Congratulations for making it to the resort, welcome, welcome, everyone!
Shizuo
Stepping off the bus, I felt the cold breeze slice through my thin jacket, straight to my skin. I exhaled, seeing the hot fog from my breath in the cool winter air. The snow beneath my feet was fresh and soft, with an almost inaudible crunch, as I walked over to where Okimura-sensei had called the students to meet to give us brief instructions.
"As you all know," he began, "we will be spending 3 weeks here, at the resort. Seeing as most of you all are old enough to take care of yourselves, we the chaperons, have agreed to let you all enjoy your visits, but we request you check in with at least one of us if you decide to go into town."
He looked around at the group of teens who were too anxious to hold focus, but continued:
"If there is an emergency, our numbers are being passed around on the paper with the resort rules and regulations. Which brings me to rule number one," he continued, "use the buddy system at all times, please? The resort is very spacious, and you wouldn't want to get stuck out here in the mountains all alone." He eyed us all once over as if he already knew what was bound to happen, going against his better judgement.
"Rule number two, all students must be back at the resort by 10 pm and in the rooms by 11 pm. No exceptions...Which brings me to the rooming situation. You have all been put in assigned groups, correct?"
Oh no.
"The groups you sat with this morning—"
Here it comes.
"—will be the same people you will room with."
"Dammit!" I hissed under my breath, feeling my blood start to boil. There's no way in hell I can room with him! Not for three fucking weeks!
"However, there will only be two to a room, and the other two members of your group will either room next door or across the hall."
I sighed in relief, thanking all that was holy. I might be able to survive after all.
"Now rule number three, probably the most important of all. Boys stay in the male rooms, girls in the female rooms. Do I make myself clear?"
He sighed, already knowing that that rule would be the first to get broken and he was really putting too much faith in a bunch of hormonal teenagers.
He continued to go down the list, but I just tuned the rest out.
I looked around at my fellow students, and not very many were paying attention either. Most were just itching to get inside the building.
Why the hell are we standing out here in this cold anyway? I wondered, not that the cold really affected me.
Since I was taller than a majority of my class, it was easy to gaze over the crowd. I found Shinra standing to the right of me, but closer to the front of the group, looking over the list of rules diligently as they were being read aloud. Next to him was Kadota, earphones in his ears, playing with his phone. I also spotted the flea to my far left in the middle of the crowd looking around too, probably even more bored than me. My nose subconsciously scrunched as if the breeze were carrying his flea smell all the way over to where I was standing.
Our eyes met and he was looking directly at me, his ruby orbs burning straight through me, and I felt a shiver run through my body. I froze, not knowing if I should break his hold, make a face, or wait until he looked away. Of course, he flashed the most complaisant smirk, then suddenly he...he winked at me?! I quickly averted my gaze, but in the corner of my eye I saw him snicker quietly to himself before resuming his observation of his surroundings.
Shitty louse pisses me off...
I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I flipped it open, seeing a message from Kadota.
Kadota: [You and I can room together. Shinra says he'll stay with Izaya.]
I responded with, [OK.], not really being one to talk via text message.
Around me, the crowd started to move forward so I quickened my pace to meet up with Shinra and Kadota. Suddenly a flash of dark hair jumped right in front of me with his foot out to trip me, making me skid on my heels to avoid contact.
"The fuck, flea?!" I snarled.
"I think we should room together," he stated, and it was the most ridiculous thing I had ever thought I had heard come out of the flea's mouth. And trust me, he says a lot of stupid shit.
"Th-The fuck?!" I stuttered, a bit taken back, believing I had misheard him.
"I want to room with you, Shizu-chan," he repeated in the same, all-knowing tone as before.
"You're joking?" I snorted before turning to walk away, pushing him to the side.
"I want to room with you," he said again, following too closely for his own good.
"Like hell I'll room with a louse like you!" I scoffed.
Something grabbed my wrist before I could get very far. Even if I could easily take my arm out of his grasp, it still nagged me that he was being so persistent. I felt like this situation would only happen in a dream. A really fucked up dream.
"Please? I'll be on my best behavior," he assured me innocently.
"Why the fuck do you want to room with me?!" I finally forced the words out, obviously disturbed by the idea.
"It would be fun, ne?" he shrugged, as if he really expected me to believe that bullshit of an excuse.
"I said no!" Snatching my arm away, I resumed walking toward the doors with the raven hurrying to meet my long strides.
Great now he's not gonna leave me alone about it. Once he gets something in his mind, there's no changing it.
But why, I wondered. Why would he even suggest something like that?
"Why not?" he protested.
"Because I can't stand you? I'm already staying with Kadota," I said in a gruff voice, seriously annoyed.
"Aww, no fair! When did Dotachin ask you?" he whined.
Before I could answer, we caught up with our other friends.
"Dotachin, you're rooming with Shinra. Shizuo says he wants to room with me~."
"What?!" I shouted in disbelief. "I did not say that, damn flea! Stop lying!"
There's no way I could even wrap my head around the idea of sharing a small space alone with someone like him. It would only give him more chances to piss me off. It made me wonder what the fuck kind of sick plot he was concocting now that we were here.
Izaya
We entered the resort through the grand entrance. Not only was it exceptional from the outside, but the interior was equally as marvelous.
The entire front half consisted of different sized triangle windows to match the pyramid shape of the lobby. The room was bright and effulgent due to the snow outside reflecting the sun into the transparent walls.
The furniture in the lounge consisted of several different sized white couches, a glass coffee table in the middle, and a fluffy white rug beneath it all. Behind the lounge area, was one very large, grey, stone, fireplace, reaching all the way to the top of the ceiling. Candles were on just about every flat surface, and combined with the gas lit fire burning in the fireplace, the room was filled with a cozy warmth. The sweet aroma of sandalwood filled the large space, welcoming us further in.
