"Of course I'm running late. I don't know where anything around here is."
Nick Duval just transferred in from out of state and had never even heard of Dalton Academy until his parents mentioned it in passing the summer they moved, and eventhathe heard in passing.
"By the way, darling, we're moving. Your father just got a job offer in Westerville, Ohio and we'll be there in the beginning of August." It was June. "Make sure you have everything packed up! Oh, we're sending you to this nice private school they have out there. Dalton Academy. I hear they have a nice choir, so you should fit right in."
"Thanks mom. It's much appreciated," he thought as he ran through the hallways of a school he failed to acquire a map for before he panted, "I'll never find my way around."
He'd walked around once or twice before, but that was only during move-in day and there were plenty of people around to help him find everything he needed to. Damn his bad memory. Damn it to hell. Now he had to figure out what he was doing on his own, which was never his strong point.
He hit a few dead ends and climbed multiple staircases more than once in searching for a classroom, but after half an hour of looking he gave up. There was no point in pressing his luck farther than he already had.
As he ran down another corridor he slipped and slid down the hallway…right into someone else.
"Oh shit," he cried, "Please don't hit me!" He was wrapped up in someone's legs. They were really long.
"It's ok, man. Don't worry. I'm pretty sure they wax these floors on the regular. Everyone slips and slidesat leastonce," a warm voice responded.
After Nick got his bearings straight, he looked up to see a hand extended to help him up. Attached to that hand were a pair of beautiful eyes and a head full of blonde hair.
"Here, let me help you."
The boy helped Nick to his feet as Nick tried to keep from looking into those eyes and melting on the spot.
"What's wrong?" the boy asked. "Are you ok?"
"Yeah," Nick replied, "Just a little bit lost." "In your eyes," he thought.
"Let me help you. What are you looking for?
"Warbler practice. I'm supposed to audition today."
"Oh I'm headed there too. I'll show you."
The boy gently took his hand and led him down the deserted hallway and Nick wished that walk could have lasted forever.
"I'm Jeff, by the way. Jeff Sterling."
"Nick. Duval."
Nick liked Jeff already. Maybe Dalton wouldn't be so bad after all.