He does, and he has a guest

You put the kettle on to boil and look in the pantry for tea. You find it easily, but are disappointed to see that there isn't much in the way of other food there. You're aware that you can eat in the school dining room, but it would be nice to have a few things on hand here.

You're putting a tea bag in the cup you find in a cupboard, when a voice calls a hello from the front of the cottage.

"Be right there!" you call back, thanking your foresight in getting Grace out of the cottage. You **** a smile onto your face and walk down the hallway towards a handsome, athletic young man.

"Mason Carter," you say, shaking his hand. "It looks like we're roommates."

"Brian Watts. I teach physical education and coach," he answers. "This is Alice Wilder, the cheerleader coach. She's been showing me around." You shake her hand, trying to remember where you've seen her before

"We've met before, haven't we Ms. Wilder?" you say.

"In the Library," she replies. "That's my other job here, when I'm not trying to raise the school spirit."

"Interesting. I hardly recognised you," you say truthfully. This vivacious, bubbly looking young woman is completely different from the dowdy, almost frumpy librarian you met earlier.

You smile at the two of them. "I was going to make some tea. There's not much in the way of supplies here, but they do have that. Do you want some? Ms. Wilder? Excellent, come on back to the kitchen."

They follow you back, leaning against the counter as you pour hot water into three cups, and hand them around.

"Cheers," you say. "Just get in?"

"No I got here a few hours ago. Both bedrooms looked the same so I just grabbed one. Hope you don't mind."

"No, no, of course not," you say, thinking that he must have missed the Mathewson sisters vandalism by sheer good fortune. "So how was the tour?"

"Very interesting, the school has a lot more than I expected. Have you had a chance to look around?"

"Not really, I've been settling in. I thought I'd save that for tomorrow.

"I thought I saw one of my cheerleaders outside just now," Alice says. You take a sip of tea before you answers.

Oh...that must have been Grace. Grace Mathews or Mathewson or something. She dropped by to welcome us to the school," you say, realising you're speaking too quickly and nervously. "Nice girl, very gracious."

"Mathewson," Alice says. "She's a great kid, full of pep and enthusiasm. Her younger sister enrolled here this year too and I'm hoping she comes out for cheer. Look at the time. I should be running. So nice to meet you Mr. Carter." She gives you a quick hug before letting Brian escort her to the front door, where she gives him a quick farewell hug.

"She seems very pleasant," you say as he closes the door behind Alice. "Very different than when I met her in the library earlier. Much less reserved."

"She really made me feel welcome," he says easily. "I've got to shower and change. Christina Thorpe, the music teacher is is picking me up at seven. Thanks for the tea."

You give him a knowing smile, raising your eyebrows. "You do move fast. A date so soon? After spending the afternoon with Alice? I'm impressed."

"Not quite a date. She plays in a band and invited me to see them play. If you're interested I'm sure you'd be welcome."

"I'll have to take raincheck. It's been a long day and I think I just want to relax. But thanks for the offer. Have fun."

He nods thanks then heads upstairs. You give a silent sigh of relief and drain your tea, thinking about the events of the day.