"Welcome to New York! Not that you'll see much of it."

Eiji stiffened. The sky shone a crystalline blue, summer's dying heat, sticky and heavy, pressing in over the school grounds. A trickle of sweat tickled its way down his spine. He glanced to Ibe. What on earth?

Ibe's eyebrows arched. He cleared his throat. "I'm Shunichi Ibe, the new art teacher. From Japan."

The stout man who'd made the oddly threatening comment beamed, hiding what looked like cigars in his coat pocket. "A joke, really."

Eiji managed a smile. It fizzled out quickly.

"Only because students aren't allowed off campus without passes and permission," the man explained. "You'll get used to the rules. They're new for you, so, a joke." He reeked of smoke.

"Oh." Eiji didn't find it funny.

"Japan has its own rules," Ibe interjected.

Boarding school in America sounded like a fun adventure when Ibe brought it up to Eiji. Or really, like a chance to break away from the monotony of his life in Japan, a life spent watching everyone race by him, race towards bars he could no longer propel himself over, sitting in the back row in school, trying and trying and scraping average at best grades. He still had no idea how he'd been able to get this scholarship Ibe encouraged him to apply for; he'd never expected to actually be able to come. And now that he was here, he just didn't want to let Ibe down.

"I dunno," said the man. "Just a secretary, after all." He shot Ibe a glance that ran him up and down. "You the one that took that famous photograph of the pole vaulter? One photo to get you a job here. Impressive."

"Wouldn't have been able to take it without Eiji," Ibe said, clasping his hand to Eiji's shoulder.

"Oh, so this is Eiji? From the photograph? I thought he was your son. Freshman?"

For real? Eiji could barely keep his exasperation from his face. "Junior."

Ibe chuckled, rubbing his chin. "He looks young, but—"

"Ibe!" hollered a voice that Eiji at least recognized. The pressure in his chest eased. He let out his breath.

"Good to see you!" Jenkins, the school dean who'd interviewed Eiji before admitting him, wrapping Ibe in a quick hug. "And Eiji!"

Thank God. The stocky man with the cigars headed off.

"I see you've met Marvin. He's the principal's, Golzine's, secretary," Jenkins said quickly. "Not the most friendly fellow."

Ibe shook his head. "I think we realized. Not very good at conversation, is he?"

"Not unless it's X-rated."

"Jenkins!" Ibe glanced at Eiji, whose face burned.

"My apologies, Eiji," said Jenkins, cringing.

Well, this is now awkward for all of us. Please, anyone, help. Eiji smiled, digging through his mind for something to say. "It's very warm here, isn't it?"

"Yes, yes it is, though it's probably the last of summer for the next ten months!" Jenkins shook his head. "I'll send you down to your dorm right away—you'll be in Max Glenreed's dorm. He's a nice guy."

"Your friend, right?" Eiji quizzed Ibe.

He nodded.

"Great," said Jenkins. He produced a map, pointing. "Head down this path and take your second left. It's at the bottom of the hill."

Eiji glanced at Ibe.

"I'll walk you there," Ibe offered. "It'd be good to say hello to Max."

"Great," Jenkins said again. "And now I've got to run back to my office. Everyone's arriving and it's pure chaos, I'm telling you. I've got a dozen parents whining about how much pocket money their kids are given." He rolled his eyes and hurried back into the brick office building, the one that sat in the center of campus, reddish mulch and green stems blooming from overly manicured gardens surrounding it. What looked like orchids were carved onto the wooden doors.

Green lawns spread across campus, brick buildings covered in ivy rising all around. Several buildings were named after the subjects taught inside—the science center, the arts block—and others were named after animals, for dorms. A small chapel with a stained glass window bearing the image of a golden-haired angel sat near the entrance gate. Charlie, the redheaded head of security Ibe also said he knew, waved. Eiji waved back.

Ibe stopped in front of one of the dorms. "Wildcat," he read.

Eiji arched his eyebrows. Ibe pushed open the door. The dorm was structured like a rectangular frame, with what must be the dorm rooms set up around a courtyard. The grass in the courtyard had withered in the summer sun. Voices came from the other side of the courtyard, where a table sat under a trellis.

"I'm telling you, Max, he's just a kid inside. He'll be a little rough at first, but you're the only dorm parent here I think can get through to—"

"Ack, George, I know, but don't you think I have enough of my own problems? With Jessica coming back and the project—Ibe!" A man stood up from the small glass table. "Welcome!"

