Hidden depth in shallow shells

The day has finally ended and I followed the directions given to me towards my dormitory, I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't just some run down old gothic house but a rather fine mansion, building with three floors. I went inside and it was rather lively, but in a way it reminded me of home where there's so many people minding their own affairs, this was a little similar but a little different too.

I was then met by what I would assume is the landlady, a middle-aged woman with a motherly vibe to her approached me with a welcoming smile. "Hello young man, are you a tenant here? What's your name?" She then took out a list from a nearby table as she checked the names she introduced herself to me as Mrs. Janice Bingley.

"Arvior Lu Gastra."

"Ah here you are, your belongings should be in room 23. Here's your key and I hope you'll treat everyone here well. They're a bit rowdy but if you meet them I'm sure you'll see for yourself that they're pleasant kids." She then took a keychain from her pocket and after a bit of searching one by one she found the key to room 23 and gave it to me.

With a quick thanks I left her and not even bothering associating with the group of students gathered in the living room or the garden I went straight for the stairs. I had quite enough of socializing for today, I just want to lay down and read a book or maybe play some guitar. As I was navigating the rooms, a young man approached me.

"Hey are you a first year?" The young man asked me with a peering gaze, he looked quite eccentric with long wavy hair, and his face with freckles and a thin mustache. If this guy doesn't learn to groom himself in 2 or 3 years he'd make a good model for a "Do not talk to strangers" ad.

"Uh, yeah. Arvior Lu Gastra nice to meet you"

The guy smiled at me pleasantly and introduced himself. "Nice to meet you too Arvior, I am Harriet Fonz, but everyone just calls me Harry. I'm something of a big brother here so if you ever need anything feel free to ask me, I'm always happy to be of help to my juniors.

And with that Hairy left me being my last interaction for the day, he wasn't unpleasant I suppose but I do not want to associate with him, at all. Besides he's a third year I thought they were supposed to look dignified and prim, that guy looks like someone you'd see in the park asking for spare change…Damn it the prejudices are sticking on me…

Finally, I get inside my room away from society, my things were organized pretty well in the room, although it didn't seem to be all of it, Lucia might have burned it. At least my favorite books are still there as well as my trusty guitar which I was anxious to play after almost a week but as I lied in my bed I soon dozed off not realizing how tired I was. It wasn't until morning that I awoke and another look in my room allowed me to notice how spacious it was even with all my stuff, should I be expecting a roommate? I sure hope not, this is the remaining sanctuary I have left and I cannot let another arrogant prick or another obnoxious guy ruin this for me.

It was about 5:30 when I arose so everyone was still asleep, suddenly hunger came to me from not being able to eat at all that night so I went down, I can probably go to some convenience store to buy some grub. My room had a bathroom thankfully and I showered and combed my hair before I went outside.

I wore the first shirt I took from my drawer and reused my shorts, yeah I'm one of those guys. Everything was silent in the whole dorm and as I walked I felt a sort of peace in my surroundings, most people would walk in an old mansion and be scared but to me each creaking of the floor felt as satisfying as cracking one's finger.

I was about to head out when the landlady greeted me.

"My my, aren't you up early today Arvior."

"Good morning Mrs. Bingley."

"Well young man, care to tell me where you are going at such an early hour?"

"Oh you know the saying madame, the early bird probably forgot to eat dinner. I was going to the convenience store"

"Haha, you're a witty boy. Come Arvior, you don't need to go out if you're hungry we have plenty of food in the fridge and if you can wait breakfast will be served by 6:45"

"I see well, I am at your care" I accepted the landlady's kind offer and followed her to the dining room where she took some leftover cake and served it to me. She offered to heat it up but I kindly refused, explaining that the coldness of the frosting sort of makes it like ice cream, she only chuckled and left me be.

I didn't feel like eating at a dark and gloomy dining room so I decided to go to the rooftop instead. I enjoyed the view there as I ate my cold cake. The whole school was really spectacular in both size and architecture. To add to that was the cold morning breeze which for a moment blew away my troubles and I enjoyed my few moments of peace there.

I then came back and put away my plate but soon came back to the rooftop but now with my guitar in hand, it was the perfect place for it and I played a few notes of "Cannon in D minor" to pass the time. An hour or so later and most of my doormats soon awoke and again the whole place was lively once more, I wanted to smack them but I kept my composure and joined them for breakfast.

I was surprised to see quite a lot of female board mates in our dorm, shouldn't guys and girls be separated? This whole place makes no sense to me anyway so I didn't bother myself with the redundant questions.

