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Lyndie let out a startled, animalistic grunt as her head jerked up from her desk. As soon as she spotted what, or rather, who had woken her up from her much-needed, much-deserved catnap, she frowned, eyes narrowing. The frantic, panicky voice of her assistant rang through her large office, making her roll her eyes. "Headmaster Lyndie! Don't you think you should be outside...you know..." the small woman paused, nervously shuffling her feet. "It is a new school year...surely there will be a lot of new faces...and you know with new faces always comes questions about...you know...dorm rooms and all of that...And I don't think right now is a good time to be sleeping..."
Wiping the drool from her chin, Lyndie leaned back in her chair and folded her arms over her chest. "Students should have all ready received their dorm assignments in the informational packets we sent out over the summer, correct?" Her assistant looked down. "I...you're right..." Lyndie smiled. "Of course I am! Now shouldn't you be out front, in case anyone does come with concerns?"

Lyndie chuckled at her neurotic assistant, nearly bursting out laughing as said woman turned on her heel, nearly crashing into the door. Once she could no longer her the clicking steps of her assistant, Lyndie rose with dignity. Leaning backward against her chair, to crack her back in all the right places, she let out a heavyhearted sigh. She looked out her large window, down onto the schoolyard, and the hoards of new, excited faces, and grinned, left hand twitching in joyous anticipation for the many demerit slips she was bound to fill out.
She leaned over her desk, and after clearing her throat, she gripped the handle of the small microphone in front of her computer. Clearing her throat once again, just to make sure all traces of sleep had been removed from her voice, she pushed down on the intercom button lazily. It was a moment after she had started talking that she heard herself speaking outside of the building, ringing across the schoolyard and throughout all the classrooms and all of the other buildings within campus grounds.

"Hello students, and welcome to another exciting year at Merryweather Academy! For the newbies, my name is Headmaster Lyndie, and I run this establishment. While the faculty and staff here, including myself, want your first day here to be filled with new friendships and excitement, we will not hesitate to give each and every one of you a demerit if needed. Childish behavior will not be tolerated, nor will fighting. If any of you shall come off as a threat to this school or any of its students, consequences will be severe. Please remember that their are no classes tomorrow, as the whole school will be participating in our first school-wide physical education class, starting at 9am sharp. Students who fail to show up will receive one demerit. Please remember that 3 demerits results in one after school detention. I will be in my office everyday from 7am to 7pm. If you need to speak to me, please fill out a form with Ms. Emma in the front office, and I will call you down over the intercom at my earliest convenience. You may also reach me in my private room, dorm building 1, room number 500, after hours for emergencies only. That being said, I sincerely hope everyone has a wonderful first day, and I will be checking your dorm rooms tonight for the first segment of my biweekly dorm-check. Thank you and have a great day."

Releasing the button, Lyndie sighed and fell back in her chair, hands immediately flying to her temples to assist the on-coming headache. She looked outside the large window and noted that the students who had previously stopped to listen to her speech, continued on with their previous journey. The sight of several boys chasing after each other, soccer ball leading the way, made her smirk. Briskly, she stood and walked out the door of her office, passed her neurotic assistant, and through the office doors out into the school yard. Maybe if she was lucky, she could catch someone smoking on school premises. In her left hand she was twirling a ballpoint pen, and in her right she was clutching yellow sheets of demerit slips.

'Day one.'

Maire hopped out of her parent's car, and blew them both one last kiss. "Love you guys, I'll remember to call every night!" She shut the door and took a deep breath before heading towards the large campus, roller suitcase behind her. The slight courage she had while saying bye to her parents was gone, and she was left paler than she already was. At first, she was tempted to hold herself with pride, courage, and self-confidence, but then she remembered something her mother always told her: "Don't try to be something you're not." So, keeping her words in her head, Maire trudged, head down, only looking up to make sure she was going the right direction. Amazingly, she managed to get into the dorm building, and then to her dorm room, without any problem such as meeting someone or falling flat on her face.
*Please be the first, please be the first...* She thought to herself, knowing that once she was in her dorm and reading or writing she wouldn't be bothered by a roommate. But if her roomie had made it there before her... She poked her head in and sighed in relief. "Good..." She breathed, going in and shutting the door, putting her suitcase in a closet. Hopping onto a top bed, she pulled out her notebook and pencil, proceeding to continue her story.

