The opus one

ce room Richard was about to claim for his own. The guy had materialized around the co

ted his shoulder bag with a sigh and continued walking down the hallway past the occupied rooms. Musical

quickened his pace, holding ope

s," sh

crazy trying to

o you play, piccolo?" s

idn't need to ask her, as she

sorry,"

surprised at her comment. Was she a brass snob, or

won't like this room."

t was one of the empty rooms. He hadn't yet l

he said, holdi

g, since vents would transmit sound from one room to the other too easily. Richard vaguely wondered how long summer lasted around here. The late-August humidity and heat

pianist. Not exactly an instrument carried on th

ter be going

," Rich

door to the room and then continued walking. He passed the t

patchwork symphony that played as he passed the doors. He backed up and peered through th

to bead up. But there was nothing for it; he couldn't open the door and flood the hallway with his

tack of music he had brought. He wasn't

eethoven? I think I play that one section really n

rough his hair. He selected a book from the pile, opened it,

but that was typical. Not many things could break him out of his concentration, not even a heavy thirst. Now

t he drank greedily anyway. He could almost feel the wat

his stuff, Emily was peering into his room. S

I'm looking for my roommate. We were sup

ughed to himself at his question.

rcy. Do you

he said, with a

ooking. See you later." She smi

u going to go eat

of him. Richard didn't back

ably the Domino's p

d made

he said, "but it's cheap. Do

there twice myself, unfo

d. "Do you w

oom's an oven." Richard unconsciously wiped at

me abo

e heaters. It would prob

y la

o had earlier beaten Richard to a room.

," Emily sa

andly, squeezing thro

imself. He gave Emily a questioning

ed," Richard said, gestur

the dorm?"

ea

meet in the lounge

ka

eanwhile. Bring your roomm

not even

ght. See yo

up in front of hundreds of people to play and not fe

upcoming lesson with Ms. Tertychnay

he remind

her and Emily come out of the stairwell and stand in the foyer, it took him a few seconds to realize

, feeling awkward. Then Sandra started her hand out, and for a moment there was a silly arm

ed, holding open the do

sely. A group of people were playing a pickup game of soccer on the lawn. He

play, Richard?

no.

oi

She's too pretty to be b

," he

irst year?"

o, uh, too? A

y w

n stuff this week isn't

t have to do stupid game

it's common sense, then why are they showing us? 'Lock your doors

gh school we had these safety classes and they were

bad word so soon, but the two gir

tuff by now, you probably would have

o get a schedule for t

n at the first mee

n't wait!"

ndra asked, as the blue and red sign came

a and looking for something b

too," Sand

cash, and he had to stretch it out until the meal pl

herwise I'll be starving the rest of

rve there, too," Emily s

t. "They're under new management. Some hotel took ov

Sandra. I can't wait until Friday

to?" Ric

he thought. His nervousness was

ily said, pointing. "Looks

and made their way tow

ou from?" Emily

The Bronx

t doesn't sound like N