Same disclaimer: Don't own The Covenant or anyone from it but I do own Renee/Royce.

A little after ten, I pulled into the parking lot of Spencer's dorms. Finding a parking space near the doors was an impossibility which meant I would have to carry all my boxes and crap across the entire lot and possibly up a couple flights of stairs. Just freaking perfect.

Sighing, I pulled my hair up into a pony tail and took off for what looked like the main building of campus. I slipped my phone out of my pocket and read the text I had just received.

'Sup cracker! You here yet? –J

I rolled my eyes at the stupid nickname I had since I was four. My brother had a habit of using it more when he found out I was adopted instead of calling me Renee.

Pausing in my walk I typed a response: Yeah I'm here dingbat. Heading to see the Provost to get my uniforms and key. –R

After hitting the Send button I resumed my walk to the main building.

Walking up the stairs to the entrance I thought I could hear yelling from inside. Shrugging it off as my ears playing tricks with my mind I pushed open the door and took a couple steps inside only to be hit and fall flat on my butt.

"Dude what the hell?!" I yelled, looking up and the guy that had just ran into me. He had managed to catch himself on the partially open door and was staring at me.

"Woah, hey, sorry there. I didn't hurt that pretty face running into you did I?" he asked as he extended a hand to help me up. Rolling my eyes I took his offered hand and stood up. I winced when I felt my phone vibrate in my back pocket. I pulled it out and opened it to find that… The screen was cracked. Bad. I shot the blond a withering glare and closed my phone.

"What?" I asked sharply, noticing his eyes go down, up and back down. I did not think I was wearing anything too revealing. I had on a long sleeved black shirt that had N. Henderson Dance Team on the front with dance shoes and a ribbon under it with shorts and my navy blue and black Vanns.

The blond shook his head. "Nothing sweet cheeks. The name is Garwin, Reid Garwin. May I ask your name?" he stuck his hand out.

I raised an eyebrow and took his hand in mine, "Renee O'Conner. I'm uh, new here and looking for the Main Office but…"

"You don't know where it is. I gotcha babe. Hey Baby Boy!" Reid greeted the boy that ran by us. He stopped and turned.

"Reid, why're you still hanging around the lobby and not heading to class? We're already late," 'Baby Boy' walked over and stood beside Reid. "Who're you?" he asked, not letting his eyes travel from mine.

I pulled my hand from Reid's and offered it to the blue eyed cutie, "I'm Renee O'Conner."

"She's the new girl," Reid interjected. I twitched my nose and glanced over at Reid.

The other chuckled and shook my hand, "You must be Jason's little sister then. He's been going on about how his cracker jack sister was going to be transferring in soon." At the mention of my nickname I gave Reid and Baby Boy a dead pan look.

"Well, I really need to be on my way to the Main Office so I'll be seeing you boys later." I turned and walked away.

"Hey, where're you heading sweet cheeks?" Reid called after me. I stopped and turned around.

"Reid, dear, don't call me sweet cheeks. The name is Renee and I'm heading to the Main Office. I told you that." I turned back around but before I could take another step –

"Um, Renee, the Main Office is down the other hall," Baby Boy pointed in the opposite direction that I was walking.

I rubbed my forehead, tucked the fringe unsuccessfully behind my ear and turned. I waltzed up to Baby Boy and kissed his cheek.

"Thanks for the advice Baby Boy," I walked down the hall Baby Boy pointed to. I felt eyes on my back and tossed up a peace sign, "Later boys."

I continued walking down the hall and glancing in class rooms I passed. I noticed they all resembled lecture halls with the seats stair stepped and an open floor in front of a double black board and a desk belonging to the teacher.

Further down the hall I saw what was unmistakably the Main Office – it said so in big, black bold letters on the frosted glass of both doors. I rubbed the back of my neck before opening the door.

Back with the boys, Reid was teasing Tyler as they walked down the hall to their class.

"Damn, Baby Boy finally got some action. And from the new girl too! Here I was starting to think you weren't interested in girls!" Reid elbowed Tyler in the ribs causing Tyler to grab Reid's shoulder and shove him into the lockers they passed by.

"Dude shut up. She's hot yeah but her brother has already deemed her off limits to the guys here, especially his teammates. Did you not listen to him yesterday at swim practice?" Tyler shot Reid a look, the blush finally starting to leave Tyler's cheeks.

Reid waved his gloved hand and looked away from Tyler. "Yeah yeah I heard him but you know when I get told not to do something it only makes me want to do it more. And by it, I mean-"

Tyler again shoved him, this time into a wall. "I know what you mean Reid but I don't think she's in to you. I mean she was kind of glaring at you. What did you do in the span of less than a minute to piss her off?"

Reid stopped short of their class, almost whispering, "I kind of ran into her and knocked her down when she came in the front doors." Tyler rolled his eyes and reached for the door knob.

"Besides Baby Boy, I think the new hottie has a thing for you," Tyler quickly retracted his hand and gave Reid an exasperated look.