"Max!" Ibe grinned at the sight of his college friend.

Max grabbed Ibe in a bear hug. "Good to see you!" He glanced at Eiji. "Eiji?"

Eiji nodded.

"Max." He held out his hand. Eiji shook it. "This is George. He's the school's counselor."

"Nice to meet you." George smiled, rubbing his beard. "Any emotional problems, trouble adjusting to the new culture—it's a big change—dating problems, academic problems, I see it all. I'll talk to you later, Max. Just remember what I said, and take care of him."

"Eh... sure." Max looked slightly wizened at whatever George was telling him to do.

"Difficult student?" asked Ibe.

"Apparently." Max shrugged. "Gonna be your roommate, Eiji."

Eiji's eyes widened.

"Kidding." Max laughed, pulling out his chart. "Oh. Wait. I guess he is your roommate. But don't worry, Eiji, we can switch—"

"What's wrong with him?" asked Ibe.

"That's exactly it," said Max. "Everyone assuming something's wrong with him, or so George says. He's just a very intense, very intelligent kid who was picked off the streets a few years ago by Golzine himself. He's been at the school ever since. I don't know him well though I will say, Eiji, he's not a threatening type."

"I don't mind rooming with him," Eiji said quickly. He didn't want to cause trouble.

"Really?" Max looked relieved. He chuckled. "Well, thank God, because the only other option is really Shorter Wong, because Lao Yen-Thai wanted to room with his brother, and Shorter and Ash together could be a headache for their suitemates. Not that they're bad kids. Shorter's a fun guy. Just loud."

"Ash?" Eiji asked.

"Ash Lynx," confirmed Max. "Your roommate. Or really, Aslan."

"Ash," Eiji repeated. "Like... cinders?"

Max nodded.

"Text me if you have any problems," Ibe said, looking nervously around the dorm.

"I will," Eiji assured him. "Hey, Ibe. I really will be fine."

Ibe sighed, shaking his head as he smiled at Eiji. Eiji's own father might not have recognized him when he went to say goodbye. Eiji hoped he had. He wished his father would say something, anything, tell him he was proud of him, or—just say his name. He didn't. He couldn't, but even if he could, Eiji didn't know if he would have. His mother barely nodded when he'd said goodbye. It was his sister who threw her arms around his waist, and who shoved a good luck charm into his pocket. A good luck charm that was actually a love charm, because she was a total airhead who probably grabbed whatever she could from the temple, and yet he kept it because she cared enough to notice he was gone.

It didn't take Eiji long to set up his dorm room. It was small, one bed on either side, two desks adjacent to each other, a bathroom to be shared with their suitemates.

The door opened. A kid with blond hair, a green plaid shirt wrapped around his waist, torn jeans, and eyes the color of jade surveyed him. "You my roommate?"

Geez, he is intense. Eiji scrambled to his feet and nodded. "Eiji Okumura. I'm from Japan."

"Ash." He dropped his one bag, a dirty backpack, onto the bed and flopped down, red converse sneakers still on his feet. "You a freshman?"

You Americans. Eiji scowled. "No. I'm a junior. Same as you."

"Well, excuse me." Ash held his hands up. "You look like a kid."

Eiji folded his arms. Ash dragged himself up, emptying his bag of crumpled sweatshirts, an older laptop, and dog-eared books. Hemingway, Faulkner, Fitzgerald. What looked like a pocketknife.

"Is that real?" Eiji asked.

"Huh?" Ash turned to stare at him.

"That knife." Eiji pointed. "I didn't think they were allowed."

"They're not." Ash shrugged. "But it can be useful."

"Oh." Eiji flushed. Now Ash must really think he was a baby. "Can I hold it? I've actually never seen one before."

Ash blinked. He studied Eiji. "Okay." He picked up the knife, holding it out to Eiji, his jade gaze never leaving, as if he expected Eiji to run screaming for Max.

Eiji took it. He examined it, pressing the button to send the switchblade out. "Wow!"

Ash's eyes widened. A smile tipped the corner of his lips.

"Thanks." Eiji handed it back. Ash tucked it into his desk drawer. He pulled out a pair of glasses. "Are those yours?"

"I carry random glasses in my backpack in case I need to disguise myself." Ash snickered. "Yeah, they're mine. I use them for reading."

"I use contacts." Eiji pressed his lips together. "Won't they call you a four-eyes?"

