Spoilt Rotten

Chapter Four

Thank You Laundry

Once PE was over and I had changed back into my uniform, it was the end of the day. After my previous experience in the lesson before, I needed to get back to my room as quick as I could. I had to evaluate what had happened and how I felt about it. It was a winding path to my dorm as there were so many rooms so it took me at least twenty minutes. That was twenty minutes too long of overthinking things. I pulled out my key, still shining with freshness, and unlocked the door. My bags had already been sent to my room and were sat next to my bed, waiting to be ambushed by my tired hands. As I opened the door, I had become conscious of the fact that all the students were beginning to go to their rooms. The hallway that was once desolate had been filled with at least twenty boys. To save myself from being the subject of gossip again, like I was at the end of PE, I rushed in my room and slammed the door. My first day had been a whirlwind and the complete opposite than I had wanted it to be. I flopped onto my bed and groaned.

It was 6 o'clock when I woke up from a nap. I had no homework and I had phoned my mum before I fell asleep. I decided I would do my laundry before the washroom was locked up. I wasn't used to doing my own laundry but I was given an apparently perfect list of instructions to do the washing by my mother. I gathered all my clothes from the floor and stepped outside. I closed the door behind me, holding the washing powder bottle in my mouth. My lock was tough and took some wiggle work which was hard to do when my hands were full of shirts and underwear. There was an unanticipated bang and I twisted round to see a figure in swim shorts and a tank top at the door of my neighbouring bedroom. His hair was soaking and stray curls covered his blue eyes, just a little bit. Alexander. He had a bag hung over his shoulder and was fumbling through it, probably looking for his key. It was at that unexpected moment I realised that I was staring at him, again, for at least two minutes before he acknowledged me. I blinked. He responded with a smile, the same sincere smile he had granted me when we fell over and like the one before, it melted me to my core. I opened my mouth in astonishment causing my washing powder to tumble to the ground.

Alexander instantly ducked down with me to help pick up my mess. He was silent and I watched him run his hands through his hair, it then fell back in his eyes despite his efforts. Once we had collected my things, he sighed and looked at me. "I'm Alexander. Bateman. But I get called Alex." His voice was like velvet. Deep but gentle and very calming. I let out a squeak of a reply, "Nicolas Pierson," He nodded, "B-but you can call me Nick." I had promised myself I wouldn't stammer but considering he was the first person I had talked to face to face in the whole day, as well as being... Him... I couldn't help it. He stood up and passed me the now dirtier washing. He began, "Look I'm really sorry about what happened in PE. They think I'm a teen prodigy at basketball or something." Alex chuckled, he almost looked embarrassed. There were so many things I wanted to say but so little nerves to actually say them. I just nodded. Idiot! He smiled and gave me a pat on the back, told me he'd see me around and went inside his room. I was left there in the middle of the lengthy hallway, knees weak and wobbling from wonder.