Meeting your roommate

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.

"Just get in?" you ask?

"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," you answer, thinking that he must have missed the Mathewson sisters vandalism by sheer good fortune. "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 he follows you back to the kitchen, leaning against the counter as you find a second cup and pour hot water into both before handing himone.

"Cheers," you say, clinking cups with him.

"I was looking around the campus for a while," he says after taking a sip. "They sure don't have any shortage of cash here."

"That they don't," you agree. "Wealthy alumni, wealthy parents, big donors. Makes for a lot of toys." You take a sip of tea before looking up at him 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."

You **** yourself not to react. "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, too bad you didn't get a chance to talk to her."

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

You chuckle and give him 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."

You nod, pretending to consider it as your mind gallops to the thought that this may give you an opportunity to enjoy Grace again. "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 as her rinses the cup, then heads upstairs. You give a silent sigh of relief and drain your tea, thinking about the permutations and possibilities of the evening.