With the first school day coming closer, more students filled the dorms and flats, bringing life to the desolate halls. Since Mandi’s return, he barely saw Reuben or Phil as she has been taking up all of his time, dragging him around, avoiding her brother and ergo, his brother too. Today though, he left his flat early to… get a breather. He is not avoiding her! He was only… feeling drained, so he escaped to a place he knew he could collect his thoughts alone.

Hidden in a far corner of one of the buildings on campus, were the Beanbags™. They were an unspoken secret, but it was universally understood that the ‘Beans Corner’ is a place of peace and rest.

“Amanda is putting you through the wringer and school hasn’t started yet,” Lisa stated bluntly, letting herself fall into a beanbag. “You look like death warmed over.”

Clementine laughed dryly. “Very funny.” He shifted upright and rolled his stiff shoulders. “She is just excited to be back. I can’t really fault her for that.

“Ex. Cuses,” she pointed at him. “You can. I thought you would finally get tired of her walking all over you after last year. Show some backbone!”

His eyebrows furrowed. “Aren’t you her friend too?”

She pointed at herself. “I have my reasons to be a ‘friend’ of hers. And I set boundaries.” Then at him. “Unlike you, who is just being her little doormat.”

He stood up. “I didn’t come here to listen to your slander.”

She gasped. “Oh what wizardry, the doormat can talk!”

They stared at each other tensely. But the tension broke when he chuckled, which made Lisa giggle, and then they both burst out laughing. He sat back down, sinking into the beanbag.

Clementine smiled. “Good to have you back. I missed your snark.”

Lisa returned the smile. “Good to be back. I missed your unexpected backbone, (even if you decide to hide it sometimes). And to be away from Issak. Do you know how annoying it is, having to listen to your brother angst all summer, six weeks in a row, seven days a week?”

She held her head, crying out in frustration. “I thought I was gonna lose it! That insecure bastard.”

“Hey, c’mon, be nice.”

“I’m nice enough. It’s you who is too nice.”

“Everyone’s a critic,” he joked. “I’m serious though, when I say that I didn't come here for you to critique me. It feels illegal doing this in the Beans CornerTM.”

Lisa snorted. “Fine.” But you have to talk about it with someone. Maybe your brother?”

“I’ve known her since kindergarten; she is my friend. I trust her.”

“And you haven’t seen her for six years before coming here. Face it,” her grey eyes bored into him. “Whoever she used to be, she isn’t that person anymore. Amanda isn’t a good person.”

He pressed his lips into a thin line, body tense.

She sighed.

“What Club are you gonna join?” Lisa snorted and mimed kicking with her legs. “Hopefully it’s better than kicking a ball around.”

Clementine huffed. “Leave Football alone.”

Smirking, she shrugged. “What can I say.”

“Nothing.” Relaxing, he glanced at her. “Are you joining the Journalists again?”

She tilted her head, lips pursing while she thought about it. “Hm… I don’t think so. I am actually thinking of creating an independent club.”

“What would it be about?”

“I! ...don’t know yet.” She heaved a sigh. “I’m hoping to get an idea soon.”

He smiled sympathetically at her. “Well, good luck with that.”

“And you?”

“Uhm…” He bit his lip. “I have an idea but… I’ll tell you if I have decided for sure.”

Standing up and stretching, she smiled at him. “As long as it isn’t ‘Good Boy Club’, you have time to decide ‘til Autumn Break.” He glared at her, only causing her to laugh.

Lisa winked and stuck her tongue out, before turning and walking off. “See you in class, Cuddy.”

“We’ll see, Wretch,” he shot back. The sound of Lisa’s laughter made his angry facade break with a smile.

Aloisa Ward is one of the most frustrating yet amazing people he knew. Clever and ambitious, he knows she will make it far one day. Yet also so snarky he wants to strangle her sometimes (in the most affectionate way). Time spent with her was so freeing, unlike with Mandi.

Lisa was one of the few good things at the Benison. And one of the only people willing to talk with him.

That train of thought made him sigh. Thinking about his decrepit social life will not do him any good.

He moved to stand up and-

“Hello?”

Clementine’s head shot up and saw- there, walking into view, a guy!

“Hi?”

“Sorry to bother you, but I think I’m lost.” He said in a ‘kill-me-now’ way.

It took a moment for the situation to sink in, but when it did, Clementine snapped his fingers and pointed at him, asking incredulously: “You’re a new student?!”

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

If he knew any better, Clementine would guess that the guy was blushing, but it was hard to tell against the dark complexion. Phil and Mandi’s skin are more of a golden brown colour, while the guy’s is shades darker.

“I arrived yesterday.” The guy’s fingers twitched as if he was preventing himself from grabbing at something. “I wanted to familiarise myself with the campus before classes started.”

“That’s a good idea.” Clementine suddenly realized how he must’ve come across. “Ah, sorry for that just now. I was just surprised that you found this place so soon.”

“Why’s that so?”

He rubbed his neck. “Well, this corner is kinda an open secret. The unofficial rule is that students have to find it on their own. I only found it a few months ago, well into my first year,” he explained.

“Ah...”

“Anyway,” he held out his hand. “I’m Clementine Cubby and this is my second year at the Benison.”

The smaller guy shook his hand. “I’m Abel Deering and I’m new here.”

“Want me to give you a tour of the campus?” He offered.

Abel looked relieved. “Gladly.”

Standing outside, Clementine pointed to buildings in the distance as he explained, some obscured behind the groves of trees.

