Chapter Nine:

Jess was already on his way back to his dorm, when he remembered that he still hadn’t eaten. His feet pounded on the pavement, his steps growing heavier and faster as he thought. He’d run his mouth back there without thinking, hadn’t he? It was the first time he’d had an out of body experience.

All this time he thought astral projection was fluffy magic and yet somehow, he’d mastered it. His mouth was working, and he could only watch and not stop himself. To be fair that was all Maizley’s fault. And he couldn’t feel too embarrassed by how cringy his speech was because he’d gotten his point across.

This whole place had started grating on him. He’d only had one night in Boxtens, and now he was feuding with an entire dorm... But in truth it wasn’t a feud was it? All he'd really done was half annoy Maizley. He’d turned into Instagram story activist hadn’t he? He’d just vented and run his mouth and not actually done anything to help the situation.

Ugh.

Could he just maybe not do the dorm games? That was an option. Yeah, definitely! And hopefully Maizley didn’t even concern herself with him- he hoped to God she didn’t tell her dorm. That would be humiliating.

The only thing he could actually do to save face was actually somehow win the dorm games. That meant convincing his dorm mates to join the Dorm Games.

He was nearly back to the dorm when he saw a shirtless man jogging towards him. The incline was quite steep and yet somehow the figure did look breathless or at risk of slowing. And as the jogger drew closer Jess realized that this was the most unnecessarily handsome man he had ever seen. Now, obviously he’d seen attractive people before but he never seen someone who looked quite so sculpted There weren't any specific features on him that worked, it was just everything. With a good height, he was built but still lean and athletic. Short, neat fair hair and smooth almost porcelain and pore free skin. And his face was solemnly handsome, yet he still had a smile. And more than that, he carried himself like a leader, someone who gave the speech before the final battle someone who-

Jesus Christ was this actually a student? He was even more intimidating up close.

“Hey, good morning.” The jogger greeted. “Looking for something?”

Uh...

“Hi, I'm Jess.”

“Hi Jess, I'm David.” The jogger said, shaking Jess’s hand- Ugh moist with sweat. Guess David was human after all.

“You a student here or something?” Jess asked.

“Course I am, I’m a sixth year. Just out for my morning run.” David said. He had a nice voice to listen to. Pleasant and friendly.

“Sure you’re a student? You look a Netflix teenager.” Jess said, having regained enough composure to make a joke.

Jess wasn't as attractive as he thought, was he? He didn't think much of himself even before this, but this… This was ego-crushing.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“Netflix?”

“Forget it.”

“Already forgotten.” David grinned. “Are you headed to the Cancer Dorm? Unless you’re here to see the forest?”

“Anything interesting in the forest?"

“There’s not that much to see. There’s the odd magical creature.” David said, listing things of casually. “Small lake in the centre, and sometimes I go hiking in there. It's good terrain."

"Sounds like there's plenty to see in the forest" Jess said with a grin-

Where the hell were these lines when he first met Maizley? Then again, that would have been a waste on her since she turned out to be evil. But that was hardly his fault! The Goldwyn’s never were good at picking them. Both Goldwyn parents where single parents now weren't they?

Jess cleared his throat. “I was actually just heading back to my dorm.”

David's eyes widened in surprise and then he let out a cheerful smile. “Do you mean the cancer dorm? Did you just get in?”

“I got dumped in.”

“That’s great man! Welcome to the Cancer dorm! David Gordon. Good to meet you, Jess.” David exclaimed, shaking Jess’ hand.

“Why the hell are you in the Cancer Dorm?” Jess slipped out before he could stop, not hiding the shock in his voice or the rudeness. This dude was way too good to be in the cancer- unless this was Maizley or Brently 2.0. Was David Dahmer torturing animals in his spare time or something?

"I’m a scholarship student." David said, not offended at all and thankfully seeing the flattery in Jess’s surprise. "Had to take space where I could."

Oh my god, Jess thought as he melted. And he's got a humble background too. And he’s working hard to better his life and his families- why the hell isn't he the main character?

“Scholarships student, huh.” Jess said as he thought to himself. That means this guy must be one of the top students in his classes. "You must be doing pretty well then here.” Jess said.

“I’m not the best.” David shrugged. He had a habit of giving this little half smile when he was happy, just curling the corner of his lips. “I’m ranked third in the year and it’s not too close at the top either. Those first two guys are way clear of me.”

“Still, top three sixth year in Boxtens means you’re top 3 in the country.”

David only shrugged. “I just do my best, you know. Always gotta do your best.”

“Yeah, sure.” Wait...

Your class rank is public here? Shit. He didn’t think of it with Maizley, but if you knew the top ranks then you definitely knew the bottom ranks. Now if he flunked out everyone would know. But one tragedy at a time... And on the bright side with someone like David around, the Cancer dorm might actually have a shot at the dorm games.

“Think you'll do well in the dorm games this year?” Jess asked.

David laughed.

‘Confidence too?’ Jess thought. Man, God gave with every hand for this guy.

“The Cancer dorm isn't in the dorm game this year.” David said.

Oh. Oh. That was not confident laughter.

“We never applied.” David said. “Actually, I think Cancer only applied twice in the last ten years? Finished rock bottom both times."

Shit.

"And there's no chance of changing that?" Jess muttered.

"Registration has been closed for a while now." David said thoughtfully.

No wonder Miss Maizley was so unbothered by Jess's challenge.

She'd already won by default.

She didn't even have to do anything against him! The Cancer dorm wasn't even in the dorm games! She was just using the results to- she was using his own petty revenge ideology against him. That evil witch! What kind of person enjoys someone else being miserable or losing? He was very aware he had log in his eye, but he was the retaliator here! He never picked this fight. The Aries dorm did, when they upset his cousin. Not just upset her, flunked her out of an entire class and humiliated her after she'd worked so hard. And granted Gwen had her faults, but if the Aries dorm was supposed to be a family then they would never have hurt her. This place was sick.

That was not how you treated people… Not at all.

“Enjoy your jog, David.” Jess said.

And he wasn’t sure why, but David winced. But Jess didn't have time to think on that now. He had to go chase down Headmistress Lenden.