Chapter 5 #2
“Right. Well . . .” She paused, seeming to contemplate something in her head, creating the already awkward conversation that went far longer than Renn thought necessary.
It wasn’t wise for him to wish that his name would go unnoticed.
It may have been native to hold on to a shred of hope that people weren't going to make a big deal about who he was related to, but it was thirty minutes into day one and it didn’t seem likely.
“So, is there anything else you need from me, or can I go?” He didn’t hold back his irritation.
“Oh, uh, sorry. Looks like you’re being assigned to Armstrong Hall.
Your RA—Resident Advisor—is Mr. Tredway.
He’s also a professor who teaches first and second year Applied Science, so you’ll most likely have him as an instructor as well.
” She was speaking at lightning speed now.
She had most likely repeated this several times already today and would continue to do so.
“Here is your NexTab. You will use this to access all your course work and submit assignments.” She passed over the thin metal tablet enclosed in a protective case.
“You can access everything from campus maps and announcements, etc. You can connect it to a personal handheld device and your personal desktop, which is ready for you in your dorm room.”
Renn nodded along, filing away the information.
“Any questions?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Perfect! Armstrong Hall is on the east side of campus—about a ten minute walk from here. Mr. Tredway will be waiting for you there to check you in and to show you around.”
He nodded in thanks, and as he was about to turn around, he thought of something to ask of her.
“Actually, I do have one question.”
She smiled for him to continue.
“Do you know the name of my roommate?”
“Hmm . . .” She tapped away on her tablet. “Yes. Looks like a . . . Nathan Hayden, is who you have been paired with—also an early admission student. Looks like he has already checked in, so he should be heading to Armstrong, if he’s not there already.”
“Great. Thank you for your help.”
“No problem. Have a great first day!” She beamed.
The officer was right about the ten-minute walk. Renn didn’t linger, but still took in the campus as he made his way to the dorm. The campus was busy, but it was peaceful, emanating an air of grandeur.
Armstrong Hall was one of the nearly fifty dorms on campus that could accommodate the attendees of the Academy—all named after historical space explorers and pioneers.
Students typically changed dorms every couple of years, depending on the fields they pursued, and later, much housing, like his father’s, was provided by SEA, close by.
The building was warm and inviting, hardwood floors and gold lighting, a stark contrast to the modern sleek design of most structures and homes those days.
The lobby was busy with students and stewards carrying suitcases and hurrying along to get settled in their rooms. In the center of the lobby, there was a large statue of a man the building was named after, clearly Neil Armstrong, and staring up at it was a young boy wearing the same maroon uniform.
He had dark brown skin and a head full of tightly curled thick hair that bounced when he moved.
The boy turned when he heard Renn’s steps behind him.
Warm, golden brown eyes met Renn’s and there was a sort of mischief about the boy’s expression as he cocked his head.
“Are you a fan?” he asked, tilting his head toward the stone depiction of the first human on the moon.
“Oh sure,” Renn said with a smile, catching the humor in the boy’s question. “Big fan.” He nodded erratically. The boy was pleased with Renn’s quirky response.
“Not as cool as Tessa Monarch though? I mean the first human on Mars is way cooler.”
“Absoultely. Much cooler,” Renn agreed.
The boy sniffed a laugh. “Nathan Hayden, or Nate.” He extended his hand.
Renn took a moment before introducing himself. Once he shared his name, he knew Nate would look at him differently—not as a comrade or fellow student.
Here goes nothing, he thought.
“Aldrenn Anton, or Renn.” He took his hand, a strong hold as they shook. Nate’s eyebrows rose, indicating Renn should prepare for all the questions and gaping.
Nate’s mouth opened slightly, but then he closed it and simply smiled. “Nice to meet you, Renn.”
Renn had never been so happy to be wrong about a first impression before.
“Same to you, Nate.”
“So, how old are you?” Nate asked.
“I’ll be fourteen next month.”
“I’m turning fourteen in a few days.”
“Oh, well happy early birthday. Will your family be coming back here to celebrate or will you go to them?” Renn assumed it was a harmless question, but Nate snorted a laugh, and Renn worried he may have offended him somehow.
He didn’t want an awkward start with the person he’d be living with for at least a year.