The House Part 2

CHAPTER two in which we meet Marcus November
“Philip!” Marcus November called to Philip as he walked back into his room, “Where in God's Name have you been? Matt and John are out looking for you and I was this freaking close to calling the Foremen and getting them to search for you!”
“No! Don't call the Foremen!” Philip said urgently, picking up on the last that that Marcus had said, “Don't do that at all!”
“Dude,” Marcus said standing up from the kitchen table where he had been sitting and raising his eyebrows, “What's wrong?”
“Oh nothing.” Philip said evasively, pouring himself a cup of coffee “I was chosen as a 16 so I went and talked to Margret about it. I should have left a note but I was surprised and forgot. It really isn't all that dramatic.”
“You're a 16?” Marcus said still studying Philip.
“Yep.” Philip said taking a sip of his coffee, “That means we'll get better quarters now.”
“Okay cut it, Philip, just cut it.” Marcus said, shaking his head, “What is going on? And don't tell me nothing because I've been your roommate for seven years and I know when you're not right. So tell me, what is going on?”
“Just nervous about the 16 thing.” Philip said taking another sip of his coffee, trying to appear casual.
“It's Margret isn't it?” Marcus said, “You have a thing for her.”
“What?! No!” Philip protested.
“Come on man,” Marcus said “You've had a thing for her since we were kids. So what happened today?”
Philip sighed and decided to tell Marcus the truth.
“Last Easter Margret and I got separated from the rest of the group remember?” Philip asked, setting his coffee cup down.
“Yeah,” Marcus nodded, “I remember. You said that you wandered around trying to find us until you finally just decided to go back to Floor 17.”
“Well,” Philip said, trying not to blush, “We didn't exactly get separated from the group.”
“Oh My God.” Marcus said. setting his coffee cup down on the kitchen table, “You broke Rule one?”
“She and I sneaked off to the History classroom.” Philip continued without acknowledging that Marcus, who was now staring at Philip in total shock, had spoken, “We went to talk but then things...got out of hand.”
“What the blazes were you thinking?” Marcus said, outraged, “Rule one isn't called Rule one because it's catchy; it's called Rule one because it's the first rule that the Founders made after founding the House. It's the law that our entire culture is built upon! And you go and break it with a 16 no less! If you guys get caught who do you think will be punished the most? Not the 16 I can tell you that! Lord Almighty Phil!”
“Marcus I think you're forgetting that I'm a 16 now.” Philip said trying not to get annoyed, “And it's fine. Nobody cares anymore.”
“Nobody cares anymore?!” Marcus said grabbing Philip's shoulder and staring into his eyes, “Dude, what have you been drinking? It is the single most important law on the books! You have to break it off and pretend like it never happened!”
“No I don't, Marcus.” Philip began but he was interrupted by Mathew January's entrance.
Matthew January was probably the least popular of the four boys who shared Room 1232 not because he wasn't kind, which he certainly was, but because he didn't fit neatly into any box. John was the intense intelligent one, Marcus was the voice of common sense and reason, and Philip was the funny charming one. Nobody was really sure how to describe Matthew. He was efficent but he never really stood out. He kept his head down and rarily caused trouble, though sometimes he would get very moody and aloof.
Marcus particularly got annoyed with Matthew's behavior sometimes.
“He's so boring..” Marcus would say sometimes to Philip, “I just want to walk up to him and say 'For God's Sake get a personality!'”
John, on the other hand thought that Matthew was very intelligent and they were quite friendly. They would often sit by the fire, drinking tea, and have loud discussions about politics. Marcus and Philip hated politics and would always find an excuse to leave the room once these discussions began.
“Philip!” Matthew cried, “Where the blazes were you?”
“I was made a 16 so I went to talk to Margret about it.” Philip said, glancing at Marcus, “I should have left a note for you guys, sorry.”
“So you really aare a 16?” Marcus asked, shooting Philip a look that clearly said that their conversation was far from over. “That is super cool, man. What time do you have to go down?”
“Let's see...” Philip said pulling out the letter, “Um.....ten:30.”
“Dude!” Marcus said looking at the clock on the wall, “It's ten:15 now! You're going to be late!”
“Lord, you're right.” Philip said stuffing the letter back into his pocket, “Talk to you guys later!”
“Happy Birthday!” Matthew called to him as he rushed out the door.