Sorry this has taken so long. I've been working as camp counselor this summer. I'm in between camps, so I decided to update. The next chapter should be up in the next day or so. Then you may have to wait about a month month, probably. Please savor and review while I'm gone. I'll write while I'm away and update as soon as possible. Thank you xXxSarahxXx and GageLuisandSodabemine for your reviews.

Chapter 3: My New Roommate

"I thing you two already know each other. Why don't you reunite on your way to your dorm? You have classes tomorrow. Luis, you can explain the team rules on academics," said Coach Orion.

I was still in shock about the person standing in front of me. I nodded. "Yeah Coach. We'll see you tomorrow." I headed out the door with my roommate behind me.

"Hey, where's my hello? You can't get away with the cold shoulder I gave you when you joined the team," he told me.

I smiled. "You are absolutely right. No one can pull off a cold shoulder like you. But gee wiz, after all your warnings on the evils of cake-eaters, you sure went to great lengths to make me think I had a preppy for a roommate."

"But the look on your face was priceless just like our teammates faces will be when we get back to the dorm. Don't look at me that way, you know you love me."

I laughed. "Now what makes you so sure of that?"

"Because I love you, oh unstoppable one."

"See what my unstoppable-ness got me? A cast and a sling," I replied bitterly.

"Yeah, Orion mentioned that when he let me in the rink. What happened?"

"I was trying to avoid Dwayne's rope and ran into the goal. By the way, who have you switched bodies with?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Going to the rink to make up practice on your own? That is not the Jesse Hall I remember. Goldberg said it best with 'we play or play around,' so what were you doing?"

"I was making a good impression and trying out the ice. I needed to make sure I liked the rink I'm going to be playing in."

"Well I know you've seen the rink. Have you seen the rest of campus?"

"Oh yes," he answered sarcastically. "Right before dinner, the dean hooked me up with this girl to take me on a tour. She had an opinion for everything, most annoying being how Eden Hall needs to stop focusing so much on hockey. She even had some petition she wanted me to sign. Needless to say, I ate dinner fast and made a quick exit. I hope I don't have any classes with her."

I chuckled, that could only be one person. "Was her name Linda?"

"Yes! That's her. If I never see her again it will be too soon."

"You say that now. Did she know you're a Duck?"

Jesse shook his head. "I wasn't going to tell her that so she could tar and feather me for being a hockey player."

"Okay, that was probably smart, since I haven't found out where her and Charlie are today."

"What do you mean, her and Charlie?"

"Linda and Charlie are a couple, sometimes. They have more arguments and longer breakups than Connie and Guy."

"She seems like the type that would avoid jocks like the plague."

"She is, but somehow Charlie managed to get her to go out with him. So, you will probably see a lot more of Linda."

"Wonderful. That is not making me feel welcomed."

I shrugged. "The truth hurts. Here's our dorm." I reached out and opened the door to our dormitory. "Welcome to Kraft Hall, Eden Hall Academy's premier dormitory for all male athletes." I noticed that Mr. Robinson, our residential advisor, was not at his desk. That means he must be making bed checks. Hopefully, we don't run into him on our way up the stairs. Wait, I have a legitimate excuse tonight. Go me. We headed up the stairs.

We were on the second floor landing when we heard, "Why Mr. Mendoza, have we already forgotten that all students are to be in bed before 9:30?"

I turned to look at Robinson. He had a satisfied smirk on his face.

"No, sir. I know that curfew is 9:30. You see I…"

"No, I do not want to hear any of your excuses." He looked at Jesse who was standing behind me on the steps going up to the third floor. "Who is your friend?"

"Sir, this is Jesse Hall, my new roommate. Jesse, this is Mr. Robinson, our residential advisor."

"Yes, I was told you were assigned a roommate. Tell me Mr. Hall, why are you late?"

"Well sir, curfew just slipped my mind. I'm just not use to living in a dorm. I was working out, and Luis here was kind enough to come and remind me that we needed to be getting to bed. See, Luis just returned from the doctor's office, so he saw me in the rink. I won't forget again, sir. I promise." I really admire how Jesse kept such a straight face.

"Is that true, Mr. Mendoza?"

"Yes sir."

"Well, then. Mr. Hall, I hope you keep that promise. I do not want you to let your roommate's incurable, careless behavior and open disregard for simple rules of agreeable conduct corrupt your obviously well-mannered ways. I can only hope that you will be a positive influence on Mr. Mendoza and his friends. I expect to find you both asleep when I reach the third floor. Goodnight, boys."

