Jedidiah Woods 

Dorm E was a redbrick building, four floors high with two winding staircases, on opposite sides. The hallways were impressively large with several doors open, as students settled into their rooms for the semester. Each open door was punctuated by excited chatter as voices wafted out into the corridor. 

I pulled my suitcase across the long winding corridor past a group of chattering students and rowdy boys. With every turn I took I could hear thundering footsteps in closed rooms and sometimes in open ones too. The dorms were exactly what I imagined they would be and more. Noisy, large and full of excited chatter. 

Small, black numbers were painted on the top of every door and a plain brown mat was placed on the floor outside the door. It was a perfect picture of a boarding school dorm, nothing fancy and yet I couldn't help but assume other colleges in the world did not look like that. I perused through the door numbers, systemically counting until I reached my room. Room 407. The seventh room from the bathrooms. My new home for the next year. 

According to the brochure, despite having plenty of holidays and vacations most Bradford students didn't leave the school that often. Which would prove to be a good thing for me if my father decided he didn't have a son anymore. After all, the director of the college had informed my parents that students who stay often, get more chances to find world renowned internships than those that go home. 

The door creaked open revealing my room. I glanced around at the furnished room, taking in the standard two beds and two desks just as expected. Of course, the room was larger than I pictured but I guess it made sense with all the tuition money the school demanded. With an amount that large I expected breakfast in bed and a five-course meal just for existing. The door was sandwiched between two pine wardrobes. And past the second bed was a door that led to a toilet. The small in-suite was furnished with a standard white ceramic sink, complete with a mirror over it and a matching toilet. 

After glancing around the room I went back to my room's threshold where I had left my suitcase. With a small sigh, I pulled the suitcase inside, trying not to get distracted by the circumstances that had led me here.  

The only reason my father hadn't disowned me over the mysterious ‘incident’ was because my father in his own misguided way was proud of me getting accepted into Bradford. My father was never one to miss an opportunity to brag about ‘his’ achievements. And if those achievements included his kids then he was happy to also take responsibility for that too. My mother on the other hand thought the idea of sending me here as punishment was crazy. Because ‘why should we pay that much money for education.’ It had taken my goody-two-shoes sister, my grandmother and my father to convince her this was a smart decision. Of course, I would have been happy staying home but that was not an option. 

I opened my suitcase and stared at the neatly folded stack of clothes. With another sigh, I gently lifted up the first stack and I placed it into the cupboard that stood on the left end of the room. After a few repeated motions, the suitcase was empty and everything I owned was now in the pine wardrobe. With one final sigh, I shoved my suitcase inside the wardrobe too. First day of University(Kind of). Not bad for a country bumpkin like me. 

After glancing around the room I removed my jeans and folded them up before placing them on the desk that stood on the left side of the room, effectively staking my claim on the left side of the room. I pushed my backpack into the corner of my new bed creating space for me to flop onto the bed. This was it. This was really it. My father had finally found a way to abandon me far far away. Now he could pretend he had one perfect child and ignore any mention of my name. 

"This is your room?" Tsubaki's now familiar voice sounded from the open door, "Are you alone in here?"  

I dropped my head off the pillow so I could see him without lifting up my head. Tsubaki stood in the doorway with a clipboard clutched between his  hands, black nails clawing at the edge of the board. A smile formed on his face as he looked at me. I could feel the curiosity in his eyes from where I was lying. Tsubaki placed his pen behind his ear and with an easy smile, he proceeded to move into the room. 

"So, what's your story?" He asked, sitting in the chair next to my bed. 

"Story?" I sat up, leaning against the wall, "What makes you think there is a story?" 

I knew it was irrational that he would know about the incident but that didn't stop my heart from racing. 

"You look like you could be anywhere else but here. That's actually new. Believe it or not, every first-year who comes here wants to be here. It's the older kids we have to worry about." 

"That has to be a lie." 

"It's true. Bradford is world-renowned. Most people are ready to do anything just for a chance to audition for a place here and here you are, looking like you would be anywhere in the world but here." 

I smiled, "Well, I would be if I could." 

"Oh no. You are being held hostage in a good school and being forced to have an education." Tsubaki mocked, "Whatever will you do? Go on strike and choose to have waffles instead of pancakes?"

"Shut up," I laughed.

"Wow, you do know how to laugh. The weight of this school must be so heavy you lost your  joy for a second there." 

I shook my head, "It's not like that." 

"Uhuh," Tsubaki looked sceptical, "What's it like? Actually, no. Tell me, what did you do that was so bad you were banished to this school?"

"A little blasphemy, a lot of disgrace and a touch of defamation," I said, letting my eyelids flutter as the memories of my mum's disdain and my fathers hurt words fleeted past me. 

"Ah, I see." He answered dismissing me. 

"What do you see?" 

"The reason you are here of course," 

I laughed, "Why am I here?" 

"It's an art school where else will you find more despicable, liberal people than at an art school." 

"You overestimate my sins," I smiled. 

The other boy laughed, with a worn smile dancing on his lips, he stood up and looked down at me, "I saw you and Karim exchanging looks in the lounge earlier..." narrowing his eyes Tsubaki licked his lip piercing, "Be careful Jedd, you don't want to be caught in his trap. Karim preys on people like you. And unfortunately, you are exactly his type." 

I placed the back of my hand over my lips. I had never been anyone's type before and being told I was his type made me curious. Even if he was male I wanted to know what made me his type. I bit on my knuckle trying to prevent myself from smiling but Tsubaki saw through my act. 

"I mean it." He said, sighing, "Stay away from Karim."

I nodded, "Ok. But um. What do you mean by ... His type. What exactly is his type." 

Tsubaki laughed, "I can't believe this. You look more interested than you did when I met you."

"No. I mean it's not like that. I just... Want to know what his type is. Or better yet why you think I am his type." 

"His type is corruptible, innocent souls that don't seem to understand how innocent they are." Tsubaki wrote something on his board. He handed me a small piece of paper jaggered around the edges, "If you get bored come visit me later."  

"Ok," I glanced at the small white note. 

Tsubaki closed the door behind him. With a soft sigh, I reached for my phone. Swiping across the screen I managed to lose myself and forget about the long day I had had. After trying and struggling to get as comfortable as I wanted I stood up, placed my glasses on the table, I removed my shirt and folded it so it could join my jeans on the desk. This left me in my underwear and the gold chain that hung around my neck. 

Feeling less stuffy I got comfortable in my bed but before I could get any rest, the door burst open and two identical blonde girls pushed through the doorway, giggling. I scurried under my blanket covering my torso and (suddenly embarrassing) Spongebob underwear. Should have known something like this would happen to me.