I left . I don't think he likes me; maybe it's the vibe or maybe it's the way he rolled his eyes when I simply glanced at him. Noah's lying because Levi definetly feels emotions specifically annoyance when it comes to me. Chase left the dorm to go and visit a girl across campus in the senior-junior female hall Arlington. Noah gladly had informed me of my my new roommate is an insatiable heartbreaker with a record in this school and neighbour high schools. I don't have a problem with that but I am dreading the fact that he'll bring girls to our dorm every room. Chase has never had a roommate which is probably why he brings girls into his dorm and I doubt that's going to change anytime soon. I might have to invest in some heavy duty earplugs.
When my stomach started rumbling half-way through the tour, Noah decided it would be a good idea to check out the dining hall. Don't even get me started on the food; it's fucking mouthwatering. I was expecting meatloaf and kale due to the state of the campus outside. There is a seperate menu for each day and another menu for food that is always offered. There is an entire section just for condiments and there is a whole wall dedicated as drink station that even offers smoothies and detox juices. The only downside is that we are given plastic cutlery when we walk in and have to hand it back when we leave. That was the least surprising accept of the entire ordeal. Noah saves us a two person table near the window and we both sit down with our meals. I stare down at my chicken carbonara, waiting for it to disappear and be replaced with stew because that seemed more realistic.
"The back of the library is a class make out spot, so is the gym storage room because you have to go down a few hallways to get to it. Noah explains as he cuts his steak. Sunday night is Steak Night, as Noah had gleefully stated, and he always arrives earlier to stock up his plate. "I speak from experience."
"How do you know all of this? You possibly can't have made out in all those places." I query and take a sip of my pink lemonade. I place it down to my plate and lean back in my wooden chair.
"I get around." Noah winks at me and I roll my eyes,
"But just to let you know, gossip travels faster than STD's in this place." Noah points his wife at all the other students sitting the dining hall. My eyes gaze over them. Some of them look normal and then some of them look like they're swamped in internal darkness. Honestly, mood.
"Wow." I hum, my eyes turning back to Noah. I play with my food and swirl my forks amongst the long strands of creamy pasta as a question floats around my head. "What about the colors?"
"Noah glances up with a mouth full of steak, "Hmmm?"
"The colors. I saw my student details sheet and it says that I'm graded green. What does that mean?" I question and take another sip. Apparently there are also no straws here and firstly I assumed Caldwell was eco-friendly but it's solely because students turn them into knives.
"It's grading colours." Noah nods as he finally swallows a large lump of food and pats his chest, "I call it the Danger Rainbow and it's yet to catch on—but it will."
"Okay…" I trail off, "Still confused."
"So, you said you are graded green right?" I nod. "There are four colours. Green is at the very bottom and is usually reserved for new students who are here for small crimes like petty theft or vandalism. Then we have the yellows; me. It's only a little more extreme than greens and we have way more restrictions. For example I'm not allowed any form of technology what so ever—not even a fucking electrical toothbrush—and I have weekly checks by dorm security."
"Holy shit." I scoff and then frown, "Isn't that an invasion of privacy or something?"
"Kinda." Noah shrugs, "But I'm a good boy and have super genius hiding places in my dorm room. At least my restrictions aren't as bad as red or orange. They're not even allowed to leave the school campus without a supervisor and they have a curfew. Students graded orange are the ones you need to look out for because they're fucking psychotic and have a little bit more freedom than the reds." Noah explains and all I can think of is Levi. He's definitely an orange.
"And what about my new roomie?" I try to slide in casually as my curiosity hits peak level. "Where on the Danger Rainbow does Chase sit?"
"Chase? As in Everett?" Noah questions nervously.
"No as in Kowalski." I retort sarcastically, "Of course Chase Everett."
"Oh…uh…um…" Noah stutters and his gaze travels over my shoulder and lightens instantly, "They've bough out chocolate cake! Fuck yes!" He shoots to his feet and tries to get away but I reach out and wrap my hand around his arm.
I stare up at him intensely, "Sit down O'Conner."
Noah collapses back into his chair with a pout on his face. He is so childish yet weirdly adorably at the same time. His personality draws me in like a bright, shining magnet
"What color is Everett?" I question once more and smile sweetly, "Can you tell me? Pretty pretty please?"