“The dorms and flats are for us to use during the semester and breaks; the teachers have the apartment, which is bigger since they live here way longer than students. The faculty is for official paperwork and stuff, and the Mensa- aka Cafeteria- is for eating. There are two storage buildings where you can go and take what you need so you don’t have to all the way to the nearest town; there is one for food and the other for general stuff you might need. And of course, the buildings for classes and such-”

Abel grimaced. “That’s…”

“It’s a lot, ” Clementine said wryly. “And it doesn’t help that the campus is massive.” He patted Abel on the shoulder sympathetically. “But you’ll learn this stuff eventually. Before you know it, you won’t even need the map anymore!”

“A map?” Abel looked like he had to swallow a big pill.

“Yeah. They give the first years a map at the start of the year. Everything looks so tiny on it.” He chuckled. “But let me warn you beforehand: head out early if you want to be on time. I know I had a hard time with punctuality at first before I learned. Just plan 10-ish minutes into your morning for walking.”

Their conversation drifted onto other topics after that, and he felt like he got a better picture of who Abel was. A person who prefers to keep to himself and has difficulty expressing himself. It reminded him a little of Reuben and Lisa: his brother has trouble getting closer to people and Lisa can come across as crass. That only endeared Abel to him all the more. But I will have to keep to myself.

“And the other group- Lerry? Won’t be a problem.”

“The Chancy and the Leery get along just fine. Why would they be a problem, just because of a different name and uniform colour?”

Blue eyes stared blankly at him.

“...Okay!”

They bid their goodbyes and split in front of the C-Dorms. Clementine watched Abel disappear into the doors of the dorm, feeling lighter and happier than yesterday. I think I made a friend! Content, he turned to leave when his eyes drifted over to the plaza between the dormitories. Many students were out mingling on this cloudless day, their chatter faintly drifted over to him. Further back, he noticed Mandi talking in a group with other students. The thought of approaching her crossed his mind…

He shivered. Nope! She looked busy and he would feel bad interrupting her. Swiftly turning around, he walked away at a brisk pace. He surely has something to do at home. Maybe Reuben needs his help with something.

“Oof-”, air escaped him as he bumped into something and fell onto it.

An Ack from under him made him look, seeing-

Clementine’s face burned. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry!” He scrambled up and turned to hold out a hand for the cute person from a few days ago. From behind their bangs, he could see a dark expression on their face. It disappeared as they plastered on a smile; it happened so fast that Clementine thought he had imagined it.

“It’s you,” they said in a happy-but-not-really tone, taking his hand and letting themself be pulled up. “I didn’t think I’d bumped into you so soon. Literally.”

Clementine sheepishly smiled. “Me neither.” Looking them over to see if they may be injured themselves, he noticed that they wore the L-Uniform. “I see you got your uniform!”

“Yeah…” They trailed off, picking at the sleeves of their blue cardigan. Like any uniform, it was tailored to be a comfortable fit for the student, so it did not hang off of them like the pullover from last time.

He noticed that it was the boys’ uniform. However, that could just be because they preferred pants over skirts. So he was not any closer to knowing their gender. Clementine could guess, but everything that could hint towards one side- hair, facial and body structure, clothes, etc.- was just too unreliable. He himself had a more androgynous body type and could pass as the opposite gender in the right clothes. He will have to ask them directly to know for sure.

So he asked them, his nerves making him speak faster and faster until the words mashed together.

“I don’t wanna come across as rude or anything, so you don’t have to answer me, but… Are you a boy? A girl? Trans? Pronounces? (That’s a thing people do, right?)” What am I saying?! Gods, just kill me now…

An array of emotions flickered through their eyes, before settling on a carefully blank expression. “I am a born male and go by he/him if that’s what you’re asking.” He said deadpan but then sighed, continuing in an exasperated tone. “And it’s fine, I get this question a lot. I maybe should start wearing a tag with my gender on it so people stop asking me.”

“Oh, well, that’s good.” Feeling awkward, Clementine tried to think of something to say. “Oh right, I realised that we never introduced ourselves. I’m Clem-” The other glared at him. “Mmm…” Clementine’s eyes were transfixed on the other’s. For some reason, he could not bring himself to look away. “MmmMM-,” The dark expression deepened and Clementine’s face started to burn again, but this time for a different reason. Suddenly, he blurted out: “MMH, DID ANYONE EVER TELL YOU HOW CUTE YOU ARE!?!”

“...”

“...oh my god…”

They stared at each other speechless. Clementine felt like he was dying from embarrassment. Why did I say that?! Why did that come out of my mouth!?

The other looked at him with a flabbergasted expression and his mouth slacked into an ‘o’ shape, staring at Clementine as if he was not sure if what just happened was real.

“I don’t know why I said that, I’m so sorry!” Clementine apologised. And he meant that. He usually had a ‘milder’ temperament- if you want to call it that- and while he does coo at cute things, he never had such a strong reaction. He honestly did not know where this even came from.

“It’s…” The other searched for what to say. “No one ever-”, he stopped himself and took a deep breath to clear his head. “It’s… whatever, it happened. Sorry, for, y’know… glaring and being rude and stuff. I’m having a bad day and you running me over didn’t help that.”

The way he spoke and held himself was different from before. More… genuine.

“...do you really think that?” He mumbled.

“Oh uh- yeah, I do.”

Clementine’s answer still seemed to startled him. He coughed into his fist, probably to collect himself.

“I guess I should…” He cleared his throat, smiled and held out his hand. “You can call me Liam, Clem.”

Clementine took the hand but then noticed what Liam called him. “My name isn’t Clem though?”

Liam winked at him and shook their hand. “Let’s make it a little game.”

“A game?”

“Yes. Let’s see how long we can go before we learn each other’s name.”

“Uhm… sure. Why not.”

“Well then, I’ll see you around Clem!” Said Liam.

“Yeah, I guess I’ll cya later, Liam!” Answered Clem.

They both smiled as they parted ways.