Chapter Text
Todd glanced about the quaint room--it had a bookish feel that warmed his chest. He decided that maybe he could thrive here, in this strict academy, governed by corporal punishment, a certain drive to succeed, and parents living vicariously through their children.
That's when he noticed the second bed. A roommate, he thought with a displeased frown as he lugged his suitcase atop his mattress and began to unpack his neatly-stacked clothing--courtesy of his mother's anxious tendency to make things perfect; the only reason he'd been made aware of his parents' woes.
The house had been spotless when he'd departed.
It was seemingly always neat and orderly--and for that, he wanted to throttle his father. Though he hadn't always heard their fights, he'd know in the morning; if his mother had collected the cobwebs in the corner of the rooms or straightened the couch...
Todd wondered why his mother even stayed, and he decided that it was likely this sole fact:
His mother was the beneficiary listed on his father's life insurance.
And perhaps Todd's prodigy older brother, Jeffrey Anderson, kept her there, too.
He snorted at this thought, and suddenly stood at attention, smile dropping from his face, as the door opened. But instead of the looming figure of his father or Headmaster Gale Nolan, it was the silhouette of a boy his age.
He stepped into the dim light of their shared room--he assumed this was his roommate--and held out a hand. "Neil. Neil Perry."
Todd took it, sharing his name in similar fashion.
Neil, brown-haired and clever, mulled over this, parroting his name. "Anderson. Anderson. Aha! You're Jeffrey Anderson's brother, aren't you?"
Todd suddenly deflated and turned back to what he was doing. Of course he'd have to go and soil the moment. He nodded morosely. Neil, sensing he'd done something wrong, approached him carefully, like Todd was a caged, vicious animal.
Which couldn't be more incorrect, actually.
"Todd?"
With a look akin to that of a kicked puppy, he pivoted towards Neil, who had advanced quite spectacularly. Neil's gold-flecked eyes glanced around his face, searching for something. He seemingly found it, because he sighed and backed away, slinking towards his own side of the room.
Todd shook his head, dumping the last of his belongings and tucking his suitcase under his bed. As he sorted through everything, placing things just so on his desk, he felt Neil Perry's eyes digging into his neck, burning with a question.
Instead of asking it, he opted to leave without looking back.