I slowly make my way back, taking in all my surroundings. A cool breeze sweeps through the air, pushing fallen leaves around on the ground. Luckily, I started school just in time for the nice fall weather. I pick a few flowers up that are growing between the cracks of the sidewalk to press into my journal later and go on to the front office.

I pick up the box from the front office and lay my flowers on top. I finally manage to carry it all the way to my room by taking breaks in between. Then I set the box down and try to open the door. Oh, of course! I forgot my key inside, and the door automatically locked itself earlier. It’s a good thing that my roommates will be back soon, I guess I will rest here for now. I sit down on the ground and press my back against the wall. I sigh and scroll on my phone a bit before dozing off.

The school bell chimes off, but I don’t flinch a bit. I’m either a heavy sleeper that can sleep through anything, or someone who wakes up to every thump in the night depending on my mood. I can hear the rustling and chattering of other students filling my ears, but I still can’t wake up from my deep nap. Then, I feel a cold finger press against my hand two times. I jolt and wake up quickly to be met by an unfamiliar yet familiar face of Tallius.

“So-Sorry! I forgot my key inside and It- “I explain.

“It’s fine, get up.” Tallius says as he unlocks the door.

“Thank you, I’m really sorry.” I beg for forgiveness.

“I said it’s fine.” He replies coldly.

I really want to know if he acts like this toward everyone or if it’s just me. But I shouldn’t pry, that would probably make him more uncomfortable and angrier with me.

I struggle to drag the heavy box inside, still in my drowsy state.

“Hey, leave it.” Tallius interrupts me as he holds the door open and motions me to come inside the room.

“Okay…” I answer and follow his direction. I hope he isn’t going to do something mean like throw my things out or something to bully me.

Tallius goes out the door and carries the box inside for me and drops it on the ground, “here.”

What? Did he just help me? Still in a bit of shock I manage to thank him and then unpack my things that were in the box. I put my books and uniforms in my closet and the course books in my bookbag. Maybe he doesn’t hate me after all.

Tallius sets his bookbag down in the desk chair and leaves the room. Well, maybe he does hate me haha. I sit down on the ground and flip through some of textbooks to see what I will learning about in class. I’m not very strong in any subject, nor am I very weak in any subject. I hope this school year goes by smoothly. I hear the doorknob jiggling and in comes Sparky.

“Hi Ori!” he smiles, “Huh? Where’s Talli?”

“Oh…He just left.” I answer.

“Hmm, dinner doesn’t start for two hours. I wonder where he went.” Sparky questions.

“I have no idea; he didn’t say anything.” I answer.

“Maybe he is doing laundry? No, the laundry is here. Hmmm.” Sparky thinks out loud.

I sit there silently and shrug. Maybe I should ask Sparky about Tallius, maybe he can tell me if he hates me, “Hey Sparky, can I ask you something about Tallius?”

“Yeah, sure!” he answers.

“How long have you known him? Does he always act so… Mean? Or I mean, cold?” I ask.

“Haha, haha! I knew it, you’re scared of him!” Sparky laughs.

“I’m not scared, just curious.” I defend myself.

“To answer your question, I’ve known him all my life! I can’t remember the time of my life when I didn’t know him. His family adopted me. He is a bit stern at first but once he gets close to you, he has a big heart and is very sensitive.” Sparky answers.

“Oh, okay…” I quiver.

“There’s nothing to worry about, Tallius will probably warm up to you in no time!” Sparky smiles with a thumbs up.

I smile back and put my head down in embarrassment. I can’t believe I asked that. I guess it’s because Sparky is so easy to talk to, “Hey, can you please not mention this to Tallius?”

“Oh, no! I won’t say anything! Your secret is safe with me!” Sparky smiles.

I can’t tell if he was lying or not, I hope he stays true. Sparky plops his bookbag full of keychains on his bed and pulls out a school workbook. His textbook looks different than mine, so I assume he is a year or so younger than me. Some minutes pass as Sparky is lost in his own little world doing homework, I think. Not long I hear the doorknob jiggling and Tallius returns.

“Hey! Where have you been? Why did you leave Ori all alone in here!” Sparky attacks.

“I needed to speak with someone.” He answers and goes over to his closet.

I scoot myself out of his way as he opens his closet nearly hitting me in the head with the door. That was a close one. As he rustles through his closet and gets clothes out his cologne travels to my nose. He smells nice, like the scent of vanilla mixed with something else.

“I’m taking a shower first.” Tallius declares as he carries his clothes to the shower.

“Haha, he probably didn’t mean to almost hit you with the door.” Sparky explains.

“Yeah…” I say back holding my knees.

Sparky comes over and shows me his workbook, on a blank page he has drawn a smiley face version of me.

“We can stick it on your closet now!” he smiles.

I smile, “thank you.”

He rips it out and tapes it onto my closet door, “hey Ori, are you going to go to dinner with us?”

“Yeah! If you guys don’t mind…” I nervously answer.

“Of course not! We want to get to know you!” Sparky smiles.

Sparky goes back to his workbook, this time actually doing homework. I look over the paperwork for my classes, looking at the outlines for each class. Several more minutes pass before Tallius exits the shower. He tosses his clothes in the laundry basket and dries his hair with a towel.

“I’ll take a shower now!” Sparky says as he jumps up and gets his clothes from the closet.

I nod and return my attention back to the paperwork. Tallius silently glances over.

“Are you in your last year?” Tallius asks as he walks over to the broken bunk beds.

“Yes.” I nod.

He nods back and lifts the mattress off the bed frame.

“Huh? What are you doing?” I ask, shocked by his actions.

“Making the beds for tonight?” he answers as he tosses a pillow and blanket on the mattress that is now laying on the floor.

“Ah, let me help you!” I exclaim.

“You’re weak, I do this every night. I can do it by myself.” He answers as he slides the other mattress down and plops it next to the other one, “are they too close?”

“No! No, not at all!” I answer.

“This one is yours.” He says, pointing the mattress on the right.

He places a pillow on my bed and neatly places a blanket. He sits down on his bed and sighs.

“I…Thank you! I can do it myself tomorrow!” I say with a nervous smile.

“It doesn’t matter.” He answers, rubbing the back of his neck.