House of Delinquents (Short Story)

Chapter 1

With all due respect for those who actually like school, I hate it.

The Sanctuary was a big "school" converted from an old house. The East and West wings make up the dorms, and the many rooms inside serve as classrooms, mess hall, and offices.

I walked up the road from the gate up to the double doors at the end of the path leading into a gigantic house.

Peering out the windows were a few curious people. I walked right inside, ignoring them. The lobby looked like the entrance to the big fancy house as expected. 

I sighed. It was already four thirty and I was ready to go to sleep or do something actually fun. But I doubted that would happen here. In the sanctuary for troubled teens.

I walked up to the front desk. "Reyanna Camp." I told the lady.

She nodded, typing something into her computer.

Holding out a key, she said, "Your room is in the teacher's suite right now. And it will just be the two of you, but don't get any ideas. The headmaster will talk to you now. Go into the room behind me."

I glanced behind her to the open door.

Nodding, I took the key and walked around her desk.

Inside, I heard some raised voices talking about something, but I couldn't quite make it out. I was guessing that the office was soundproof. The bits that I did make out sounded like this:

"No way! I'm not gonna!" Someone whined.

"Too bad. You'll understand when she arrives."

I decided then that they weren't talking about me, so I knocked on the door. As I did, it opened, revealing a handsome face in the chair opposite an old man. I was guessing the old man was the headmaster.

I was about to begin saying sorry, but the headmaster cut me off saying, "I know your not sorry. Just come in and sit down."

The young man across from the headmaster smirked. He looked about in his early twenties, so I was guessing he was a teacher because the school was only until you turned nineteen. Then they kicked you out.

I couldn't see clearly, but it was obvious from his arm strength that he probably had a six pack. Or even an eight pack.

"Reyanna Camp." The headmaster said. "Yes?" I asked.

"It's rude to stare. And I told you to sit down and close the door."

I looked away from the younger teacher and nodded, closing the door behind me.

"Now then. To talk about your situation. This man is Jacob Lee Jones, the teacher that you will room with. Don't worry the beds are separated and it's not likely you'll be attacked. In fact, I'm a little more worried about the fact that you might attack him. So lets get this clear in your head. Attacking a teacher will get you a trip to the dungeon. No detention in between."

Jacob snorted. 

As a sort of rebellious act, I decided to call him by his first name.

"Nice to meet you, Jacob." I said.

As if he said it often enough, he said, "Call me Jake."

"Miss Camp!" The headmaster growled at me.

"Yes, headmaster?" I asked innocently.

"You call teachers here by their appropriate title and last name!" He scolded me.

"Oh, but, Mr. Headmaster, he told me that I could call him Jake." 

The headmaster rolled his eyes as if he got this kind of treatment every day. Which he probably did.

"You girls need to be taught how to act like ladies!" He said, starting to get angry.

"I would like you to know that sexual assault is also a ticket straight to the dungeon. Now then, if we are done here, Mister Jones will show you to your room." He said, putting emphasis on Jake's name.

"Yes. We are done. Mister Jacob, please be a good gentleman and carry my suitcase." I said in a lighter tone, as if I were royalty.

Jake let out a little snort of a chuckle and picked up my suitcase, holding the door open for me as I walked out like a "lady".

The headmaster stood up, enraged, but the door closed before he could yell anything. Thank goodness for the soundproof office, otherwise I would have attracted even more attention to myself.

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When we got to the room, my mouth dropped.

It was an elegant suite with two large beds on separate sides. In between was a small alcove with a door; the bathroom. There was also a kitchen, TV, and couch, as well as a walk in closet.

"What's wrong?" Jake asked.

"Well, it's so far apart." I said.

Besides the things I already mentioned, the huge suite was practically empty. There weren't any paintings or vases with flowers. Instead of simple, it looked empty. Considering it was a converted mansion.

"You mean the beds? Well, if we happen to want to get cuddly, they're big enough to share." His smirk filled my gaze.

"No, no. I mean, it's so empty." I said, scrambling for the right word.

"Well, yeah. I guess so. I mean it's okay, but after living in it alone for several weeks, it does get a bit boring and lonely." 

I started to feel sad for him. "But now you have company." I said, starting to skip around the room.

He was resting with his back in the doorway.

He was looked at me, smiling.

Weird, I thought. But I carried on skipping.

Getting dizzy, I started to fall forward. Within seconds, he was there, catching me.

"You should probably start unpacking now." He said, pointing to my suitcase.

I stayed in his arms for a few more seconds and then picked up my suitcase, walking towards the more empty side of the room, opposite of the place where a picture frame and notebook were laid out on the nightstand.

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