CHERUB: Knight

4: Routine

There was a surprise waiting for George when he got back. There was a sign on the wall in the lounge area which said 'Strictly no TV until homework is complete', but George hadn't got any and he fancied getting first crack at the cartoons. Andy had told him that the older kids usually hung out in a local park or went to their friend's houses so they didn't have to spend time in Scarborough Block, so it seemed like a good chance to watch something he wanted for a change.

He charged upstairs, pulling off his rucksack and throwing the door open in a hurry. But before he could pull off his shoes and run back downstairs, he spotted a startled-looking guy sitting on the bed opposite his, a couple of bags on the floor at his feet.

"George, this is Michael. He'll be your new roommate," Ian said, appearing from behind the door where George hadn't noticed him. "Sorry it's a bit short-notice but he just got here from another home."

Michael got to his feet, and George was taken aback to note that Michael was a good foot and a half taller than him.

"Nice to meet you, George. Hope we can get on okay in here," he said in a deep voice that was heavily-accented, holding out a hand for George to shake.

George had hardly ever shaken hands with anyone before, and it was extra-weird when it was a teenager, but he did his best anyway. "Hi Michael."

"I'll leave you two for a bit so you can get acquainted, but if you need anything you can come and get me," Ian explained, stepping out of the door and heading for the source of some high-pitched squealing.

To block the sound, Michael pulled the door shut before sitting on his bed. "So, George, how long have you been here?"

George felt a little put-out to have missed out on a golden opportunity to watch some cartoons, but he wanted to get to know the his massive new roommate. While George could hide completely under the duvet on his single bed, Michael lay stretched out and his feet nearly reached the end.

"Since Friday. Today was my first day of school," George said, unlacing his shoes and kicking them under the bed. "Where are you from?"

"South Africa," Michael replied, making a fist. "Don't you recognise the accent?"

George had rarely heard any accents outside of London and American stuff on TV, and he'd meant where Michael had lived before moving to Scarborough Block. He paused for a few seconds, wondering how to respond, but a smile on Michael's face put him at ease.

"Don't worry, I hardly expected you to. Nobody ever does."

"How old are you?"

"Fifteen. Got chucked out of a home on the other side of London so they sent me here."

The whiff of scandal got George interested. "What did you get kicked out for?"

"Oh, bits and pieces," Michael shrugged, acting disinterested. "Anyway, I'm gonna unpack. Take it I can't cross this line," he chuckled, pointing to the divide in the room.

Being in the presence of a cool teenager made George feel weird. Michael's stuff was grown-up; a toiletries bag with aftershave and an electric razor; shoes twice the size of his, and, most shockingly, a disposable cigarette lighter and a packet of ten Lambert & Butler.

"You don't mind, do you?" Michael asked, pushing open the window and using the metal rod to hold it open. "I'll chuck the ash out of the window."

Ian hadn't actually said anything to George about smoking in the room, but he assumed that was because hardly any nine-year-olds smoked and he wasn't sure.

"If it bothers you, I'll just go into the garden," Michael shrugged.

"No, it's okay," George replied. Part of him wanted to ingratiate himself and seem cool to the teenager, but another part didn't want to be sat alone in the room if he didn't have to be.