Chapter Text
Alarms. Dress. Drive. School. Study. Home. Work. Chores. Sleep. Repeat.
Day after day, week after week, month after month. Thomas’ schedule was always the same. He didn’t have time for anything else.
He groaned as the sunlight shone through the blinds and hit him in the face. It was strange, not waking up to his alarm for once. But he supposed that was something he would have to get used to, at least until college, if he went to college.
High school had finally ended for him.
It had been a week since graduation, not that he had even bothered attending the actual ceremony. Per his usual fashion, he had made an excuse to not have to go, and got his transcript mailed to him.
There was no point in going, he had reasoned, his guardians wouldn’t have gone, or even congratulated him. He was almost convinced they didn’t even realize he had graduated at all. Thomas had no friends to party with after graduation. Honestly it was a waste of time.
His doe brown eyes were almost a golden hazel in the sunrise. Thomas sat up, the morning chill sinking into his skin, fading his already lack of will to get up, to nothing.
So instead he laid back down again, pulling the covers around his neck before reaching over and disconnecting his phone from the charger, pulling it up to his face and squinting to see the numbers.
8:27
Thomas’ guardians had probably already gone to work then. Good. He would have the whole day to himself.
He closed his eyes. Planning on drifting back to sleep.
His phone had other ideas, his body involuntarily jerked as the ringer on his phone startled him. He glanced at the contact and quickly slid his thumb over the button to answer.
“Good morning, Dr. Paige” he said, with as much politeness as he could muster this early in the morning.
Dr. Paige was a brilliant scientist, cold, but determined. She also happened to be one of his foster parents.
“Good Morning, Edison,” she said, her tone as professional and distant as ever. “I am calling to inform you that I have received your test performance scores.”
Thomas’ brow furrowed in momentary confusion, before he closed his eyes and let out a quiet sigh.
The WICKED SAT, the mandatory test given to all highschoolers at graduation.
The test he was for sure he absolutely bombed.
Thomas had blanked out on half the test, not having the mental energy for it after his allnighters during finals week.
“Paige- I’m so sorry I know I let you down and didn’t live up to your expectations I got so tired and-“
“Thomas,” she said in an almost kind voice. The tone so earth shatteringly different than the one she normally used, it restrained him from continuing his apology.
“You got a perfect score.”
Oh.
His blood turned icy cold.
…Oh….
This was worse. This was way, way worse.
He swallowed hard as he tried to process the information.
“WICKED has offered a full-ride scholarship for their Biochemical Research and Anatomy program; including housing, and food,”
His stomach dropped.
No. No. No no. No.
“I am so proud of you, son,” she continued. “I knew I chose you right when we saw your test scores at the orphanage. You know we-“
Dr Paige continued talking.
Thomas, however, did not continue to listen. For he was too enveloped in fear.
Maze University was an amazing school, the best for kids like him, prodigy level geniuses.
It was also the school Dr. Paige was on the board of trustees for.
He would never escape her.
He didn’t belong here.
He didn’t belong in their world.
Where did he belong? He didn’t even know anymore.
College was his one last chance at escape.
Escape from the constant expectation of perfection.
‘Perfection’ being the one thing he knew he would never reach. No matter how hard he tried. No matter how hard he worked.
Escape from the constant control of his life, his education.
Now that was taken from him too.
….He didn’t even want to major in science….
“Thomas? Thomas!” Dr. Paige’s annoyed voice jolted him out of his thoughts.
“Yes, Ma’am,” he responded quickly.
She paused for a moment, before saying, “pack your stuff. They have summer boarding, I checked and that’s also covered in the full ride. I’ll get you your course list and you can start your studies early.”
So much for a summer break.
He pushed himself up then his body moved robotically as he pulled his backpack from the closet.
Dr. Paige believed the only possession worth having was knowledge. Meaning his room was pretty bland, which was fine, it made packing easier.
That was Dr Paige’s view on life. Faster, more efficient. Necessity.
He shoved a few of his favorite outfits into his bag, as well as his toiletries and device chargers. He picked out a few of his favorite books and stuck them in there as well.
Thomas went over to his nightstand and slowly opened the drawer.
The only thing inside was a book.
His fingers danced over the worn cover, before he took it and carefully tucked it into a section of the bag. He zipped it up.
That was easy enough.
He sighed and flopped back down on the bed. Paige would pick him up at lunch. Thomas would be gone before his ‘father’ even got home.
Good.
He stared up at the ceiling, his brain slowly processing and catching up to his current circumstances.
This is how it had been for the last five years of his life with Paige and Janson: controlled chaos. Chaos he was forced to submit to. Chaos he had no choice, but to accept.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
This was better, at least, better than the other foster homes or orphanages he’d been carted around his entire life.
Maybe MU wouldn’t be so bad.
Maybe he could make some friends.
A ghost of a smile made his lips twitch upwards.
Yeah, that was never going to happen.
Friends are a distraction, Thomas. Focus on your studies, excell, succeed, and then escape.
