THE SUN WAS slowly setting and a crisp but pleasant chill spread over the campus. The large buildings created shadows over smooth concrete paths and small but frequent manicured lawns as the skies shifted to a dark pale blue.

After the amazing introductions in my new two-person dorm room, Noah takes me on a tour through the school, pointing out and explaining the history of specific Caldwell Artefacts. Such artefacts as a wooden bench that several girls have lost their virginity on and the best places for scandalous make outs. 

Levi had headed back to his dorm room long before Noah and I left. I don't think he likes me, maybe it's the vibe or maybe it's the way he rolled his eyes when I simply smiled at him. Noah's lying because Levi definetly feels emotions; specifically annoyance when it comes to me. 

Chase  left the dorm to go and visit a girl across the campus in Arlington. Noah gladly informed me of how my new roomie is a insatiable heartbreaker with a record in this school. I don't have a problem with that but I am dreading the fact that he'll bring girls to our dorm every night. 

I might have to invest in some heavy duty earplugs. 

The meals here were a hell of a lot better than what the cafeteria whipped up at my old school. They had had a menu for every day of the week and metallic cutlery for those who are actually allowed it. I stared down at my chicken carbonara, waiting for it to disappear and be replaced with meatloaf because that seemed more realistic. 

"The back of the library is a classic make out spot, so is the gym storage room." Noah explains as he cuts his steak. Sunday Nights was Steak Night, as Noah had said, and he always arrives earlier to stock up his plate. "I speak from experience." 

"How do you know all of this?" I question with a frown, gulping down my sparkling water. I place it down next to my plate delicately and lean back into my wooden chair, folding one leg over the other. 

"Honestly, gossip travels faster than STD's in this place." Noah scoffs with a small shrug. He reminded me of a little puppy with the computer skills of a CIA agent. "It's actually surprising." 

"Wow." I hum, my eyes wide as Noah nods. I move my fork amongst the long strands of creamy pasta and bite my lip in thought, "What about the colors?" 

Noah glances up, his mouth full of steak and potato, "Hmm?" 

"The colors? I read something about them in the papers Headmaster Sullivan gave me. It says I'm a green? What the fuck does that mean?" I question as I take a sip of my pink lemonade. Apparently they're aren't any straws here and I firstly assumed Caldwell was eco-friendly, but it's just because students turn them into knives.

"Oh, the grading colors." Noah nods as he finally swallows the large lump of food and pats his chest, "I call it the Danger Rainbow and it's yet to catch on—but it will!" 

"Okay..." I trail off,  "Still confused." 

"So you said you're a green right? That means you're a low threat. Greens are usually students who are in here because of a accident or a small crime." Noah explains and I nod as the information is slowly processed through my mind, "I'm a yellow which means I'm not allowed any form of technology-I'm not even allowed a fucking electrical toothbrush-and I have weekly dorm checks by security." 

My jaw drops in shock, "Holy shit. Isn't that an invasion of privacy or something?" 

"Kinda." Noah shrugs, "But I don't really care because they never find anything. I'm a good boy."

"And what about my roomie?" I try to slide in casually, my curiosity killing me from the inside, "Where on the Danger Rainbow does Chase sit?" 

"Chase? As in Everett?" Noah question nervously and gulps. 

"No as in Kowalski." I retort sarcastically and roll my eyes, "Of course Chase fucking Everett." 

"Oh...uh...um..." Noah stutters as he glances down. He then glances behind me and his eyes widen like a child, "Oh look! They've bought the chocolate cakes out! Fuck yes!" 

He shoots to his feet and tries to get away but I reach out, wrapping my hand around his arm as he passes me, "Sit down, O'Conner." 

Noah collapses back into his chair with a pout on his face. He was so childish yet weirdly adorable. 

"What colour is Everett?" I question once more and smile sweetly, "Can you tell me? Pwetty pwetty pwease?" 

"He's..." Noah mumbles, "Chase is a red." 

♤♤♤♤

After we had scoffed down our dinners, Noah walked with me back to Elwood Hall. We got along so well and so quickly. It may have something to do with the fact that he's a literal ball of sunshine whereas I am, in the simplest way possible, not. We balance each other. 

Noah had his hands stuffed into the pockets of his navy hoodie as we walked side by side along the pathway. We were laughing about Noah's extravagant affairs at Disney World last summer. And by extravagant I mean eating too much ice cream and ignoring the fact that he is deadly lactose intolerant. 

The sun had set by now, but it's light was lasting across the cloudless sky. We were walking through the main courtyard on campus when a boy breaks off from a group and jogs over to us. 

"Hey bro." The boy with soft chestnut hair grins as they proceed to do the bro-high-five-slash-hug-thing that still manages to confuse my brain every time I witness it. "Wanna come hang with us? Fallon has been missing you all summer." 

"Of course she has." Noah winks and I scoff, rolling my eyes at him, "But I'm kinda hanging out with my new best friend Hayden." 

"Hi." Chesnut-Hair grins, his brown eyes doing a full scale from head to toe of me. I screw my nose up in disgust at his blatant checking-out. 

"Noah, it's fine. I can find my way back." I urge, not wanting to put any limitations on Noah. He seemed genuinely interested in whoever this Fallon girl was. 

"Are you sure?" 

I smile at him, "Positive, captain." 

"Cool, I'll swing by in the morning?" Noah questions with an arched blonde eyebrow. I nod in response.  "I can be your alarm clock." 

"Wonderful." I murmur sarcastically as Noah parts and leaves with Chesnut-Hair, who continued to glance over his shoulder at me. Shivering from the chill seeping through the material of my jeans, I turn on my heels and head towards Elwood Hall. 

