Chapter three
Mamoru paused at the end of the corridor, leaning against the door as his room mate ran up.
Great, he's girly and slow he thought to himself as Brandon finally reached him,
"rule one. Always leave at least twenty minutes to get to class in the morning" he commented as the blonde looked at him in astonishment,
"Twenty minutes?? That's criminal! Just think of all the sleep I'm going to loose!" Usagi complained watching as Mamoru once again began to move down the hall towards the elevators,
"we'll pick up your schedule first, then I'll show you where your classes are."
"but.. what about lunch?" Usagi questioned just as her stomach growled
"we'll do that afterwards…besides none of the guys will be there for another hour or so."
"but I'm hungry now" she mumbled to herself as she followed him out the boarding house's side into a covered walkway.
"This is the fastest way to get to the school, and the warmest. Except that everyone uses it so it can be rather crowded."
Usagi just nodded as she followed him down the corridor to the office, ignoring the sidelong glances of curiosity thrown her way.
"Hey Mamoru, who's your friend" a tall lean incredibly sexy guy asked as he walked towards them, dark brown hair falling in layers about a strong featured face.
Usagi gulped as he looked at her, his hazel eyes admiring as he looked her over.
"Josh, this is Brandon my room mate, Brandon this is Josh" Mamoru introduced watching the his room mate turn red as Josh whispered something in his ear, one hand resting lightly upon the small of his back.
Usagi stood still in a state of shock at Josh's actions, his voice suggesting that she meet him here later for a surprise still ringing in her head as she tried to think her way out of this situation, and fast.
"Uhh… thanks for the invitation" she mumbled stepping away from him, "but I'm not interested"
She watched as he raised an eyebrow at her, before he smiled once again wandering off.
"Fuck" she swore "why the hell does everyone automatically assume I'm gay?"
Mamoru snickered to himself, denying her a response as he continued along the passageway with the fuming blonde after him.
Upon entering the school building, Mamoru lead Usagi up a flight of stairs to the main Administration office.
"Hey, Ms. Edwards" he greeted the elderly woman behind the desk, as he smiled at her.
"Mr Chiba, it's so good to see you" she replied "I heard you have a room mate now, so I guess I won't be receiving any more of those delicious brownies you make"
At this Mamoru laughed, while Usagi looked on bewildered,
"nah, I think you will, but speaking of my room mate this is him" he stated pointing at Usagi where she stood just inside the door way
"Hello dear, what's your name?" Ms. Edwards questioned
"I'm Brandon, Brandon Tuskanio" Usagi replied moving closer in order to shake the woman's hand
"Brandon… that's one of those Unisex names" the older woman commented to herself before continuing "I suppose you are here for your schedule" before rummaging through the paper mountain on her desk.
"Here we are" she stated a few minutes later handing Usagi an envelope with the words "Brandon Tuskanio Grade twelve" printed on the outside
"Thank you" the blonde stated before moving towards a chair which had been pushed up against one wall to open it.
"so, what are you taking" Mamoru asked as she pulled her schedule out
Usagi looked up at him for a moment, then began reading off her classes "English, Law, Biology, Comparative Civ, Math, Chem, and Drama"
"Come on then, I'll show you where everything is" the raven haired man stated as he walked towards the door, calling "I'll see you around Ms. E" before walking out
"Bye, come see me sometime"
"Thanks for your help" Usagi stated as she too headed out the door
"Good bye dear!"
~*~
Back out in the hall way Mamoru beckoned to her,
"This floor is also where all the English and Social Science classes are" he informed her, before heading back to the stair well and up another flight of stairs,
"The second floor is all Math and Physics, the third is Biology, Chem, and the computer lab is up there."
"oh… then where are the arts?" Usagi questioned as Mamoru led her across yet another walk way.
"The arts are in this building here, art room, drama, band are all on this floor. The library is up one, and the gym and pool facilities are one down."
"oh…" she commented as her stomach growled
Mamoru laughed, "I guess we better go and get you some food"
Usagi blushed, "I guess so"
"The cafeteria is in the other building, first floor" he stated leading her back across the walkway and down the stairs to the cafeteria.
As they approached the entrance Usagi took a deep breath, following him as he showed her where to pick up a tray, and warning her about which foods to avoid before steering her between the tables to where he usually sat off to one side.
~*~
The next morning after an unexpectedly restful sleep Usagi awoke, rolling over to a sight that both shocked, and secretly delighted her.
Mamoru was stepping out of the bathroom, his amazingly sexy torso bare for her inspection as he walked towards his bed in nothing more than a white bath towel.
Breath Usagi, breath she chanted in her head as cornflower eyes hungrily took in his smooth caramel skin, six pack, long muscular arms, and his legs where they appeared from underneath where the white fringe ended just above his knee. He was hot. Sinfully so, and she found herself forced to look away before she did something she'd regret. Ie. Jumping him, blowing her cover, and proclaiming her undying devotion for just a chance to kiss the flesh that was so willingly modeled before her.