"Has any one told you that you're evil? Your puppy dog eyes are too cute." Noah scoffs as he folds his arms. "Fine. Chase is….Chase is graded red."
After we have scoffed down our dinners, Noah walks with me back to Elwood Hall. The sun is finally setting and the sky is shifting to a beautiful indigo. I wrap my arms around myself as a crisp breeze crosses the quad. We clicked extremely quick, Noah and I, and get a long so well. It may have something to with the fact that he is a literal ball of glowing sunshine whereas I am—in the simplest way possible—not. We balance each other.
We walk along a concrete path that is aged and cracked and we both laugh at Noah's extravagant affairs at a recent trip to Disney Land. And by extravagant I mean he ate too much ice cream while completely ignoring the the fact that he is deadly lactose intolerant.
Ahead sat a group of students gathered around a wooden bench. They were laughing and talking, most of them holding e-cigarettes in their hand or passing a joint around. One boy spots us, breaks from the group and he jogs over to us.
"Hey bro." The boy with soft chestnut hair greets before they proceed to do the brotherly-highfive-slash-hug that continues to confuse my brain everytime I witness it. "You should really come and hang out with us. Fallon has been missing you all summer."
"Ha, of course she has." Noah winks down at me and I scoff with a roll of my eyes. Noah is a playboy—who would've thunk it. "I would but I'm kinda hanging out with my best friend Hayden. She's new so I'm showing her around the campus."
"New girl? Sweet." Chestnut-Hair grins at me, his brown eyes doing a full head to toe scan of my body. I screw my nose up in disgust at his blatant checking out. "Hi."
"Hi." I say abruptly before turning to the tall blonde boy beside me, "Noah, it's fine. Seriously. I can find my way back to the dorm."
"Are you sure?"
I smile, "Positive, captain."
"I'll swing by your room in the morning, okay?" Noah questions with an arched blonde eyebrow. I nod in response. "I can be like your own personal alarm clock. I quite good at Lady Gaga songs so…"
"Wonderful." I murmur sarcastically before parting ways with the two guys. Shivering through the material of my ripped jeans, I hurry towards Elwood Hall. Luckily, the large brick building isn't too far away and I make it before it is completely dark.
I'm going to have to visit the administration office tomorrow and resolve the matter surrounding my room arrangements. It's too late now as office hours are from nine to five.
Once I'm inside the foyer of Elwood Hall, I press the button for the elevator and wait. There is no way I am going to even attempt to climb three flights of stairs right now. The doors slide open with a high-pitched mechanical ring echoing through the empty halls. I press the button for the third floor, sigh heavily and lean back against the interior wall.
"Ah—shit—wait!" A voice echoes as an arm shoots through the closing gap of the door. The doors shuffle open, revealing a heaving and puffing boy with sandy blonde hair.
"Sup." I greet lamely with a boyish jut of my chin. He steps inside with his breathing still ragged. "You would rather cut off your arms than have to walk up stairs?"
"Honestly, fuck walking up stairs." He breathes out and fixes the straps of his backpack. He then turns to me and smiles, "I'm Lucas but I usually just go by Luke. You're the new girl rooming with Everett, right?"
"Wow, gossip really does travel faster than STD's." I mumble under my breath as Luke sends me confused stare. I shake my head and wave a hand through the air, "Nevermind. I'm Hayden and I usually don't go by anything else."
"Nice to meet you, Hayden." He smiles as the doors finally grind to an open on the third floor. We both step out at the same time. He points down the hall, "Well, my dorm is this way."
"Mine too." I mumble as we fall into step beside each other, dead silent. I stop outside my door and so does Luke. He turns around so he was facing me.
"That was super awkward, wasn't it?" Luke questions and I laugh and nod.
"Extremely."
"I'm not usually this award around girls by the way." Luke defends and I sen him a tight-lipped smile. Of course he's not.
"So are all the other guys who use that line." I reply cheekily as Luke tilts his head back slightly and laughs. It was a nice laugh; deep and meaningful.
