Dissension

Chapter Five

The next two classes went by relatively quickly considering what they were – engineering and programming first, and then Agricultural Studies which had been, as Jynx had promised, all about farming. I had the former class with Jamie. Engineering and programming had been as difficult as I'd imagined, though our teacher, Professor Nolan, had been understanding in his introduction to the topic. Most of us had no prior experience of programming or engineering, and therefore he'd had to start right from the very beginning. He didn't seem to mind however, he was a light-hearted young man who had an incredible passion for his subject, no matter how many times he had to go over things. My second lesson after lunch was much more relaxed, and it was a welcome relief from the headache and stress of my previous hours. I hadn't known anyone in Agricultural studies aside from Zeke's roommate Tommy so I'd forced myself to slide into a seat next to a girl who turned out to be Shiloh Wyatt; a little bit of an air-head but completely harmless. She introduced me to the other boy on the table – Ace, and made an effort to include me in their conversation. By the time I was waving goodbye to them, I felt a little more settled than before and ready for some down-time. According to the schedule I'd been given, we were on free time for the rest of the evening, dinner was served at 6, and by 9 we were expected in our rooms.

I headed back to my dorm room alone. Jynx and Jamie would probably already be there, so I took my time tracing the corridors back toward the dorms, enjoying the fact I had nowhere to be and no time limit to abide by. I only took the wrong corridor once on my way, and I realised my mistake relatively quickly, crossing over and ascending the nearest staircase. I let my thoughts draw me in, running through my classes today and everything that had gone on. Ryan's crew and their bull-headed arrogance still pissed me off. Stupidly, I hadn't considered the idea of hierarchy or cliques or bullies. It bothered me that nobody seemed to care enough to step up to face them. It bothered me also, that even though I hated bullies, I hadn't even risen from my seat to stop them. I was no better than the rest of them.

"Can I help you?" The voice startled me so much I leapt into the wall, wincing as the contact jolted my shoulder. I hadn't been paying the slightest attention to where I was going, simply wandering along the second-floor corridor. I was dumbfounded for a moment, left gaping like a fish as I stared back with wide eyes at a huge bulk of a boy (man?) standing in the way, who was staring back at me with guarded green eyes. I realised quickly that he was probably going to assume I was a moron if I didn't shut my mouth and answer his question already.

"I-I...uh...." Great. Way to seem more stupid than I already did. "I was just going back to my dorm?" He peered at me; his expression now faintly amused. He crossed his arms, drawing my attention to his biceps and strong chest, the muscles clearly defined beneath the tight black t-shirt he wore. I swallowed. He must be a second year; I was sure I would have noticed him before if he was in my year.

"I think you'll find you're on the wrong floor." He said. He hadn't moved his arms, his face was still an impenetrable mask and his eyes were fixed, unblinking, on mine. He was easily one of the most intimidating people I'd ever met, and he had to be only seventeen at best. Was this what we were turned into? Human brick walls – muscular, emotionless, intimidating. He reminded me of the image of a soldier my father had once shown me illustrated in a childhood book – though this guy was without the camouflage...obviously. He held no accusation in his voice, just annoyance, like I was a fly in the room and the buzzing was irritating but not worth making a fuss over. I nodded, embarrassed as I realised that I must have gone up one too many flights of stairs thanks to not paying attention. My face darkened with a flush, a sudden rush of crimson that pooled along my cheekbones in a ridiculous manner. The thought of him seeing it caused me to blush furiously all over again much to my own annoyance.

"Sorry I uh...wasn't paying attention." I hurried through a quick excuse and apology then took a step back, keen to get out of the second years' way. He tilted his head slightly, a sudden look of consideration on his face.