"I'm not rooming with that sociopath."

"If only you had a say in the matter."

"Whose place am I taking?" Neil asked, because both sides of the room were already decorated.

Jean stopped by one of the nightstands and gestured for Neil to come closer. "Look and see."

Neil moved up alongside him and regretted it almost immediately. Postcards of faraway cities both foreign and domestic were taped to the walls. Beneath each one were scraps of paper. Kevin's now-familiar scrawl listed dates and explanations for the travels. Most of them were games. Some indicated photo shoots and interviews. Books lined the shelves built into the headboard and Neil knew from skimming the spines they were Kevin's. Kevin was majoring in history for reasons Neil couldn't understand; these dry titles were the sorts of things he would find fascinating.

It gave Neil chills to see his space preserved like this. It was like Kevin had gone out on an errand, not that he'd transferred to another team entirely.

"Riko's in denial," Neil said. "Someone should tell him Kevin isn't coming back."

"You don't know anything," Jean said. "Put your things down and let's go."

Jean didn't wait for him but left. Neil dropped his duffel on Kevin's bed, spared a wary glance for Riko's side of the room, and caught up with Jean down the hall. A flight of stairs took them up one floor to the Ravens' locker room. Jean didn't give Neil time to look around but pushed him through a back door into the inner court. They came out right near the Home benches.

It was the Sunday before Christmas and the Ravens were on the court in full gear. Two line-ups were playing a rather brutal scrimmage while the remaining nine Ravens watched. Heads turned as Jean stepped up alongside the armored nine, and the Ravens looked past Jean at Neil. Their expressions ranged from cold disinterest to open hostility. Neil wasn't expecting a warm welcome, so he kept his attention on the court.

It wasn't long before a buzzer sounded and called an end to the match. Riko's team won by a three-point margin. The two line-ups met at half-court to critique each other's performances. The subs joined them to share what they'd noticed from the outside. The huddle lasted a good fifteen minutes, but finally the Ravens clacked sticks and filed off the court.

Riko pulled his helmet off as he stepped through the court door. "Luke, close down the scoreboard. Martin, get the lights. I have a guest to tend to, so take an early lunch. The master will be by shortly to check progress, so have your papers ready for him. Afternoon practice will start at the usual time."

The Ravens moved like a black river around Jean and Neil. Riko stopped in front of Neil to consider him, but summarily dismissed him in favor of Jean. "Show him his things. I will deal with him when I am showered."