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“BECAUSE IF A WOMAN's heart was free a man might have hope.”
Bram Stoker, Dracula
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“NEW BOY! NEW BOY. GORGEOUS new boy,” Sophie Jones cried, bouncing into the West Tower Common Room before completely running out of breath and panting with her hands on her knees.
Her friends looked at her in surprise. Sophie never usually had a hair out of place, let alone look all pink-faced and puffing. Clearly her news was exciting.
“Gorgeous Newboy?” Rose frowned thoughtfully. “Wasn’t that the horse that won the Derby last year?”
Alex shook his head “You’re thinking of Gorgeous George. Perhaps she means Neptune? He won the Grand National.”
Sophie waved her hands at them in disgust, still trying to catch her breath. “Not a horse, you geeks! A new boy. Here at Compass Court.”
“Oh, cool.” Grace joined in with a smile. “Bit of alright is he? Details please.”
Sophie regained her composure. “Yup,” she nodded, “and I call dibs. He’s Scottish.” She looked at the three of them with delighted satisfaction.
Alex raised one eyebrow rakishly, and did a bad Sean Connery impression, “Well, if you like Shcottish Mish Moneypenny. I can show you a bit of Queen and Country.”
Rose laughed. “He might not be from Edinburgh. He could be from Glasgow like Billy Connelly and be all fecking ijit, and get arrsed.”
“He’s not! He’s a Highlander. Like Mel Gibson in Braveheart. How romantic is that?” Sophie grinned.
“But didn’t Mel Gibson have a really dodgy accent in that film? He sounded like an Irish Aussie.” Alex looked confused.
Sophie rolled her eyes at him. “That’s not the point, Alex! He doesn’t have a dodgy accent. It’s adorable, Och aye, and all that sort of thing.”
“So you’ve spoken to him?” Grace pumped.
“Uh huh, I’m his assigned guide for the next couple of days.” Sophie hugged herself. “And he is fit fit fit.”
“Good.” Grace was pleased Sophie finally seemed to be getting out of her depression over Jack.
Sophie had been crazy about Jack, Alex’s older brother, for years, and last year had finally kissed him; but then he’d left their school for University and not called her again for months. Recently he had seemed to be trying to rekindle things between them, even sending Sophie flowers on Valentine’s Day, but it had been way too little too late as far as Grace was concerned, and she had encouraged Sophie not to return any of his texts or calls. But after getting the flowers last week Sophie confessed that she had texted him – but only to tell him she wasn’t interested, so hopefully that was the end of that. Sophie had been moping around like a wet Sunday ever since, so Grace was delighted that she was finally showing an interest in someone else.
“His name is Torrin Frazer,” Sophie continued, “isn’t that sexy? Anyway, shut up because he’s on his way here now, can you believe he’s in our Schoolhouse? So I ran ahead to warn you all to keep your hands off.” She rummaged in her school bag and, grabbing a hairbrush, quickly pulled it through her blond hair, returning it to its usual sleek bob. She was just reaching for some lipstick, but quickly dropped it unused back into her bag when Torrin Frazer came into the room. He was clutching a map of the school and looked very relieved to have found her.
“Torrin, I’m so sorry I had to dash off, I needed to tell my friends, uh, something.” She gave him a wide smile. “Come and meet them. This is Rose, Grace and Alex. Alex will have to show you to your room because we’re not allowed into the boys’ dormitories. He’s in 14B.” She finished by turning to Alex.
After the two boys had headed off up the stairs to the dormitories, Sophie turned to the girls. “Isn’t he gorgeous? Don’t you think he looks kind of like R-Patz?”
Grace sighed and shook her head. “No, Soph, I think he looks like Jack.”
Rose agreed. “Very like Jack, only shorter.”
Sophie’s shoulders slumped. “Oh. Well, at least I’m consistent in my type. That’s not why I like him.” Her lips thinned defiantly.
***
TORRIN COULDN’T BELIEVE his luck. He’d hated his old school. It was only tiny and half the pupils had been members of his extended family, yet he had always felt like an outsider. Everyone there had known him his whole life and he could never shake his loser status. Maybe because he had collected bugs as a kid. He wouldn’t make that mistake again. He had no close friends and he’d never had a girlfriend. Now he could make a fresh start, as far away as physically possible from everyone he knew. Except for his parents of course; they had scored a Conservation job on a nearby reserve. It was, unfortunately, out of reach of local schools; but he’d jumped at the chance to come to Compass Court instead. The school had a great reputation for sporting achievements and he loved sport. Best of all, though, had to be the girls.
