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Lloyd wrapped his cloak snugly around him, shielding against the chilly wind that whistled through the landscapes. The towering trees cast shadows across the acres of green that led up to the hilltop, where Darkley’s Boarding School stood sentinel.
He wasn’t worried about getting in trouble for sneaking out. Lloyd knew the professors at Darkley’s couldn’t care less if he missed an entire month of classes. He did know, however, that they would delight in punishing him for being caught outside his dorm after curfew.
He rubbed at the slowly fading bruises on his hand. They really did revel in discipline.
Lugging a filled pillowcase behind him, Lloyd darted between the trees and slipped through the iron gates that walled the school. Sneaking in was far too easy. There were no guards. No locked doors. The school really had no concern for the wellbeing of their students. But then again… neither did the students’ parents.
Lloyd felt his chest tighten and he gritted his teeth. Forget it.
He crept up the winding staircases, taking care to avoid the creaky floorboards.
Finally reaching his dorm, Lloyd slipped inside and shut the door with a quiet click that echoed softly in the hallway. The room welcomed him in its silence. Only the hushed rhythm of his breath disrupted the stillness of the air.
Leaning his forehead against the cool surface of the door with a soft thud, Lloyd exhaled and relished in his triumph. His relief was only momentary. A subtle rustling of bedsheets and sleepy voice cut through the silence, pulling him from his thoughts.
“Lloyd?”
The blonde whirled around to find his roommate slowly sitting up, rubbing the sleep away from his eyes. Brad yawned, blinking at him in confusion. “What are you doing?”
Heart still racing from the adrenaline of his excursion, Lloyd hesitated before nervously lifting his pillowcase and emptying its contents onto the carpet. He stepped aside, revealing a colourful heap of candies, and waited for his roommate’s reaction. Brad stared at the pile of sweets for a quiet moment, then shifted his confused gaze to Lloyd, who was timidly awaiting a sign of approval or – hopefully – praise.
“Did you steal those?”
Lloyd shifted and leaned against the wall, responding as casually as he could manage, “Obviously.”
Brad blinked at him in disbelief. The room hung in quiet contemplation as his roommate struggled for words.
Lloyd felt a gleam of satisfaction. He had done it. He had impressed his classmate. Bad boys or not, he was certain that none of the students in his grade had ever attempted to steal before. This would elevate his status among the young boys at Darkleys. They would like him, respect him, and maybe… just maybe his father would notice this too.
His thoughts were interrupted by a quiet snicker in the dark room. Lloyd’s attention snapped back to Brad who had doubled over, attempting to stifle his giggles with his bedsheets. Lloyd gaped at him as he continued to laugh.
Recovering from his fit of laughter, Brad finally lifted his head to reveal a brilliant smile, wiping tears from his eyes. “Jesus, Blondie,” He finally said with a grin. “I didn’t think you had it in you.”
Lloyd stared at him in disbelief before narrowing his eyes and retorting, “Of course I did. I’m Lord Garmadon’s son. I’m capable of more than you could ever imagine.”
Brad widened his eyes in mock surprise. “Of course, your excellency. Silly me.”
Lloyd bristled and turned away, hearing a soft laugh behind him. “Stop making fun of me.”
“I’m not.”
“I’m gonna rule the world one day, you know.”
“I’m certain.”
“You’d do well to get on my good side.”
“Of course.”
Ignoring the incessant chuckles from his roommate, Lloyd turned back to his pile of candy and sat down on the carpeted floor, sorting through his winnings and surveying them with satisfaction.
Grabbing a fistful of sweets, Lloyd looked up at Brad and tossed the candy towards him. “Here. For you.”
His roommate glanced down at the colourful assortment that had fallen onto his bed and back at Lloyd, raising his eyebrows. “What do you mean, for me?”
Lloyd hesitated momentarily before pressing on. “You helped me out on my first day here. This is just to return the favour.”
The dark haired boy gazed at him quietly for a brief moment before grinning and grabbing a brightly wrapped caramel. “I put fire ants in your bed.”
Lloyd shot him a glare. “And I’ll get you back for that one day.”
“I’m sure you will, Blondie.”
Lloyd stuck out his tongue at him and grabbed some candy for himself, tossing the crinkled wrappers onto the floor. He ate his fill, then stuffed the remaining sweets in his pillowcase and hid it in under a loose floorboard. He licked the remnants of sugar off his sticky fingers and wiped his hands on his cloak before tossing it into a hamper near the door.
“Gross,” Brad muttered from across the room.
“Shut up.”
Lloyd stumbled to his bed and pulled back the covers, reclining into the rough sheets and curling into himself for warmth. He buried his face into his pillow, the weight of sleep already draping over his limbs. The two boys settled into a comfortable silence, the pile of colourful wrappers casting a dim glow in the dark room.
“Alright, fine,” Brad murmured from his bed. “That was cool.”
The praise was enough to make his heart soar.
“That’s right,” Lloyd boasted sleepily, snuggling into the covers more comfortably. “You’ve never stolen anything before, have you?”
“Can’t say I have.”
Lloyd grinned in satisfaction.
He lifted his head slightly to glance at his roommate. Brad was laying on his back, arms folded behind his head. Lloyd gazed at him, the fatigue of his excursion weaving through his thoughts.
“Let’s go together next time.”
Brad didn’t respond immediately, and Lloyd, feeling the pull of sleep, let his eyes drift shut. Turning his head, Brad glanced at his already snoring roommate. He smiled softly, then shifted his gaze back to the ceiling.
“…I’d like that.”