Jason wasn’t paying attention. He quite frankly couldn’t care less how this conversation went. But he knew, in the darkest recesses of his mind, that his parents money would win out. It always did. That was the way it always worked, wasn’t it? It didn’t matter what he did, the schools always took him back, because, let’s face it, who would turn down a child whose parents would then donate the money needed to build that new gym, or library, and don’t forget the new computer lab, equipped for 75 students and a teacher, new programs included. This would be the third time he would be accepted to Midera, the second time after being expelled. See, Jason’s parents couldn’t stand him to be home. They just didn’t like having to drag a little boy around with them as they traveled the world. Then, by the time he was old enough to take care of himself, they were so used to not having him around, that they continued to send him to boarding schools.
Now, Jason was not a bad student, quite the opposite. He was simply indifferent. Why should he have to do anything, when he was just going to inherit the family fortune, as his father had, and his father before him. But not doing anything was boring, so he turned to mischief, as most boys do. At 12, he would get up in the middle of the night and rewrite his room mates’ homework, changing it to mean statements about the other boys. At 13, after reading Oliver Twist, well, the first half at any rate, he decided he wanted to earn how to pick pockets, as well as locks. This led to his 14 year old charade: during the middle of the night, he would break into other students rooms, and switch their things, like clothing, or shoes. This would be particularly amusing when in the morning the unknowing victims would complain that their shoes, sweater, shirt, whatever, did not fit the way it had yesterday. After about five months, he was seen leaving a room not his at three in the morning with the poor boys’ shoes in hand. That was the first time he was expelled.
His parents flew in, met with the headmaster, and placated him by promising an endowment to the library. The delighted headmaster was so happy, he shrugged the whole thing of with “Boys will be boys”. That was when he decided to see how far he could take it.
Midera was his fourth school in three years. Bored, he looked around the room at the various pictures of alumnus of the school. Prominent lawyers, businessmen, politicians, and doctors stared back. This was a school for the elite, the crème-de-la-crème. Each graduate the heir to a family fortune, a place in society, and above all, a name. “You are a Harris, above all else,” was his fathers’ favorite lead into his speech on how Jason should dedicate himself to his studies, not mischief making. Jason sighed, not relishing the thought of having to listen to that very speech again in a few hours. Looking over at his parents, his other finally caught his eye, a stern expression on her face telling him to behave himself. Dutifully, he sat up straight, and at least pretended to be engaged in the conversation. Just time, too, because that was when the headmaster and his father both got up and shook hands, his father promising that Jason would be a model student from hence forth.
“I’m sure of it,” came the reply from Headmaster O’Conner. “But just to ensure that he focuses on his school work instead of his own extracurricular activities, I’m putting Jason on academic probation, at least until his grades show significant improvement.” The last was said looking straight at Jason, as if it was supposed to scare him. The actual effect was simply a string of curse words, followed by an immediate turning of his mind to concocting the perfect revenge. His hand felt cold, hard, an exact reflection of the man who owned it.
Jason’s parents again thanked O’Conner for his understanding, and allowing Jason to continue at the school, then all three turned to leave. Jason had almost escaped the stares of all the men he was supposed to be when he heard O’Conner’s voice once more.
“Oh, and Jason, I’ll be by later to help you move your things to your new room.”
Stunned, Jason turned. “New room?”
The smile on the headmasters’ face would have made a snake envious. “Weren’t you paying attention? Your parents and I decided you would be rooming with Frederick Haney for the remainder of the year. I’ll be around to your room at about,” he glanced at the shiny Rolex on his wrist, one of the bribes given by his father to him the last time Jason was expelled, “oh, say, four o’clock?”
A quick glance at the clock on the wall next to the door told Jason that would be in a little over an hour. This is not good, he thought. His father was going to lecture him for a majority of that hour, leaving him about 10 minutes to re-hide his more sensitive possessions in boxes or books before the headmaster showed up to “supervise”. This is sooo not good.
“See you in an hour, Jason.”