Ash cast him a strange look. "Are you telling me you're going to start?"

"No!" Eiji's face reddened. "Just—back at my school, in Japan, people did make fun of—" It'd been Ibe who realized Eiji couldn't see properly, and when Eiji begged him not to tell his parents—not that they'd care, but they'd blame themselves for his eyesight—he bought Eiji contacts.

"That's rude." Ash scowled. "I hate people who bully others."

"Yeah." Eiji nodded.

"Dude!" The door banged against the wall. A tall Asian boy with a purple mohawk stomped in. "Oh hey, Ash's roommate."

"Eiji," Ash said, introducing him.

"Nice to meet you, Eiji. I'm Shorter. I live across the courtyard." Shorter rubbed his mohawk, dropping onto Ash's bed. "Ow, the drive took so long today. My ass is numb."

Eiji almost laughed.

"Who else is here?" asked Ash.

"Kong and Bones are your suitemates, but Alex's luck ran out and he's rooming with Arthur, who is my suitemate," Shorter said, shoving sunglasses on despite the fact that they were indoors. "I'm gonna have to kill him, Ash. He's already such a—"

"Poor you." Ash smirked. "Let me know if you need help with him."

"Oh, and Sing and Lao are down the hall, and Cain Blood's got the single room in their suite. So that's good. Cain's the only one Arthur is somewhat afraid of."

Ash nodded, glancing to Eiji. "Cain is cool, and Lao's a friend of Shorter's. Sing's his stepbrother."

"Oh, nice."

Ash folded his eyes, eyeing Shorter. "I notice you haven't mentioned your roommate."

Shorter moaned, doubling over. "That's because it's awful." He lifted his face. "I've got Yut-Lung Lee."

Ash's eyebrows arched.

"As in the VP?" asked Eiji. "His name's Lee, right?"

"See, someone who does his homework, unlike me." Shorter pointed at Eiji. "Yeah, Yut-Lung's oldest brother is the vice-principal, and his other brother is the business and finance teacher."

"So is he like a narc or something?" Eiji asked, trying to use American slang. Ash actually laughed, but not in a mean way.

"No, he's just known for—" Shorter dropped his voice. "Getting around."

"Like traveling?" Eiji frowned.

Ash moaned. "Sleeping around, Eiji."

"He's a guy, but everyone calls him the school slut anyways," added Shorter.

"What?" Eiji's face felt as if it was burning and floating away from him. Like as in sex?

"Just tell him he can't bring anyone back to the room," Ash advised.

"Already done, and he laughed in my face."

"Tell Max if he does," suggested Eiji. Both of them looked at him like he'd grown two heads. Or not.

"You can crash in here if he ever—" Ash started, then stopped, looking to Eiji. "Sorry, I should ask—"

"Of course," Eiji said quickly. This Yut-Lung likes guys? He wondered if that was more accepted here. Because he was pretty sure Ibe had figured out Eiji wasn't interested in girls, even if his parents hadn't noticed it beyond his mother once joking about how he never hung up idols in his room. He still wondered how his parents would react, if they'd care at all, or if they'd be proud of him, or if like usual, they'd just nod and busy themselves with their own lives.

Then again, his father's life was mostly trying not to die as of late. Eiji wrapped his arms around his legs.

"I'm in your debt," Shorter said, clasping his hands together. "Let's go down to dinner together. You too, Eiji."

"Did Nadia tell you what they're making?"

"My sister's the head cook here," Shorter explained to Eiji. "Hence, why I go here. All staff kids get to go for free." He grinned. "So if you need extra food, I can get some from her."

"She's kind of awesome," Ash said. "She has all of our backs."

You want me to get dinner with you? Eiji nodded, scrambling to his feet. Does that make us friends? He didn't remember having friends. People who liked how well he did in pole vaulting, sure. But other than that…

"Let's get Kong and Bones, too. And we should probably rescue Alex from Arthur's demonic presence," said Shorter. He slung his arms around both of them. Eiji stiffened, and Ash did too, but then Eiji noticed Ash rolling his eyes, relaxing, and Eiji managed to laugh.

He was definitely going to have to text Ibe. My roommate's actually pretty great.

"Please tell me why I need remedial biology lessons when I had a solid A in the subject," Yut-Lung stated, twisting his hands in his lap. He could hear the chatter of his classmates pouring into the cafeteria for dinner. Hua-Lung had demanded he eat with him, though, because Yut-Lung of course could not have one freaking day away from his brother. All I ask is a day in which I don't have to hear your insufferable voice!

