Wednesday, August 17th, 2011
Marshall Bloodworth Preparatory Academy
Just before the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year
Time: 8:35 AM
~ Gabriel Sinclair
Oh . . . God had to just be kidding her with this one, right? Of all the guys at Bloodworth Prep to be assigned as her roommate this year, she had to wind up with one who was arguably the most well known on campus?! Seriously?
Despite the horrified feeling gnawing away at her stomach, Gabriel just stood as she had upon opening the door, to the side, hand still placed upon the doorknob, yet a genuine look of surprise laced her androgynous features. She didnât look aghast to see who her roommate was, no, she just looked . . . stunned. Her amber eyes were wide, and her mouth was simply shut, though some of the color had faded from her complexion, leaving the teenager looking a tad on the pallor side. Even if her physical appearance did not do justice to how it was she was feeling on the inside, rest assured that Gabriel certainly was finding herself feeling a bit sick. It had been bad enough to find out that she had to room with someone this year, meaning being extra cautious on top of how careful she was to begin with. . . . But this, this was just a cruel joke.
Feeling her heart sink into her stomach, the full weight of the reality at hand settled in upon Gabrielâs shoulders as she came to understand just whom her roommate was, and how it made things all the more worse for her. She blinked, maintaining the same expression of surprise upon her features. Devyn OâHarris . . . of the four-hundred plus male students enrolled in Bloodworth Prep, my assigned roommate turned out to be Devyn OâHarris. she thought to herself, Oh God, could this scenario possibly play out any worse than this?! Gabriel thought, nearly letting out a whimper of protest. Okay, so she had expected the situation to be bad, all things considered, but the fact that she was getting stuck with Devyn OâHarris . . . that just made things really, really bad!
Everyone in Bloodworth Prep knew who he was, literally, everyone. That meant that soon enough, people would know Gabriel was rooming with him, and potentially, that could draw unwanted attention to her. As if she didnât already have enough of that problem considering the fact that she was often attending those wild parties NoĂ©l insisted on going to. . . . So, how much did this raise the level of risk regarding her secret becoming exposed? Well, considering that Math was Gabrielâs weakest subject, the girl could only answer that this raised the stakes by a lot.
. . . .also, Devyn was just staring at her, an expression of what seemed to be disappointment on his face for some reason. Gabriel took in a rather deep inhale of air, doing so quietly, as she did her damn best to regain her composure. Yes, she was inwardly freaking out and cursing Lady Luck for all she was worth for cursing her as she had, but she couldnât show that. She had to remain calm, act like this was no big deal, and not show that she was actually pretty peeved about all of this, as well as just horror-struck. No, that would just make things worse; it would make her look rather suspicious. Even more than her rather genderless face, and her rather diminutive frame and build did.
Yet still, Devyn just looked over her, as if he was uncertain of what to make of her. Oh God, donât tell me heâs already suspecting somethingâs off? she thought, heart nearly leaping into her throat at the very notion of it. But, what if he was starting to think that? Would Gabriel have to up her game then? Make a rather blatant effort to play the part of a believable teenage boy? I donât want to have to change how I act, I already canât act like a girl, except for around NoĂ©l. . . . Honestly, even if Gabriel did know Devyn by name and appearance, also by the fact that he was as popular as the schoolâs nickname, she didnât exactly know too much about him. So, she found herself hoping that he was just someone who liked examining peopleâs physical appearance intently upon their first meeting.
It was only a few seconds, that short time frame had been enough to make Gabriel fear for everything she had worked for the in the last two year. Even if she had been nearly lost in her own skull, her own worries, she didnât fail to notice the fact that the genuine expression of disappointment/surprise upon Devynâs had quickly given way to an expression that did little to impress her. He was back to smiling, shaking his head for whatever reason, that grin though. . . .
Her composure returned to her enough, Gabriel looked at her new roommate with a serious expression, that smile left her with a slightly sick feeling in her stomach. Not enough to be severe or anything of the sort, but, it didnât sit right with her. Two years of playing the role of a guy ought to leave me with some level of knowing when it comes to facades. she thought, backing into the living space of the dorm as Devyn moved to come inside. Heâd given her a friendly enough nod, but still . . . the reverse trap just regarded him as she had before.