After eating breakfast quickly, my appetite being spoiled by the cake I ate earlier I prepared to go to school quite early. I could at least have the opportunity there to review what shall be discussed, of course I already mastered this level of education but I'm not a genius and I still need to refresh my memory every now and then.

As I enter only a handful where there, the most notable being Czarina, Atlas, and Nadia who were all in separate groups with their friends, Atlas exempted who sat in his chair and read a book which was in another language so I could not figure out what exactly it entailed. I wondered whether I should go to Nadia's group, I mean we are acquainted and I don't want to seem like a snob but I'm not sure I'm high ranked enough to chat with the "Pearl of class A" so freely, but as I stood deliberating Nadia herself called me over to which I approached unhurried and fairly calm as there were few people there.

"Good morning Arvior" Nadia smiled at me warmly.

"Good morning Nadia, Mina" I smiled at the two and Mina only replied with a light nod. It seems to me that Mina is actually quite shy and only becomes confident when her friend Lucy is there, this type of codependence is quite toxic if it was left freely but that isn't my problem.

"Mina was just telling me how she liked her new dorm, werent' you Mi"

To that once more Mina just nodded shyly, she was very different yesterday where she seemed as confident as Lucy even when flirting with Styles. Perhaps I am making her uncomfortable.

"Are you also staying at a dorm Nad?" I asked turning the topic to her to relieve Mina the uneasiness of being the center of the conversation.

"Oh no, my house is quite close here. Besides, Mom wouldn't let me stay at a dorm even if I wanted to. I'm kind of jealous of you guys"

"Wanna switch then? Oh how I would love to get back to a comfortable home" I rhetorically offer to Nadia.

"Well when you put it that way" Nadia and I chuckled, Mina only stared at the ground barely reacting.

Nadia seemed to have notice my staring at Mina so once again she directed the conversation. "Don't mind Mina, she's a bit shy when meeting new people."

"Ah, alright I understand. I don't know how I would have acted myself if you and Jon weren't here with me"

"Now aren't you glad I didn't take your advice that time" She was eluding to my saying to her that I was dangerous I presume. I looked away in embarrassment to her remark.

"I suppose I deserve that for trying to act cool and mysterious…" Nadia laughed at my embarrassed reaction and patted my shoulder.

"Don't worry you nailed the cool part, from your actions alone that day." I only groaned growing more embarrassed by the remembrance of that day. I just wanted to have some fun tsk.

We continued on talking, adding Mina every now and then to which she only replied in monosyllables. I suppose even a lackey is allowed to have a personality and her shyness seemed fitting of her petite form and the cutsie image she seemed to have, and fairly complements Lucy's more open and flirty vibe though their image is still relying heavily to Nadia's though and if on their own they wouldn't stand out all too much. Granted they were cute but they lacked the elegance Nadia's demeanor grants, and their characters otherwise would just seem regular, something all classes have. The amazing power the cheerleader effect grants is almost mystifying sometimes.

Just before class was about to start came Jon and Styles who I believe shared a dorm and they instantly joined us and Jon as usual soon dominated the conversation getting complete control. Mina still remained fairly silent as Lucy arrived late but as soon as she arrived things went back to normal and once in a while, upon Lucy's prompting Mina would comment a whole full sentence. She said more in that one minute upon Lucy's arrival than the whole 30 minutes with Nadia and me.

Our first period was Physical Education, and I half expected some guy in his early twenties wearing a tracksuit and always reminiscing his glory days when he was still a jock back in high school but to my surprise it was a fine looking fit woman who looked like an athlete herself but not like the washout I was expecting. Her name was Ms. Jane Strega and from the get go she already started her lesson. She wrote in the board the word Ballroom and soon began discussing it, mentioning dates and names from her memory alone not needing to look it up in a book and she spoke at a fine pace which allowed me to take notes of the important things as she elaborated it to give us time to do so. Mastery of her subject, fine presentation, and not easily sidetracked, she had the makings of an excellent educator which made me slightly disappointed she was teaching PE instead of something like Science or Literature because those are the subjects that needed the skilled teachers so students would come to like the subject itself.

Around 45 minutes in, Sr. Dundal entered and as if Ms. Strega was expecting her, she quickly explained to us that our next subject Music will be used for a hands on practice in ballroom dancing, relating the numerous musical pieces we shall be studying. Now this was no trouble for me, the problem was what Ms. Strega said next.

"Choose your partners"