An hour later, Jason was scrambling. His father had finally left, and he had only a few minutes left before the headmaster came in. Playboys were hidden by folding pants around them, and gram bags were shoved into socks before being rolled up. His lock-picking kit, or rather, the one not confiscated, was hidden on his own person, sure the headmaster wouldn’t frisk him. He had it in his shoe, though, just in case. Hectic now, his gaze darted around the room, trying to figure out what to do with his beer. Right when he decided to try and see if it would fit in his shoes, O’Conner walked in, unannounced.
“Ah, Jason, I see you’ve started packing. Let me guess, you’ve hidden away your drugs, alcohol and porn, but haven’t started on anything else?”
Straight faced, Jason replied, “You forgot the women, sir. I’ve packed them away, too.”
“Oh, yes, how forgetful of me, the women. I wish you the best of luck trying to fit them into your suitcases, however. I doubt they will fit.”
“They’re midgets.”
O’Conner searched his face, looking for some indication of anything, but Jason had perfected that unreadable expression years before coming to Midera. “Well,” he said finally, “let’s get the rest of your stuff packed and moved. There’s a trolley outside that you can put your suitcases on.”
The move took nearly four hours, mostly because Jason was trying to direct O’Conner’s attention to other things. Despite his efforts, however, the beer was found and confiscated. “Hmm, top shelf, too,” was the Headmasters comment as he bagged the alcohol, probably for himself, before giving Jason two weeks of detention. By the time he was finally moved in, Jason was exhausted. He didn’t even care that his new room mate was Frederick Haney. He’d deal with it tomorrow.

“Now, if you all would pass up your homework as you turn to page 240 in your books.”
That was Jason’s cue to fall asleep. Mrs. Hughes was one of those teachers who did not want to hear what you had to say unless you put serious thought into it, and the only students who put serious thought into Humanities were Claire and Katherine. That meant the next hour was nap time for anyone Mrs. Hughes, Claire, or Katherine.
Just as he was beginning to nod off, Jason felt something poke him in his right arm. Opening one eye, he looked over at Nicole.
“So, I saw Charles here yesterday,” she started off. Charles was Jason’s fathers’ personal assistant. “What did you do to get kicked out this time?”
Eyes closed once more, Jason began his dozing off process once more. “I broke into the Lockbox trying to get Travis’ I pod.”
“But why would you get Travis’ I pod back for him? Travis hates you.” You could just tell she was a blond by the voice, Jason thought.
“He never said he was getting it back for Travis,” came the voice from in front of him. This time, Jason opened both eyes, directing his attention to Vivianna . That girl deserved attention. She was the only other person at Midera who couldn’t understand why she was required to work so hard just because of a name she had inherited. Not to mention, she had the curves of a speedway.
Her head was still facing the front of the room but it was tilted, focusing on the discussion coming from the back. Trying to think of something witty or cool, Jason suddenly realized that someone else was calling his name: “Jason!”
Looking up, he saw that Headmaster O’Conner and Mrs. Hughes were standing together in the front of the room looking at him. Oh, crap, what now?
“Yes?” he asked, hoping that they might over look his inattention to the two of them.
“I would like to see you in my office, Jason.” O’Conner’s eyes were doing that hard flinty tare, like he was supposed to be impressed.
“Sure thing.”
“Now.”
“Absolutely.”
The two of them just stared at one another, daring the other to move first. Jason slowly sat back, a what now? expression on his face as he waited for O’Conner to crack. It was the giggles that brought O’Conner to say, “Jason,”
He smiled, knowing he had won, hoping that it would be enough to get him through whatever meeting O’Conner had planned this time. Jason grabbed his books, and started walking down the iale between the desks, looking back to make sure he hadn’t left anything. Viv caught his eye, and so he winked. She winked back. That would be enough to get him through this summons.

“Frederick says that you missed dinner last night,” O’Conner began.
What the hell is this all about? Thought Jason. He shifted in his seat, off balance, not knowing where this conversation was going.
“He also says that you slept all through study hall afterwards, and did not wake until 3 am, when you proceeded to go to the bathroom, then put away some more of your things, including,” here, O’Conner opened a desk drawer and took out “several pornographic magazines, and several bags of pot.” O’Conner looked across the desk at Jason, gloating. “You were very busy last night, weren’t you?”
“Apparently not busy enough,” Jason mumbled. Frederick took notes? On what he did? At three in the morning?
“Apparently not,” O’Conner continued. Sly bastard probably knows why I’m fuming, too, Jason thought bitterly.
“You’ve been to 3 classes this morning, and have only turned in one homework assignment. We aren’t slacking, are we?”
Not unless “we” are in school as well. “I’m sorry, just with all the excitement yesterday, I was unable to complete my assignments. I am fully prepared to take any failing grade for the missing assignments that my teachers deem accountable.”
“Try putting some emotion into that pretty speech next time,”
“Yes, sir.”
O’Conner sighed, exasperated.
“May I go now?”
“Yes, go, get to class, and Jason,” Jason turned, looking back to see O’Conner holding the notes on his activities last night, “try to get your homework done tonight.”
That prissy, power-gluttoned  SLAM!! “fucking son of a bitch thinks he can outsmart me, huh? Him and that snot nosed rat. We’ll see about that.”