The expression on her face was less than pleasant, and she found herself on the verge of rolling her eyes. Great, so, he was an actor was he? Just what she felt like putting up with on top of everything else! Mr. Popular put on a ruse in order to make sure people liked him. Even if her attitude and thoughts were like a pot calling a kettle black, Gabriel at least was honest about how she was feeling, despite the fact she had to pretend to be a boy, her sentiments regarding situations and people were genuine and truthful, she never put on an act to make others like her.
Gabriel watched her new roomie observe his surroundings after he shut the door and came inside. Well, her first impression of him was officially made; and it was a negative one. Whatever he thought of her, she didnât know, and she found herself becoming rather apathetic to it. While there was an innate fear of him suspecting something was off about her, there was also the fact that his practiced, overly-pleasant smile had more or less gone and gotten her a bit irked. It annoyed her, it really annoyed her to see people pretending to be as something they were not. That was something that had always gotten Gabriel, for a long time. Maybe it was something that stemmed from the fact that her mother had stuck around for something she didnât want for nine years, or maybe it was something else . . . but the fact remained that people who played the part of something they were not, those were the people who made her upset.
Great, this is just great. . . . Things did get worse, just when she thought they couldnât. While Devyn went about seating himself at the table placed up against the wall that divided the kitchen from the rest of the living room, Gabriel merely stood where she was, thinking bitter thoughts about her situation.
âRight, then. You must be none other than my new roommate. Iâm Devyn. Devyn OâHarris. And you?â Upon hearing him address her, Gabriel exhaled and relaxed her body; she couldnât come off as completely unpleasant toward him could she now? Even if this sort of thing went against what she believed. . . . Not acting true to how she was actually feeling was something she loathed even the thought of, but she stuck rooming with Devyn for the next year, and if she was not careful around him, he could find out her secret . . . and everything would be ruined for her.
So, even if the fact that he used a facade around others got to Gabriel . . . she was just going to have to push passed that, and ignore it. Nothing is as ever simple as it might seem, you know that for a very solid fact. she chided herself, sighing as her shoulders dropped a bit. Okay, first impressions aside, as well as her own musings and bitter sentiments regarding things Devyn couldnât control, she had to give him a chance. Gabriel knew she couldnât be shallow and a jerk to him based on two minutes of presumptions, among other things. As long as Iâm careful about my secret, really careful, there shouldnât be a problem between him and I . . . as long as that ruse of his lets down.
A rather passive look overtook Gabrielâs face, her amber eyes having gone docile, she gazed at Devyn, âI know well enough whom you are.â She started, her voice rather sounding rather dull, bored. âIâd be a fool not to. . . .â Gabriel sighed melodramatically while she waved her hand, âAnyway, Iâm Gabriel Sinclair, and yes, weâre to be roommates for the next year.â
Placing a hand on her hip, Gabriel shrugged, âWhether you know anything about me or not, I donât care. You can think of me what you want to. Iâm easy-going enough as far as living arrangements go, as long as we mind each othersâ boundaries and such, there shouldnât be a problem, also, if you havenât gone ahead and eaten, go ahead and raid the kitchen if you feel like it, or watch TV. . . .â She sighed, beginning to head back to the bedroom, leaving Devyn sitting where he was, along with her cereal. Iâll clean it up soon enough, frankly, Iâve lost any trace of an appetite I had. She was just going to just go ahead and wash her face, as well as get dressed . . . eating was something she could worry about later when she didnât feel so very uneasy and apathetic.
Wednesday, August 17th, 2011
Marshall Bloodworth Preparatory Academy
Just before the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year
Time: 8:40 AM
~ Ceridwen Nox
Late, late, late!! She was so late this morning, wasnât she?! Carrying with her everything her tiny body could lug, a high-strung Ceridwen Nox darted through the hallways of the girlâs dormitory building. Oh, how she hated being late for ANYTHING! Well, this time it wasnât her fault . . . she could blame her lateness on her dear old dad for getting her rear to the campus two hours after she wanted to have already shown up and said hello to the girl who was suppose to be her roommate for the next year. It had been the middle of term break when the letter had arrived; the notification of her room assignment being changed. The piece of paper had merely let Ceridwen and her father know that she would be changing her living arrangements, and to which room she was going to be stuck in for the next year, but it didnât tell her whom she was going to be living with. . . .
