5. Wren
I’m not surprised he remembers me. It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other face-to-face, but that doesn’t mean anything when you're two of the brightest minds in the state, maybe even the country.
“Oh, whoa, hold up.”
I force my gaze away from Gavin, which is harder than it should be, in order to turn back to the blue-haired boy who answered the door. His eyes are wide as he looks at me before his gaze flicks to Gavin and back as a smirk curves his lips.
“Wren, as in the Wren, the one who beat you at a spelling bee in the fifth grade?”
I can’t keep the shock off my face at his words, which only makes him smile wider.
“Great, another brainiac,” the dark-haired one mutters. I’m either the only one who heard him, or the others just ignore him.
“The same one you have been busting your ass to try and get ahead of for, like, ever?” Blue-hair asks, looking like this is the juiciest gossip he’s ever heard.
I just wish he would stop talking. I feel the blush as it heats my face, but there’s nothing I can do to stop it.
I never imagined Gavin would have told his friends about me. I mean, why would he? We compete for top marks and have for as long as I can remember, but I’m not the only competition he has.
Though I might be the one he likes the least. I’m not sure why, but he’s never really been my biggest fan, and he’s even less fond of my brother.
The thought of him is like a bucket of cold water being poured over me, shocking me from my thoughts.
“Yes.”
Gavin’s voice is low, but I hear the bite of annoyance all the same. I’m not sure whether it’s because of what his friend is saying or just the shock of seeing me wearing off, but he’s clearly not happy.
Good, that makes two of us.
“Gavin, if you could please explain to your friends that this is a co-ed dorm, I would appreciate it. Apparently, even though not everyone is in their first year here, nobody has taken the time to actually learn about the school they attend.”
I watch as understanding washes over his face, his eyes moving over me, taking in the box in my arms.
“Meadow Ridge has four co-ed dorms. They have since the sixties. Of the four, our room happens to be one of them.” It sounds like it pains him to admit it, but I’ll take it, and it seems the others do as well if the curse from the big guy is anything to go by.
“They introduced it in nineteen sixty-five but only utilized it for six years before it was all but forgotten. Unfortunately for you, it wasn’t something they removed, though, only stopped using.
So while it’s not common, it is allowed, and seeing as I’m late this year and this is the only dorm with an unoccupied room, it seems they are putting it to use again. ”
“I said the sixties,” Gavin grumbles, rolling his eyes.
“I heard you, but why not be more precise if you have the information?” I’m baiting him, and he knows it. I see his annoyance clear on his face, but he doesn’t say anything else.
“We don’t have a spare room,” the big one says with a huff of annoyance, catching my attention and wiping the smile off my face. I’m not here to play games with them; I don’t have the time or the energy for it.
“Each dorm has five bedrooms, and there are only four of you listed in this one…” I trail off, waiting for him to fill me in on whatever it is that I appear to be missing.
“Nolan turned one of the rooms into a gym last year,” Blue hair tells me when it becomes clear the big guy isn’t going to answer.
I’m going to assume Nolan is the big guy, then.
Which just leaves the dark-haired, quiet one and the blue-haired one to be Julian and Theodore.
I look between the two for anything that might give me a clue as to who’s who.
The only thing I know about them all is their main area of study.
I already knew Gavin, and I would assume Nolan is the sports management major, though I didn’t catch which sport he plays.
That leaves the other two with the choice of a classical music major or a soccer player.
Looking at them isn’t very helpful, though; whereas I’d easily assume Nolan’s area of study, these two don’t have anything that screams what they're about.
I want to think he’s joking, trying to get me to leave any way he can, but he doesn’t look like he’s joking, and honestly, even if he is, it doesn’t matter.
The administration office said there weren’t any other rooms, so room or not, I’ll be here.
“That’s fine. I can just sleep on the couch.” I move further into the room, setting my box on the back of it.
I don’t have a lot, but even just one box gets heavy after a while.
“No, you won’t,” Gavin grumbles, looking at me like I’ve lost my mind.
“Yes, I will, unless you're offering to give me your bed.”
He snaps his mouth shut, and his eyes narrow as I set my box on the floor and drop my bag on top of it.
“You can sleep in my bed,” blue hair says, and I roll my eyes.
“The couch will do just fine.”
“Ouch.”
“Listen, I’m not thrilled about this either.
Believe it or not, I’d much rather be in a dorm with girls, a bed, and none of you.
” I glare at Gavin to ensure he really understands what I’m saying before I look around at the rest of them.
“But there aren’t any other rooms, and like it or not, I’m here now.
So how about you pretend like I don’t exist, and I’ll do my damnedest to do the same...
” I trail off because I have no idea who he is, and calling him blue seems inappropriate.
“You can call me Julez, and he’s,” he gestures to the one on the couch behind him. “Titus, not Theodore.” He gives me a smile I’m sure usually has girls tripping over themselves, and I try to ignore the way it makes my stomach feel lighter.
I don’t have time for boys or anything that isn’t school; I’m already behind.
“Deal?” I ask when nobody responds, instead looking at me as if I just suggested the world is flat.
“Sounds like we don’t really have a choice. Welcome to the dorm.” Julian holds his arms out in a grand gesture of the room.
“Don’t welcome her. She’s not staying!” Gavin hisses, shoving Julian’s arm out of his face with a scowl.
I roll my eyes and move to sit on the couch that will now be my bed, for who knows how long.
“For once, I hope you're right,” I tell him, and I’ll be damned if I don’t mean it.