I just saw Russel’s bio, and I really like it! If Pink Panther doesn’t want Keiran rooming w/Ash, can he room (or be shipped) w/Russel? It would be really funny with the height difference.

For reference: Keiran is 6’2”. 

Since I keep forgetting who's roomed with who, I'm making a list!

Samara with Sariel

Asani with Imogene

Erin with Elle

Maybe Jackson and Russel?

Maybe Ash and Keiran?

Sorry if I forgot someone!

Russell and Jackson can room. Brook, I'm fine with Russell and Keiran being shipped!

I’m going to start, if that’s ok... if it’s not, just ignore!

Keiran Astrix wouldn’t be arriving in uniform.

Call it a power play, call it asserting dominance. Keiran would be wearing his usual leather jacket and black pants, mirrored sunglasses hiding his eyes.

He’d wear those whether or not he wore uniform. For the sake of other students’ sanity.

He brushed his hair, white as starlight, into a windswept mop, and smirked at himself in the mirror. The tone of his hair lay in stark contrast against his warm brown skin. The sunglasses were gleaming, indigo as a night sky.

Perfect. Keiran looked like an intergalactic greaser.

He shoved the red-and-gray uniform into his bag and walked out of his room, latching the door behind him. His room would stay untouched while he was away at Ivemara Academy. The walls of his den were painted with moving galaxies thanks to his mother’s magical ability to animate art.

Aquarius, his silver cat, rubbed against his leg with her head. Her scattered, intelligent indigo eyes gave him a forlorn look.

“Can’t stay,” he said, looking around to make sure no one was watching. He kneeled, cooing and rubbing her belly. Keiran would die if anyone saw him doing it.

He turned to his left, concentrated, and smirked as a tiny wormhole appeared next to him. He reached in, ice crystals forming on his hand, and retrieved some cat treats he’d put inside the hole earlier.

Aquarius snatched them, eager, and dashed off. Keiran smiled. He’d miss her.

The hole closed, air stitching itself back together as he left.

“Hey, Dad? I’m ready to go.”

His father turned, face emotionless. “Good. Make me proud. Your future depends on it. Also, please don’t try to contact me unless it’s an emergency.”

“Sure, Dad.” said Keiran, fidgeting where he stood. He looked at his feet with great intensity. 

“Ivemara Academy was my alma mater.” His father continued. “It’s a prestigious school. Magical gifts like ours are especially interesting to them.”

His father opened the door to a sleek black car, the words “ASTRIX INTERGALACTIC” painted in metallic indigo across the door. Keiran got into the back and looked out the window.

“Here we go.” he whispered to himself.

Aquarius watched him go from the window. Keiran sighed, waving. She licked the windowpane, melancholy.

The road droned ahead, hour after hour.

————————————————

They arrived at Ivemara in the late afternoon. Keiran stepped out, flashing a smile at a group of girls. All but one giggled. Keiran cocked an eyebrow at the calm, freckled girl. She looked graceful. He peeked at her embroidered name,silver against red. Elle Dvotoski? He smirked. She’d be his within six weeks.

All of his bravado vanished from his soul when his father pit a hand on his shoulder.

“Don’t be an idiot. None of them will ever love you, only toy with you.” Father said. “Goodbye, Keiran. I expect greatness from you.”

“I will be great.” said Keiran, smile frozen on his face. “I won’t let you down, Dad.”

His father stepped back into the car and left. Keiran immediately began striding toward the group of girls.

He could hear all of them but Elle giggling from where he stood. 

“Oh my stars, Lilli, he’s coming toward us!” said a cute Brunette.

“He’s so tall!” said a short girl, blushing furiously.

“Guys, calm down!” Elle said, smirking. She turned toward Keiran, sizing him up.

“You aren’t in uniform.” she said.

“So I’ve noticed.” he leaned against the wall next to them. “I don’t think we’ve made acquaintances. I’m Keiran, Key for short.”

“Elle.”

“Pleasure.”

“Hey, why don’t you come with us?” the brunette said. “We’re headed to the school gates together.”

“Sounds nice.” Keiran said, tagging along.

“Coming through!” shouted a voice. Someone slammed into Keiran, making him stumble.

He turned and met two green eyes, framed by a mop of dark hair.

“Watch where you’re going.” the boy said, drawing himself to his full height. Keiran almost laughed. The boy was short: 4’11, at most. Sure, Keiran did have a biological advantage, being the tallest in a long line of tall men, but the boy was still... very small.

“I’m fairly certain you’re the one who hit me,” Keiran said, voice unaffected. The short boy crossed his arms.

“And who are you?”

“Keiran. You can call me Key.” he said.

