Having woken to no power and still unable to contact the staff, I had decided that food was the next challenge to sort, then I could keep trying to find a member of staff. The snow had made everything bright and pristine and I had smiled to myself as I made my way to the kitchens, giggling as I had walked in a circle at how beautiful it all looked.

I had gathered some supplies that wouldn't spoil that I could snack on and eat without heating up, and was getting ready to leave and go back to my room when a noise had made me whirl round and I jump as four boys are suddenly standing in front of me, blocking my way.

"Who are you?" the dark haired scowler asks and I take a step back in reaction to his tone of voice.

"Ivo, you're scaring her" the blond to his right warns.

"Who are you?" he repeats again, still no softness to his voice.

"I'm a student here, I got caught in the storms and couldn't get home" I whisper out, edging sideways, away from them, wanting the worktop between us.

"I've never seen you before" he hisses, his eyes narrowing "Prove it!" he orders.

I look at him, what the hell, what does he mean prove it, how the hell am I supposed to do that, I know who they are, after the initial shock of seeing someone else here other than myself I had recognised them... That was it.

Straightening my back to stand taller, I face him down, "You are Ivo Devereaux, Rupert Brietmeyer, Thaddesus Szell and Topper Forbes Adam, we share a philosophy class with Professor Coombes, every Wednesday first period after lunch" 

The blond breaks first, his laugh filling the cavernous room and the other three all look shocked.

"So you are stuck here as well" the blond says "Well you had better stay with us, we are trying to find out where the staff are and the problem with the power"

"Thad!" Ivo hisses again.

Shaking my head, I take a step back again "No... no thank you, I will be fine by myself, I have the walkie talkie and will keep trying to contact Mr Jon..."

"You have a walkie talkie, how, from where, give it to me" Ivo starts towards me and they all freeze as I rush backwards automatically.

"Sorry" Ivo mutters out, before taking a deep breath "May I try?" he asks holding his hand out.

I inch forward and pass the walkie talkie to him, before stepping back away from them all.

Ivo is soon busy with Topper bent over trying to get someone to reply. Topper changing the channels just in case between tries. I fidget as I wonder if I should just leave it with them and escape back to my room. I look around at the best way out.

The other two boys, Thad and Rupert are watching me and I dip my head, allowing my hair to fall forward shielding my face.

"Don't run. We are safer together, until we managed to sort the power or get hold of the staff" Thad tells me softly, holding his arms open... I think he is trying to show me he is no threat but I don't know him well enough to trust that.

"What's your name?" Rupert asks, his eyes watching my every move.

"Per" I whisper out.

"Per what?" he pushes with a small smile.

"Per Brooke-Bennett" I tell him and flush a little at the speculation in his eyes.

"Pharmaceuticals?" he asks and I nod, looking away, feeling the tension at his recognition, I understand why he recognises the surname, his family is in a similar work area, as are the Forbes Adam family.

"Why are you still here?" Thad asks and I wish they would stop asking questions.

"Why are you?" I ask in return and they both smile at me, causing me to take another step back. I can feel the fridge now at my back and know I have no more space to take.

"Whats going on?" Ivo's voice brings me out of my focus on the other two boys and I freeze as he steps right up next to me, looking back at his friends.

"I was just telling Per, we are safer together and not to run" Thad tells him and I feel Ivo's dark gaze scan across me slowly.

"Why would you run?" he questions, sounding confused.

"Because i don't know any of you, why would being with you be safer?" I argue back softly and watch as his brows raise and see a flash of something cross his face.

""When did you start at The Glen?" Rupert asks, taking a step closer "I know you say we share a class but before today I've never seen you before"

I huff, my eyes narrowing at him "I've been here just over a year" I tell them with a bite to my tone and he shares a surprised look with the others. 

"Why haven't we noticed you before then?" Rupert ask confused.

"You have" I grate out, conscious that they now surround me and I am trapped with nowhere to go. "We were all in Economics aside from Philosophy, last term" I tell them and he shakes his head, I know his mind is searching through the class members, there weren't that many of us, and I know when he remembers.

"You were at the back of the room" he says and I nod.

"The Nerd" Thad mutters from behind them.

I grin, that term has never been a true insult for me, I enjoy being called a nerd, people leave me alone to study and don't expect me to be social or join in.

"Doesn't matter anyway, you're coming with us" Ivo declares and I watch as the other nod their agreement.

"No, I don't think so" I say, looking for a gap to get away from them. I just need one of them to give me a space and I will run, I know I can be fast and one I'm back in the dorm I can lock the door.

"Grab some supplies" Ivo instructs the others and Topper and Thad move towards the larders, giving me a chance.

"PER!" I hear Rupert shout as I take the opportunity to run, leaving the walkie talkie and my bag of provisions behind, I just want to be away from them.

"PER Stop!" Ivo joins in but i'm moving and I am not planning to stop till I am clear of them.

I scream as I feel arm close around my waist and I am lifted to a stop, my struggles unbalancing us both and then we are falling and twisting. With an oomf I land held against a hard body that took the brunt of the fall into the snow.

I can hear the others joining us but my eye are locked on the boy holding onto me. "Let me go" I push hard against him.

"No" he growls and rolls us, the snow now forming around us like a giant distorted snow angel, his hands come up to pin my arms down and I feel a moment of panic as I can't move before the feeling of his body against mine stirs a new feeling. I freeze under him, feeling everywhere we are connected even through the thick clothes we are both wearing. I swear I can feel his heat.

"Ivo" Rupert warns from above us.

Ivo looks down at me and I can see the determination in his eyes. "You will stay with us until both the power returns and we know for sure there is support on this damn campus" he grates out. I struggle again in his hold and his grip tightens slightly, it's not painful but enough to remind me of who is in control here.

"Why, I can be safe in my dorm room" I tell him but he shakes his head.

"If the power stays off, the heating won't work and neither will our phones, the signal is bad usually, its totally gone now, We don't need to spend all our time worrying about you as well as ourselves or running all over campus to find you if help comes" he argues back.

I hate what he is saying but it makes sense. I nod briefly, shutting my eyes to their responses, not wanting to see.