Meeting your roommate

"Be right there!" a male voice calls from further back in the cottage, followed quickly by the man himself, smiling as he walks towards you extending a hand of greeting.

"Mason Carter," he says, shaking your hand. "It looks like we're roommates."

"Brian Watts. I teach physical education and coach," you answer. He's well into his forties, perhaps even older, although he looks to be in decent physical shape. There's a certain nervousness in his greeting which puzzles you, but you put it down to him being uncomfortable with strangers.

"Just get in?" he asks.

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

"No, no, of course not," he says looking flustered for a moment. "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? Come on back to the kitchen."

Nodding you follow him back to the kitchen, leaning against the counter as he pours hot water into two cups and hands you one.

"Cheers," he says, clinking cups with you.

"I was looking around the campus for a while," you say as you take a sip. "They sure don't have any shortage of cash here."

"That they don't," Mason agrees. "Wealthy alumni, wealthy parents, big donors. Makes for a lot of toys." He takes a sip of tea before looking up at you again. "So did you meet anyone when you were exploring?"

"Christina Thorpe, the music teacher. And a scholarship girl called Dontai Williams who plays on the softball team. And Luisa...something. She's the cook. And I saw a red headed girl that looked like a student just before I got here, but we didn't really talk."

Oh...that must have been Grace. Grace Mathews or Mathewson or something. She dropped by to welcome us to the school," he says, perhaps just a shade too quickly. "Nice girl, too bad you didn't get a chance to talk to her."

"I'm sure there'll be other chances," you say easily. "I've got to shower and change. Ms. Thorpe is picking me up at seven. Thanks for the tea."

He gives you a knowing smile. "That was fast. A date so soon? 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."

He nods, considering it. "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."

You nod thanks as you put the cup in the sink and rinse it, then head upstairs. Part of your mind toys with curiosity about his nervousness, and wondering why it seemed to increase at the mention of the redhead, but you dismiss the idea as you start to look forward to the evening ahead.