Xero pushed the dark door open and dragged himself out of the dark car. Lifting up his arms he stretched and looked back at the car. He stretched out a foot and slammed the door, not wanting to use his arms and ruin their stretching. He looked back and remembered that he needed the trunk to be opened so he could get his stuff. He didn't want to forget his clothes, did he?" He opened the door once more and leaned over to look in the car, but stopped himself and listened to the announcement. "Hey, Aaron. Can you open the trunk? I need to get my stuff." He straightened back up and closed the door. He leaned backwards and stretched his back, his shirt hanging from each side of his shoulder instead of on them.

- Gabriel(le) Quinn Sinclair –

She sat there silently, next to her grandfather in the car. Her small body was tense, hands balled into little fists on her lap while the silence persisted—it was an uncomfortable sort of quiet. Awkward and uncertain. But . . . between him and I, that’s how it always is. Gabriel reminded herself, her red eyes flickering over to the elderly man’s stern face, holding their gaze there for a moment before the man’s own eyes turned to her. A soft yelp came from her throat at this, her muscles tensing up as she looked away from him, and down to her feet. Face going red with embarrassment and shame, the little Halfling resorting to chewing on the inside of her cheek while awaiting whatever orders and words her grandfather had for her before she stepped out of the car, and took her first steps into her new life at Merryweather Academy.

“Haven’t I told you before that it is not your place to be timid?” he spoke, his voice terse.

The elderly Salamander’s authoritative voice sent a jolt through Gabriel’s body and she found herself inwardly flinching at his words, before opening her mouth up and forcing a response from her throat. “Y-Yes sir!”

Maxwell Sinclair’s head turned, slowly, and he fully looked upon his Halfling granddaughter, his own eyes showing no sadness that she was about to be gone from his life for the months to come. “Then Gabrielle, act with the pride your surname allows, do not shy away from the harshness you are certain to face in the coming days—you are the child of the Sinclair family. Even if you only possess diluted blood, you have in you the essence of our proud Salamander clan. Do not shame that.”

A soft sigh happened from the girl’s lips as she relaxed a bit, her head drooping as she heard his words, ‘diluted blood’ sticking with her the most. “I am sorry grandfather; I will do my best to act as you wish me to.”

His head turned away from her, “As I expect. Remember, here, you are to act the part of your name. The last heir of our line, the prideful son of the late Lucas Sinclair. Though your blood is not pure, you are strong and worthy of your name. Do not ever dare let anyone think otherwise by how you proceed.”

“Yes grandfather,” Gabriel tucked a bit of her short hair behind her ear, her words coming out softly. “I know what my place is here. I am Gabriel, the grandson of Maxwell Sinclair. Despite my human blood, I am a potent Salamander, my fire burns hot and the flames pure, I am a boy who is gifted in many ways. And, I am to never let anyone know of my weaknesses, nor shall I allow anyone to know the shame I inflict upon our name by having been born a girl.”

“Very good . . . now, it is time you leave.”

At his words, Gabriel turned her head and looked to her grandfather one more time, opening her mouth to say something to him before sighing a bit and simply electing to remain quiet. The last thing she wanted to do now was to enrage the man before leaving . . . she and him already didn’t get along as things were, and the last thing Gabriel felt like doing was upsetting him. I should just go. she thought, reaching out and setting her small hand on the door handle. The Halfling sat where she was for a moment though, turning and looking out the tinted windows of her grandfather’s limo. A glint of melancholy ran through her crimson eyes as she thought about what lay ahead of her, what her life was going to be, how she was going to be living. Mindful, secretive, always having to be on guard of the fact that she was female. . . .

She couldn’t act like a normal enough girl, hell, she couldn’t even dress like one. . . . Her hair was now short, and she herself was wearing clothes that barely stayed on her they were so baggy, a black shirt that’s neck hole hung off one of her shoulders, only to be covered by a white hoodie she could almost swim in. Along with a pair of black capri things that were barely staying on her by means of a belt—frankly, Gabriel looked like she was nothing more than a misanthropic little boy who didn’t know how to size his clothing. The only thing that did fit her were her black Converse . . . that was it though.

Things were going to be hard for her, very hard . . . but this was the way she had to live, right? Her grandfather was ashamed of her and the fact that she could not at all do anything worthwhile with her powers, so, it made sense that he didn’t want to put up with her anymore. Sending her away to ‘train’ seemed the best excuse to be rid of her. Haven’t I already come to terms with this? I know he wants next to nothing to do with me, only to make sure I don’t shame our family name.

Eliciting a soft sigh from her lips, Gabriel finally pulled on the door handle and popped the thing open before setting a foot onto the pavement below. Quickly she swung herself up and out of the back of the limo with a rather forlorn look on her face, she turned around and bent back into the car, grabbing onto her suitcase before looking at her grandfather again. Swallowing she turned her gaze away from him and spoke one last time, “Farewell grandfather, I-I wish you the best.”