"I doubt that. She was just being nice Reid, that's it."

Reid smirked, "Whatever you think man but I am going to find her during lunch and see if she wants to come to Nicky's tonight." This time Reid turned the door knob, preparing for a lecture about being late not just from his teacher but from Caleb as well.


I walked out of the Main Office with a bag that contained five sets of Spencer's uniforms and five sets of gym clothes. Going from a public school where I could mostly wear what I felt like to coming to a private school with quite a strict uniform policy was so not going to be any fun at all. I also carried a map of campus and had a rough idea of what my schedule was written out on the back. I was hoping I would get a printed copy tomorrow afternoon otherwise I would never be attending class. You would think that being a Provost, the man would have more legible handwriting, right? Lastly, I had the key to my room already on my keychain, tucked into my front pocket.

Half way back down the hall the bell rang. I froze where I was as a wave of students poured out of their classes and converged in the middle of the hall. I was pushed and jostled by the sea of students until I was finally able to break away and stand to the side of the hall near a row of lockers. I pulled my phone out of my pocket as it vibrated again. I flipped it open and groaned; the screen was not even lighting up now.

"Reid Garwin you owe me a phone, damnit," I mumbled under my breath.

"Easily done baby girl."

My head shot up and I locked eyes with none other than Reid Garwin, this time with not only Baby Boy but Caleb Danvers as well. The breath caught in my throat as he looked me over.

"Do I know you?" he asked, taking a step forward to be standing between Reid and Baby Boy – I really needed to get his name.

"Uh you don't know me but you might have heard about me from my brother, Jason. I'm his little sister, Renee," I answered, shoving my map in my bag of uniforms and offering my hand for a friendly shake.

Caleb nodded, "So you're Jason's little sister. I'm Caleb Danvers." He took my hand to shake it but when he did, a jolt of electricity ran up my arm and, by the look on Caleb's face, he felt something as well.

"Hey, who's the cutie? Not a student from the clothes. What a set of legs!"

I resisted the urge to run a hand over my face as a guy giving off that "I'm a douche" vibe came up and knocked Baby Boy back in the much less crowded hall.

"Back off dickhead; she's with Baby Boy," Reid whirled around and stood in the guy's face. The new comer took a step back and looked at Baby Boy. Caleb rolled his eyes and moved to get between Reid and 'dickhead,' although I doubted that was his real name.

"What? Little Simms actually has a girl?" I ran a hand over my face and turned to walk away. I made it a few feet before Baby Boy, Simms, ran up to me.

"Hey, sorry about Aaron; he can be a-"

"Huge douche? Or, what did Reid call him… A dickhead?" I finished for him. He laughed and we stopped walking. "I hate to ask but can I please borrow your phone? I think my brother has been texting me but when Reid knocked me down I landed on my phone and well…" I trailed off, pulling my phone from my pocket and flipped it open. Baby Boy cringed when he saw my screen.

"Ouch… He ran in to you that hard?" he pulled out his and offered it to me.

I shrugged, replacing my phone in my pocket and taking his. "Would seem so huh," I punched in Jason's number and sent a text explaining about my screen and that I would meet him outside my room, 312, after his classes were over or during a possible free period. After I sent the message, I saved my number in his phone. Never know when you might need someone's number.

"Thanks Baby Boy," I said, giving him his phone back. "You know, I never did get your actual name. Well, Mister Douche called you Simms but I never caught a first name," I raised a brow and gave him a small smile. He gave me a bright smile as he answered, "It's Tyler. I'm sorry I didn't give it to you earlier."

I gave a small laugh, "It's quite okay, really. I understand mornings can be a bit crazy." He nodded and we fell into a comfortable silence. Wait, silence?

We looked around and noticed the halls were completely empty. The bell had rang without either of us noticing. Tyler let out a sigh and looked at me, "I really need to go. Being late twice in one day is just not something I do."

I gave a sad smile and nodded, "Well I did enjoytalking to you without Mister Douche and Reid around. Maybe I'll run into you when I start classes Monday." Tyler hesitated before speaking, "Actually, me and a few friends are going to a local hangout called Nicky's tonight. Would you like to come with me – us?"

I bit my lower lip to keep a small laugh from escaping; his blush was just too cute. "I think I would like that Baby Boy. I'm in room 312. Meet me?" A look of surprise flashed across Tyler's face before another big grin split his face. "Sounds great Renee. I'll come by around eight. You can ride with me so you know where it is, if that's okay with you."

I shifted my weight to one foot, jutting one hip out to the side and pretended to think. "All right. It'll be dark by then and this is only the second time I've been in this town. I would really hate to get lost and not have a cell to call someone. I'll see you then Baby Boy," I leaned in and gave his cheek another kiss before I turned and walked off.

After a few steps I threw up another peace sign. "See you later Baby Boy," I said loud enough for him to hear me.

I missed the third smile to grace his face in a span of a few minutes.