"You didn't. You had a C." Hua-Lung leaned back, his office chair creaking.

Yut-Lung's jaw fell open. "That's not true! I—"

"Wang-Lung changed your grade, and the former teacher quit, so it's now irrelevant," said Hua-Lung. "You received a C, officially, on your transcript."

"But why?" Yut-Lung didn't understand. His brothers always drilled it into him to do the very best, to respect his family legacy and—

"Golzine pushed the application for the new biology teacher through without much review," said Hua-Lung. He leaned forward, shoving a cup of tea at Yut-Lung. It smelled bitter, because of course Hua-Lung burned his teas. "Wang-Lung wants to know why. He already is offering remedial lessons to Sing Soo-Ling; you can join him."

Yut-Lung glared. So his brothers really were ruining everything. He shouldn't be surprised, and yet he was somehow still disappointed.

"You've no need to worry about your grades," Hua-Lung said quickly. "When you apply for colleges, it's your name that will get you in. And I'm sure that with the extra help, you'll be at the top of your class."

"I still earned it already," Yut-Lung managed. His teeth felt as if they might crack from how hard he ground them into each other.

"And you'll earn it again." Hua-Lung sighed. "Look, I warned Wang-Lung that you'd be upset, but you know how he is." He got to his feet, hand flicking Yut-Lung's ponytail that cascaded over his shoulder.

"What do you want me to look for?" Yut-Lung asked, voice flat. "Do you want me to sleep with him?"

"He doesn't seem receptive to that from the little I was able to find on him." Hua-Lung stepped back. "A real by-the-rules kind of guy. No history of anything like that. Sergei Varishkov, goes by Blanca. Lost his wife a few years ago. But he has a past with Golzine, or else he wouldn't have hired him. Wang-Lung is suspicious."

Wang-Lung wants Golzine's job, you mean. Yut-Lung nodded. At least sleeping with this Blanca was off the table.

"Of course, if you find otherwise and that's the best—"

"It won't be." Yut-Lung swallowed.

"How did it go last night?"

"Wang-Lung didn't tell you? You'll have your deal." Yut-Lung folded his arms. "The banker was rather disgusting, too, so keep that in mind."

Hua-Lung rolled his eyes. "Sorry to ask so much of you in a row."

Yut-Lung pressed his lips together. "It's fine." He had no other option but to say that, even though it wasn't fine and he'd like to hurl this scalding, bitter tea right in his brother's face. If his brothers wanted to send the message he was stupid, well, fine. It wasn't like he had a reputation to uphold among his peers, anyways, and outside of school his name was everything.

Lee.

I hate it.

Maybe if this man was working with Golzine, he could figure out a way to play it to his advantage. He didn't want to work with Golzine since he'd slept with him way back when he was thirteen to seal Wang-Lung's hiring, but if he had to temporarily…

Wang-Lung had never forgiven him for that, even though he'd ordered Yut-Lung to do it. He still hated him because of who his mother was. He saw him as just a pawn to be used, a sex doll for gross older men and women, a tool to get teachers kicked out when they annoyed him or asked too many questions, a weed that was pretty enough to be displayed as if it were a flower, but wasn't. A dandelion.

Hua-Lung's hand gripped tighter. "You're mad. What's wrong?" His voice dripped with faux-concern. "Was it really so bad?"

There was no point. Hua-Lung wasn't going to change his mind about the biology lessons. Instead of being the school slut, he would now be the stupid school slut. Excellent. Really prestigious, honorable. But Lee honor was all whitewashed tombs anyways. "I'm just tired. Classes start tomorrow." And according to his schedule he'd have his first remedial lesson in two days' time. He didn't know Sing Soo-Ling well, but from what he did know he doubted the kid would keep it quiet that they were both taking extra lessons. He was, after all, a friend of Shorter Wong's, Yut-Lung's gregarious roommate.

To be fair, Shorter had been kind to him when he started at the school when they were freshmen, until the first rumors came out that Yut-Lung had slept with the English teacher everyone liked and gotten her fired. And then Shorter had actually defended him, telling his classmates it wasn't his fault, and then Yut-Lung had screamed at him because he didn't need anyone to defend him, thank you very much.

"Fine," Shorter had said. "I won't, then."

