Chapter 4: Introductions

As soon as each of them got to their dorm, none of them really stayed out in the open too long. Each of them having a look around before going to their rooms. It was a very nice dorm, that was for sure, they had a large living room with a TV that was already hooked up to several game consoles, with a very large couch, a few arm chairs and even a few beanbags lying around. There was a small kitchen that came off it with a fridge stocked with food and a dining table big enough for all of them, with enough strange appliances laying around that none of them would ever get the chance to use them all no matter how hard they tried.

It was the corridor of rooms where all of them were remaining, but really who could blame them. Each room was large, with an adjoining ensuite, a double bed and walk in wardrobe. Each room was painted white, but there was a small form on the large desk in the corner where they could get it painted any colour they wanted. Each of them had been provided with a video phone and a desktop computer, and a small TV to match. They would be living a life of luxury, that was for sure, and because they were first years, they were given a large stack of brochures and lists telling them about all the perks they were given the right to at the school and things they might want to check out in the local area.

But each of them one by one exited their rooms as someone waltzed down the corridor, knocking on each door. As each of them came out, it became apparent that by pure coincidence, the boys had all taken the dorm rooms on the left, and the girls on the right, but even as they scanned the corridor to look at their roommates, each of them slowly noticed who'd got them out of the room.

It was a girl who looked older than them, eighteen or so, who a few of them recognised from their auditions. With long wavy platinum blonde hair that went down all the way to her knees, she was an image of style and poise cloaked in all black. Black pants, a dark grey tank top and a long black coat with dark fur like material on the hem and sleeves, and black cone like objects dangling from her hair.

'Hello everyone, I am Cynthia, a third year student and one of the co-directors of this year's musical. Along with Solidad and Drake, I'll be in charge of you for the semester. Every week-day afternoon we have a two hour rehearsal from five thirty; as well as a longer rehearsal on Saturdays as you are main cast. I presume you haven't all introduced yourselves to one another yet?'

Everyone looked vaguely awkward as she smiled slightly, 'I figured, people think rising stars are the most confident people, when they really haven't gotten past their awkward stage yet. I remember each of you from the audition. Pay attention to everyone else's names and roles as I pass out the scripts that you'll need for the production.'

'Ash is our Eddie, Gary is Malcolm, Brock is playing Archie, Drew will be playing Evan-'but almost instantly she was interrupted as she handed out the scripts.

'Does this have our sheet music?' Drew asked.

'Yes, of course it does,' Cynthia said looking at him with a critical stare, 'we know what we're doing Drew.'

'I was just making sure,' Drew said beginning to flick through the script already.

Cynthia twitched slightly before stepping down the hall, 'Paul will be playing Brett.'

Paul took the script without a word, not even appearing to look at her, rather so look through her. Even though the others had thanked her, well except for Drew, he didn't respond. Cynthia looked slightly concerned, but then turned and handing her the script.

'Dawn Berlitz, who'd have guessed you'd end up here. Here's your script, and you'll be playing Kendra.'

Everyone stared at her, some of them hadn't noticed her until now, Dawn looked awkward at Cynthia's smile and took the script, 'Ah thanks,' she said quietly.

Paul looked up for the first time however and said, 'I'm out,' and turned and walked back into the room, slamming the door behind him.

Dawn looked a little hurt, but Cynthia just sighed, 'He must have seen the "Hey Kendra" section, I knew it was a risk casting him as Brett. Gary, you're his understudy, you'll be fine to take over if he's too stubborn right?'

Gary smirked, leaning against the door frame, 'No problem at all,' he laughed, wiggling his eyebrows at Dawn, who just looked away, not even reacting.

'Misty is our Lucy, be careful not to get the names mixed up,' Cynthia smiled handing her the script, 'May is playing Patrice, and Gwen and Clarrissa will be playing Cassie and Charlotte respectfully. I haven't seen a set of twins both get in since Tate and Liza.'

Gwen and Clarrissa laughed, but Brock looked around, 'Wait you're the girl I met on the dock this morning.'

Gwen smiled at him sweetly, 'Sure am.'

'Why didn't you tell me you were coming here?' he asked.

'And ruin that surprise, no way,' she said flashing a grin at him.

'So this is the stranger who has no idea where he's going?' Rissa smirked, eyes glowing in amusement.

Brock looked over to defend himself, but the single word 'wow,' slipped out of his mouth before he slammed both hands over his mouth.

Clarrissa looked slightly irritated, seeming as if she knew the rush of compliments he was trying to suppress. She looked at him as if she knew that inside he was confessing undying love for her. She looked like she knew all this, and she looked absolutely disgusted by it. Brock went bright red and slipped back slightly, but Cynthia didn't really seem to notice the exchange.

'So tomorrow morning first things first you'll have a meeting with us in the auditorium you were in today, because unfortunately auditorium A is reserved by the second years until the last couple weeks of the semester. We'll work from ten till four but we'll have a few breaks as well as half an hour for lunch, if someone could also relay that to Paul. But for now; I'd like all of you to get ready because as is tradition, the welcome night bonfire is about to begin.'

'You're letting Clarrissa near fire?' Gwen asked instantly seeming alarmed.

Clarrissa made a face at her but even so Misty instantly asked, 'On the beach?'

'Sure, only the circus skills performers are allowed to light fires at the school, and not one half as big as we'd like.'

'Does that mean we should bring our swimmers?' Misty asked hopefully.

'I like the sound of that,' Gary said casually, 'Especially if Gwen's involved.'

'You'll never get anywhere with me pervert,' Gwen said forcefully, glaring at him.

