Page 17 of And They Were Roommates

I fold my hands on the counter to stop them from shaking. Maybe Principal Grimes doesn’t need to kick me out. Maybe she’ll convince me to leave on my own. She’ll explain how hard everyday life will be, that I should’ve never expected my residential retainer to get back to me about my single, and that I’m a total failure. She’ll tell me that Mom did just fine as an Excellence Scholar and I’m the family disappointment.

A white woman in a rolling chair finally slides into view. The heart-patterned bow holding together her curly ponytail looks bigger than her head and makes her seem as young as a first year, even though she must be in her twenties. “What can I help with?”

A loaded question.

I straighten my shoulders. “I’m here to see the principal. But I also want to inquire about switching to a single room?”

“I’ll warn you now, they hardly indulge these requests unless it’s serious, love.”

“It is serious.”

She rolls toward the counter, better revealing her sweatshirt withVALENTINE NAM AMOR TRADITIONALIS EDUCATIONISon the chest, and boots up the ancient desktop computer. Her manicured nails—also heart-decorated—clack along the keyboard, punctuating the air out of sync with the piano music. As I wait, I read more gnome name tags. Colton, Leandro, Becca, William…

“You watchGnome in Love?” The woman’s pupils practically sparkle.

“Huh?”

“You seem interested in my collection.”

“They’re yours?”

“They’re from a reality dating show I adore. The contestants fall in love dressed as gnomes. I collect their stuffed toy line.” She sighs sadly enough for her hair bow to droop. “I assumed you knew. For an academy of love, the students don’t care much about romance.”

Unspoken Guideline 4: Valentine attracts people obsessed with love. Because of the heart branding? The cupid statues in the fountain?

Or in the middle of these woods, maybe she feels as alone as I do.

“I’m in the system, love,” she says. “What’s the serious roommate sitch?”

“I paid extra for a single on the housing application,” I say. “But my residential retainer said there was a mix-up.”

“We’ve never had that kind of mix-up. You’re sure?” More scrolling and clicking. “I don’t see any fees paid in your file. The academy must’ve randomly assigned you to a place.”

“I gave my mom the check,” I blurt, my brow spiking. “She sent it in the mail.” Although I never technically checked if the money left my account. Too many other venturing-off-to-boarding-academy purchases were happening at the same time.

“I apologize, love,” the woman says. “Apply once you’re a third year? All singles are occupied until the end of the academic year.”

End of the yearrattles me to my core.

If I manage to stay here, no way can I be trapped with Jasper that long. I promised Mom that I would keep my head low no matter what, but these last two days have been fighting to break that.

“Is Charlie here, Ms. Lyney?” a voice calls from farther down a hallway. It belongs to a woman with the same wispy blond hair and delicate features as Jasper. Her pantsuit is white on white, since someone like her can afford the torturous upkeep, and the badge of her heart-themed lanyard readsPRINCIPAL NATHALIE GRIMES.

“Yes,” Ms. Lyney says, eyeing me expectantly.

Trying to stay calm feels impossible, but I force myself to walk steadily through the hall lined with portraits of old, esteemed members of Valentine society, and follow Principal Grimes into an office marked with aPRINCIPALplaque. As she claims a seat at her glossy executive desk, I take one of the two leather love seats facing her. The towers of manila folders on her desk block her head from view completely.

Muttering under her breath, Principal Grimes shoves thetowers to a corner of the desk, barely avoiding a Jenga-style collision on the floor. Then she smiles, folding her hands like she’s praying. Maybe a signal that I should be. “Welcome, Charlie.”

I stare at the paperwork. “Hello.”

“On behalf of the board of trustees, we’re overjoyed to welcome you to Valentine Academy for Boys as our new second-year Excellence Scholar. And, selfishly, I’m thrilled to meet my nephew’s roommate!”

The sole mention of him reels dread through me. But if she’s thrilled, does this mean Jasper didn’t spill my secret?

“I’m so glad he’s decided to stay in the residential hall with you like a normal student this year,” Principal Grimes goes on. She doesn’t have the same dimples as Jasper, but she does have too much light in her eyes, even with that workload on her desk making stress seep out of her. “That boy needs down-to-earth time.”

“Actually—” I stop. Principal Grimes, the one person I need on my side,wantsJasper and me to be roommates?

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