Ryker frowned at Alexander’s formal stance. Once more, he found himself wondering exactly how tight of a leash Elanor West kept on her students. Though, he was sure he saw approval in the quick glance Karl spared the other boy.
	Ryker flinched at the sound of his name coming from a boy around his age. He opened his mouth to instinctively correct the name to one of his favored nicknames. A sharp warning glance from his mother made him shut it with a scowl, his eyes shifting closer to a deep emerald.
	“Hey,” he grumbled instead as Alexander looked him over. “So I gathered,” he interrupted with a smirk when the boy introduced himself, gaining a glower from Donna. This time, he ignored her. 
	When Alexander bid him to follow, Ryker sighed. His head tilted for a moment, noticing something slightly off with the way the boy headed toward the door. His steps were too… [i]deliberate.[/i] Forced.
	He started up the couple steps to the porch.
	“Ryker!” Donna gripped his arm, forcing him to a stop. “Hoodie!”
	Ryker’s nose scrunched in a snarl, and for a split second, his gaze shifted to so dark a green they looked nearly black.
	The woman startled slightly, but her hard gaze did not relent.
	 “[i]Fine,[/i]” he growled, wrenching from her grasp as Alexander disappeared inside. He turned from her. Taking a deep breath to push down the anger that had risen, he shrugged into his hoodie for show. 
	The soft fabric still felt strange on his weathered skin. Not bothering to zip it up, he stepped after Alexander. Light on his feet, he easily caught up with the other boy. He cast a quick glance behind him toward the door, making sure he was out of eyeshot, then quickly removed his hoodie. He rolled his eyes—already a couple shades lighter—at the ridiculousness of their resolve for him to wear a shirt. He held it once more by its hood and draped it over his shoulder.
	An extra sense of ease settled over him. Though forced indoors, at least he no longer had to put up with his parents. The number of filters he had to use had greatly diminished. An extra lightness entered his steps, and the tension that had built up in his shoulders released at the prospect.
	He followed Alexander silently, taking in his new surroundings. The place seemed suspiciously quiet for a school for difficult cases. All the same, Ryker ascended the stairs only a couple paces behind his new roommate.
	On the first landing, Ryker’s attention turned fully to Alexander. He eyed the boy curiously as he leaned against the railing and heaved a sigh that changed his entire stance. A relieved grin pulled at Ryker’s face; it had been an act.
	His eyes lightened as the next words out of Alexander’s mouth fully confirmed that suspicion. But the rest of his statement tinted Ryker’s joy with confusion.
	He glanced back in the direction of the door. “I [i]did[/i] get out of the car with ’em, didn’t I?” He shrugged, misunderstanding the statement. “But none taken. Can’t stand ’em, either. So, what’s the deal with Ms. Heatstroke?” He jerked his head toward the door, indicating the ill-dressed Elanor. He may as well take the opportunity to get to know who he was dealing with. “She as stuffy as she dresses?”