“I’m Russel,” said the boy, giving him a curt nod, “Russel Broadwaters.”

“Pleased to meet you, Russel.” Keiran said, inspecting his nails. Russel scowled again.

“You’re still in my way, Keiran.” he said.

“That I am.” Keiran said, not budging. The girls ahead giggled. All except Elle, who just looked mildly interested.

“Come on, move.” commanded Russel. Keiran shrugged.

“Alright. I can move.”

Keiran did a heel turn, taking Russel by the hand and spinning him around as though they were in a dance. Russel let out an indignant squawk. Keiran released his impromptu partner and mock-bowed.

“I call that one a swing dance.”

And Keiran strode off, smiling to himself. This year would be a good one.

Well, I guess it has started!

* * *

Sariel sat in the rumbling car, staring out the window blankly. Her mother and father were talking about something or another, and their voices slowly became louder with anxiety. Whatever it was, it was important. But they always talked about something important, so Sariel could care less.

Sariel instead thought about her destination. The school. She was definitely interested in a change, but homeschooling had been working so well. And even if they were like her, that didn't mean they would like her. But then, when had that ever mattered? If this place is going to teach her better, well, that's all that matters.

"Honey! Look! There it is!" Father's voice brought her out of the clouds, and she realized he was right.

It was practically a castle. Crumbled white walls, flags with emblems, and steep wooden structures framed the masterpiece of a place. It's towers went into the sky, too thin to probably be safe and balanced on mossy rocks. The giant gate right in the center of it was intricately designed with symbols, and mobs of people filtered in and out of it. It was incredible... But not friendly. In fact, it was extraordinarily scary and intimidating.

"I don't like how this place looks," Sariel held her small bag of luggage against her chest instinctively. Her mom gave her a reassuring glance, smiling. 

"Don't judge a book by its cover, sweetheart," Mom, unsurprisingly, remained optimistic, which seemed even more unrealistic than usual given the circumstances.

"I suppose," Sariel murmured. Slowly, they parked the car off to the side of the road, since there seemed to be a shortage of parking lots; AKA there weren't any.

"Okay honey! I would walk you to the door but--" Sariel was already gone. The parents could hear a forgetful and faint "bye" after she had already mixed into the crowd.

And by gosh it was crowded. Sariel weaved through the many groups of people, their chatter and noise annoying her to no end. As she was finally nearing the entrance, she noticed two boys making a considerable racket. A cluster of girls grouped around them, smirking and gaping. What a pitiful group of idiots, Sariel noted.

"Come on, move," A small boy, even smaller than her, stood like a stalk with arms crossed. He was ticked off at another kid, who was significantly taller and whose head was framed with white hair.

"Alright, I can move," The taller one, with a sly grin, calmly grabbed the others hand and spun him around, almost like in dance. The Short kid indignantly pulled his hand away, brushing it off with disgust. Laughing, the tall one said, "I call that one a swing dance." He then walked away like it was nothing.

Sariel was entertained, to say the least. With the vigorous energy of a scientist, she took off after him. As she just got near to him however, he noticed, and turned sharply on one heel to face her. "Another adoring fan. And who might I be doing the honors of?"

"Sariel," she inspected his glasses with mild interest. "The glasses."

"What...What about them?" He stood there, startled for just a second. Then He recovered his composure easily, though still looked slightly puzzled about the complete change in conversation."Besides the fact that they're the coolest thing you've ever seen?"

"Do you hide something? Does it hold value?" Sariel continued to pester him, and out of habit began to break through his memory barrier. Which proved to be difficult. "Is it sentimental? Magical?"

"Just thought they looked nice," He smiled casually, then awkwardly shifted around on his toes as Sariel continued to stare at him with unblinking eyes. "Hey, uh, whatever you are doing it's pretty strange so don't." She continued to do it, which resulted in the boy doing his best to ignore him.

"By the way, I'm Keiran. But call me Key," He lifted a hand rather cheekily at Sariel, who stared at it with a confused frown before remembering to take it and shake it. "And just some advice next time: humans usually say hi, or hello, instead of 'the glasses' when they're greeting someone."

"Sure." Sariel looked on with a blank expression before continuing. "Either way, We'll continue this later," She stated matter of factly before walking off. 

Elle~

I walk with Asher and our mother towards the huge building of the academy. 

“Aw, I’m so proud of you two!” she whisper-shouts. “You’ll have the best year!”

Ash grimaces at her enthusiasm and I smile back at her. After farewells, Ash declares he’s going to get our dorm numbers. I thank him and head towards Mara, my friend since childhood. We briefly greet each other and launch into a conversation about classes. I meet other girls around my age, and we all get aquatinted when a tall boy with dazzling white hair walks up towards us. I roll my eyes as a bunch of girls giggle. 