***
As Thomas threw his bag into the back of the car and slid into the passenger seat, he had a fleeting thought of how quickly they had been so eager to get rid of him at a moment’s notice. He supposed he should have been more hurt by that.
But honestly, he understood it.
It had become very apparent from an early point in his stay at the Paige and Janson estate, that his adoption was strictly due to their needs of an heir. They needed a child to be able to pass down their position and title to, as trustees of WICKED corp.
He had learned even faster that his guardians’ own relationship with each other was the same as his and theirs. Strictly professional, strictly in name only. Strictly for the reason that it made them look better to investors in their corporation and school.
Paige said nothing as they backed out of the driveway Thomas had called home for the past five years.
He figured a normal person should have been sad. But his heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline starting to surge through him as he fidgeted in his seat from nerves, and excitement.
“Stop moving so much,” Paige said, a firm reminder.
Thomas did his best.
Like he always tried to.
Paige let them drive in silence for a bit before speaking up again, “there are some rules I would like to discuss, Thomas.” She cleared her throat, “before I drop you off.”
Thomas nodded instinctively, straightening in his seat. He’d grown used to Paige’s rules and expectations.
“Faculty will know who you are. But the students will not. Keep it that way,” she said, her gaze leveled on the road, “don’t mention your ties to the trustees at all, in fact. There will be no partying. Focus on your studies, you are a direct representation of myself and your father while you attend Maze, and I expect you to make us proud.”
Thomas nodded as she spoke.
Control is key, Thomas.
He heard Janson’s low gravelly voice in his head.
Control was exactly what they had over him.
“You will do your best as you attend here. Therefore, you will not work. You will spend that time devoted to school,” she continued.
Thomas nodded again.
“You will maintain a GPA of 4.5 or higher.”
He nodded again.
In fact, nodding seemed to be all he did around his ‘family’.
Dr. Paige pulled up to the school. “Good….”
Thomas looked out the window and almost shuddered. The school was the definition of gloomy. It looked like the lab Dr. Paige worked at, even though the two establishments were on opposite sides of the city.
“You’re almost an adult now, Thomas. Two more months and you will be. I expect you to start taking on more responsibilities and applying yourself to your work.”
“Thank you,” he said, the words foreign on his lips, unsure what he was even thanking her for.
She gave him what he thought was supposed to be a comforting smile, before letting him out at the administration building.
She left after helping him check in.
The girl at the housing department smiled as Thomas walked in, her eyes were a stunning blue, her teeth pure white and straight. Her hair was jet black, her skin a healthy pale. She was stunning.
Thomas quickly realized two things.
She was his age.
She was way out of his league.
He smiled shyly.
An amused expression crossed over her face “May I help you?” She asked as he just stood there, staring, like a complete idiot.
Thomas’ face heated up, causing her smile to widen. He mentally hit himself, but stepped closer to the counter.
“My name is Thomas Edison? I was looking for my dorm map and key,” he said. At least his voice managed to stay steady.
His eyes drifted to the name tag pin on her blouse.
Teresa
“Ah, yes absolutely, let me pull up your file,” she replied, and her fingers flew across her keyboard.
“Would you like a copy of your class schedule and locations as well?” She asked, looking back up at him from the computer.
His eyebrows rose, “I thought we had to get those later, seeing as I am just staying on campus over the summer till the fall semester starts.”
Teresa flashed him another smile, “our school runs on punctuality and procedure, Tom” she chided playfully, the nickname sent unwanted chills across his spine, “we wouldn't have that if we didn’t plan ahead of time.”
He flushed with embarrassment and nodded “then yes please…”
She printed out the documents and grabbed a keycard and a map. “You are staying in the Glade Apartment Dormitory. Apartment A, your room will be A2.”
He nodded and took the items she handed him, forcefully ignoring the jolt of electricity that ran through him as their fingers brushed.
“I hope you have an amazing year, Tom. Welcome to Maze University, your college to find your place in the world,” she hummed, as if having said a similar phrase about a million times before.
He shot her a smile and quickly exited with his backpack slung over one shoulder.
Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad here.
He wandered around the vacant courtyard for a bit, examining his surroundings as he went. A strange fog seemed to settle over the school and the surrounding area, creating a dark and gloomy effect. The bite in the air sent a chill down his spine. Thomas’ eyes surveyed the area. It was very peaceful. He wondered how much that would change once the official semester started. Thomas lowered his head as he walked, lost in thought and thinking about what life would be like at this new school. He rounded a corner, towards what he assumed was the dormitory building he had been assigned.
A body slammed into his own, clearly having been going at a decent speed, because the impact ended with them both on the ground.
”Shuck!” the male groaned. Thomas blinked and examined the boy next to him on the ground.
His head was a little foggy and for a moment he wondered if he might have a concussion.
”I am SO sorry, dude,” the asian male spoke as he stood, holding out a hand to help Thomas up.
Thomas blankly stared at it for a moment, before taking it and allowing himself to be pulled up. “It’s okay, probably my fault, I wasn’t looking where I was going,” he said.
