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When Sam gets back to his room, he’s shocked to find someone else inside it.

A young guy, probably Sam’s age, but considerably smaller. He’s got a lithe body, neatly combed red hair, freckles across his face, and... his shirt off? Why do all these guys have their shirts off?

“Another new guy!” the stranger says. He leans against a desk and smiles. “Jesus Christ, you’re hot.”

Sam awkwardly chuckles. Is this guy also a new arrival? He seems very comfortable complimenting another man.

“Hey, man,” Sam says, walking over. He holds out his hand for a shake. “I’m Sam.”

Unlike Gabriel next door, this guy is enthusiastic. He happily accepts Sam’s hand and shakes it.

“Aiden,” he says. The way he smiles, with his face glowing pink, Sam feels the sudden urge to protect Aiden. Sam might not have any siblings himself, but this must be what older brothers feel like.

“I guess you met Gabriel?” Aiden asks. “He’s kind of a grump, right?”

Sam shrugs and smiles. He doesn’t like to gossip.

“He’s still hot as fuck, though,” Aiden says, pinching his mouth in consideration. “Clearly not as hot as you. You’re, like, romance movie material. Look at you, man! I bet you get so much play.”

Sam is too humble to accept compliments gracefully. Instead, he tries to change the subject.

“Am I supposed to have my shirt off?” Sam asks, now that he’s seen both Gabriel and Aiden shirtless.

Aiden raises an eyebrow in confusion. But then he snaps two fingers in revelation.

“You didn’t take your orientation photo!” Aiden says. He wraps an arm around Sam’s shoulder and guides him out of the room. “Didn’t you read the last page of the orientation papers? Follow me.”