To this, the elderly man merely nodded as his granddaughter backed out of the car and proceeded to shut the door herself. Gabriel stood there, at the entranceway to Merryweather Academy, watching the black limo pull away slowly, her shoulders drooping. It was time for her to face her new life as a boy head on, wasn’t it? Yes . . . it was unfortunately.

Breathing in very deeply, Gabriel steeled herself as she went ahead and spun around on the heel of her new shoes and looked upon the impressive school which was going to be her home for coming year. Hauling her suitcase up from the ground with a slight groan, the Halfling began her trek forward onto the campus grounds. All around her were people her age, a montage of teenagers whose heritages Gabriel could only imagine. Part of the girl could only wonder if some of them were Halflings, like herself. . . . Unfortunately, Gabriel had arrived a bit too late to hear the Headmaster’s announcement, but it weren’t as if she was someone who was going to be of much trouble.

“I guess . . . getting to my dorm room would be the best course of action to take first.” She mumbled to herself, stopping in place for a moment. A slight breeze blew through the campus, rousing Gabriel from her thoughts as it caught some of her too short hair. Sighing before shaking her cranium, Gabriel nodded to herself, “Yes, dorm first, other things come later.” A placid look upon her face, she adjusted the heavy suitcase in her hand before taking off in a rather hasty walk, walking toward the dormitory building. Luckily for her, Gabriel had already gotten over the whole thought pattern of how awkward it was going to be living in the same building as a bunch of teenage boys, as well as probably sharing a room with one. While it would indeed be uncomfortable for her, it probably wouldn’t seem so for whoever she lived with, as far as said person would know, she would be a he.

Walking through the halls of the building, Gabriel mentally recited her dorm number to herself as she passed by every room that was not hers . . . when she finally did come across good old number 219, she stopped in place and looked at the door for a moment before actually moving toward it. Turning the doorknob, Gabriel stepped inside what was now her new home, her head down. When she realized the room was quiet, that she were alone, she turned her gaze up and looked around the room before breathing a breathe of relief, entering the dorm fully, shutting the door behind her.

“Guess I got here first . . . or I don’t have a roomie?” she murmured to herself, moving to stick her suitcase on one of the lower bunk beds, she unzipped the thing while a blank look overtook her face and began digging through it, looking for the book she had been reading before having to leave. Frankly, Gabriel just did not feel like unpacking right now.

As soon as the novel was located, the Halfling hopped onto the bed she had inadvertently staked as her own, crawled back to the wall and situated herself against it so she was comfortable before cracking open the book and proceeding to pick up from where she had left off last.

Aaron took the keys out of the ignition and opened the trunk using the pulley at the bottom. He stepped outside of the car, closing the door behind him and locking it. Aaron opened the trunk wide and grabbed his duffel bag filled with his belongings. He sighed and looked at the academy as he heard the announcements being made, glancing at some of the few students that were hanging around the front. He always kept his guard up, even if they were at "home", and Aaron even made sure that his brother's classes were close to his own. The only thing that he was worried about was if Xero's roommate was good enough to hang around with. As Aaron slung his bag over his shoulder, he looked over at Xero for confirmation," Savvy's Bistro at three then?" Already knowing what Xero was going to say, he continued to walk on. One of the best things Aaron enjoyed about being a vampire was the ability to mind read, especially his own brother, being the fact that he was already used to Xero's thoughts, it didn't give him much effort to use his power but then again he didn't always go through people's mind. He did understand the meaning of privacy and let it be at that, plus on a side note , there always were a few thoughts he didn't enjoy knowing especially in the guy's dorms.

DELTA hated the summers more than anything, well to a point he figured. It was the time when he had to actually leave his school and return to what became his home since his transformation. A run-down legally leased warehouse owned by a scientist from the government, that often left DELTA thinking that the old guy made more than half that crap up. The same scientist who now acted as his adoptive father, being proud of his only success at integrating cybernetics with human life, was sitting in the front seat of their junk van. DELTA took up the entire back and was feeling quite squished, his 8'3" body having to hulk and hunch against the roof of the vehicle just to fit in.

It was these few times when he was actually happy of his congenital Analgesia because he could only imagine the discomfort of having to sit like that for hours on end as he was required too. He was quickly jostled from his thoughts as the van snapped to a stop. They were there. With a sigh of relief he quickly pushed the van doors open and managed to slowly slide his way out, rising to his full height. He looked forward towards the impressive building and at the groups of fellow students running around, he really wasn't ready to accept that it was his last year here and would have to talk about that with the headmaster.