I'm going to have to visit the administration office and resolve the matter surrounding my rooming arrangements. It's too late now, I conclude as I send a fleeting glance up to the darkening sky. 

Once I'm inside the foyer of Elwood Hall, I press the button for the elevator and wait. There was no way I was going to even attempt to climb three flights of stairs now. The doors slide open with a high-pitched ring echoing through the empty halls. 

I press the button for the third floor, heavily sigh, and lean back against the interior wall. 

"Ah-shit-wait!" A voice echoes as an arm shoots through the closing gap of the door. The doors shuffle open, revealing a heaving boy with sandy blonde hair. 

"Sup." I greet at him with a boyish jut of my chin. He then steps inside, still breathing heavily.  "You would rather cut off your arm than walk up the stairs?" 

"Fuck walking up stairs." He breathes out before turning to me and offering hands, "I'm Lucas, but I usually just go by Luke. You're the new girl rooming with Everett, right?" 

"Gossip really does travel faster than STD's." I mumble under my breath as Luke sends me a confused stare. I shake my head, brushing my hand through the air, "Nevermind." I shake his hand briefly, "And my name's Hayden, by the way." 

"Nice to meet you, Hayden." He smiles as the doors finally grind to an open on the third floor. We  both step out at the same time. He points down the hall,  "My dorm's this way." 

"Same." I mumble as we fall into step besides each other, silent. 

I stop outside my door, and so does Luke. He turns around. 

"That was super awkward, wasn't it?" Luke question as I laugh and nod. 

"Extremely." 

"I'm not usually this awkward around girls by the way." Luke defends as I send him a tight-lip smiled. 

"So are all the other guys who use the same line." I point out as Luke throws his head back and laughs. It was a nice laugh to listen to. 

"If Everett gives you a hard time, you can come down to my dorm room. 316, if you're interested." Luke points further down the corridor before his striking blue eyes widen, "And I'm mean that in a completely platonic way. Like we can play board games or charades. I'm quite the champ at scrabble." 

"Absolutely riveting. I'll keep that in mind." I smile as I slide my key into the door, after realising it was locked. Chase must still be out with his lady friend. "But thank you anyway, Luke." 

"You're welcome, Hayden." He smiles, "And good luck tomorrow." 

He turns and leaves, walking down the corridor to his own dorm. I turn the metal handle and push the door inwards. I close the door behind me, grabbing the folds of my jacket as I prepare to shrug it off my shoulders. 

"Talking to dickface, are we?" 

I jump at the sudden voice and glance across the room at Chase who was lying casually on his bed. I continue to take my jacket off and hang it on the back of the wooden desk chair. 

"Ah shit! Where did you spawn from demon?" I question, leaning one hand on the chair and the other on my hip. 

"Seattle." Chase doesn't even look up at me from his phone. Asshole. 

I roll my eyes at his sarcastic answer, "Were you spying on me?"

"No." He shrugs, "You were just fucking loud." 

I don't reply as I huff, kicking off my converse from my feet. It felt nice to finally take my shoes off. I open the duffle bag that I had stuffed my linen into and got to work on making up my bed for the night. 

After a wrestling match with my sheets that doesn't go unnoticed by my snarky asshat of a roommate, I finally throw my last pillow onto my bed and step back to admire my work. I smile but I'm also profoundly out of breath.

I leave my clothes in my suitcase with hopes of moving into Arlington tomorrow. So instead, I pull out of pair of pyjamas and turn to Chase. 

"Uh, do you mind?" I question as Chase glances from me to the change of clothes in my hand. 

He muses and returns to staring at his find, "No, not at all, go head." 

"Fucking asshole." I mumble under my breath but loud enough that he heard it. I glance around the room, considering if it's worth it going to the communal bathroom a few doors down. 

Nope. Wardrobe it is. 

I stuff myself inside, thankful that it's empty and skilfully manoeuvre my clothing off and my pyjamas onto my body. I let out a few curse words here and there when I'd bump my elbows and knees on on the inner walls of the wardrobe. 

"I may have just dislocated my fucking shoulder." I point out as I step out of the wardrobe, half dazed. Chase doesn't even flinch. I then clear my throat and speak loudly, "But I'm fine, thanks for asking." 

"You're welcome." Chase hums, scrolling his thumbs across the screen of the device, "Those pyjamas are cute." 

I throw my old clothes down on top of my bed and scoff, "Like I need your approval." 

"Never said you did." Chase returns and I groan. Why can't I get to him? Most guys hear one sarcastic comment from my mouth and sprint about twenty miles in the other direction. 

Not to brag, but I just have that affect on people

I dive under my clean sheets and covers, deeply inhaling the fresh floral scent of my mother's detergent and home. It kinda made me sad that I was all the way on the other side of the country from her. I should call her in the morning even though I've called her about eight times today.

I will myself to fall asleep quickly, because it's much better than trying to start up an inevitable one sided conversation with Chase. 

"Would you like a goodnight kiss, Hayden?" Chase murmurs from across the room. I resist the urge to leap across the room and allow him to experience all the finesse of my John-Cena inspired body slam. 

"I would rather amputate both my arms and strangle myself with them, Everett." I retort and I hear the light chuckle of Chase reverberate from across the room.

I sigh as the lights are flicked off. At least he is polite enough to do that. My eyes flicker close and I fall asleep to the dreadful feeling in my stomach, knowing that my first day of this hell-school commences in less than twelve hours. 

i am on a fucking roll with these chapters

hayden is cracking me the fuck up and she's honestly so easy to write. probably because she's basically my drunk alter ego. 

don't know when i'll update , but hopefully soon. 

:)