CHASTITY (Discontinued)

Burning Down the Neighborhood

I walked down the tall hallways in search of my dorm room. This place was literally a castle, everything was gilded. I was definitely out of my element. I'm not used to such a glamorous lifestyle because I'm pretty sure I'm a gypsy.

"I think we passed it," Raven mentioned. The map that Mrs. Miller gave us was not helping at all. Each residence hall looks the same.

"Are you even looking at the numbers?" I asked staring at the gold plated at the top of each door displaying a number.

"There are numbers..?"

"Oh my God, Raven you're not helping at all." We continued to wonder aimlessly around while lugging our suitcases.

After we trekked for what seemed like hours with minimal potty breaks and random musical outburst, and all hope was lost, there was an angel who gave me a devilish smile standing in a doorway. He was a stranger but everything about him seemed so familiar.

"Hey... Jake right?" He said as of his vocal chords were lubricated with honey.... That sounds gross but the point is that his accent is very pleasant.

"Yeah," I responded timidly. How does he know my name? I do I not know how and he knows mine. Unless I forgot.... how could I forget a voice like that.

"We sorta met earlier, with Ariana and the while gang," he stated. "So, I couldn't help but notice you look lost."

"This place is just really big and..."

"Yeah, I understand. People get lost a lot, and I think that one guy probably went missing but that's another story," he explained. I could under this cool-guy facade he was nervous. I remembered that Raven existed and she was making this odd face that I guess was her attempt to flirt with him but just made it a bit awkward. After a moment he extended his hand "Well, I'm Kyle. Kyle Abernathy."

"...cool," I responded shaking his hand to which he chuckled. I detected his eyes examining me, head-to-toe, nonstop. I couldn't tell, however, what he was thinking.

"You don't talk much do you?"

"He doesn't but I do. My name's Raven," my rude sister interjected. "Could you possibly help my poor bother find his room."

"Sure, let me see that," he agreed. I hand over my useless piece of paper.
He scanned it over and let out another deep chuckle. "Looks like you're my new roommate."

"You're joking," Raven murmured. "If I were into guys, I would be all over that."

"What?" He asked, perplexed.

"Nothing," I interrupted. "What happened to your old roommate."

"Remember when I said that guy went missing?"

"Say no more. Well, I'll get out of your hair," Raven says as she leaves. She turns on her heals and walks briskly a away and looks over her shoulder, stealing glances at my new roommate.

We walked into the room and it was grandiose. There were two twin beds with silk sheets and velvet duvets. The bathroom had marble floors, and golden faucets, and one of those showers that are also tubs but this one had jets. There was also a kitchen with ivory counter tops, and a deluxe oven.

"This place is amazing," I said breathless.

"Mrs. Miller likes to indulge on the fact that we deserve the best as paradigms of superhuman existence," he said. "OR some shit like that. I'll help you unpack."

"Thanks." He crouched down to help unzip my luggage and begin pulling out clothes and objects.

"Your bed is on the left, and there are some drawers underneath, and I tried to leave you some closet space but it's a walk-in so you should be fine," he mentioned. We began to pack clothes into the spacious closet next to his chinos and blazers.

"I kinda feel like I'm a burden here," I say honestly. "I'm not even sure I have powers, and all of this stuff is being wasted on me."

"Don't worry, you'll get there," he said, calmly. "We all have to start somewhere."

"What are your powers? If you don't mind me asking."

"Um... super strength, heightened hearing, night vision, and I guess cat-like reflexes." He listed all of his attributes as if it was no big deal. He had no idea how amazing he was. "The coolest part as that all of the Alpha A students get cool codenames. Mine is snow leopard."

I couldn't ignore the impulse that suggests that he got that name because he's white. I mean... there's a lot of big cats in the world: cheetahs, panthers, regular leopards... Anyway, if I could pick out his spirit animal, it would be a snow leopard, or maybe even a golden retriever. I guess a snow leopard is more vicious.

"Helloo.... earth to Jake," he said bringing me out of my trance. "You totally blacked out on me there."

"I'm sorry... I don't know..."

"Anyway, the group is meeting up at the sushi bar in a few minutes. Do you want to come?"

"There's a sushi bar?"

"...why wouldn't there be?"

"Say no more."