I felt a dazzling light in my eyes and I peeped them open. Rays of sunlight were falling in through the window. "Shit," I said getting up. My alarm had not gone off.

"Morning roomie," I heard Casper's sing-song voice. Roomie? Honestly?

"Morning," I replied groggily, "What time is it?"

"Aahm," I heard his phone click open as I tried to rub the sleep away from my eyes. "five minutes to nine, aka you have only 5 minutes to get some breakfast, and apparently so do I."

I looked at him. He was in his vest and had a pair of jeans on. My eyes appraised his back...broad strong shoulders, slimming down to a narrow waist. Damn, he was hot.

Casper caught my eye in the mirror and his lips curved up, I quickly looked away. Wait, did he just smirk at me?

I did not have the time to think, I quickly jumped out of bed and threw on any piece of clothing my hand could reach.

Casper put his shirt on and snuck out the door. He turned back just before opening the doorknob and seemed hesitant for a moment, then said, "I like your hairstyle." My eyes pinched themselves together and he left abruptly without giving me time to process how to react.

I looked at myself in the mirror, my hand unconsciously raising itself to my crazy curly bedhead.

Fuck it, I'm gonna be late.

I ran out, hastily grabbing my bag and locking the room behind me.

...

I reached class just in time, Sara had saved a seat for me beside her. I plopped down, panting slightly.

I pulled out my books and asked Sara, "So, how was your first night here?"

"Eh, it was fine. Astrid is not like Felice and Maddie." She paused, took a deep breath, "I don't like her."

"Did she say anything?"

"No, but the way she looks at me when we are talking..." Sara made a bitter face.

"Like August, sweet words and sickening face," I said.

"No, I mean yes but not..." Sara stuttered, "August helped us get this room, you should be nicer to him."

I raised my eyebrows, "You are defending him?"

"No, I did not mean..."

She stopped mid-sentence as our teacher walked in. We stood up and wished her in congruence.

I looked around: Casper was sitting on the desk on my right, there was no sign of Wilhelm. I sighed as I slapped my notebook open.

The teacher gave us maths problems to do and discussed them one by one.

"So, has anyone calculated the answers yet?" the teacher asked after a while.

Beside me, Casper's hand shot in the air. I looked at him in surprise, I had not even done half yet. He read the answers off the notebook in his hands. My eyes cursorily went to the veins travelling from his fingers down to his elbows.

Shit.

"That's great, Casper. All your answers are correct. You may sit down," the teacher smiled at him.

He sat down and turned to look around. His eyes caught mine and his lips twitched up. I dropped my eyes to my notebook.

There was a knock and everyone's attention went to the door. The teacher opened it and Wilhelm walked in.

"I'm sorry I am late miss," Wilhelm apologized quickly.

"It's alright, Wilhelm, but don't turn it into a habit."

"Of course not miss."

His eyes went around the room and he walked to the one vacant seat in the front.

Casper leaned over as the teacher turned to the board, "That is the prince, right?"

I nodded, "He is."