Of course, less important things were going to distract him like the small groups of freshman who hadn't seen him before. As he walked from the curb of the street and onto the property of the school he didn't even look back at the van that had pulled away. Instead his gaze was already focused downwards at some kids who were literally looking up to him. The sight always amused him, and saddened him somewhat, being 8'3" And just a little more than half robotic wasn't exactly normal nor something you seen everyday. The fact that the majority of his body was made of some unknown material and due to such he didn't really have any clothing on, and because he was wearing his full face helmet that he often did when outside of his summer home only made him stick out more. Which of course made it harder to fit in except with certain crowds.

One of which approached him and gave him some casual pats on the back, his schools football club, or at least the returning members of which, all of whom seemed glad enough to have him as a defensive back. Their greeting was short, just a few how was your summers, pats and playful punches and they were on their way, and so was he as he headed into the building.

Jensen stepped out of his shiny, silver car, rolling his eyes at the many looks and stares and whispers he had gotten as soon as he drove the fine piece of machinery into the student parking lot. While he had attempted to beg his father into letting him take something less... noticeable, his father had insisted on their brand new Lotus Evora. Like he needed any more attention focused at him?
Oh wait...that's right. He liked it.

He popped the trunk and slammed the drivers door shut. But not first without a fatherly, "Adrial, aren't you getting out of the car?" just to taunt the aforementioned brother of his. Jensen knew his brother disliked the idea of transferring schools, especially as he was a senior, and had the social capability of a 2-year old, but he would never in a million years pass up the opportunity to torment him. He was older, after all.

Even if it was only by a minute.

He grabbed 2 small, carry-on suitcases from the trunk, it being all they had, or rather, all they could fit in the trunk, and closed the hood firmly. Swiftly, he moved over to the passengers side of the car, and tapped his long, tan fingers on the passengers window.

"What's wrong, Adri?" He taunted. "Can't function without mommy and daddy holding your hand? Get out of the car, loser."

It was so odd returning to Merryweather. The campus was impressive, nicely wooded and clean, it was great place for the more adventurous people. Uhuepo was so happy to be back, he couldn't wait, he loved being around people so much that it made him happy just to see others. his diminutive height was laughable, he himself would often burst out laughing at himself.

As his mother's prius jerked to a stop, he couldn't help grinning at this mother. For all her ideas on safety, and the various ways to be safe, she was the worst driver on the road. He pushed the door open with his bony arms before the final halt, and stood on shaky legs regaining his balance, as his mother stepped out on her side. He was so small that he still needed a booster seat, and even that was in the back.

As he heard the trunk of the blue car pop open, he couldn't help but chuckle, everything was so big compared to him, it made him laugh. His mother picked up his baggage, light as it was, and dropped it on the ground. He walked over to her leg, and waited for her to kneel down to embrace him one last time, for the months to come.

He dutifully pecked her on her cheek and half carried, and half dragged his duffle across the ground. He could have easily folded himself inside of it and let someone else carry it for him, but he always enjoyed the looks people gave him. All around him, he kept seeing the looks he so enjoyed and smiled again, pulling his luggage behind him as he traversed the courtyard.

He had already memorized his dorm number, so he had no need to worry about taking his small hand off his luggage to check the paper that was carefully folded in his pocket.

As he crossed the yard, he saw many others that were in the same situation as him, those leaving their parents, and finding their way to their rooms. He had attended the school before, so he knew to way easily enough, so he made a bee-line to his room, rushing to get the top bunk and make sure he could stow his things in the lowest drawers. Something about that arrangment always made him laugh, the fact that he chose the highest point in the room, just to be the same height as everyone else, and the lowest point in the room to make sure he could see his belongings. And he didn't hold back now, he loosed an enthusiastic laugh as he continued walking.

In a short time he made it to his room, and he was the first one. He struggled his door open, and dragged his things inside, throwing it against the drawers on the dresser.

While Avie was sure that she'd see some of the faces she knew and loved from last year, there was still a hint of nervousness laced in the pit of her stomach and it became evident when she tried unfolding the neatly pressed, white piece of paper in her hands. Shaking fingers slid along the edges, fumbling with the close as she absentmindedly made her way through the schoolyard, tripping over empty fast-food beverage cups and other such items.
But it was to be expected from the first day. Sometimes the excitement was even too much for her, and that was quite the accomplishment, coming from a living, breathing energizer bunny.

