Chapter Text
If you were to ask Charlie Dalton, holding grudges was most definitely not a red flag. It wasn’t like he hated anyone; matter of fact he managed to get along very well with just about anyone. Sure, he would complain and bemoan to Neil about any classmate who wronged him or go glare at past situation-ships in the hallways, but Charlie never really hated anyone. That was, until he met Knox Overstreet.
For all his complaining and grumbling, Charlie Dalton was relieved to be back at Welton academy for his senior year. Hauling two heavy suitcases around campus, he almost tripped over a group of first years standing in his way. They were gawking at the extensive campus and fancy cars that lined the roundabout leading up to it. Welton was known for being one of the most prestigious and expensive private schools, but all Charlie could see was money being used as an excuse for poor teaching. Expensive cars lined the parking lot and their campus; massive buildings, a lake, soccer fields, and tennis courts stood out against the grassy plains of their surroundings. The school itself was beautiful; old architecture with grand windows, expansive buildings that spanned out over the space and lush vines winding their way around the buildings.
Arctic Monkeys blasted through his air pods as he struggled with his suitcases up the stairs to the dormitory building. Charlie had already said a half-assed goodbye to his parents before jumping out of the car. His summer, although he would tell Neil otherwise, was completely uneventful. Aside from the odd country club party with his dad’s colleagues Charlie was supposed to spend the two months in his countryside house, doing nothing. The tension at home between him and his father had been stifling and Charlie had taken every excuse to get out of the house. He had spent a week in Ibiza with some distant cousin or whatever, partying until the sun rose. After that there was the weekend in Greece where he had spent the majority of his time swimming in the ocean and talking to pretty girls and boys at beach parties.
“Dalton!”
A loud voice shouted out to him from where Charlie stood in the hallway of the senior boys dormitory. His head swiveled and a grin grew on his face at the sight. Neil Perry poked his head out from his dorm room, long brown hair falling over his forehead in messy waves.
“I heard you did summer school,” Charlie drawled, leaning against the door frame.
“Chemistry. My father thought I should get ahead. How was your summer, slick?”
“Keen,” Charlie smirked. “Partied in Spain, drank too much, the usual. Have the roommate listings gotten posted yet?”
Neil nodded his head, gesturing towards a small sheet of paper stuck onto the dorm’s door. “They have them put on each door. I think I saw your dorm somewhere down the hall.” Charlie opened his mouth to speak, but Neil beat him to it. “Don’t worry, Cameron is rooming with some guy called Stick this year.”
“Thank God, one more year with him and I’m not sure I would have survived Welton. Who are you rooming with?”
“Todd,” Neil smiled, a small blush creeping onto his cheeks. Charlie let out a small wolf whistle and Neil rolled his eyes before shoving him out of his room. “Go unpack your stuff, Charlie. Opening ceremony’s at 7.”
“Its Nuwanda, Neil,” Charlie remarked, sticking his tongue out at an exasperated Neil before hauling his baggage down the hallway. He stopped to greet Meeks and Pitts, who had gotten lucky and managed to room together for the past four years. It was for the best; he doubted anyone else could put up with the amount of electrical equipment the two left laying on the floor.
He stepped into his dorm room, paying the piece of paper tacked onto his door no mind. Charlie was so focused on lifting his numerous suitcases into the doorway that he barely noticed his roommate, back turned to him. He had already taken one of the beds and Charlie hurried to place his belongings on the other mattress across the room. The dorms weren’t massive but they were luxurious enough: two beds sat parallel to each other, with matching desks pressed against the space in between the foot of the beds and wall.
Charlie turned to his roommate, who was hunched over his own bed and beginning to unpack his clothes. He cleared his throat expectantly, waiting for him to turn around. God, I hope I don’t get stuck with another neat freak like Cameron.
It was after a few seconds of waiting that Charlie realized he was listening to music through his air pods. He tapped on his roommate’s back, a smirk playing across his face. The boy turned around, eyebrows furrowed in annoyance. Charlie eyed his new roommate. He was tall, way taller than him, and the thought sent a small jolt down his spine. He had messy brown hair that fell over his forehead in waves, deep brown eyes and a strong nose. His cheekbones contracted from his face and he had broad shoulders that were hidden under a navy blue sweatshirt. Okay, so maybe Charlie’s roommate was somewhat conventionally attractive. Maybe this year might be better than he thought it would be. He steadied himself before introducing himself.
“Charlie Dalton, your new roommate.”
“Knox Overstreet.” The boy, Knox, had an agitated expression across his face, his lips quirked downwards into a frown. He took out his headphones and shoved them in the pockets of his jeans, staring at Charlie expectantly.
“I’ve been at Welton the past four years, so if you need anyone to give you a tour you can hit me up,” He smirked, eyeing Knox from head to toe. “You’re gonna have fun at Hellton here, I can guarantee it.”
“Yeah, sure,” Knox mumbled. The frustrated look on his face didn’t fade and his eyes darted between Charlie and the door as if planning an escape. Charlie opened his mouth to further his introductions but Knox beat him to it.
“Look, Charlie, I’m sure you wanna continue talking to me right now, but I’m not really in the mood.”
“Excuse me?”
Knox sighed. “We can chitchat or whatever some other time, but if you’re gonna to try to hold a conversation at the moment you may as well go visit your other friends.”
“Hold up Overstreet; I, a stranger, trying to get to know my new roommate for the next year takes less priority than unpacking a shit ton of sweaters that look like they were stolen from your grandmothers wardrobe?”
“I’m not in the mood for dealing with someone that just won’t shut up, okay?"
“What the hell is your problem?” Charlie grumbled, glaring at the boy across from him. Great. Five minutes into meeting his roommate and he already turns out to be a complete dickhead.
“My problem, Charlie, is that I just need five minutes of peace before I start to get interrogated by my very extroverted and talkative roommate. Is that too much to ask?” Knox exclaimed icily, pinching the bridge of his nose as if dealing with a child. Clear annoyance was painted across his facial features. Charlie stood there, unsure what to say. Anger bubbled beneath his skin as Knox turned back around. “Of course I get a loud and annoying roommate,” he mumbled under his breath, assuming Charlie had turned back to his own suitcase.
What.An.Asshole. Charlie strode out the room, fuming silently. He headed straight towards the administrations office; he would rather put up with Cameron for his senior year than Knox.