The boy in front of him looked like one of those athletic models that sports companies used to promote their health supplements or training routines, needless to say, he was very fit, and very muscular. A small part in the back of Thomas’ brain wondered how such a bulk of a man didn’t squish him like a human pancake in the fall.
”The name’s Minho!” The guy said, once Thomas got to his feet. “I was just getting my evening jog in for the day, gotta admit, I didn’t expect anyone to be ‘round though. Most shuckfaces here go back home during the summer. Only a group of us stay on campus- speaking of which, I don’t think I’ve seen you around before. Ya new?”
Thomas nodded, the way this dude talked was really funny. Not like, accent funny. But the way he used words struck Thomas as odd. “I’m going to be attending classes the upcoming fall semester but my guardian’s thought it would be beneficial for me to get accustomed to campus life early,” he explained. Maybe a tad bitter.
Minho shrugged. “I mean, I guess that makes some sense, can’t say it’ll do you much good to be here THIS early though, seeing as it’s so empty, but as long as you’re here maybe we can hang out more. There’s only a handful of us students around during this time so we gotta stick together!” he beamed.
Thomas chuckled, “I guess so….say do you know where Apartment A is?”
Minho’s eyes lit up, “Sure do! That’s the same building I’m in, what room ya got?”
”A2.”
Minho visibly winced, “Oh…..ain’t that just a greenie’s luck huh?”
”What’s that mean?” Thomas asked, his brows knitting together.
The other boy laughed. “You got put with possibly one of the most sassy shuckfaces in the school is what I mean…..But hey he’s better than Gally…..Gally’s my roommate…..unfortunately….But Newt’s good people once he warms up to ya, the sarcastic asshole personality he has, is just something you kinda got to get used to.”
“Great...at least it's only for a semester or two...” Thomas said with a sigh, earning a sympathetic smirk from his new friend.
Friend? No….acquaintance…
”Round here, you are stuck with your roommate till one of ya graduates.”
Thomas groaned, “Fucking great…..”
”You’ll be fine, Greenie. Just don’t mess with his books or his plants and you’ll get out of it alive…..hopefully.”
He pursed his lips together. Though he figured if it was too bad he could ask Paige if he could switch rooms. He could make an excuse about his roommate being too disruptive or distracting.
”Well c'mon Greenie. I’ll show you to the dorm building!” Minho offered, jogging the opposite way Thomas had previously been heading.
Maybe it was a good thing he ran into Minho (literally), he probably would’ve been walking around the entire campus like a lost puppy till he found the dorm building.
As they walked down the concrete path, Minho talked non-stop about the school, mostly complaining about how challenging the classes were. He talked about the overall structures and the seven majors that MU offered. It suddenly occurred to Thomas that he had no clue to the other boy’s major or motivations for attending such a ‘challenging school’’.
He was mulling over the possibilities of such a question being too rude to ask, when Minho answered the unasked questions, unprompted.
”Honestly, I wouldn’t waste a second here if it weren’t for the full ride I got for a track scholarship. That, and apparently I did well on some kind of test I honestly don’t remember taking.” He chuckled, “though for being no cost it’s an alright trade off I suppose….”
Thomas listened curiously as Minho explained his situation, part of him was a little surprised that the other boy had done well on the WICKED SAT, but he supposed he should have guessed as much. The school didn’t accept anything less than excellence in their students. He knew that well enough from listening to Dr. Paige rave about the school.
”What major are you anyway, Greenie,” Minho inquired, addressing Thomas.
Thomas smiled a little “Biology major actually. You?” He shifted the weight of his backpack to his other shoulder and subconsciously wondered how big the campus was and when in the world they would finally reach the dormitory.
“Business,” the boy replied.
It honestly made sense, it was the most basic and ‘easiest’ major MU offered.
Thomas nodded slowly, “sounds…….awfully boring…..”
Minho shot him a grin, “absofuckinglutely it is…..but hey, I’m going into my second year and I haven’t shucking keeled over yet. So there’s that.”
Ah. The greenie name made some sense then.
They reached the apartment complex (finally, Thomas’ legs were aching from the cramped car ride and the walking). Minho led him up a flight of stairs and paused at a door.
’A2 and A5’
Thomas’ brow furrowed, “that’s….a weird combination?”
Minho chuckled, “Their numbering system is the only thing I do not at all get about this school. You’ll get used to it though…” he paused, before smirking, “hope ya survive till fall semester, Greenie. Good luck! I’ll stop by sometime to check on ya tomorrow.”
”That's...comforting…..thanks….” Thomas said, dryly.
Minho gave him a two fingered salute before jogging down the hall to a door labeled: ‘A7 and A9’.
Damn, the numbering systems really were fucked up.
Thomas took a deep breath and swiped his keycard. A soft buzzing sound met his ears and a green light flashed on the lock. His name appeared in green lettering over a small panel on the doorknob and it clicked open.
That’s…..weirdly fancy, he mused, as he walked in.
His first impression of the shared apartment was the following.
“holy fucking shit…”
.
.
.
”That’s a lot of plants.”