SING ME TO SLEEP -- neil perry

chapter three: first day

a/n i really had no inspiration for this chapter so its kind of boring, but i needed it to be in the story, i promise next chapter will be longer and more interesting

Neil found his way back to the dorm as it was just beginning to get dark. The air was still damp and humid, hanging around him and the whole building like a thick cloud and it didn't bode well for what the first day of school was going to be like. The school in claiming to dedicate itself to tradition seemed to also dedicate itself to the refusal to incorporate modern technologies. It refused to get air conditioners. Every classroom was equipped with windows that had to be propped open and all you could do at the beginning of fall term and the end of spring term was sit in the room and suffer, the seat of your pants gradually sticking more and more to the chair, and you knew you would feel yourself peel off it uncomfortably when you stood up.

Neil opened the door quietly and saw that no one was inside. Todd had probably gone to get dinner along with most of the other boys. Neil walked over to his bed, upon which his battered brown suitcase lay, still unopened. The room really was small, the two beds sitting almost directly next to each other with only about three feet of space between them and the two dressers sitting in the exact same position at the end of each. He opened the latch of the suitcase with caution, it was prone to falling off and began to lay his items methodically into the dressers. His starch white shirts, neatly folded and ironed in one. The dark pants and shorts for gym in another, and sweaters and vests in the third. In the final drawer, at the bottom where it was hard to reach, he put the books that he had smuggled in at the bottom of his suitcase, the ones his father didn't approve of him reading because they were too romantic for his tastes and whatever was the purpose of reading romantic books if you were just going to become a doctor. A Midsummer Night's Dream, A Tale of Two Cities and Anne of Green Gables, all battered and knocked about to the point where the covers were just barely holding on by a few threads. Neil didn't mind though, because the sentiment of the books were still inside. Just as he was gingerly closing the last drawer, he heard the door open slowly. He stood up straight and saw Todd walk in.

"I didn't see you at dinner." Todd said.

"Yeah, I wasn't really hungry and I needed to unpack."

"That makes sense." Todd said and Neil nodded in assent. "Well, it's only nine and I can't sleep until at least ten, so is it alright if I just keep the light on and read for a bit, I promise I won't bother you."

Neil grinned. "Oh, so you like reading."

"What do most kids at this school not, I thought everyone here was supposed to be really smart."

"Really smart doesn't mean they tend to think for themselves. Almost everyone here specializes in math or science and only reads when it's assigned." Neil explained.

"Well that's...disappointing." Todd said, his eyes losing their sparkle.

"I know, but as to your question. No, I most definitely do not mind if you sit here and read, and I will probably do the same."

Neil stood up and dimmed the lights so they couldn't be seen by the hallway monitor and then grabbed his science textbook from his bag, boring, but he might as well get a start on it before the first day tomorrow. He flopped down onto his bad, his back resting on the wall and his knees up to his chest, mirroring Todd, who he quickly snuck one look at over the top of his book. He looked at peace, more calm than he had all day. His eyes were squinted as he stared hard at his book in depp concentration, his brows almost touching. His lips were very full and pink, Neil couldn't help but notice.

Neil grinned quietly and then ducked his face back below the textbook and went back to reading.

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