Boarding with the Bad Boy [COMPLETE + BONUS published edition]

Let the Games Begin

                 

It's not until I reach MacMillan that I realize my truck is still parked out front. It's nearly 6:40. I still haven't checked in with the corridor supervisor and the second floor check-in meeting starts in 20 minutes. I battle internally for a moment before I decide, screw it, I'm moving the truck. I wish I had had the foresight to ask Spencer to save me a seat at the meeting, as I already know the walk back from the boarder parking lot is going to make me late.

I'm right. When I make it back to MacMillan, slightly sweaty and definitely flustered, the second floor common room is packed with boys. A slight man who must be our corridor supervisor—he honestly looks smaller than me—sits with his back facing the door.

            I tilt my head back and take a deep breath while watching the ceiling, cursing Jill before taking the door knob and twisting, edging my way into the room. All eyes shift from the tiny corridor supervisor to me, and I blush furiously.

"Um, hello?" The corridor supervisor says, looking at me curiously. I remind myself that his name is Mr. Coleman, per the papers I received earlier.

"Hi, Mr. Coleman." I keep my voice low. "Sorry I'm late." I pause, realize I'm shaking a little. "I'm Logan Grey."

As expected, there's puzzlement all over Mr. Coleman's face. He glances at the list of names in his hand, then at me. Someone barks a laugh into the confused silence. When I glance up at the crowd, Sam catches my eye and smirks. "Hey Roomie," he mouths. I refrain from giving him the finger.

Mr. Coleman is speaking. "Uh, Logan...I think there's been some mistake."

I hand him the room assignment from my check-in folder. He scans it with growing panic that mirrors my own.

            "I know," I tell him, trying to stay calm. "This isn't where I want to be either. The dean promised it'll get sorted soon."

            I don't know if we actually have deans at Ryder, can't remember if that's the term Jill used earlier. But the corridor supervisor looks mollified by this. He looks at the paper for a moment longer before handing it back and nodding curtly, making a check mark beside my name on the paper.

            "I guess, uh, take a seat, Logan."

            I glance at the room of fifth form boys. Jesus, this is intimidating; there's nowhere to sit. A number of couches and chairs line the room, guys sprawled across them and over the floor. Spencer's squashed between two meatier boys and flashes me a sympathetic smile when my eyes pass over him.

"I—" I'm about to tell Mr. Coleman that I don't know where to go when Sam's low voice comes from the back of the room.

"Come sit with me, Grey."

My eyes go to him. He's sat next to the guy from 208, who leers at me like he can't wait for what's about to happen. There's a miniscule sliver of space between them, but I approach without another option. There is no way that I'm going to fit there and he knows it. What's he playing at?

Sam just watches me like the rest of the group, Mr. Coleman included.

"Are you...?" I ask finally, gesturing toward the two-inch space between Sam and 208.

"Oh!" Sam feigns surprise for a moment, before his mouth curls up into his signature smirk. I have the sudden urge to slap it off his face. "I thought..." he glances between himself and his friend. "If there's not enough room there, you can just sit here." He pats his lap twice, the way a dog owner might call for his golden retriever.

"Don't worry," he stage whispers. "We'll be getting to know each other even better than this soon, roomie." 208 is smirking wide enough I can see his wisdom teeth.