'Give it time darling, give it time.'

'You might want to bring them, whether you swim or not is up to you but somehow everyone gets soaked at one stage at another,' Cynthia smiled, 'My advice, don't try to verse the third-years in volleyball, it doesn't end well. I'll swing by here a bit before seven to get you and please someone make Paul come, I don't want to have to drag him out myself.'

...

It was quarter to seven when they realised that it was about time to try to get Paul out of his room. Even though they all had barely met, they somehow realised that it would take a mutual effort to get Paul to consent to leave the dorm room. They somehow found themselves standing in a weird sort of formation, staring down to the end of the corridor. Paul's room was the last on the end of the corridor; and they had no doubt that getting him to open the door was one thing, down the corridor was another, out the door was another thing on top of it... all the way down to the beach was going to be one of the hardest things they ever experienced.

'...So how exactly-' Ash began before cutting himself off, and starting to stroke his chin slightly.

'I have no idea,' May said shaking her head, 'I mean I'm not one to judge but really...'

'From the twenty second preview we got he seems like a stubborn jackass?' Misty offered.

'Definitely,' Drew sighed.

'Come on, someone has to go talk to him,' Gary reasoned.

'Is this a case of whomever draws the short straw has to do it? Because I'm pretty sure he's not going to listen to me,' Dawn said awkwardly.

'Yeah no one doubts that one Princess,' Clarrissa snorted.

'So what exactly are we going to do?' Brock asked.

'Try logic, and if that doesn't work, Rissa can drag him out kicking and screaming,' Gwen said boredly, before waltzing down the corridor.

She knocked on the door continuously until she eventually got a haughty, 'What?' through the door.

'Paul, its Gwen-'

'What do you want?' he called again, completely cutting her off.

Gwen took a deep breath before saying, 'Can you open the door?'

'I can, doesn't mean I will,' he responded.

'Just go ahead Gwen those things don't even have locks,' Clarrissa sighed, coming down the corridor, trailed by May, Ash, and Gary.

'That would be rude,' Gwen reminded.

'So how he's being right now isn't?' Gary asked, raising an eyebrow at her.

Gwen made a face at him before calling again through the door, 'Paul, please, just open up so we can talk.'

'Aren't we already?' he said stubbornly.

Gwen plastered a smile onto her face like it would keep the anger out of her voice, 'Look Paul, there's a bonfire down on the beach pretty soon and-'

'I know,' came Paul's impatient voice, 'It's on the freakin' social agenda they gave us.'

'Are you going to come?' Gwen said with the sound of false optimism ringing through her tone.

There was a rather obnoxious snort in response and a call of, 'Not likely.'

'Come on, it'll be fun-'

'Not my scene,' he said like she, as well as the bonfire was completely distasteful in general.

'Come on Paul,' May said knowing that Gwen was approaching the end of her rope, 'we're going to be living here for nearly three years together. We should get to know each other as soon as we can-'

'And why must that involve me going to a little "beach party?" It's pathetic.'

'Well he's going to be a pain to live with,' Gary muttered through gritted teeth.

'No doubt about that,' Gwen replied, but it seemed that Ash had other ideas concerning about how to handle Paul.

'Come on Paul,' he called, 'you don't have to talk to anyone, you just have to help us slaughter the third years in volleyball.'

May, Clarrissa, Gwen and Gary all stared at Ash, not sure why on Earth he would say something like that, but that was when the door opened a crack and Paul stuck his head out, 'Just to shut you all up, fine, I'll come. I'll be out in five.'

With that he slammed the door roughly, retreating once again inside, but the others stared at Ash and eventually he said, 'Well I figured with that much of an ego... he's bound to be ultra-competitive.'

'So you gave him a challenge you knew a pushy jerk like him couldn't refuse,' Clarrissa laughed, 'nice one Ketchum, nice one.'

She ruffled his hair like one would a small child and walked back up the corridor. The others grinned at him and walked back down the corridor. And as Ash followed them up the corridor, Misty was asking the others how it went.

'Oh Ash managed to convince him to come,' Gary smirked, 'But now we have to play volleyball.'

'What does that have to do with us playing volleyball?' Dawn asked.

'Competitive egg-head,' Gwen shrugged.

'I'm up for it,' Misty grinned, 'I play volleyball pretty much every day, I think I can take on the third years.'

'Every day?' May asked.

'I'm from Cerulean City, it's kind of what we do,' Misty shrugged.

'Like Cerulean Shore?' Dawn giggled.

'…Don't go there, just don't go there,' Misty muttered.

The others exchanged glances, but shrugged it off as Cynthia walked in, 'Hey everyone, you good to go?' she questioned smiling at them.

'Yeah we are, just give Paul a minute, he did say he'd come,' May said who was double checking the contents of her beach bag to make sure she had everything.

'Good, good,' Cynthia nodded, 'Oh also, be careful if you're planning to go in the water, apparently a lot of Pokémon have been coming a little more into the bay than usual.'

Everyone nodded, accepting the warning, they knew better than to go near Pokémon, but that was when Paul walked out, not exactly looking the most fun-loving person on the planet, but he was there, 'Are we going or what?' he said shortly.

Cynthia quirked an eyebrow slightly but nodded, 'Come on you lot, time for a party.'

Hello readers; Rissa here, almost one hundred views now, I know that's not much compared to what a lot of other people have, but for a first time writer like me, it feels pretty good. I may have only received one review since I last updated, but I was glad to get it from MisterBland1, thanks so much for your review. And to everyone else reading this, please do drop me a review, I'd love to hear anything you have to say.

-Love from Rissa