Annabeth's Boarding Tale

Room Mate

Annabeth's meeting with the headteacher had gone well, he mentioned again how he was impressed with her grades and they had a particularly long discussion about architecture. He advised her that if she wanted to become an architect and design her own buildings, she should stay here for the following academic year where she could combine her 2 favourite subjects (History and Architecture) and go on a wide range of trips where other schools wouldn't go. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves though" he laughed and fell backwards into his chair, "we've got this year to focus on first" he let his fingers slide into one another like the villains do in the film, "Come, let me take you to your room" he pushed the chair backwards and walked around his desk and held the door open. Annabeth promptly followed.

As he guided her to her room he talked about the history of the building and a little about himself, it was actually built in 1847 and was previously owned by a Dutch billionaire who used the building as a mansion (just like Annabeth had suspected) but he never had any family so when he passed away the government claimed it and turned it into a boarding school. They added additional buildings as the years passed so that it could cope with the capacity of students and provide high standard class rooms. The school was originally gender specific, only allowing boys but when Mr Brunner took over as headmaster in 2010, he changed it to a non gender specific boarding school. He told Annabeth that he felt it unfair to discriminate over such a ridiculous issue and that it was important for us to learn how to interact with the opposing gender but how could he teach that if the students were separated?

They finally arrived at her door, he opened it for her as she was carrying her bags. Mr Brunner did offer to take a bag but she politely refused, she was too stubborn to admit when she needed help. Her roommate was sitting on the end of her bed with her laptop and headphones on, her unopened bags dumped around her bed. The girl flickered her eyes towards Annabeth but then back to the computer screen. Annabeth stared in disbelief that her roommate had just ignored her, she went to look at Mr Brunner but the girl closed her laptop and slid her headphones around her neck. She jumped off and walked to Annabeth, "I am so sorry, it didn't properly register that you were my new roommate". Oh great, Annabeth thought, I've got to share a room with her. The girl held her hand out and Annabeth could really admire her beauty now, she was tanned and Annabeth figured she had a Cherokee descent. Her chocolate-brown hair was cut choppy and the girl had an incredible set of eyes, they seemed to change colour depending on how you were positioned, originally Annabeth thought they were brown but as she got closer they looked more like a blue but as they stood opposite each other now, the light appeared to show green eyes. What really caught Annabeth's attention was this girls smile, she had the type of contagious smile where you couldn't help but smile at the sight of her smiling. Her teeth were perfectly straight and white. Annabeth wondered whether they would get along, surely someone as pretty as her had to be the most popular girl in school, she wouldn't want someone like Annabeth as a roommate let alone a friend.

Annabeth suddenly came back into reality as she realised that the girl was still waiting to shake hands. Annabeth placed her bags on the floor and took the girl's hand firmly, "Hi, I'm Annabeth Chase", "wow that's a pretty name, I'm Piper McLean". Annabeth let out a nervous smile whilst Piper produced a beaming one, "So I haven't unpacked my bags yet because I thought it would be fun to do it together?" Piper suggested, Annabeth thought it was more likely that Piper needed help deciding where to put everything. "Well I can see you girls are going to get along so I'll leave you to it" Mr Brunner interrupted, "but Piper could you give Annabeth the 'real tour' as you kids say and tell Annabeth the rules regarding rooms" Mr Brunner raised his eyebrows when he mentioned 'rules regarding rooms', Annabeth looked at Piper who was turning red "Yes sir" she responded. Once Mr Brunner had left Piper ran over and shut the door, /span"I take it you've been here before?" Annabeth asked curiously, although already sure of the answer,

"I've been here since I was 12, so this will be my 4th year"

"Oh wow, so you would know the rules and the 'real tour'"

"Ok so room rules, we have to be back in our own room by 11PM on a school night and 1AM on a Friday or Saturday", "Wow it really is relaxed here" Annabeth said as she started unpacking her bags, Piper walked over to her stuff and unziped a suitcase. "Well Mr Brunner understands that we have friends of the opposite gender so we do like to hang out a lot. As long as it doesn't interfere with our studies, he doesn't see why there should be a problem"

"and you went red like a tomato because..."

"Well last year there was an incident regarding a boy and a girl who broke the rules"

Annabeth raised one eyebrow, "Let me take a wild guess and say the girl was you". Piper went bright red again and got really embarrassed and turned back to her suitcase to start unpacking, Annabeth let out a light hearted laugh. "Oh come on, I'm the newbie you have to fill me in on all the gossip!"

"Nothing bad happened, this guy was round helping teach me some French and we didn't realise the time before it was too late"

"This guy was teaching you the language of love and nothing happened?!"

"I didn't say that! I just said nothing bad happened!"

"So you guys kissed!" Annabeth asked, Piper got all embarrassed again. "Have you guys spoke about it?"

"How do you know that we aren't together?"

"I'm wise, now come on spill" Annabeth sat down on her bed,

Piper looked at her in disbelief, she couldn't believe that she was telling a girl she met less than half an hour ago her life story, Piper let out a sigh and then told Annabeth, "We haven't spoke all summer"

Annabeth was gobsmacked, what i***t would kiss her and then not at least try to tie her down. "Exactly" Piper said, as if she was answering Annabeth's thoughts,

"Maybe he's been busy?" She suggested

"All summer?"

"There's a logical explanation, there must be"

"There's no logical explanation for kissing a boy and then never hearing from him"

"Well did you message him?" Annabeth questioned,

Piper opened her mouth to answer but shut it almost immediately, Annabeth sensed that Piper was finished talking about this boy. She looked at her half unpacked bag and Pipers still very much full suitcase. "How about you give me this student tour, give us a break from unpacking?" Annabeth suggested, "We can always finish unpacking later". Piper didn't move her head from looking at the suitcase, 'How have I managed to make a friend and then lose them within 20 minutes?!' Annabeth thought to herself. Piper's phone buzzed and she looked down at her text, then looked up at Annabeth, Annabeth couldn't work out if she looked scared or excited. "You know the 'real tour' isn't such a bad idea!" Without a moment to spare, Piper jumped up and grabbed Annabeth's arm and dragged her out the door.