Blood, Sweat, and Hanon - A Ranger's Apprentice fanfiction

Chapter Seven - Will

Will wakes up really early the next morning.

This is the first clue he's nervous, despite the fact that he won't admit it to himself. Will tends to sleep late, even if he has an alarm. 

The curtains are drawn across the windows on either side of his bed, but Will can tell it's still dark out. After tossing and turning for awhile, he gives up on going back to sleep. It's just not going to happen. 

He can hear Horace snoring from all the way across the room. Will's still hopping mad at him - Horace short-sheeted his bed last night. Will had been exhausted after orientation and the impromptu tour Gilan gave him of the surrounding area. To his frustration, he'd had to remake his bed before he could use it.

For a few moments, Will entertains a fantasy of stuffing a pillow over Horace's face. He quickly discards the idea because, though it's tempting, it's not worth it. Horace would just wake up and probably drop-kick Will into next week.

George is muttering in his sleep. Will's decided he likes George, and the taller boy seems to have decided to look out for Will, which Will heartily appreciates. It's nice to have someone to talk to - almost like a brother, Will reflects.

Will finally gets up. He grabs his shoes and sneaks out of the room, closing the door behind him. His watch says it's 5:30, and it's dark and silent in the hallways of the dorm.

Will waits until he's outside to put on his shoes. He sits on the front steps to tie his shoes, then stands up, looking around. He's never outside this early, and he has to admit it's kind of nice. It's cool and still out, and there are traces of pink in the sky. The sun isn't up yet, but it's light out enough to see clearly.

"What are you doing up so early?"

Will turns to see Alyss standing there, her violin case slung over her shoulder. She's wearing skinny jeans and a light gray shirt with a longer blue sweater, and her long blonde hair is pulled out of her face into a french braid.

Will shrugs. "I woke up early and couldn't go back to sleep."

"Me, too," Alyss says. "I'm too excited to sleep, so I figured I'd head over to the Conservatory and get some practice in before breakfast. What about you?"

"It's probably a good idea for me to get a little bit of practice in, too. My lesson is later, and I need to be as prepared as possible."

Alyss nods. "Same. I want to be really prepared for Mrs. DuLacy this afternoon."

"You got into her studio?" Will says, impressed.

"Yes," Alyss says, her eyes shining. "Sorry, I thought you already knew, but I guess I didn't see you after orientation last night. Anyway, my name somehow got left off the audition results list, so I went to administration to see if I could find out, and they had me talk to Mr. Baron. He took me to see Ms. DuLacy, since I auditioned with her anyway, and she told me she'd placed me in her own studio."

"Congratulations!" Will says. He's really happy for Alyss. She seems happy, too.

"Thanks," Alyss says. "It's kind of a dream come true for me," she admits.

She begins to walk toward the Conservatory building, then turns back for Will. "Are you coming?"

Will has to run a few steps to catch up with her.

"Who's your teacher?" she asks him a few moments later.

"Halt O'Carrick, same as Gilan," he answers.

She's silent for a moment, thinking. "Hmm, I don't know much about him," she says.