Sophie was a cracker, he’d almost passed out when the Head Teacher had called her in to take charge of his induction.
Sophie was a bit taller than he would have liked; he was self-conscious about being slightly shorter than her, but she had curves like the lowlands, and she had actually flirted with him. At least he hoped that was what it was. He wasn’t one hundred percent sure. She’d kept touching his arm and had sat really close as she’d gone through his lesson plan with him.
He tried to return his attention to where Alex was going; the place was like a rabbit warren of corridors that all looked the same.
“It’s four boys to a room,” Alex was saying. “Each room has its own bathroom that the four of you share. You also get a desk and a wardrobe each, which you can lock if you like, and only you four and the house master have the key code to the room.”
“Sounds great.” Torrin smiled, but inwardly his stomach dropped; in his excitement he hadn’t thought much about sharing a room. What if none of the others liked him?
Alex stopped at a door. “This is you, I’m in the next room down if you ever need anything.” He pointed to his own door. Torrin exhaled with relief. Alex seemed friendly and he was just next-door.
Alex raised his fist and knocked on 14B. But there was no answer. “Damn, Larry and Clarke are probably trying out for the rowing team down at the river. That’s Dave Larimore and James Clarkson.” He gave Torrin a look of pity, “I’m afraid you’re in a room with two sports nuts. Stinking socks drying on the radiator, that kind of thing. Leo moans about it all the time. He’s the third guy in your room, he’s probably in the art studio.
“You don’t like sport?” Torrin was amazed that anyone at a school like this wouldn’t.
Alex smiled “No. Science is my lady. Come and wait in my room if you like?”
Torrin nodded and Alex unlocked his door and ushered him in.
“Here, take my desk chair. I’ll use Clem’s. Sorry, that’s Jasper Clements. I don’t know why, but all the guys who play rugby seem to go only by their surnames. Of course that’s half the boys in our year, it’s the main sport here during the winter.”
“If they’d called me just Frazer back at home, then most of the pupils in ma school would have turned round. It’s a popular local name.” Torrin explained. “Do you think there’s any chance of me getting on the team? I realise the season is already nearly over.”
Alex looked at him critically. “There’s always a chance, the coach is very fair, but what position do you play?”
“Ah know I seem a bit wee for rugby, but I’m verra fast. I’d like to play on the wing.”
“Well, the team could certainly do with someone fast. Owen Lang has been on the wing most of this year and he’s got all the acceleration of a constipated caterpillar. I tell you what, why don’t I take you down to the gym now, instead of waiting here? We might find the coach.”
Torrin nodded enthusiastically and jumped up. “Aye. If you would’nay mind?” Was it really going to be that easy to fit in here? And what about the girls? He wondered if Alex was dating any of them and whether it was too soon to ask him.
He cleared his throat uncomfortably “So, ah, do you have a girlfriend?”
Alex blushed, “No. Not at the moment. Do you?”
“No. But I would like to. Sophie seems nice, and her friends – Rose and Grace was it?” Torrin asked, hoping Alex wouldn’t laugh at him.
“Sophie had a bit of a bad experience recently, but she’s definitely single. So is Grace, but Rose is going out with Leo, who you’ll be sharing a room with, so I wouldn’t consider her – if you were. I think Sophie might have the hots for you actually.” Alex grinned, giving Torrin a sideways glance. “But hey, don’t fall for the first girl you see, there are quite a few of them here, you know.” They both laughed and then dropped the subject as they re-entered the Common Room.
Torrin’s meeting with Coach Webley went well. The coach gave him a few practice kicks, catches and throws, then made him do a timed lap of the field. Despite the fact that Torrin was in “weekend clothes” and not gym kit, he clearly did fairly well, as the Coach promised him a place on the bench next Saturday as a substitute.
Coming out of the gym a short while later, he discovered Alex had been joined by Sophie and two dripping-wet boys who turned out to be his new roommates just returned from rowing on the river. They clapped him on the back at the news that he would be joining the team and Torrin felt an air of camaraderie that he never had before. He was going to fit in here, it was all going to be good. Feeling incredibly brave he put an arm around Sophie, and when she didn’t pull away, he kissed her.