"Look, if Everett gives you a hard time, you can come down to my room. 316 if you're interested." Luke points down the hall. His striking blue eyes widen as realisation hits him. "And I mean that in a completely platonic way. Like we can play board games or charades. I'm quite the champ at scrabble too."
"Absolutely riveting. I'll keep that in mind." I nod as I slide my key into the door after realising it was locked. Chase must still be out with his lady friend. "But thank you anyway, Luke."
"You're welcome, Hayden." He smiles, "And good luck for tomorrow."
"Thanks, I'm gonna need it." I wave to him. Luke then turns and leaves and walks down the dark hallway. I turn the metal handle and push the door inwards. The room is dark as the night sky outside. Stepping inside and allowing the door to close behind me, I grab the folds off my jacket and proceed to shrug it off my shoulders.
"Talking to dickface?"
I jump at the sudden voice and glance across the room, "Shit! Where did you spawn from demon?" I question, leaning one hand on the chair and the other on my hip. Chase lay casually on his bed his phone in his hand. How had I not noticed the light before?
"Seattle." Chase doesn't even look up at me from his phone. Asshole.
I roll my eyes at his sarcastic answer, "Were you spying on me?"
"No." He shrugs. "You were just too fucking loud."
I don't reply. I huff and kick off my converse and I fling them under the barren desk. It feels nice to finally take my shoes off. I stretch my toes within the confinement of my polka-dot socks. Opening the duffle bag sitting idly on the ground, I haul out my linen and get to work on making my bed up for the night.
Because there's no way I'll be spending more than one fucking night in this room.
After a wrestling match with my sheets, one that doesn't go unnoticed by my snarky asshat of a roommate, I finally throw my last covered pillow onto the mattress. I step back; my hands firmly attached to my hips. A smile crosses my lips and I feel accomplished but I am also profoundly out of breath. I leave my clothes in my suitcase as I will be moving into Arlington come first thing tomorrow morning. Instead, I pull out on a simple pair of pyjama shorts and a oversized long-sleeve.
"Uh, do you mind?" I snap sharply as I turn to Chase. He glances up, his gaze moves from my face, to the clothes swaddled in my arms, back to my face and then down to his phone.
He mumbles, "No, not at all, go ahead."
"Fucking asshole." I mutter quietly but loud enough so he damn well hears it. I gaze around the room, considering if it's worth braving the communal bathroom a few doors down.
Nope. Closet it is.
I stuff myself inside; thankfully it's empty. I skilfully manure my clothing and slide my pyjamas onto my body. Skilfully, however, is a term used lightly. I would bump my elbows and knees on the inner walls multiple times followed by loud curse words escaping my lips. I push open the door.
"I may have just dislocated my fucking shoulder." I grumble and step out. Chase doesn't even flinch. I narrow my eyes, clear my throat and speak loudly, "But I'm fine, thanks for asking."
"You're welcome." Chase hums, his thumb busy scrolling across the screen of his illuminated device. I wanted nothing more than to hit him over the head with it. "Those pyjamas are cute."
I throw my old clothes down on top of my suitcase and scoff, "Like I need your approval."
"Never said you did." He counters and I groan for the umpteenth time. Why can't I get to him? Most guys hear one singular sarcastic snide from my mouth and sprint about twenty miles in the other direction. Not to brag, but I just have that affect on people.
I dive under my clean sheets and covers and inhale the fresh floral scent of my mother's washing detergent. It made me sad to know that I was on the other side of the country, so far away from her. I should call in the morning regardless of the fact that I've already called her about eight times today.
I will myself to fall asleep quickly because it's much better than trying to start up an inevitable one sided conversation with Chase.
"Would you like a goodnight kiss, Hayden?" Chase murmurs from across the room. I resist the urge to leap across the room and allow him to experience all the finesse of my John Cena inspired bodyslam.
"I would rather amputate both my arms and strangle myself with them, Everett." I retort and I hear the light chuckle of Chase reverberate from across the room. I sigh when the lights are flicked off. At least he is polite enough to do that. My eyes flutter close and I fall asleep to the dreadful feeling setting up shop in the depths of my stomach. The frightful realisation that my first day in this school from heel commences in less than twelve hours.