Chapter 2

Jason's POV

Before I get on with the story, let me tell you a little about my best friend Ben. I have known him for pretty much all my life. I call him my best friend but it's only because he knows too much. He could name a list that could go on for miles with all my darkest secrets, my embarrassing moments and every second of my life I managed to screw up. I am hostage to this relationship but so is he. And because of that we are inseparable. He knows exactly what is going on for me before I even tell him. His instinct is almost terrifying.

He was the reason why I moved to Maywest Boarding School. He is a year older than me but that never stopped us from being close. In fact, it was probably what made us closer. We barely saw each other during our school years so every moment we spent together became more valuable.

When he left for Maywest, he told me stories of his roommate Ricky and the stupid mischief that they got up to. He told me about the friends that he had made and how his lessons shaped a new vision for him. I wanted that. I wanted that for myself. I wanted to be included in his whirlwind of events and be taken away by my teachers at school. I wanted to see things in a different light.

---

There was a knock on the door. I fumbled around trying to find my calm self amongst the pieces that had just been shattered apart by my roommate.

I answered it.

It was Ben. I sighed with relief, grabbed my coat and shut the door behind me before walking towards the canteen along side him.

"How's it going, Mr Dorm President," I mocked, throwing a playful punch.

"Dude, it feels great!" he said, ignoring my attempts of belittling his achievement. "It felt weird doing all that stuff where you have to sign people in and deal with giving newbies like you a lecture on all the dorm rules. But it's fine because my roommate's really good at that stuff. I'm pretty sure he has stayed in a boarding school all his life."

I laughed. "I'm beginning to think they chose the wrong person to be dorm president and I feel really bad for your roommate."

"Shut up, man," he giggled, returning my playful punch. "This is amazing though! You're finally here!"

I nodded grinning from ear to ear. There was a long pause as he openly started eyeballing me up and down.

"Yo, have you met your roommate yet?" Ben eventually asked.

I hesitated. It didn't feel right for me to start balling my eyes out to him when we had finally reunited...

Just as that thought ran through my mind, Ben immediately flashed me a look of concern. I sighed.

"He wrote a note on the door saying: "No gays allowed."

I deliberately left out the bit where he strangled me up against the wall because I didn't openly state my sexuality to him.

"F*ck, that's messed up."

That was all he could say.

We arrived at the canteen. It wasn't that far from the dorm meaning I wouldn't have to walk miles just to get my breakfast every morning.

It wasn't packed with students but most students weren't living in the dorm. There were a few students who were already dressed in their uniform whilst there were quite a few who had come dressed in the comfort of their pajamas. I admired their confidence in silence.

We stood in line, got food and then started making our way towards an empty table.

I knew Ben didn't know what to say after I had spilt a little truth about my roommate. He was giving me space to clean up my thoughts but I just wished he would give me something for support. I didn't need much.

"Oh snap, there's my roommate Ricky!" I felt Ben nudge me violently as he began waving hectically at Ricky. "Shall we go sit with them?"

I was about to say yes until a familiar shadow loomed up behind Ricky that automatically sent shivers down my spine.

"It's cool, man, we can sit on our own," I shuddered, gently tugging at Ben's sleeve.

"Come on!" he pleaded, ignoring my desperation to escape. "I've been waiting a whole year for you to meet my roommate! Oi, Ricky!"

I tried standing behind Ben but being 6ft tall made my efforts useless.

Ricky didn't help the situation. He ran over like a lost puppy as soon as Ben called his name. The troop that had stood behind him, which included my roommate, all crowded after him. My eyes flitted to the exit but before I could even make a step towards it, Ricky had already decided to embrace me.

"Hey. Is this the guy you were telling me about?" Ricky practically shouted in my ear. I winced.

"Yeah, Jason, this is Ricky. Ricky, this is Jason." I felt Ben's arm snake around my shoulder like a proud father. "Ricky's two years above you and a year above me. You will find the dorm policy is to put you with people from the year above or the year below so your roommates don't distract you. However I don't really see the difference as all the creative classes have all the years together."

"That's weird," I managed to say, trying to stay present in the conversation.

So my roommate was a year older than me. He was a year older than me but I couldn't help but feel that he was going to learn a lot more from me than I was from him.

I looked over at my roommate who was glaring at me from behind Ricky. Nobody seemed to notice him sending me daggers which probably meant that this was normal for him to do.

Back in the dorms it had been kind of difficult to focus on him standing up as I had spent most of my energy trying to breath but seeing him stand in front of me made me realise just how short he really was.

I cursed him in my head.

"Hey, man, I'm Ben's roommate. It's nice to finally meet you," said Ricky, trying to break the silence.

I pried my eyes away from my roommate and sent Ricky a small smile. "And you" was all I could say.

"Why don't you come sit with us?"

I felt my roommates eyes suddenly become darker. "No really, it's..."

"Yeah, we'd love that!" Ben suddenly interrupted me.

"... a pleasure...," I swiftly finished, trying to send signals to Ben but he looked right past me.

"Dude, come on. Sit down," ordered Ben, pushing me down into a seat that was directly opposite Ricky. I wasn't sure how long I would be able to stand my roommate glaring at me.

"Come meet the team," smiled Ricky. "This is Suki, Jisoo and Noah."

So his name is Noah. I glanced over but immediately regretted it.

"My real name is Sukhjeevan but people call me Suki for short," Suki added.

I looked over at him, trying to come across as interested. "Do you like the nickname Suki?"

"Yeah, I mean the girls think it's cute," he giggled, receiving a punch from Jisoo who suddenly started eyeing him closely. "The name Suki in Japan means "to love" so I have no hate for it."

"It's also a girls name," Jisoo snorted.

"Shut up, just because you're Japanese!" Suki retorted.

"I'm Korean, you d*ckhead." Jisoo flicked some food over in his direction.

"Language," hissed Suki.

Ricky quickly diverted the conversation. "Hey, Noah, who's the weird guy who is supposed to be dorming with you?"

I froze.

"Funny you should say that because Jason has also been banging on about a weird dorm mate, as well," laughed Ben.

I gulped.

"He's sitting right in front of you," growled Noah.

Everyone suddenly went silent.

"You guys are roommates?" Ben asked me, his face suddenly coming to the realization as he turned to face me.

"Sh*t..." muttered Ricky.

"He did it to me if that helps," said Jisoo, calmly playing with his food.

"What?" I couldn't tell if I had just misheard him.

"This sign," said Jisoo. "It's his little signature."

"You were roommates with him?" I asked, in disbelief.

"Yeah, you could say that," Jisoo murmured under his breath, shooting a distinct look over at Noah. I waited for him to say more but his mouth clamped shut.

"Maybe this is a good opportunity for you to put things in the past," reasoned Ricky.

I could feel the rest of the group looking at me expectantly.

"I'm going to leave first," I finally decided. "I still have some unpacking to do."

I couldn't stand sitting there another minute.

"So soon?" Ricky asked. I nodded. "It was nice to meet you."

"And you."

I left. It was the fastest speed walking I had done in a lifetime. I knew Ben would be worried but it was the only thing I could do for myself in that moment. I also didn't feel comfortable with Noah being only a few centimetres away.

----------------------------

So this is the second chapter. I'll probably be posting a chapter a day (possibly more?) since I don't have college until September. What do we think? I'm actually really enjoying the distraction that this story has given me whilst writing it. I hope this can also be an escapism for some of you as well! Arghhhhhh I'm so nervous about making this public!!!

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***