Unfortunately, it seemed that O’Conner had outsmarted him, he reflected a few weeks later. Every time Jason did anything, it got back to O’Conner. It didn’t matter what he did to try to tie up Frederick so that he couldn’t catch him doing anything, the kid always seemed to find out. Even when he would get out of bed at odd hours of the morning, check to see if he was still sleeping, then come back to find him still in bed, his night’s activities would always make it back to O’Conner.
“It’s driving me insane!” he snarled at Vivianna during study hall one night. “Every time, every god damn time! I just don’t know how I can take it any more. I’m going to explode!”
Shrugging, she replied “You just need to find his weakness. That, or kill him.” Turning back to her work, she suddenly jerked her head back up. “Did you know that Frederick used to leave “anonymous” love notes to my roommate, Caitlin? She’s kept them all, god only knows why. I could get my hands on them, if they would help…”
“I’m desperate. Yeah, I’ll look through them. Maybe that will give me some kind of leverage.”
As Vivianna went back to work, Jason kept thinking, wracking his brain for something, anything that would get him even with Frederick, and get back at O’Conner.

In class the next day, Viv passed the notes back under the worksheet to Jason. “There you go,” she whispered. “Hope that helps.”
“Hope what helps?” asked Nicole.
“None of your damn business.” The words sounded almost animalistic.
“Jason,” the two syllables seemed to say relax, instead of his name. “I made Jason a study sheet, since he isn’t doing well in class.” Vivianna said to answer the question.
“Oh.” Nicole seemed to pout for a second before continuing, “I could have made you a study sheet, Jason.”
“Not if I wanted to pass, no you couldn’t. Now leave me alone, so I can read my, study sheet.”
He started sifting through the slips of paper:
When I think of you, I think of philosophy…
Your eyes, your hair, true love can’t compare…
Mine eyes have seen nothing as lovely…
Together, we can spend eternity…
Just as he was about to give up, Jason found one worth his time:
Without you, life is not worth living
Should you decide to take another instead of me
I think I would die
And go someplace where we could be together for all eternity
Jason sat back, thinking for the rest of class.

As they were leaving, Vivianna asked, “Find anything?”
“I’ll let you know.”

For the rest of the day, Jason thought about that one note, and the different interpretations it could have. But he kept coming back to the same thing: I could kill him, and with this note, make it look like suicide. This was a big step. Yeah, he hated the kid, and yeah, he wanted him off his back, but that didn’t mean he wanted to guy dead. On the other hand, Frederick had no problem ratting him out to O’Conner for weeks, and if that was what it took to get his freedom back, than was it worth it?
He mulled over the problem for two days, until finally, during study hall, Viv asked, exasperated, “What is it? You’ve found something, I know it.”
He hesitated. It was one thing to think about it in your head, but another to actually say it in front of someone else. Making his decision, he said slowly, “I think I have.”
“Well? What is it?”
Looking around, he passed her the note. She looked up quickly once she finished reading it. “You know,” she said casually, “if this note were found next to his dead body, which was laid out upon Caitlin’s bed, I think everybody would just assume that all that rejection had got to him.”
Jason looked at her, stunned. “How could you know that was what I’ve been thinking?”
She just shrugged. “It was pretty obvious you were angry and frustrated enough to do it. This,” she pointed to the note as she slid it back over to him, “gives you someone else to pin the blame on. Plus,” she grinned, “anyone who’s roommate dies suddenly gets an instant grade boost, you know, to help make up for the tragedy.” She sat back, watching him intently. “So, what do you need?”
“Huh? Why do you want to know?”
“Well,” she continued calmly, “you can’t go out and get whatever it is you need without Fred telling O’Conner, and what do you think is going to happen when O’Conner sees that he is dead using the same supplies you yourself bought? You are going to need an intermediary.”
Taking a deep breath, Jason made his decision. Fred had to go. Looking over at his new partner in crime, he said, “I’ll let you know tomorrow.”
That night, he thought about it, trying to plan out what would be the best way to kill him so that it looked like suicide. Around 2:30, he was brought out of his ponderings when Frederick asked from across the room, “So, what plans of mischief are you working on now?”
What the hell does he know?!? “What do you mean?” That’s it, just play it cool.
“For the past 7 weeks you have been trying to find some way to get around me, and continue with your little schemes of upheaval. I’m just wondering if it really has taken you this long to discover you can’t win. I will always figure out what you are doing. To tell the truth, I never thought you this stubborn. I was sure you would have given up by now.”
“You know Frederick, you’re right. I can’t win. I’m glad we have had this discussion. It has really straightened me out. From now on, I’m never going to do any of my little petty schemes again. Think we can be best friends now?” Jason rolled over to his side, so that he could stare at the wall. He could still hear him, though.
“You think you’ve got it all, don’t you? Not only are you here, but you can’t get kicked out, because your parents are worth more than nearly anyone else’s. Well, I’m here to let you know that you won’t get away with everything. Soon, I’ll be able to convince Headmaster O’Conner to keep you from your friends, even that Vivianna of yours. Then you’ll wish you could get kicked out.”
Thanks for making this so much easier, Jason thought, and went to sleep.

