Chapter One
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Carl stepped off of the bus and took a deep breath in. Crisp, cold mountain air filled his lungs as the freshly fallen powder crunched beneath his feet. He closed his eyes and just stood there for a moment, letting the feeling of his new surroundings sink in and wash over him. Barely two years ago, if you'd have told Carl that he would be going to one of the countries most renown art schools, he'd have laughed at you and told you to come up with some better jokes. But now, standing there on the snow covered grounds of Avalanche Arts Academy, he knew it was no joke. This was real, very real, and for the first time in a long time, Carl was genuinely proud of himself.
After the wedding and moving into his new home in Protected Pines, Carl decided that maybe change wasn't always a bad thing. He had picked up a few new hobbies and realized that he had a true gift when it came to photography and surrealistic art. Ginger noticed the new found level of maturity and artistry within her brother and she was the one whom coaxed him into applying for the Avalanche fellowship program. At first Carl refused, mostly out of his hidden fear of being rejected, but finally he gave in and filled out the application. And now, here he was.
Carl opened his eyes and almost fell backwards as a bubbly girl with bright crimson hair popped up in front of him. "Hehe oops, sorry to startle you. I'm Avii, and that's Kei and Remy." She pointed to two guys whom were sitting at a near by picnic table, they both waved as she pointed. "We wanted to welcome you to A.A." Carl grinned. "Damn, and here I thought I had at least a few more years before I'd be getting shipped off to an "A.A." Program. Thanks for the welcome though, I'm Carl."
Avii laughed. "Haha oh god, you're going to fit in too well with the guys. We were just about to grab lunch, why don't you join us?" Carl looked at the girl and then to the two guys. "Sure, I just need to find my room and drop my bags off first." They walked over to the table where Avii's friends were sitting. The group exchanged formalities and a few laughs before Remy spoke up. "Okay, I like this guy, but unless you want me to eat him, you two should feed me lunch now, since you promised."
They all burst out, cackling and snorting. "Where's your room at?" Carl pulled out his information packet. "Says I'm in The Dragon's Nest?" "Sweet, that's where Remy and I live too, we're roommates. Avii lives over there, in The Castle, because she thinks she's a princess." Kei quipped and Avii playfully smacked his leg. "I -AM- a princess, thank you very much."
The four made their way to the dorms, briefly stopping by the front desk to pick up Carl's room number and key. "Room 823." Carl said, looking at the others. "We're in room 817, so same floor, just a few doors down." Remy informed as they all boarded the elevator. "Alright, we're going to stop by our room and give you a few minutes to settle in, drop your stuff off, change clothes if you want. We'll come by and grab you in a bit." Kei spoke as they exited the elevator. "Sounds good, see you guys in a few." Carl called out as he turned the knob and opened the door to his room.
When he stepped inside, he instantly froze. He had to be in the wrong room. There was no way in hell his roommate could be...
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Chapter Two
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Carl shook his head in disbelief. "Gripling?! What the hell are you doing here?" Blake was straightening a painting on the wall, nearly knocking it off completely as he jumped at the familiar sound of Carl's voice. "Foutley?! I should be asking you the same thing. I mean after all, this is a private institution, perfectly suited for gifted young gents much like myself, but you.." The Griplings' downfall and decrease in financial, and social statuses had been short lived. The charges against had mysteriously been dropped not even six months after the whole ordeal had begun. Their days of 'humble living' were quickly replaced by their previous lavish lifestyle. Everything fell back into place rather smoothly, but that's generally how life tends to go for 'the beautiful people'.
Carl sneered and dropped his bag by the door before making a beeline right towards Blake. Blake's footing faltered and he stumbled backwards, trapping himself between the wall and a quickly approaching Carl. When Carl reached Blake, he lifted the younger boy off of the ground by his shirt collar and pinned him snugly against the wall. Blake's breath hitched as he felt the weight of the older and slightly taller boy baring down on his lithe frame. He turned his face in hopes of hiding the flush rose tint which was sweeping over his cheeks in record time.
"Look, Gripling." Carl spoke calmly, but the heir of authority in his voice was prominent. "Whether we like it or not, it looks like we're going to be room-mates, at least for this semester. The staff has strict policies when it comes to switching dorms once already assigned, it's part of their 'social initiative' program or whatever, since they supposedly hand select whom will be paired up with whom based on schedules, courses, and overall common interests..." Carl took a deep breath in and then exhaled slowly. "Basically, what I'm saying is that we don't have to be friends, but for the sake of our time here, we need to agree to be civil. We can divide the room in half and ignore the existence of the other for all I care."
Blake squirmed slightly beneath Carl's grasp. "If you expect civil, then I highly suggest returning me to my own feet and removing your hands from me at once, Foutley. And as for your spoken words of a 'peace treaty', fine, but that goes both ways, so... none of your typical 'Carl-like shenanigans' will be tolerated." Carl set Blake upright once more and took a step back. "Agreed, Gripling. Truce." He held out his hand to Blake in offering. Blake raised a brow at first and opened his mouth to speak, but then quickly closed it, simply nodding in agreement as he accepted the other's hand. "Truce... Foutley."
The hand-shake lingered a bit longer than average, the boys had their eyes locked on one another and were both caught off-guard by the knock at the door. Hastily, the pulled away from each other and Carl answered the door. It was Avii, Remy, and Kei. Carl picked up his bag and took out his wallet before tossing toss the satchel onto his unmade bed. He grabbed his key that had been dropped near the door and placed both items into his pocket. "All ready, I'll unpack later, maybe, or I could just build a fort out of the boxes and live in that..." The four of them laughed, with Blake quietly watching from a distance.