Stop it! You're acting like a hormone driven teenage ditz she scolded herself as she threw off the covers, gathering the school uniform as she made her way into the bathroom.
"do you want me to wait for you?" Mamoru questioned just before she closed the door.
"uh… if you want to" the blonde mumbled doing her best not to stare.
"all right, then if you're ready in under 15mins I'll wait, if not… you know the way right?"
"uh huh" she commented shutting the door to begin her morning routine.
~*~
Twenty minutes later Usagi emerged from the bathroom fully dressed, and to her surprise and amusement found not only Mamoru in her room, but two other young men that she hadn't met.
"umm.. hello?" she questioned as they all turned to look at her as she returned her belongings to their places
"oh, guys this is my room mate Brandon Tuskanio" Mamoru began "Brandon, this is Tony and Greg"
After pleasantries were exchanged the other guys continued to stare at her making her extremely uncomfortable, as she wondered what on earth they were doing there.
"so, you're also taking Law?" one of them interrupted her thoughts
"yea…"
"cool. Greg and I are also in that class, you'll love the prof. she's amazing" the guy, Tony, chattered on as he suddenly made his way towards the door.
"well, let's go eat… and then Greg will go with you to your first class"
"all right…" she replied looking questioningly at Mamoru.
"hey, I just thought you'd like some help keeping the guys off" he whispered as they followed his friends down to breakfast.
"thanks" she replied walking away from him
"no problem" he stated thinking but it's partially your own fault. Walking like a drag queen really isn't a good way to get them to leave you alone
~*~
After a delicious breakfast of French toast Usagi found herself standing outside the Drama room with none other than Mamoru, Greg and the guy she had met in the walkway yesterday, Jason. At the moment said individual was trying to get her to talk to him, while she on the other hand was desperately trying to hide.
"Good Morning Class!" an expressive voice drawled as a woman pushed her way through the crowd towards the entrance to the theatre. "Please do come inside, but leave your shoes here by the entrance!" she continued unlocking the door and opening it to reveal a short corridor with two doors: One to her spacious office where discussions were held, the other into the back stage area of the theatre itself.
Glancing at each other the students entered, prepared for the same speech they had received last year, and the year before, yet they knew this year would be different as the grade twelve's were responsible for entertaining the other students and would be putting on a play. Of course the younger Drama classes put on their own productions, but they were usually comical pieces or exciting epics, where as the oldest students generally put on plays of tragedy or high drama.
After everyone had removed their shoes and seated themselves in her office the "director" as she liked to be called pulled out her class list and proceeded to take attendance. Her smile widening as she read over the familiar names of her performers, until she came to a new name,
"Brandon Tuskanio?" she questioned her head instantly popping up to see who would respond.
"here" Usagi replied raising her hand a little to catch the "director's" searching gaze.
"ah! You are new, excellent. I hope you have some acting experience" she commented her mind racing with possible roles (that is if he could act) for the effeminate student as she continued down the list.
When she was finished the director stood, "as most of you know I am Ms. Beaufleur, the directress of the theatre department!" she introduced herself as she moved over to a pile of books that lay strewn about her desk
"I know you are all anxious to hear what the play will be this year, and honestly I am excited to tell you. It is by the famous William Shakespeare, and will take great courage on your part to perform." Ms Beaufleur announced with a flourish of one long arm as she presented a pile of papers to the nearest student to hand out. "I will be holding auditions for the leads starting next Monday, which will give you the weekend to look over everything. Romeo, and Juliet are on the first day, then Tuesday will be the Capulets, Wednesday the Montegues, other characters are Thursday. Seeing as I already know most of your skills quite well check back in the morning after the auditions to see if you have received the part." Here she paused to look around at the twelve members of her Drama class. "is this satisfactory?"
"yes Ms. Beaufleur" they all replied.
Then with a smile and a flick of her wrist she sent them off in groups to write short scenes combining the funniest events of the groups summers.
"you will be performing them for me at the end of this class." And with that everyone got to work.
Not knowing what to do Usagi stood still watching as everyone else scattered into their groups. She could see that Jason was trying to get her attention, but was pretending that she hadn't seen him. If she really had to, she would grit her teeth and work with him, but she would rather not. Silently she stole a glance in Greg's direction and smiled pleadingly at him.
He smiled back stating,
"come on Brandon, you can work with Mamoru and me" as he motioned towards where Mamoru was already lounging in a corner, coiled notebook open, pen in hand.
"Thanks" she replied breathing a sigh of relief as she churned over the events of the summer, trying to figure out what would qualify as the funniest event.
~*~
Next Chapter
Play tryouts, and their funny little skit, along with raised suspicions
~Galene