They hadn't talked ever since.

"Lao, for the love of God, we do not need identical schedules." Sing was personally willing to bow down and praise everyone who worked in creating the schedules for giving him a few periods of breathing room away from his stepbrother. Though having Lao with him in math and chemistry would help.

Lao scowled. "You're sure you'll be all right?"

"'Course." Sing stretched out, putting his feet up on the glass table in the middle of their dorm's courtyard. "I'm not as shrimpy as I was last year." He'd finally hit a growth spurt. Finally. After years of being the shortest kid in his class, he was within an inch of Lao now.

"True." Lao snickered. "Does this mean you'll want to try out for the soccer team?"

"Nice try."

"Aw, c'mon, we need new players this year. Shorter's captain."

"Ask that Japanese boy; he's new."

Lao grimaced. "He doesn't really seem the athletic type."

"I actually heard he was a leading pole vaulter back in Japan. I'm guessing he can run pretty fast." Cicadas and crickets formed a symphony in the night air.

"No kidding." Lao looked impressed, rubbing his chin. "Geez. I'll have to ask him, then."

"And win the tournament," said Sing. "Or else I'll have to listen to you cry."

"I do not cry!"

"Punch walls, then."

"I won't punch walls," Lao mumbled, sulking.

Sing rolled his eyes.

"Leave that to Arthur," Lao added.

Sing grimaced. "Having him in this dorm is like a recipe for disaster. He's so jealous of Ash you can almost see his face turning green when he looks at him." They were both scholarship kids, though, so Sing didn't really get Arthur's bitchiness. Maybe it was that Ash had everyone's respect. And Golzine favored him, though Ash didn't seem to like that because Ash was fair. And everyone liked and respected him because Ash earned it and treated people well. For God's sake, he'd never played for the soccer team, but he watched every game for Shorter, and he tutored one of the middle schoolers. Skip, that was his name.

Lao exhaled. "Yeah. Stay out of it, though, Sing."

"Don't worry. I gotta bring my grades up." Sing slapped at a mosquito that landed on Lao's bicep.

"Good." Lao smiled. "You know, I'm proud of you."

"Stop." Sing flipped his brother off. They'd grown up together, though since Lao was always so much bigger and almost a year older, he'd assumed the role of protector. A role he didn't really need, but Sing wasn't sure how to tell Lao that without making him feel like trash.

I hope you find something else to focus on this year. Soccer at the very least was a good distraction.

The dorm door burst open. Yut-Lung Lee stormed into the courtyard, hair mussed.

"Yo," said Sing, waving at him. Yut-Lung continued past him, as if he hadn't heard.

"My brother was talking to you," Lao called out.

Lao, I'm going to kill you. Sing kicked him.

"Shut up, Lao Yen-Thai." Yut-Lung didn't turn.

"Right, just keep acting like you're a princess above all of us. You look at all of us like trash. I hope Shorter knocks your teeth out."

Yut-Lung paused by the set of three steps leading to his dorm room door. "Fortunately for my teeth, he doesn't seem the stupid type." He tossed a glance over his shoulder. "Unlike you."

"Excuse me?" Lao demanded.

Yut-Lung turned, rolling his eyes as he headed closer to them. He played with the ends of his hair, sauntering slowly. "What are you really saying, Lao?"

"Um, no," said Sing. "Please stop hitting on my brother in front of me. Though to be fair, he's never had a girlfriend or a boyfriend, but I wouldn't recommend you becoming the first for your own sake."

Yut-Lung blinked. He actually laughed. "Don't worry. I'm not interested in your friends, Lao." He tossed his hair. "Or in you. Have a good night." He ducked into his dorm room then.

"Really?" complained Lao. "Sing!"

"Don't yell at me not to pick fights and pick them yourself!" Sing pointed out. "I'm getting ready for bed." He climbed up. Lao muttered to himself and then followed him to their room. Sing spotted Cain watching, shaking his head.

That night, when Sing couldn't sleep, amid Lao's snores, he heard someone crying, somewhere in the dorm. He eased himself out of bed, towards the door. His hand hovered over the doorknob.

Maybe they want to be alone.

Who wants to be alone when they're crying? But it wasn't as if he knew anyone in this dorm well enough to be able to help, except maybe Shorter, but Shorter didn't ever cry.

A door slammed. Whoever it was had gone back to their room. Sing exhaled.

Whoever you are, I hope you're okay.