With that he turned to continue his bed checks on the second floor. Jesse and I continued our trek upstairs. When we reached the third floor landing, Jesse decided we were far enough away for him to comment.

"Please tell me that not all teachers are like that."

"Well, we Ducks have gradually been winning everyone over. It's just that some people still thing we shouldn't be here, like Robinson. He's still upset that he didn't have any proof that we weren't in bed the night we set the ants out on the Varsity. He really wanted us kicked out. I really liked how you handled that, though. I can't believe he called you well-mannered."

"Must be all the years hanging out with Adam."

"He's rubbing off on all of us, isn't he. Well, here's our dorm." I stopped in front of our door and tried to open it. It was locked. "Did you lock our door?"

"Yeah." He dug his key out of his pocket.

"We don't normally lock our doors since only Ducks live in this hall. That way we can visit each other easily," I explained as he opened the door.

"Sorry, it's an old habit. My hood, you have to lock the door."

"I completely understand." I looked around the room.

Very different from how I left it. There were clothes in the other closet, books stacked on the other desk, and boxes scattered on the floor. The spare bed had also been made. I think part of me is disappointed to be back to sharing a room. However, I think I can live with Jesse as a roommate. Can't be any worse than both Bash Brothers.

Jesse flopped down on his bed. "I thought I'd wait until you were here before I redecorated," he began. A knock interrupted him.

"Luis, you back?" I heard Russ whisper through the door.

I opened the door a crack. "Yeah I'm back and Robinson is on his way up. He was on two when I came up."

"Have you passed it on?" I shook my head. "Alright."

He turned and went into his dorm across the hall. I closed the door and walked over to my bed. I leaned over it and tapped the wall four times. I waited for a response. None came, so I repeated the signal. This time I heard three taps from the other side. I sat down on my bed.

"What was that for?" Jesse asked.

"I was signaling to Averman and Banks that Robinson's on his way. We can't be too careful with him. So we need to pretend to be asleep when he gets here."

With that said, I took off my sling and slipped under my covers. Not even a minute later, Robinson was peeking through our door. I think he stood there for a couple of minutes watching for a sign we weren't asleep. I almost really fell asleep though. I think this day is beginning to catch up with me. I had an early flight from Miami this morning, broke my arm, and my body is still on Eastern time. Three taps on the wall woke me up.

"That's the all clear signal," I told Jesse. "But don't get too comfortable because he often swings back by our hall and checks again since he hates us so much." I got out of bed and began to change out of my clothes. Bad move, since I reached to untie my shoe with my left hand. I hadn't taken anymore pills since this afternoon. I sat there trying to get a hold of myself.

Next thing I knew, Jesse had a cup of water and one of my pills in his hand. "Here." He put the pill in my hand. I gulped them down and drank the whole glass of water he handed me.

"Thanks."

"No problem. I remember Adam getting like that in LA. Only difference is he acted like nothing was wrong."

"Yeah, we already established that I can't lie like that." I then somehow managed to get undressed using almost only my right hand. Guess I'll have to get use to this.

Someone knocked on my door again. "Hey, you want to really play this new person idea?" I whispered to my roommate.

He grinned evily and nodded.

"Shh," I murmured. I went to answer the door. It was Russ again, with Ken.

"Alright, where's your new roommate? How bad is he? Can we meet him?" Russ asked.

"Thanks for the concern on my well-being."

"Sorry, Luis," Ken apologized. "We already know your arm's broken. We want to know about the new guy. See, Orion ordered us to be nice, but Charlie agreed to it only if the new guy's not a preppy snob, like Riley's brother. We just want to know what he's like."

I had to bite my tongue to stifle a laugh. Jesse is the complete and total opposite of Jeffrey Riley.

"I think you all need to make your own individual judgments about him. I don't want you hating him on my account. The truth is he's trying to sleep, since it is past curfew. He's exhausted because he went and worked out just because he missed practice. And when I met Robinson on the way up, Robinson called him well-mannered and hopes he'll be a positive influence on us."

They both looked at me like I had grown an extra head or something. "Orion thinks we're going to like somebody like that? We only have enough room in our hearts for one cake-eater, and we already found that one. Coach must be out of his mind."

"Maybe, but you guys need to get back in your room because you know Robinson will be headed back this way soon."

"Night, Luis," they told me before they went back. I shut the door and fell on my bed laughing.

"They bought every word of that," I said.

"Why wouldn't they, it's all true…sort of."

I caught my breath. "Well, I think we actually need to think about sleep now. I am tired."

"Alright. Good night, Luis," Jesse said as he turned out the light.

"Good night, Jesse." I was asleep in minutes.