It was getting dark by the time the door opened again, and in came Leo and the others. Leo looked annoyed as he swatted at Beckett.

Beckett ducked under his hand and slipped into our room. "Too slow."

"I'm being nice. Maybe I'll take you seriously when you hit puberty," Leo said.

"You guys are so annoying." Mikayla glanced over her shoulder. "Kaz? Where are you going?"

"To educate myself since the morons here can't be counted on to do it." Kaz's voice drifted from down the hallway.

"Fair enough," Mikayla said.

"Finish it before I go to bed. I hate when you leave your light on!" Pete called.

"Take an extra pill and you'll never even notice." A door shut, and the others entered our room, their conversation with Kaz over.

"You room with Kaz?" I asked Pete.

Pete glanced over as if he'd forgotten that I lived here too. He nodded at me as he glanced around at my side of the room.

"Yes I do. The perks are that he doesn't snore," Pete said.

"The downside is everything else," Leo said, stepping onto the fridge so he could haul himself onto his bed. "Petey, grab me a root beer."

Mikayla settled herself in the chair at Leo's desk. Beckett sat cross legged on the carpet, leaning forward to let his arms rest over his knees. Pete watched them, trying to find himself a spot to sit before heading to the fridge and kneeling down.

He pulled open the fridge door and frowned. "What am I getting?"

"Root beer, you big oaf," Leo said, lightly kicking at his head. "You should get a memory pad tattooed on your arm."

Pete snapped and nodded. "Right, right, root beer," he said, ignoring Leo's other comment. He grabbed a root beer and passed it up to Leo before grabbing one for himself and settling with his back against the fridge.

"Still not going to tell us what got you here?" Leo asked me with little interest.

I shook my head. "No. It's not like you shared either."

Leo shrugged. "I've got nothing to hide. A few cases of breaking and entering, some trouble in school with an abundance of detentions and suspensions, a couple fights, some minor alcohol related incidences...I don't have a big incident that landed me here. Just little things that piled up until my folks couldn't take it anymore."

Beckett dug in his pocket and pulled out a yo-yo. I watched as he lazily did tricks with it, barely even paying attention as he took in the sight of the now fully occupied dorm room.

"The ones who don't like to tell why they're here are usually the ones with the dumbest reasons to be here," he said, letting the yo-yo twirl against the ground before snapping it up into his palm.

"And you?" I asked.

He glanced up at me lazily. "Figure it out yourself. Make friends, learn to gossip."

Pete laughed. "You're such an ass, Beck."

"I don't like stupid people," Beckett said, shrugging.

"I don't know how you expect the newbie to make any friends with the way he acts in class. Who the hell wants to hang out with a kid who kisses the asses of those bastards?" Mikayla said. "He'll end up like Ryan."

"Who?" Pete asked in confusion.

"Ryan, Peter. That kid who was too shy and wouldn't toughen up. You sat next to him in math last year. They broke him in no time and he isn't back this year," Mikayla said. "No one wanted to talk to him. The teachers pounced all over that spineless loser."

"Did he have blond hair?" Pete asked.

"Nah, it was dark hair," Leo said. "Honestly Pete, I'll pay for that memory pad tattoo."

"I don't think it's right to judge someone just because they're not an asshole and know how to respect adults," I said.

"How cute, he thinks we're assholes," Mikayla said.

"How cute, he thinks these teachers deserve respect," Beckett said.

I glared at them. Beckett met my gaze with a bored look and Mikayla was too busy playing with one of Leo's pens to bother.

Leo rolled his eyes at them. "Look Killian, I'll tell you this because you live with me and I don't need you dragging me down. It's us versus them. They'll never respect you. That maroon vest you're going to put on for class? That's a target to them and they'll aim at it with no mercy. The more you bow to them the more they'll pick on you. You can't win. They're emotionally and mentally brutal to the nice guys. You have to show them that they're not worth your time. If they're violent towards you, it's because they're frustrated. But it'll make you a lot harder to break and you might just win Kaz's acceptance. Trust me, it's hard to get through this school without Kaz's acceptance."

"Why is Kaz so damn special?" I demanded.

"He's a leader," Beckett said, surprising me with how fierce his voice was.

"He took a bunch of tossed aside, troubled kids, and gave them something to focus their attention on. The things we got sent away for are the things Kaz values about us, because they help fight against the bastards who work here," Leo said. "Do you know how many people at my old school were like 'Gee Leo I'm so glad you have a knack for breaking and entering'?"

"The teachers told us we were useless. Kaz showed us we weren't," Pete said.