He looks curiously at my name tag, and then looks at my face. I meet his gaze calmly. 

His father briefly whispers to him, before he struts up as a bunch of girls make comments. 

I smirk at the stupidity. “Guys, calm down,” I say to the group. Honestly. It’s just a guy. 

I walk up to him. I’m not short, but he makes me look that way. Soon we’re only inches apart. 

“You’re not in uniform,” I state, saying the first thing that comes to my brain. 

“So I’ve noticed,” he replies, leaning against the wall while raising an eyebrow. “I don’t think we’ve made acquaintances. I’m Keiran, Key for short.”

“Elle,” I say back. 

“Pleasure.”

Some girl says something to him, but I don’t notice. Instead, Ash taps me on the shoulder and passes me a slip of paper and key with my dorm number on it. 

Dorm 2510. 

“What’d you get?” I ask. 

We both look down at his. Dorm 6279. 

“Hey Elle,” Keiran says as he walks up to me. “Watch’s looking at?”

“Dorm rooms,” Ash says, slightly stepping in front of me. 

Keiran gives a cocky smile and walks towards the main building to get his. Ash eyes him on the way back, and then looks at me. 

“I feel sorry for the poor bloke having to room with him,” he mutters. 

I smile. “Watch it be you.”

Asher~

I stare out the foggy train window, and Elle’s head slightly bounces on my shoulder as we hit a bridge. But she doesn’t stir. 

Mother sits across from us, looking worriedly out her window. I smile slightly at her concern. She’s always worried, it seems like. Our father went to the academy, but our mother is what Elle and I call a muggle. It’s a joke, of course, and mother usually smiles before her eyes darken at the thought of our dead father. 

Elle was always thankful that she was adopted soon enough to know our father, before he died when I was 13 and she was 11. Our oldest sibling, Jaxon, was the golden one loved by father so much. He was devastated. 

Me? The only person who I’ve ever felt closest to was Elle. She’s the only one who’s ever tried to understand me. I never wanted a sister until I met her. Mother is nice too. But she and father were only ever a mom and dad to me. Never anything else. No special bond. 

The train slows to a stop at the station, and I gently nudge Elle awake. She sits up and rubs her eyes. 

“Your hair’s a mess,” I remark. 

She rolls her eyes and punches me on the arm. 

We get our luggage and walk out with Mother to the Academy which is right across the street from the station. 

“Let’s see,” Mother mutters when we get to the entrance gate at the academy. “When we took Jaxon here, he got his room number at the main building where the administration for the academy is. So I’ll drop you guys off there!”

I nod and Elle has a skip in her step, trying to catch up to bustling Mother. 

Before we walk inside, Mother bids her goodbyes and leaves. 

“Elle, I’ll get the numbers. Stay here and be social for the both of us,” I say, heading up the steps. 

She laughs then nods, and takes my luggage while I continue to walk towards the main building. 

I heave open the door and step inside. 

“Dorm number?” a voice emits without hesitation. 

I look towards where the voice came from, and a lady in a strict bun and pursed smile  sits at a desk, staring at me with narrowed eyes. 

“Uh, yeah,” I reply. “Do you need our names?”

She raises an eyebrow. “Our?”

“Oh, I’m getting my sister’s too.”

She gives a curt nod in understanding, and then shakes her head. “Your name is on your uniform. I will need your sister’s, however.”

“Elle,” I respond. “Same last name.”

She nods again and looks through some papers before handing me our keys and dorm numbers. 

“This one is for you,” she says. “And this one for Elle.”

I thank her and walk out of the building, feeling her gaze on the back of my neck. I shiver while I walk down the steps and up to Elle. 

I tap her on the shoulder and hand her the key and number. She thanks me while inspecting it. 

“What’d you get?” she asks, peering at mine. 

I show it to her. Dorm 6279. 

Then a tall guy with shiny silver hair walks up to Elle as if he already knows her. I raise an eyebrow. 

“Hey Elle. Watcha looking at?”

I immediately sense Elle’s discomfort, and make my place slightly in front of her. 

“Dorm rooms,” I say, with a tone to effectively end the conversation.  

He gives me a smirk before heading towards the building, most likely to get his. I eye him on his way there, and turn to Elle once we’re out of ear shot. 

“I feel sorry for the poor bloke having to room with him.”

“Watch it be you,” she snickers. 

“Don’t even joke,” I retort. 

We start walking with the rest of the group of students to the rooms. An instructor leads us. 

Suddenly I feel a hand on my shoulder, and I turn around. 

