"So where are you guys from?" Charlie asked with a mouth full of half chewed hamburger. By now they'd arrived at McDonalds, bought their food and were sat around two adjoining tables.
"I'm from Chicago", Sam replied, "My family just moved here since my dad got transferred".
"How about you Amy?" Julie quizzed. Amy swallowed the fries she was chewing and took a sip of her coke before answering.
"San Francisco, well kinda".
"What do you mean kind of?" Adam asked curiously.
"Well, I was actually born in England bu ..."
"Really?" Connie exclaimed.
"Yes, my grandfather's English and my mother was born there too so she chose to return there for my birth. But we moved to the states when I was three. We lived in San Francisco up until a year ago then we moved to Minnesota". Amy explained.
"Wow so you're really English?" Julie asked.
"Yep I'm, of British nationality", she answered in a snooty voice, "but I lost the accent a long time ago". Everyone around the table began to laugh. Amy once again began to stare at Charlie. 'He looks so sweet when he smiles. And not so sweet when he does that', she thought as he began to shovel the last of his fries into his mouth.
Connie noticed Amy gazing dreamily at Charlie and began to think, 'Oh goody, time to play match maker'. She decided to try and get the two talking but the only topic of conversation that came to mind was hockey.
"So Amy do you like hockey?" she asked casually.
"Erm, sure I guess".
"Really?" Charlie turned his attention directly towards her, 'Perfect' Connie thought.
"Do you play?" he continued.
"I'm more of a watcher than a player. Though I used to be on the school team but that was Grass hockey".
"Grass hockey?" Guy asked with a look of confusion and disgust.
"Hockey played on grass rather than ice", Amy answered, "the basic game play is the same but the rules are very different".
"Oh", Charlie said sounding a little disappointed, "well what team do you follow?"
"Dallas Stars, they're amazing".
Sam was beginning to feel slightly left out.
"Well I play if anyone's interested".
"Yeah?" Charlie now turned to face her, 'not good' Connie thought.
"Yeah, I played for my old school and for the state juniors. I even got called to try out for team USA the year you guys were on the team but I broke my arm a week before trials", she gushed.
"Wow! You must be good, maybe you should try for the ducks", Charlie suggested.
"I was hoping to, I'd love to play along side you guys".
"Well you should tag along next time we have practice, I'll talk to coach about it if you like?"
"That's would be great, thanks". Sam and Charlie sat smiling at each other happily and Amy felt a twinge of jealousy. She, like everyone else had finished her food and they now sat in silence around the table. Feeling uncomfortably awkward she decided it was time to leave.
"Thanks for this guys I had a really nice time but I think I'm going to head back now", she said sliding out of her seat.
"What? Oh, well, if you wait a minute I'll walk back with you", Sam offered.
"No it's okay, there's still two hours till curfew, you stay and have fun".
"I'll walk with you, I promised Fulton I'd work on our science project with him tonight", Charlie said rising to his feet, "if that's okay with you?"
"Erm, sure", Amy tried to suppress the smile creeping across her lips.
"Catch ya later guys", Charlie walked around the table and moved towards the door.
"I'll see you back at the dorms Sam and I'm sure I'll see you guys again soon", Amy said politely.
"Well tomorrow's a Saturday", Connie started, "usual we all go to the movies or hang out at the mall, why don't you come too?"
"I'd like that", Amy smiled, "bye". Everyone said goodbye except for Connie who mouthed the words 'good luck' and winked at Amy. She shook her head jokingly and followed Charlie out into the street.
It was a warm evening and the sky was still light. For the first few moments they walked in silence. Charlie began to feel uncomfortable.
"So how'd you guys end up at Eden hall?" he asked out of nowhere.
"Wha.., oh, well Sam's here on an athletic scholarship", she answered nervously.
"And you?" he quizzed.
"I was sent here against my will", she said bitterly.
"How'd you mean?" her vagueness made him curious so he decided to probe her further.
"My grandfather thought it was a good idea", she sneered.
"And you didn't?"
"Not especially no".
"Well what did your parents think about it?" His question caused Amy to stop in her tracks. Her mind raced searching for an answer and a lump formed in her throat. She gulped hard.
"I really don't know", she answered slowly and quietly. Luckily he didn't seem to notice the hollow tone in her voice and solemn expression. She started walking again.
"They must be rich if they can afford to send you to a school like Eden hall, I know my mom couldn't". He threw her a sideways glance. She simply shrugged her shoulders in response. He figured it was probably best to drop the subject.
"So how do you know Sam?"
Amy told the story of how they met and explained that they'd ended up rooming together at a new school purely by chance. By the time they reached the dorm building the silence had returned. Charlie politely held the door open while Amy stepped inside, she headed straight to the stairs leading to her floor but Charlie didn't follow.
"Fulton's room's just down there", he said staring down the corridor.
"Oh, okay", Amy tried her best to smile.
"I guess I'll see you tomorrow then". Amy looked puzzled. "Well you're coming out with us guys tomorrow aren't you?"
"Oh yeah, I think so yes", she rambled feeling slightly giddy inside at the thought of spending an entire day with him.
"Good, well, I gotta go".
"Me too", she nodded.
"Okay, bye", he said turning to walk away.
"Bye", she replied almost silently watching him go. She too turned heading up the stairs. She'd just reached the last step when a voice called from behind her.
"*Hey Amy!*"
She spun round to see Charlie standing at the foot of the staircase.
"I forgot to say", he paused and threw his arms wide open as a dramatic gesture, "*Welcome to Eden hall*".