Beckett was letting his yo-yo spin against the ground and snapping it back into his hand repeatedly. "You probably are useless. Don't drag us down with your yes sirs."

I couldn't stop myself from blurting it out anymore. "When you're out of elementary school, I might take offense to what you're saying."

"That's the sass I want you using on the teachers!" Leo said, grinning.

Beckett glared at me again. "You'd be surprised how much it can hurt to get hit in the face with a yo-yo. Don't make me show you."

"Don't break his nose just yet, Beck. Give him a few days to let him choose how this year is going to go," Mikayla said. "Maybe he'll drop the nice guy act and grow a spine."

"I have a spine," I said. "I also have manners. You should try them sometime."

"I save my manners for people who don't beat the shit out of kids with rulers," Mikayla said.

There was a knock on the door and I watched as the others tensed up, shooting each other quick looks. Beckett didn't join in, though; he kicked himself under Leo's bed and out of sight behind the dresser there.

Mikayla got up and pulled the door open slowly, blocking the entrance with her body. She relaxed and quickly stepped aside, letting in a boy in a blue vest.

The boy shut the door and locked it, walking across the room and throwing himself into a chair near Leo's bed. "Where the hell is Kaz? Isn't he always with you guys?"

Beckett reappeared, crawling out from under the bed. "We need a code word or something."

The boy glanced at him lazily. "What we need is a tracking device in Kaz's arm. Don't waste my time."

Pete opened the fridge and tossed the boy a soda. "Kaz is doing his homework."

The boy noticed me and let out an annoyed sigh. "Leo, story."

"Newbie," Leo said. "He won't talk. If he does, Kaz will handle it."

The boy pointed a finger at me. "You," he said, meeting my eyes, "saw absolutely nothing. I came here to tell you all to shut up and did a room inspection." He let his finger shift to point at Pete. "Go get your useless roommate. I've got things to do and if anyone saw me come in here, they'll get suspicious of me leaving so soon to go to Kaz's room."

Pete pushed himself to his feet and left the room. The boy leaned back and opened his soda. He set it on the windowsill and reached up, pulling his mess of blond hair into an embarrassingly small ponytail on the back of his head.

"Are there always so many people in here?" I asked Leo.

"Either here or in Kaz's room," he said. "Kaz kicks us out when he does his homework."

"He doesn't strike me as the homework type," I said.

"Hey newbie, plot twist: You can do shitty things and still be a smart person," Mikayla said. "Try to find a person in this room with a grade below a 90."

"Even Pete passes his classes. Miracle, really. I'm surprised he still has the capacity to remember his own name," Leo said.

The bedroom door opened and Kaz came in, followed by Pete. They locked the door again and Kaz leaned against it, arms crossed.

"This better be worth my time, Siggy," he said.

The boy, Siggy apparently, gestured at me. "First order of business."

"He won't be a problem," Kaz said dismissively. "Did you bring me in here just to doubt me?" He grinned, a dangerous slit flashing teeth at Siggy. "Doubt me and I have no reason to keep this up with you."

"I'm not doubting you, Kaz. I'm making sure we don't need to send the newbie out before I talk," Siggy said impatiently.

"Let him stay," Kaz said. "Better to keep him in our sights while you're here."

"I have a name," I interrupted. "Killian. Try using it sometime."

"He preaches manners and then interrupts conversations," Leo said with a sigh.

"All of you shut up, I have places to be," Siggy said. "Surprise room inspections are tomorrow during class. They'll be thorough. Don't hide anything in your room, not even the trash."

He stood up and abandoned his soda to Beckett's hands. He moved towards the door, brushing past Kaz and mumbling something in Kaz's ear. Kaz gave a slight nod and Siggy left the room.

"Don't hide anything in your bags either," Kaz said after a moment of thoughtful silence. "Pete, with me. Leo, you're in charge of getting everything to the spot after hours."

Leo heaved a sigh. "Aren't I always."

Kaz glanced at me. "O'Malley, you're on your own."

"What the hell is happening," I said.

"Make friends and you'll know," Kaz said, that sharp grin back on his face. He left the room, Pete obediently following after him.

Mikayla got up, looking annoyed. "I'm going to go clean out my room and let Cara know. Beck, you good?"

"I never keep anything in my room. Kaz has it all," Beckett said.

Mikayla nodded and left the room. Beckett drank Siggy's soda, pulling his yo-yo back out to play with it.

"Who was that guy? Why was he wearing a blue vest?" I asked.

