I hold my breath, alternating between heat and chills beneath his stare.
“I’d say you’re one of the strong ones. If you haven’t thrown yourself at me yet, you probably won’t.”
I relax, partly amused, but mostly relieved. I have no intention of allowing my first real crush to come from an overzealous endocrine system.
“Well, I’ll let you unpack. Dinner’s at six. You should come with us, but don’t be late. Rules are big here.”
“I won’t,” I assure him, happy when he finally leaves. Queen Bee Ben is a lot to absorb, and I need to explore my expensive furniture in peace. Maybe there are crown jewels or first generation copies of the Declaration of Independence hidden behind these paintings. What if that mantel covers a secret passageway to… well, does it even matter where if there’s something as cool as a secret passageway?
Later.
Dinner is at six, and I definitely need a thorough investigation of the shower before then. I lift the tattered remains of the Madison Academy brochure from my suitcase and gaze around the fairytale room that’s now mine. Maybe things happen for a reason. Maybe timing is everything. But it sure seems like a mistake that I didn’t embrace their promises sooner.
Everyone loves Ben.
I study his plastered grin with interest as we swerve through the dining hall, and chemical-magnet or not, the boy knows how to use his charm. I sense the charisma is an act, however. He enjoys the attention, thrives on it, which begins converting my initial sympathy into wariness. It’s an odd reaction, considering he’s my only friend so far. The thing is, first impressions don’t work the same for me as they do for everyone else. Someone pushed him on a boat and broke his arm for a reason.
“Good evening, Esteemed Table Four. This is Rebecca,” Ben announces as we approach a senior table.
“Hi,” I say, taking the empty seat he indicates.
“Rebecca, meet Thomas, Liz, Lucy, and Christopher.”
“New roommate, huh?”
“That didn’t take long.”
“So have you warned her yet?”
I look to Ben at the barrage of questions, but it’s Laura who answers. “Nothing to warn her about. We haven’t even seen Daniel since Tuesday.”
“I heard he got in a fight with Instructor Matheson.”
“Again?”
“They need to kick him out.”
“They’re clearly afraid of him.”
“I bet he has the gift of Ebola.”
“No, IRS audits.”
“He’s going to end up dead in your room one of these days.”
“Good.”
“You’re not being fair about him,” the girl named Lucy says. I glance at her, curious about the dissenting opinion.
“Don’t start again, Luce,” Ben groans. Laura rolls her eyes.
“What? It’s true,” Lucy continues. “Just because he keeps to himself, doesn’t mean he’s a bad person.”
“No, but the fights and drugs and general hostility?” Ben counters.
She shrugs. “What do we really know? Rumors. You’re just jealous because I’m not the only one who thinks he’s hot. Right, Laura?”
Two of the other guys snicker.
