Ch. 3 Orientation

Davia hurried into the main auditorium at UC Reefside and quickly located a seat. The boy next to her turned and looked at her,

"Hey Davia," said the boy, it was Ethan. "How's Conner doing?"

"Oh, hi," Davia said slightly distracted. "Um better I guess..."

"Is this seat taken my lady in lavender?" asked a familiar voice. Davia looked up to see Chad, he was wearing a faded green shirt and a pair of well worn jeans.

" No, my lord in green it is not," answered Davia with a smile. As Chad sat down Davia said,

"You didn't tell me that you were attending UC Reefside."

"You, my lady didn't ask," said Chad. "So who are your friends?"

"Oh, these are my brother's friends Ethan and Kira," said Davia motioning to Kira and Ethan who were seated to her right.

"Conner's or Eric's?"asked Chad.

"Conner's . Eric lives in Blue Bay Harbor," replied Davia

"So where is the famous Conner McKnight?" inquired Chad.

"At home in bed, he was in a boating accident last night and has been prescribed bed rest for at least a week until his body recovers," said Davia.

"That sucks," replied Chad. Davia nodded as the lights dimmed and a speaker appeared and began to speak,

"Welcome to UC Reefside Class of 2008, I am your dean Mrs. Valery-Scott. Following the standard Orientation procedures you will all adjoin into Tennyson Hall to receive your assignment packets and your dorm room assignments. Now for next four years or so that you are here I can be your best friend or I can be your worst enemy..."

Later as Kira, Ethan, Davia and Chad stood in a line marked F-M to receive their packets.

"So Davia, did you declare your major yet?" asked Kira.

"Yeah, a double major of Anthropology and Computer Science and a minor in Classics," replied Davia with a blush. "You?"

"Music Theory and Composition," said Kira. "Did Conner tell you that he's declared Paleontology as his major?"

"Yeah, its weird our whole family was convinced that Con would major in something sports related before turning pro soccer," said Davia. "What about you two Chad and Ethan?"

"Marine Biology," replied Chad

"Computer Science, so I'll have some classes with you Davia," said Ethan as they took a few steps forward in the line.

"Are you picking up Conner's packet?" asked Kira.

"Yeah, Mom had to call Eric to come down to help keep Conner in bed. When I left for here, Eric was sitting on top of Conner," said Davia with a laugh.

"How fun," mused Kira.

"I bet Kira wishes she was in Eric's place," remarked Ethan with an amused look on his face.

"Shut up Ethan," said a red faced Kira. "For a computer geek you are so immature."

"Are you going out with Conner?" asked Chad feeling out of the loop.

"Yes," said Kira.

"So where did Trent wind up? Conner said that he was the only one in your group who wasn't going here," asked Davia as the group approached the registrar table.

"Academy of Arts, in LA," replied Kira. "Ford, Kira Elizabeth," she told the registrar as she received her packet.

"McKnight, Davia Kathleen and Conner Michael's," said Davia as she took her and Conner's packets.

"James, Ethan Gregory," said Ethan.

"Greyson, Chad Ryan," said Chad.

The quartet stepped out into the quad and opened their packets and pulled out their dorm assignment cards.

"I've got Bryant Hall room 124A," said Kira.

"We're in the same Hall Kira," said Davia. "In fact I think we are roomies. See Bryant Hall room 124B."

"Cool," said Kira. "How'd you two make out?" Ethan gave her a funny look. "Oh grow up Ethan."

"I've got Windsor Hall which is ironically connected to Bryant Hall, room 212C," said Ethan.

"Whoa, I've got Windsor Hall room 212B," said Chad running a hand through his thick mop of blonde hair.

"Bro, how much do you want to bet that Conner's got room 212A as his room assignment?" said Ethan.

"Don't be silly, Ethan," said Kira. "The fact that you and Chad are roommates are pure coincidence."

"Whatever Kira, if I'm right your have to wash my zor-cars for a month," said Ethan.

"Five dollars, Ethan's wrong," said Chad after consulting his wallet .

"What's it gonna be Davia?" asked Ethan expectantly.

"I can't open his packet, that's his personal stuff," said Davia.

"But aren't you the least bit curious?" said Ethan persuasively.

"Yes, I am. But I'm not going to open his stuff," said Davia.

"But what if it were life or death?" prodded Ethan.

"I'm still not opening it Ethan," said Davia with a toss of her hair as she pulled her sunglasses down to shield her eyes from the sun. "However, lucky for you Ethan, I have to drive back home to pick up my stuff from the house to move into the dorm; so you guys can come with and Conner can open it himself, provided he's not sleeping."

"I knew I liked you," said Ethan. "You're just like Hayley. I am going to be a rich man."

"Thanks, I guess," said Davia; as Kira snorted,

"By five dollars."

"Mom, I'm home," called Davia as she entered the house. "Hey Slob."

"Hey Brain," said Eric McKnight as he lounged on the couch watching the television. "Its your turn to sit with Jock and make sure he doesn't get out of bed except to urinate."

"Gross, Eric," said Davia.

"Hello sweetie, how was orientation?" asked Mrs. McKnight as she came into the living room from her office. "Oh hello, Ethan, Kira, Davia's friend."

"Good, this is Chad Greyson, Mom, he just moved here from Mariner Bay," said Davia.

"Hello, Mrs. McKnight," said Kira, Chad, and Ethan.

"Conner awake?" asked Davia as she set her purse down on the front table.

"I think so," replied Mrs. McKnight. "Your brother's either reading or playing his x-box. That soccer one that he likes."

"Conner reading!" Ethan joke to Kira, who rolled her eyes.

"Thanks, Mom," said Davia, as she , Kira, Ethan and Chad headed up the stairs to Conner's room.

"Hey Jocky," greeted Davia as she entered her brother's room. Conner hit pause on his game.

"Hey Davy," he rasped. "Hey guys."

Kira kissed conner on the cheek then said,

"How are you feeling?"

"Pathetically weak," was Conner's morbid reply. "So what do you owe for paying me this visit?"

Ethan grabbed Conner's packet from Davia and chucked it at him.

"Open it," Ethan said impatiently. "I've got money ridding on this."

"What is it?" rasped Conner suspiciously.

"Dorm room/class assignment packet," said Kira. "Ethan has some rash idea that your dorm room is 212A in Windsor Hall... making ,you, him and Chad roomies. Like me and Davia."

Conner Shook his head and opened the packet, he pulled out its contents; pushing his glasses further up his nose, he read the card then looking up said,

"What's the ante?"