"You so stupid I think it might actually be contagious," Beckett said.

"Ease up. Insult him tomorrow. Today is his first day," Leo said, but he was disguising a laugh as he spoke. "Blue vests mean you're here because you're smart and you have promise. They're the good kids. Maroon vests mean you're here because you're a threat to society and you need to be fixed. We're the bad kids."

"So you're...friends with that kid?" I asked in confusion. "You all talk like you hate anyone who's not in a maroon vest."

"Siggy hates the Blues just as much as we do," Beckett said.

"Siggy's brother is a Maroon," Leo explained. "His brother got sent here after some fighting and stealing. Sig came here pretending that it wasn't fair his brother got to go to an elite private school and he didn't. But he's under very strict order not to have any contact with his brother."

"Leo," Beckett said sharply.

"Oh, calm down, Beck. I'm not telling him everything. Just the basics. Everyone knows the tragic story of the parted Siggeir brothers," Leo said, snickering.

"Please tell me that Siggy is his nickname and that his parents were not cruel enough to name their son Siggy Siggeir," I said. "That's like naming your child Samuel Samuels or something."

"Yes, it's a nickname," Beckett said impatiently. "Joseph Siggeir. Everyone calls him Siggy."

"You're so angry. Did you skip your nap today?" Oh, god, why didn't my mouth come instructions? I had no idea how to fucking close it.

Beckett shot me a glare that was surprisingly terrifying coming from someone so young. He snapped the yo-yo up into his hand, an audible slap of the material slapping into his palm.

He pushed himself to his feet. "I'm going to Kaz's room. Pete will forget something and then we'll all get shit for it."

"Hey, that is not the language they use on Barney. Where did you learn that word?" You know, sometimes words left my mouth before they asked permission.

Beckett made sure to slam the door on his way out.

Leo rolled his eyes. "He's really not someone you want as enemy, Killian. Although I'm begging you to use that mouth against the teachers. Kaz will adopt you on the spot."

"I'm really not interested in him adopting me. I'm not interested in having anything to do with him, actually. I'm just trying to get through this long enough for my parents to think I've seen the light and can come back home to my normal school. If I get in trouble, I'll be here longer," I said.

"You won't emotionally survive this without Kaz. Trust me," Leo said. "He's rude, he has no sympathy, he's awful at sensitivity, and he has a nasty habit of stealing, but he is a goddamn leader and he knows how to make uses out of the things people will tell you you're useless for." He paused and sighed. "By the way, I'd check to make sure you're not missing anything. I'm not joking. Kaz will rob you blind while you're looking right at him."

I looked around and frowned. I jumped off the bed and dug through my desk. Not seeing my calculator, I yanked open my draws and searched through them. I was positive my calculator was on my desk earlier.

Leo laughed. "Yep, he got you."

"But...but I never even saw him get close enough to my desk to take it!" I said in disbelief.

"Trust me, you so much as blink and Kaz could steal the clothes off your back without you noticing." Leo took a sip of his soda. "What'd he take this time?"

"My calculator!"

"One of the expensive ones with all those fancy features?"

"It was nearly $100."

Leo shrugged. "Better go get it. Kaz is at the end of the hall, last room on the right."

"Why did he take it? Doesn't he have one?" I asked in despair.

"Of course he does. He doesn't steal things because he needs them. He just likes stealing," Leo said, as if it was obvious.

I sulked out of the room and down to the end of the hallway. I opened the door there and let myself into the room.

Pete was digging around under his bed, Beckett was lounging on top of a bed, and Kaz was working on homework at his desk. He didn't even bother looking up as I entered.

"Where's my calculator?" I demanded.

"I'm not your mother, how should I know?" Kaz said.

"If it'll make him go away, give it to him. This kid is annoying, Kaz," Beckett said.

Pete poked his head out from under the bed. "Oh, hi...uh..."

"Killian," I said. "Kaz, where is it? And why can't you people ever remember my name?"

"Pete never remembers anything, and I'll never use your first name, O'Malley," Kaz said. He finally looked up at me and tossed me my calculator, though I hadn't seen him take it out.

I caught it clumsily. "Why did you take it?"

Kaz leaned back in his chair. "Why did you catch it even though you weren't expecting me to throw it? Habit, reflex, whatever you'd like to call it. Get out. I'm doing my homework."

I glared at him and left the room. I went back into my own room, putting my calculator in my desk and struggling back up onto my bed.

This whole experience was going to be a damn nightmare. Kaz was a damn nightmare. Goddamn the intense make out session that landed me in this hell.