It’s Frosty Hair. 

“What do you want?” I ask with impatience. 

“Just wondering what dorm you got,” he replies. 

I show him my paper and his eyes widen. He looks up at me with a toothy grin. 

“Hello roommate.”

I keep my groan inside. “Hi,” I respond with gritted teeth. 

“Asher, Keiran!” Elle says. “Catch up.”

We pace back to the rest of the group. 

“So Ash,” Keiran begins. 

“Asher,” I interrupt. 

“Asher,” he snorts. “Do you know where 6279 is?” 

“No,” I reply. “Looks like we’re about to find out.” 

Imogene~

My parents drop me off with sad smiles. I'm going to miss them. I look around, and see a wave of people heading to what looks like an admiistration building. I follow them, getting in line. When I finally arrive at the front, the lady asks me, "Name?" "Imogene. Imogene Dallas." I reply. "Alrighty, here's your dorm number!" she says. I look at the paper. Room 10698. I decide that I have time, so instead of trying to find the dorm, I try to find some friends. I see a girl standing all alone, so I walk over. "Hi! My name's Imogene. What's yours?" "Samara." she replies. "Well... Uh... Do you know where room 10698 is?" I ask. "No, but I'm looking for my room too. I can help you find yours, if you want."

***

After about 10 minutes of looking, I find my room. We say our goodbyes, and I walk in. My roomate isn't here yet, so I start unpacking on the left side of the room. I've just finished putting my clothes in the closet when I hear the door open.

My roomate is here. 

(This is great so far! Happy Holidays everyone, by the way!) 

Also, question @Allie- This is set in the present day, right? Not in a fantasy world? Also, I wrote this so that Imogene and Russell already know each other. If that's not okay with you then ignore this.

~~~

Russell often spent mornings tinkering with things in the garage- one, to escape the chaos of a single mother trying to get three kids under 10 ready for the day, and two, because he basically woke up looking like a model- getting ready didn't take long. However, today had been a little different. His mother had woken up so sick to her stomach that she couldn't get out of bed, so it was his responsibility to get Natalie, Trevor, and Leo ready, and also somehow find a ride to Ivermara Academy. At times like this, teleportation could come in handy.  

While Nat and Trevor bickered and baby Leo was in the process of getting food literally everywhere but his mouth, Russell dialed the number of his mom's friend. "Hello, Mrs. Dallas?" He tried to say over his sister's string of cuss words. "I was wondering if..." Russell explained his predicament, asking if he could go along with Imogene to Ivermara. "Alright, thanks!" He said after a while, fist-pumping. Soon, he would be far, far away from the mess he called his family.

Shooing his little siblings out to the bus stop, Russell took one last look in the mirror, thinking that not many people other than he could pull off the ugly uniforms. He could hear his mother hacking up a lung from the back bedroom (which wasn't strange, you could hear everything through the thin walls), so he quickly teleported to the kitchen, filled up a glass of water, and went to give it to her. "Bye, mom," He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. "Love you!"

~~~

Russell slept almost the whole ride to Ivermara. He and Imogene talked a little bit- sometimes it was hard to get her to stop talking- but eventually they pulled up at the academy. He stepped out, stretched his muscles, and grabbed his bag out of the trunk. "Thank you again, Mrs. Dallas," He said, flashing a genuine smile. Then he turned and made his way toward a group of students.

"We're headed towards the school gates." He heard one of them say. Russell didn't necessarily want to be stuck behind a crowd of giggling teenagers fawning over Mr. Perfect, so he shouted "Coming through!" Not caring that he smacked right into the boy himself.

"Watch where you're going." Russell said, noticing now that this guy was over a foot taller than him. 

"I'm fairly certain you're the one who hit me." The boy replied. Russell crossed his arms. “And who are you?”

“Keiran. You can call me Key.” he said. Russell didn't break eye contact, even though it felt like he was facing a giant. "I'm Russell. Russell Broadwaters."

“Pleased to meet you, Russel.” Keiran said. Russell could barely refrain from rolling his eyes. “You’re still in my way, Keiran.”

“That I am.” Keiran said, not moving an inch. Russell steeled his gaze again. Despite the height difference, he wouldn't back away from a fight if it came to it. “Come on, move.” demanded Russell. Keiran shrugged. “Alright. I can move.” 

With that, the boy grabbed Russell's hand and spun him around, mock-bowing when he was done. Russell looked at him with disgust, shaking off his hand. "I call that one a swing dance." Keiran said, turning and walking away.

Russell looked at one of the girls, like, can you believe this guy? Looking at Keiran sauntering away, he rolled his eyes again. He had a feeling it wouldn't be the last he'd see of him.