Beechwood Academy

chapter one

The building in front of him was huge. It was something close to a castle; a huge courtyard filled with students in front of three beautiful brick and stone buildings. Each building was at least ten stories tall with pointed roofs that made the place look even larger. Duncan couldn't help but acknowledge the beauty of this English school.

"Get out of the bloody road!" The scream came from nowhere just as a loud, alarming horn sounded uncomfortably close to Duncan's ear. Before he could react, a pair of arms circled his waste and tackled him into the freshly mowed grass off the side of the road in front of the school gates. A bus filled with Beechwood students zoomed past without slowing down for a second, crushing most of Duncan's luggage under it's wheels. The pair of arms around Duncan's waist recoiled and a groan sounded beside him.

"I should say thanks, but I think you gave me a concussion." Duncan groaned, twisting to look at his attacker.

"A concussion is better than three broken ribs." The boy beside him sat up, shaking grass out of his blond hair. He was a pristine boy, he wore a medieval styled white tunic that tied at the collar over modern blue jeans and bright red sneakers. His sense of fashion didn't match his face — his face was much more neat and handsome. He held his hand out for Duncan who was still on the grass. "My name is Samuel Frost — or Sammy, I don't really care what I'm called."

Duncan took Sammy's hand and allowed himself to be pulled to his feet before he introduced himself. "I'm Duncan McCarthy."

"You're American?" Sammy's British accent was strong, there was no denying he was right where he was meant to be: a rich UK boarding school.

"And you're British."

Sammy ended up helping Duncan retrieve his clothes and belongings from the road. They didn't speak much as they did so, nothing more than Sammy asking Duncan questions about America and why he went to such lengths to attend Beechwood Academy, considering the fact that it was on the other side of the world that is. Duncan answered the questions as quickly and truthfully as possible without having time to ask questions of his own for Sammy really enjoyed cutting him off. It was only after Duncan asked Sammy to help him find his room did Sammy realize they were roommates. Room 335 was previously home to Sammy and a former student named Jared King, and now Duncan was taking Jared's bed.

"I do hope you'll keep your side of the room neat, and please keep your knickers out of sight." Sammy swung open the door to his room, dragging two of Duncan's unharmed suitcases inside with him. Duncan examined the room, it was nothing more than a dorm. Twin sized beds were pressed against either wall, a desk at the foot of them both. There were nightstands beside each bed, Sammy's held a framed photograph of him and a ginger boy around their age and a copy of Sherlock Holmes while Duncan's was coated in water rings from the lack of coasters being used prior. Underneath the beds were drawers for them to keep their clothing and personal belongings.

"It looks. . .snug," Duncan said mostly to himself, tossing his luggage into the empty bed against the left wall.

"I'll leave you to it then, I'm late for lunch with some friends of mine —unless, you want to come with?" Sammy shot Duncan a smile, partly hoping the new boy would say yes. After Duncan hesitated to reply, Sammy continued. "It's not every day I get to brag to two hot girls and a fairly attractive male that I saved an American boy's arse."

"More reason not to go." Duncan forced a smile.

"Don't tell me you're sensitive. New York is rather harsh, or so I've heard." Sammy stated, his knowledge of the states was something similar to a prince without a servant to do his chores: clueless.

"I'm from Washington, I've never even been to New York," Duncan snickered, following Sammy out of the door. He'd decided that he might as well meet new people before classes begin and it would be helpful to know where the cafeteria was located. The boys had to walk down two flights of stairs to reach the ground floor, then another staircase to get to the cafeteria which was strangely located underground in a ginormous basement. The walls were brick and the floors were stone, the only thing that told Duncan it was the cafeteria were the big round tables scattered throughout the room. Sammy led him to the table in the very center of the room where a ginger boy — the same boy from the photo on Sammy's nightstand — and two brunette girls, both of which were stunning. One had lighter hair and hazel eyes while the other had darker hair and chestnut skin.

"This is my new roommate, Duncan. He's American." Sammy smiled, taking his seat next to the ginger boy before introducing everyone else at the table. He pointed to the ginger first. "This is Rudy, he was supposed to be my roommate this year but the headmaster refused to let a gay student room with another male." Rudy waved sheepishly at Duncan as Sammy moved on to the girls. "This is Wren," — he pointed to the hazel eyed girl — "and Susie." The chestnut skinned girl smiled at her name. Duncan took a seat between Sammy and Wren without a word, not really finding the ability to speak.

"You're quiet, aren't you?" Susie asked, tilting her head as if she was trying to study Duncan. Her voice was soft with a touch of a French accent mixed with another accent Duncan couldn't place.

"Just a bit overwhelmed," he responded, clearing his throat.

"Did you want something to eat, Duncan?" Sammy asked, nudging the brunette's arm.

"I'm alright. Are you going to eat?" Duncan asked, noticing that Sammy didn't have a plate in front of him like the others.

"Sammy doesn't eat," Wren explained like it was a normal thing. "He's got a disorder, he's not shy about it but he won't talk about it unless it's brought up."

"An eating disorder?" Duncan asked, looking at Sammy with concerned eyes.

"Something like that. It's nothing for you to worry about, I'm still alive and healthy aren't I?" Sammy said with a shrug, waving off the conversation and starting a new one. "I saved Duncan from being hit by a bus and he hasn't even thanked me yet."

* * *

Duncan lay on his bed, staring at ceiling. He tried to let his mind wonder but it was hard to accomplish when Sammy was going on about how miserable classes would be. His anxiety increased with every topic Sammy brought up and he was almost certain he would never be able to get any sleep, even after Sammy stopped talking.

"What happened to your previous roommate?" Duncan asked, trying desperately to get Sammy to stop talking about classes.

"He vanished halfway through the school year, nobody has seen him since." Sammy voiced shifted from casual to sorrowful. Duncan's eyes widened at the words and twisted so that he could see Sammy clearly. Sammy's back was facing him and he was curled up tight in blankets.

"How? How did he just disappear?" Duncan asked, suddenly intrigued with no intention of getting to sleep.

"Duncan, I'll answer any questions you ask because frankly, I like to talk, but I'd rather skip this conversation if you don't mind." Sammy turned to meet Duncan's eyes. Duncan nodded silently and turned over in his bed, his mind finally beginning to wonder. Something was off about this place. Maybe he was just overreacting or it was just his nerves talking, but he couldn't shake this odd feeling. He enjoyed Beechwood Academy and didn't intend on going home, he just hoped whatever this gut feeling was wouldn't be too hard to handle.