2. Double

"You know, I thought this was a single room," I stated, my confusion still evident.

 "The single rooms are usually reserved for the top three ranked students. That's typically the Head of Grade, the Hockey team Captain, and the top academic achiever. The rest of the single rooms? They're mostly off-limits, something about budget constraints or the like." Alec said. Noticing my hesitation, he said, "No worries if you're a private person. So am I. I hope the double room isn't too much of an issue... for either of us." His tone was friendly, but I couldn't shake off the unease settling in my stomach. 

"Uhh, I suppose..." I stuttered, my eyes veering to the two beds occupying the room.

 "I didn't catch your name, by the way."

 Startled, I turned to face him. "Oh, sorry, I'm James," I replied, sounding as casual as possible.

 He studied me for a moment, head tilted slightly. "You have quite a strong accent. Where are you from?"

 "Texas," I answered, thankful that was all he seemed to notice.

 "That's a long way from here," Alec noted, a hint of curiosity in his voice.

 I shrugged, "Yeah, well, there aren't exactly schools like this down there."

 Alec nodded, seemingly satisfied with my answer. My new life at IronCrest Academy had truly begun with its unique challenges...and my carefully guarded secret.

And those challenges just got exponentially more complicated. 

 As I leaned against my desk attempting to up what little I had up, another guy strolled in, all confidence and charm. Didn't know his name yet, but damn, the way he carried himself, like he owned the place, was something else. He was obviously a big deal around here, and he knew it. 

He shot me a curious look. "New face, huh? What's with the sudden roommate?"

I fumbled with my words and managed a shy "Hi" just as he sauntered over, all smooth and graceful. "I'm Adrien," he said with an intriguing spark in his eyes. "Didn't expect to bump into someone new today."

"Yeah, I'm James. Just got here," I managed to get out without my voice raising an octave. 

Or two. Damn, he was hot. 

 Adrien leaned against the wall. "I didn't think we'd get transfers mid-year. Alec here must be bummed, he's thought he had won the single room lottery."

I fought off the nerves as I shuffled my feet, "Yeah, uh, luck, I guess. Chess scholarship just started up this year."

He tilted his head. "Chess, huh? So, what else do you like to do? Play any sports back at your old school?"

My face felt heated. More heated than it already was due to the hot guy standing in front of me and this damn binder. "Sports? Oh, no, never really pursued any."

Alec's eyebrows shot up in surprise, but Adrien chuckled, that effortless grin never fading. "Well, if you're looking to dive into the scene here, our hockey team's scouting this weekend. Might be worth a shot."

Alec glared at Adrien briefly before turning to me, "Yeah, you should consider it. Take your time getting your side how you want, but please leave mine alone. I have a certain thing about... Order." Then, they were off without another word. 

Alone with my thoughts, it dawned on me. This was no ordinary playing field. Here, navigating the social landscape meant swapping pawns for pucks. To climb in this new social order, I had to adapt. I knew stepping up my game was not just an option, but a necessity if I wanted to keep...them away. 

I whipped out my phone, only to find a dead zone - not a single bar. Just as I'd been warned, this school was a black hole. No way to reach the outside world or vice versa. 

But hey, at least I was off the radar. 

Those freakish things that were after me? They'd be clueless about my hideout and chasing dead ends for months as long they couldn't figure out a way to track my location. For at least a year. 

A year trapped here. That's the reality. But with reality comes the inevitable - the possibility of opportunities lurking in unforeseen corners. They're out there, somewhere, waiting for me to seize them. 

They must be. In fact, Adrien might have just thrown me a bone.

After unpacking a few things and leaving the rest in my backpack, I scanned the dorm room. Alec was clearly a neat freak. His side was a showcase of orderliness, everything from books to pens aligned with an almost obsessive precision, like disciplined soldiers standing at attention.

 The meticulousness didn't stop there. His desk was a symphony of organization, each item deliberately placed, leaving no room for chaos.

Or secrets. 

I was still taking in the unnerving tidiness of everything when the door swung open.

Alec walked back in carrying my suitcase. "Uhh... James? Got your luggage here. The admin lady sent me up with it."

Something was off. Alec had just left with Adrien, hadn't he? Why was he back so soon? How had he reached the admin office and back up here this quickly? I've heard they were fast at this school, but damn. 

"Here's your uniform," Alec said casually, handing over my uniform and luggage. He leaned against the door frame, an air of laid-back confidence about him. "Traveling with just one suitcase?" His voice was smooth, his eyes briefly scanning me, like he was suddenly sizing me up or something.

 I nodded. You pack light when you're running for your life. 

His demeanor changed abruptly, charm dripping from every word. "Want a tour of the place?" he asked. He seemed far more intrigued with me than he had just minutes before.

I couldn't help but question the change. Why the sudden friendliness? The Alec who left earlier was a completely different person. Colder, less charming. Could he have split personalities, maybe?

I shook my head, faking exhaustion. "No thanks, maybe later. It's been a long trip, you know," I said, hoping that would ward off any further probing.

He kicked off the door and scanned the room, making me even more uncomfortable. I could tell he was trying to work something out. I was hoping that something didn't include me. 

Or the secret I was desperately trying to hide. 

I busied myself organizing my belongings. I couldn't ignore the binder, constricting like a constant reminder of stress doing the exact same thing, and my hair, slick with sweat, stuck to my forehead. The discomfort was hard to shake off. The thought of a shower was irresistibly comforting. I scanned the room again, looking for the bathroom door. 

Where in the world was the bathroom?

"Alec?" My voice wavered slightly as I called after him just as he was leaving. He paused, clearly amused. "The bathroom. I don't see a door? Where is it?"

"No en suites for freshmen and sophomores. It's communal, by the stairs next to the laundry." His words were as calm and collected as his demeanor.

 "Communal?" I echoed. An overwhelming sense of anxiety and dread swept over me, making it difficult to remain upright and speak coherently... or in a deep voice.

"Yep," he replied, his eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief. "Not so terrible. Just avoid peak times. Like after practices and games if it bothers you. You'll be fine."

 With that, he strolled off, leaving me to process the daunting prospect of communal showers while striving to maintain composure as impenetrable as his seemed to be.