ANIMA

4. Legacy or Peasant

Tomas

Changing schools senior year would be devastating for most people. For me though this is probably the best thing to happen to me, ever.

I am not transferring to just any school, I am going to attend Wellington Academy. It's one of the best high schools in the country. Graduating from Wellington is a guaranteed spot at any college of your dreams.

At least 90% of the students have attended since birth and their parents are some of the wealthiest people from all over the world. I fall part of the 10% that get to attend through scholarships.

I have been awarded the Ashworth Excellence Scholarship. It wasn't easy, I maintained an A average in all my classes throughout my high school career. The lowest grade I ever got was an A- and that's only because I had my appendix removed two days before exams and couldn't concentrate properly.

I also had a lot of extracurricular activities to display well-roundedness such as the newspaper, the GSA and volunteer work. It meant a lot of late nights and early mornings but it paid off, today I finally become a Wellington Academy student.

"Are you sure you packed everything? Your allergy meds?" Mom asks looking harried.

"Mom, we went through everything a few weeks ago and last night and again this morning. I think I have got everything." I say.

"We just want you to be absolutely prepared as much as possible. You are finally attending your dream school. We are so proud of you son." Dad says.

"I know, I am going to miss you guys." I say.

Its times like these that I wonder how I am going to survive this year away from home for the first time in my life. But then I remind myself this is my dream and I won't miss it for anything.

Bags loaded into the taxi, I hug my parents goodbye and I am off. Anticipation thrums through me as I watch the landscape through the window change from the familiar to the unfamiliar.

The 2 hours go by quickly and we arrive on campus. I see a lot of students milling around looking like they have already settled in while others seem to be just arriving like me.

The campus looks even better than the pictures on their website. The grounds are also well maintained; no littering in sight and the trees are tastefully trimmed. The whole place has a glow to it but then again I might be seeing everything through rose-tinted glasses. I am so excited.

I have been assigned to the Heathcliff dorm which is apparently one of the nicer dorms but everything here is nice so.

I already know my roommate is Aiden Hernandez. But I have been resisting looking him up online and finding out exactly which ultra-rich family he belongs to. Maybe he is even a scholarship kid like me. I want everything I learn about my roommate to be whatever he chooses to share. Being nosy isn't a good look.

As I am walking towards my room I notice the dorm is really quiet. A lot of people must not be back yet or maybe they are elsewhere on campus. I open the door and get blasted with music, I guess there is some soundproofing at work.

In the middle of the room is my roommate in nothing but Koya boxers. He is also dancing to 'Dynamite' complete with official choreography and everything. It is a sight to see.

We are definitely going to have a conversation about volume but at least he has good taste.

He is so immersed in the music he doesn't show any sign he hears me as I enter the room and close the door. I knock over my suitcase which startles him, he whips around and then quickly turns off the music.

"Don't stop on my account" I say trying not to laugh.

"You must be Tomas the roommate, I am Aiden. What did you think of my moves?" he asks smiling widely not at all as self-conscious as I expected.

"Amazing. I thought I was watching the music video for a second."

"Really? I can tell you and me are going to get on fine Tomas" he proclaims.

"I guess you are a proper fan?" I ask.

"What gave it away?"

"The music, the boxers plus the vinyl on the wall" I say.

"What can I say I love the song and the boxers were a gift from my girlfriend Sierra. They are super comfy too." he says sheepishly.

"So are you a legacy or a peasant?" he suddenly asks.

"Umm what?"

"Sorry that's what the snobs around here call the scholarship kids. Since you are obviously new, you either got in because of a legacy connection or through scholarship" Aiden explains.

"Definitely scholarship" I say.

"Thank god, not a snob then"

"Are you on scholarship too?"

"No but that crowd can be so exhausting, all they want to talk about is money. How much they have, how much they spend and how to make more of it. Me and my friends are of course the exceptions."

"Of course."

"I am so glad you are my roommate Tomas. I can already tell this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship" Aiden says grinning.

"It's just Tom" I say.

"Whatever you say, Tomas"

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A/N

Thank you so much for reading, commenting and voting! It means a lot.

Now we've met our 4 main characters, we will get into the secrets next week!

- Oli 💌