Unity

Three: Arrival

"Mallory, what is this for?" I shivered. "Did I do something...?"

"Yes." Mallory threw the bucket at my head and made for the door. "Your room's lock is broken now, by the way. Have a great day."

I shivered and grabbed some clothes from the dresser, flicking the water from my hair. My covers were soaked so I hung them off the bed frame. I grabbed my key and quickly got dressed in a tight gray shirt and ironed black pants. I left my room and entered the living room. Chance was already sitting there, reading a book.

"Did Mallory come through here?" I asked him.

"Actually she went back into the girls' showers after going into your room." Chance raised an eyebrow. "What's going on with you two? She brought a bucket out."

"She hates me for some reason. I don't understand what I did wrong." I ran my hand through my hair.

Chance turned his head down, his face hidden behind a curtain of blond hair. "I'm sure it's nothing. She's probably just pranking you... or she's stressed."

"I guess." I sighed, falling into the spot next to him on the couch. "So what're you reading? I didn't have any books in my room."

Chance turned the cover of the book towards me. It read "The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare."

"William Shakespeare? Never heard of him. Any good?"

Chance's face lit up. "Oh yes! He's a playwright, his work... isn't that popular anymore but it's really amazing! This is my personal copy, I've read it fifty-seven times. I keep it with me."

"Wow." I leaned back into the couch.

"Is that weird?" Chance closed the book.

"No, no, I think it's cool you like it so much. I don't have anything like that."

"Take my copy." He shoved it into my hands. "Some of the words are a little challenging but I swear you'll love it. It's about these two families who are feuding, but kids from both fall in love with each other!"

"Forbidden love..." I grabbed the book. It was warm and the pages were frayed and dog eared. "I can't take this, it's too important."

"Please, I insist. I would love to have someone to talk literature with." Chance blew the hair from his eyes.

"What is UP, boys?" Lynette bellowed as her door flew open. "I am awake. Not happy about it though."

I set the book down on the coffee table next to me. Lynette still had on her beaten green jacket but the other clothes were gray and dull like ours. She wormed her way onto the couch, in between me and Chance.

"You seem happy, Lyn." I smirked. Chance folded his arms.

"Well... I may be a little pleased that we totally destroyed yesterday." She bumped me on the arm. "Look at us! We're Agents! Everyone's dream and we made it on the first try!"

"Actually," Chance interrupted. "I tried last year too, I'm sixteen."

We looked at him. Chance is sixteen? He's older than me? What else is this guy going to best me in?

"Well that explains how you knew exactly what to do." Lynette shrugged. "Good thing we had a secret weapon."

I heard a slight creak. I turned and saw Rex slowly creeping out of Room Five. He shoots us a look and slinks into the showers.

"That guy scares me." Lynette whispered. "What he did... to his own brother, ya'know?"

"And those teeth..." Chance mumbled.