Well . . . she sort of looked at that as being a surprise! Even if it was a little scary, not knowing whom she was spending the next year with, Ceridwen viewed it as a pleasant thing. It was a mystery~ Something fun to find out! Even thinking about it like this caused the teenager to smile, and giggle a little bit with happiness. How wonderful it would have been if there had been some major mix up in the housing office, and she and Gabriel wound up rooming together thanks to it . . . not~ Silly sounding, right? Ceridwen Nox was head over heels in love with a certain Gabriel Sinclair, she had been since near the beginning of last year, yet the idea of possibly living with him thanks to some freak mix-up was not something that actually appealed to the fangirl.
Nope, nope, it didnât. Before anything like that happened, she wanted Gabriel to love her with his whole heart. And this was the year she swore that would happen. . . . Last year, her attempts to win his heart had been timid at first, frightful and uncertain. So much so that they had failed. That was when she was fourteen, and still a freshman.
Rounding a corner, Ceridwenâs green, frog-printed rubber rain boots squeaked rather loudly, while her wheel-bearing suitcase nearly tipped over from the sudden directional shift. Like always, Ceridwen was a remarkable sight in terms of her clothing; bright and notable. Along with the frog-printed boots, the small girl was wearing black leggings that ducked into the boots, a pair of denim shorts upon her legs, and a bright green tee shirt while she had her strangely colored hair tucked back into the usual braid. There was nothing else to be expected of the child, in terms of her hair and clothing. . . . A silly smile was still plastered onto her youthful face, her thoughts drifting to many places. To her new roommate, to Gabriel and also to her one real friend. . . .
Oh~ After she was through making an impression upon her new living mate, and getting her things set up, Ceridwen was so going to go say hello to him. Itâd been over a month since she had seen him, and she just had to show him how she had grown! Sheâd turned fifteen, and, in her own head that is, had officially become a woman! The teenager was certain she had changed massively in the short time she had been away from Bloodworth Prep.
On her birthday, Ceridwen had vowed a few things about the coming school year . . . one, she was not going to be so âshyâ when it came to getting Gabriel to love her. Two had to do with the stunt she had pulled the previous year regarding the bastards who had been taking advantage of innocent underclassmen girls, well, it had to do with the title she had earned from her actions. Ceridwen swore that the whole of campus would know she was a ninja, someone who would protect the innocent from the guilty.
. . . .first though, she needed to actually get to her dorm to see her roomie! Her lavender eyes kept darting to the numbers placed on plaques next to the doors in the dormitory, each time it turned out to be the one she wasnât looking for, a âNopeâ ran through the fangirlâs head. Finally though, when she did find the one she was looking for, Ceridwen literally skidded to a halt in front of it, maintaining a rather airheaded smile upon her face, she simply stood there for a moment, looking at the door before she fidgeted a bit where she stood and quietly squealed to herself at getting to meet who she would be living with~ Meeting new people was fun.
Time for Rii to meet her new roommate~ Ceridwen thought to herself, adjusting the bags she was carrying so the handles were around her wrist so she could open the door. Her small hand latched onto the doorknob like a leech, and without bothering to knock, Ceridwen quickly opened the door, and shouted, âRii is sorry she is late! But sheâs here now and ready to say hello to her new-!â Upon actually looking into the room however, the girl stopped talking, but did not lose that silly grin on her face. She simply remained still, and quiet for a moment as her gaze fell upon who it was she would be living with for the next year.
It was someone she already knew, huh, what were the chances? Well, Rii will be a monkeyâs auntie, she never would have guessed that sheâd wind up rooming with his crush of all the women here at Bloodworth Prep! she thought with a giggle, letting go of the doorknob as she went ahead and pulled herself into the dorm, her bags all in tow. âHiya Alexis~ Whoâd of thunk it, you and Rii being roomies this year, that is?â
Yes, Ceridwen Nox, the sophomore whom was reputed to be one of the most hyperactive things on campus . . . knew the most popular girl in the school. She knew Alexis Martinez, and actually liked her quite a bit, despite some of the girlâs tendencies. âThis ought to be a fun year for both you and Rii!â Ceridwen announced with a happy laugh.