In class the next morning, Jason slipped a piece of paper under his homework as he passed it up to be collected. Viv quickly read it, then slipped it into her notebook. Neither one spoke for the rest of class.

Study hall had found a new purpose. The two would though out ideas as to how to finally get it done, and how they were going to convince Fred to not only lay off Jason’s back, but get him to Caitlin and Viv’s room at the appointed time. It was Vivianna’s idea to ask Caitlin for help.
“We wouldn’t have to tell her the whole plan,” she remarked, “just that we need Frederick’s attention else where while we sneak off together, or something like that. Caitlin owes me for all the times I helped cover for her and Travis, so it’s the least she could do.”
After hours of arguing, it was agreed that Caitlin was the best angle. She would start responding to Frederick’s messages, encouraging him. Apparently, it was working, because not long afterward, Frederick asked Jason for advice.
“You want to know what?” Jason looked up from the book he had been reading.
“I want to know if Vivianna had mentioned my name. Or maybe, if she mentioned that Caitlin mentioned my name.”
“Not that I’m aware of. Do you want me to ask Viv?”
“Ask her what?” Fred responded, nervously.
“Look,” Jason replied patently, “it’s pretty obvious that you and Caitlin have a connection. Maybe it’s time one of you, you know, did something about it.”
Frederick looked shocked, then, smiled. “You’re right. Did something about it. Yes, you’re right.”
Smiling to himself, Jason turned back to his book. “Yeah, do something about it.”

“ “It’s pretty obvious that you and Caitlin have a connection”?!”
Jason flushed a little before retorting, “Well, what was I supposed to say?”
Viv just rolled her eyes. “Boys.”
“Besides, now we can move ahead. Lets say, Caitlin extends an invitation for him to come to your room, on say, Thursday, and he comes, thinking that they are going to “do something”…”Yes, this is it, he thought, this is really going to happen.
“No, not Thursday, tell him to come Wednesday.”
“Okay…why Wednesday?”
“O’Conner will be visiting Hyde Wednesday night, so he won’t be here.” Vivianna had been sneaking into the office to see O’Conner’s appointments lately, as well.
“Alright then, Wednesday. Sure you want to go through with this?”
Grim set with determination, she replied in a hard voice, “More than you know.”

The trap was set. Vivianna had “passed on” the invitation from “Caitlin” to Jason, who in turn passed it onto Frederick.
“So, what does it say?” He asked, jumping up onto his own bed.
Suspiciously, Frederick looked across the room. “Why do you want to know?”
Jason just held up his hands to ward off the verbal attack. “Hey, I’m just the guy who delivered the thing to you. Don’t I receive compensation for it?’
Fred tossed him a quarter. “There. Happy.”
“Ooo, yay, a shiny quarter.” Jason lay back, flipping the quarter in the air, waiting until tonight.

Study hall that night was a blur. Sure, Jason knew what he was saying, as he and Viv recited the plan over and over, making sure they had everything planned down to the minute. In the back of his mind somewhere, Jason knew his plan was flawless. Perfect. Deadly. But he seemed so unaware of what was going on. It was his game face. Finally, the two conspirators left, and got ready to put words into action.