"Do you want to invite your room-mate as well? He seems to be interested." Avii pointed out and motioned towards Blake whom quickly turned and looked away when he realized he'd been staring the entire time. "Him? Nah, he's nobody to me, just someone I happen to be stuck living with for the next half of a year, let's go before Remy snaps from hunger and kills us all." Without hesitation, or a chance for Blake to respond, the group laughter filled the air once more as they left the room, Leaving Blake alone to himself again.
Blake signed and fell back onto his bed. "..Nobody to him. That's all I'll ever be in his eyes. Nobody. Just my luck... Why him? Out of all bloody people why HIM?!" He groaned and pulled the pillow over his face. "This is going to be the longest semester, ever."
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Chapter Three - Carl
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"So let me get this straight, out of all of the people on this planet, you ended up with your childhood rival as your roommate, at one of the most prestigious and difficult to get into private schools in the country?... It's fate. You two obviously have had some turmoil in the past that never was truly resolved, and now you've been given a second chance."
The three boys all looked at Avii. "What? It's true, I think it will be good for you, Carl. Clear the air and move forward with your life, hell, maybe you and Blake will even be friends." Carl cackled. "Friends?! Hah. With Gripling? Avii, I know you said you're gifted but seriously, I think you might need to get your head checked."
"This is Blake Gripling we're talking about. The same Blake Gripling whom I've tormented since Pre-K. You say it's fate, I say it's Mother Nature's way at getting back at me once and for all." Remy finished off his last egg roll and looked at Carl. "You've picked on the same kid for over half of your life? Doesn't sound like you really hate him, sounds like quite the opposite, actually."
"Remy, you've been hanging out with Avii too much. Just because someone picks on someone else doesn't mean that they like them or are crushing on them. Trust me, I'd know." Kei said as he pushed the remainder of his lunch towards Remy.
"Attention is attention. Positive or negative, Carl spent a bulk of his life focused on Blake, so that counts for something. Picking on someone takes planning, energy, and it's always easier to be mean than to be nice because being nice makes you feel vulnerable. It's like you're putting yourself out there to be judged and you could also possibly be rejected. It's quite common to pick on someone when you're crushing on them." Avii chimed back in.
"Okay, now you're all crazy. I don't like Blake, I don't want to be his friend, and fuck, I'm definitely not crushing on HIM. HIM, he is a boy, I am a boy... umm yeah, my bat does not swing that way." Carl started to feel a knot in his stomach as he worked to defend himself, and his sexuality.
"It wouldn't be a bad thing if you did, Carl. It's the 21st century, a lot of people are gay, or even bisexual." Remy quipped and pointed to himself and then to Kei and Avii. "Well, he's gay." She pointed to Remy. "He's bi." She pointed to Kei. "And I'm technically aromantic/ asexual." She motioned to herself. "They fool around but are both too stubborn to ever date, and then there's me, I'm not attracted romantically or sexually to anyone, male or female."
Carl stood up as Avii was still speaking. "I'm not gay. Okay? I'm not bi either. I like girls. I'm not so hungry anymore. I think I'm going to go explore campus by myself for a bit. Thanks again for the welcome, I'll catch you guys later."
Carl Couldn't get away from his new 'friends' fast enough. How could they even begin to think that Carl liked Blake. The nervous knots in his stomach quickly erupted with anger.
"Stupid Gripling, stupid Avii, and Remy, and even Kei. What the fuck do they know?" Carl dug the toe of his boot into the snow, stomping hard at the ground as he mulled over the previous interactions.
Ding. Ding. Ding. *Pause* Ding. Ding. Ding.
A woman's voice came on over the campus loud speakers.
"Attention students of Avalanche Arts Academy. There is a severe snow storm warning in effect from now until tomorrow morning. We are requesting that all students return to their dorms and remain in their rooms until further notice. Dinner and night time snack packs will be delivered later this evening. Thank you, that is all."
"A snow storm?! In October?! I know we're in the mountains now but, fauuuuck." Carl groaned and head-butted a tree. Snow toppled down from the branches, covering his head and back. "Yes, just what I needed, because today hasn't already been the worst day in the history of worst days." He started back towards his dorms.
"Okay Mother Nature, Karma, you win, I get it. I'm an asshole. Hear ya loud and clear, so you can stop trying to ruin my life now."
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Chapter Three - Blake
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Blake signed and fell back onto his bed. "..Nobody to him. That's all I'll ever be in his eyes. Nobody. Nothing. Just that one kid whom he ALWAYS picked on and tormented and harassed. Of course this would be MY luck... Why him? Out of all bloody people why HIM?!" He groaned and pulled the pillow over his face. "These are going to be the longest four months of my life, ever."
Blake whined to himself for a few more moments and then decided that he'd take a walk, clear his head, and hope that maybe, just maybe things wouldn't be so awkward when he saw Carl again. He knew better, but he wanted to be hopeful anyways.
He buttoned up his cardigan, traded off his casual loafers for more sturdy snow boots, grabbed his day-pack, and then he was off.
"The views up here truly are marvelous, I must say. Much nicer than the hills and snow scenes back home." Blake rambled on to himself about the view and landscape as he pulled his camera out and began to snap several pictures as he wandered further and further unknowingly outside of campus.
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End Part One
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~Amelia XoXo