A large, multi-layer fountain was stationed in the middle of the foyer. In it, were little white, floating candles and the loose change representing individual wishes of previous stayers.
Above us were open balconies looking into each of the 12 stories. On the first and second floors, I could see white doors spiraling around the large lobby. In every corner were a pair of glass elevators, slowly rising and falling as families of all sizes waited for their turn.
I continued to look around at the elegant room. Despite being as spacious as it is, it had the perfect amount of elements to make one feel at home.
Our teacher dealt with the check-in while other chaperones were going around distributing room keys to the large group of students clustered in the lobby. I was handed mine; the small golden envelope read the numbers "1222". I look over my shoulder at Shizuo's envelope reading "1221".
"Shizu-chan, let me stay with you," I asked, turning to face him again, in a serious manner.
"No, flea, stop bothering me about it. You're getting on my nerves!" he growled, but there was a hint of something other than annoyance when he spoke, and I was curious to figure out what it was.
"But Shizu-chan," I insisted, "Shinra might try dissecting me in my sleep or something! Have a heart!" I said dramatically.
"Hey!" Shinra interjected.
"Just drop it already! It's not happening!" he said with his back turned as he walked. I could see past the discomfort in his expression, he was starting to redden. I wasn't sure if it were really just anger anymore.
We all walked down the hall, and I was able to catch a glance at what looked like a dining area and kitchen, all matching the same theme of white on white with candles on each table. We reached the elevators, waiting as small parts of our large group took turns going up, though some of the more impatient students dared to make the twelve-story hike up the stairs.
Kadota, Shinra, Shizuo and I entered the elevator with a few more students, all gossiping about what they would be doing first. We reached the 12th floor and followed the signs that would direct us to our rooms through the halls of abstract carpentry.
I stood in front of a white door with the numbers, "1222" in elegant gold lettering. Swiping the key card over the automatic lock, a green light flashed unlocking the door.
The walls were, as I guessed, a snow white. Two neatly made queen beds were spread with white sheets, pillows, and a grey quilt. As I took a closer look, the quilt had tiny sequined snowflakes all over it. In front of the pillows sat a stack of folded white towels, and on top, a towel folded into an animal resembling a swan.
Between the beds, was a glass nightstand with an elegant lamp. Hanging on the wall above it was a framed abstract grey and white painting by an unknown artist. On the adjacent wall, was a wide flat screen TV that could swivel to face the beds or the couch in the opposite corner. Below the television was a large, white dresser with black knobs and handles with a modern finish.
In one corner of the room was a kitchenette; black granite countertops that had various flecks of another stone sparkling through were matched with a black mini fridge and other kitchen appliances. White cupboards and drawers resembled the rest of the monochromatic theme.
I continued looking around the deluxe suite, venturing into the perfectly matched western-style bathroom. I discovered the sink and counter was the same as that in the kitchen. The combined shower and bath had a misty curtain and shiny, almost clear, glass tiles lined the walls.
Walking back into the main room, Shinra was putting away his things in the closet.
I fell back on the other bed staring up at the ceiling fan.
"Aren't you going to start unpacking, Izaya?" he asked.
"Hmmm...No, I think I'll go visit next door."
I walked across the hall, rapping on the wood a few times before Kadota answered it.
"Hello, neighbor~," I greeted happily, letting myself into a room identical to the one I'd just come from, but with a window view. "Nice view," I commented opening the curtain. The landscape was truly breathtaking, but there were other matters to be discussed.
"Hey. Did you already finish unpacking or something?" he wondered, shutting the door behind me.
"Quite the opposite, actually." I moved away from the windowsill and plopped down on one of the beds. "I really don't see the point in it if I'm just going to be changing rooms anyway."
Kadota chuckled, rolling his eyes. "You know he's never gonna agree, right? Why do you even want to stay with him, that's kind of...odd," he chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Silly Dotachin, you think I don't know that? Worry not, it will happen. So don't get too comfortable here," I smiled. "Besides, it's a secret." I grinned flashing my teeth, already excited about the idea.
"Whatever, Izaya." He laughed it off.
"Speaking of which, where is the idiot?" I asked.
He sighed. "He was still feeling annoyed from the train ride, so he stepped out for a cigarette. You know how he is."
"That I do," I nodded, sounding distant. "Ironic isn't it? We come here because we won a fundraiser fighting cancer, and here he is on his way to becoming a patient." I laughed at my own logic as I imagined his future misfortune.
"Yeah, well that's Shizuo for ya," Kadota said shaking his head.
"What about me?" the tall blonde walked into the room closing the door quietly, in a much more human way that I would have liked, behind him.
He turned around to face Kadota and I. His eyes narrowed when he saw me.
"What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you you can't stay with me?!"
"That cigarette didn't really help much with your attitude, now did it?" I smiled condescendingly, kicking my feet idly as they hung off the bed. "Perhaps a nap will do you some good," I said, patting the space next to me.
"Get. Out." He pointed at the door he'd just walked in.
"..."
I hopped down from the bed. "I was just leaving, actually. My lips pulled to a slight frown, as I responded flatly. Shizuo's attitude was such a bother sometimes. It was no fun when he wasn't throwing a fit like he normally did.
As I walked past him, it was like one of those scenes in the movies where everything goes into slow motion for a second.
The scent of tobacco filled my nostrils, the smell made my stomach knot in disgust. Fury swarmed in those honey coloured eyes as they glared back down into my crimson ones, pure of hatred. That same look that always sent shivers down my spine. I merely sneered back, only making his brows knit tighter in annoyance as we passed each other.
Until next time, Shizu-chan...