In the room, Frederick seemed just as jittery as Jason should have felt. Or at least, as jittery as Jason might have felt. In reality, Jason was calm, excited, in an anticipatory way, but calm. Never having actually killed anyone before, he figured he should only feel that sense of panic if it was wrong, or difficult. This was neither. This was right. This was easy. This was both easy and right. Jason lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, listening to Frederick in the bathroom, worrying about tonight. Finally, knocked on the door.
“Fred?”
Frederick opened the door. “Jason, you have to help me. Which one makes me look more…mature?” He held out two shirts in his hand so similar in color, Jason thought this might be a trick.
“Umm, that one?” He pointed to the shirt on the right.
“That’s what I thought, ok, thanks.” Fred turned back to the mirror. “Yeah, this one.”
“Yeah, ok, well, I’m going down to the infirmary. Not feeling too hot. I think I ate something bad.”
“Ok, see you later.” Distracted, Frederick turned back to the mirror.

Jason went down to the basement, going for the janitors exit. It was the only door not watched in the dormitory. All he had to do was sneak down two floors, and three hallways without getting caught before he was there. Offhandedly, he wondered how Frederick was going to do this. Was he also going to come down here? Or did he know of some other way to sneak out? Or did he not even need to sneak out, but just go out the front door, gracefully allowed due to who he was? Whatever, just as long as he gets there.
He crept close to the building until he reached the corner closest to the girls’ dormitory. Looking back and forth for anyone who may happen to be walking by, he then walked briskly towards the back exit. The girls’ dorm was notorious for having more people watching it inside at night, but they all seemed to be rather forgetful. Often, not all of the doors were locked at night, and sometimes, none at all. Tonight, the first door he tried was open. Quickly taking the stairs to the third floor, Jason ducked into a lounge to avoid one of the teachers making rounds, before continuing to Vivianna and Caitlin’s’ room. Seeing the low light coming from beneath the door, he soundlessly entered, and closed the door behind him.
“Don’t you know it’s impolite to enter without knocking?”
Turning, Jason saw Viv sitting at her desk. “My bad, next time, I’ll knock. Maybe even Ms. Finch will hear it while she’s doing her rounds again.”
“I’ll forgive you this one time.”
Looking around, he asked, “So, where’s the roomy?”
“Out with Travis somewhere. Don’t worry, everything is going to go as planned. The rope is over in the closet, if you want to get it out now.”
Jason got out the rope, and started to unwind it. “Why don’t you do that in the bathroom? He should be here any minute.”
Silently, Jason turned, and went into the bathroom. We are doing this. This is actually happening. He looked at the noose he held in his hands, listening through the door for when Vivianna was going to let Frederick into the room. There! The door opened, he could here it. But that was a females’ voice, not Viv’s, but Caitlin’s. What is she doing here? Then, that was Travis’ voice. Travis? Too low to make out any words, there seemed to be some alarm in his voice though. Phew! Phew! And the sound of two heavy something’s hitting the floor. What the hell was going on in there? Jason put his hand around the door knob, ready to open it, when he heard a knock on the other door. OK, now what? He could hear Viv ask the knocker one minute, in a voice not like her own.
Suddenly, the door in front of him opened. “Change of plans. You’re going to have to throw the noose over his head as soon as he walks in.”
“Viv, what the hell is going on…” the bodies on the floor stopped him. Caitlin and Travis lay there, refusing to get up. Couldn’t get up. Didn’t have that thing called life which could allow them to get up.
“Look, I had to improvise. Fred is outside, he wants to be let in, get it together.”
Jason looked at her, and knew that this wasn’t improve. The gun, with a silencer? These two, dead, right before Frederick showed up? He looked at her, who, he didn’t even know.
She recognized that look instantly. Not sorry in the least, she hissed “I had to do it. We had to give a motive better than the wanted her. A double murder-suicide throws all suspicion onto him. There won’t be any kind of investigation what so ever. Now do we finish this, or not?”
Stunned, he nodded. Giving him one more stern look, she threw her shoulders back, and turned towards the door. It was over faster than any of them could have thought. The noose, thrown over, the quick tightening, a minute of struggling, and extra minute of pressure to make sure, and it was over.
Jason carefully laid her body down. Then he sat down, and waited.