"I was hoping to explore a little."

"Well, I wanted to look around and get to know the place a bit." Noticing a small frown on Vivian's face, he quickly added, "I'll just wander around a bit and then come right to your office."

That seemed to satisfy her, the frown vanishing. "Oh, of course. Please, feel free, I want you to feel right at home. My office is on the first floor, by the front door. You can't miss it. And try not get too lost. It can be a bit of a maze."

Cody wanted to protest that he could handle walking around a building without getting lost, but Ms. Mitchell was already walking away, high heels clicking distinctively.

Fifteen minutes and many flights of stairs and beautiful hallways later, Cody had to admit to himself that Ms. Mitchell might have been right. He was thoroughly lost. He was just about to turn around and try to retrace his steps, when he heard the sharp voice behind him.

"And just what do you think you're doing up here?"

He spun around to find himself facing a tall woman in a crisp security uniform, her dark hair pulled back in a severe bun. The name badge on her chest read "Ms. Hayes" and her expression suggested she'd caught him committing a serious crime rather than just wandering the halls.

"I-I was just exploring," Cody stammered, suddenly very aware of how small he felt next to her commanding presence. "I just moved in today and-"

"The third floor is strictly off limits to new residents until they've completed their orientation," she cut him off, taking a step closer. Her boots clicked ominously on the hardwood floor. "Which you would know if you'd bothered to read the house rules."

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize-"

"Ignorance isn't an excuse," she said, reaching for the radio at her hip. "I'll have to report this to Ms. Mitchell. She takes rule violations very seriously, especially from new residents. I wouldn't be surprised if she terminates your lease immediately."

Cody felt his stomach drop. He couldn't get kicked out on his first day! His parents would never let him hear the end of it.

"Please," he said quickly, hating how **** his voice sounded. "Isn't there something else we can do? I really can't afford to lose this place."

Ms. Hayes paused, her hand still on her radio. A slow smile spread across her face that made Cody's skin prickle.

"Well..." she drawled, looking him up and down in a way that made him feel completely exposed. "I suppose we could handle this... unofficially. Follow me to my office and we can discuss alternative arrangements."