Finally, after moments of struggling, Avie got the damned paper open, and her viridian eyes scanned the black print with little interest, before she turned on her heel, away from her original destination, the cafeteria, to the dormitories, deciding that she needed to get her stuff settled before the dorm-check her Aunt was planning that evening.
While her and her Aunt usually spent the summer at their beach-front summer home, and Avie had nothing to complain about, it would often get lonely, and Avie couldn't wait to go back to school where she was among friends. But admittedly, it was a pain in the butt to move all of her belongings from a spacious room into a small cramped room.

In seemingly no time at all, Avie found herself in front of her dorm, room 218 and, having left it unlocked from her first visit before, turned the handle. The heavy door opened with ease and Avie slipped inside, noting that in her absence, no one had arrived. She made a quick stop in front of the large mirror hanging on the wall opposite of the set of bunk beds and untied her long, sea foam green hair from its pig-tail confinements. Flopping down on her previously claimed bed, Avie closed her eyes and decided that, even if just for a moment, she would take advantage of the peace and quite, and take a nap.

She was out cold in seconds.

It had been an hour long ride and Jeri Garland was both relieved and secretly terrified that she had finally at the school. She stepped out of the car to get a better look and to grab her luggage. The size of it made her anxious. her father helped her get her duffle bag and suit case then gave her a kiss on the cheek. "I hope this school will help you J.J. Promise me you'll try to make some friends while you are here?" He said with a sympathetic smile on his face. She grinned back proudly.
"Of course daddy. This school will be just what I need."
"Don't forget to try and make a boyfriend while your at it! Or maybe even girlfriend we won't judge." Her "mother" said rubbing Jeri's hair
"Thanks but no thanks mom. First things first is that I need to figure out my power. Fawning over a guy-"
"-or girl" Her mother butted in.
"That too..." She said embarrassed. "Now I should go. I kind of want to see my dorm before my roommate shows up." She gave them both a hug and got a better grip on her things. As she made her way inside, an announcement on the speaker seemed to have just finished. She shrugged and turns hallways until finding her way to room 120, her dorm. Jeri was relieved to be able to reach the room before her roommate, so she could properly settle in. It wasn't anything spectacular to be sure but that didn't bother her.
Jeri set her bags in the closet and laid down on the bottom bunk of her room. She turned to her side and started to daydream, about her family, about the school and even about what her roommate would be like? Would she be normal? Than again, in a school for people like her, what could even be considered normal? She sighed and grabbed a random book from her bag and began to read, waiting for her roommate to arrive and put an end to her curiosity

Bryce McKregar

An old beat old stationwagon rolled into the student parking lot. It was an ugly forest green, with wood paneling on the sides of it near the back. But it was a car none the less right? Inside were four shady looking individuals, that didn't look like they belonged there in the least. In the front passenger's seat was Bryce, fiddling with a toothpick in his mouth as heavy bass rap music erupted from the vehicle. The guys looked around marveling at the school as they pulled up. ""Damn this shit's fancy! How'd you get in this school again?" "I won an essay contest remember?" "Oh yeah.... Damn..." They all got out, and stretched it being a bit of a drive from down town. Most of them were around his age or older by a year or so. The men excluding Bryce had tattoos on their arms, and all had the infamous dark red bandana somewhere on their body. He had his wrapped around his left bicep, with the mini hammer and wrench insignias showing in a pattern over the front of the fabric. He put on his black worn out back pack, and grabbed a duffel bag. Each guy carried something, surprisingly the most important item out of them all being a stereo system.

"Yo, so where'we goin BJ?" He looked at the piece of paper that was a school map. "Room.... 113." They walked through the school grounds, getting stares from people even some shying away. They were members of the famous Half-Track Gang from down town over the railroad tracks. Bryce sighed, thinking back to his folks at home... They were so proud of him, and happy that he was at a good school where he could get a good education. Part of him wanted to work extra hard and succeed so that he could get a good job and support them, but his bad habits almost always lead him down the wrong path. "Hey yo! Is that a Lotus!?" They all stopped and looked at the beautiful car, immediately making their way over to the car grinning as they looked at it. "Yo... How mucch you think we can get for those rims?And the tires!" "Why don't we just take the car?" "You got the kinda shit to turn off the alarm dog?" Bryce looked it over. It was a beautiful car, and him and the guys really could use the money off of it. "Hey... Don't worry about it now. Make up your minds, and call me when you do. I'll keep an eye out for you if you make a move." This was met by agreement, and some teasing about him being 'smart' which didn't make any sense since it sounded more like a compliment.

So they started their trek all over again, through the courtyard and into the dorm rooms. Whatever students were in their way quickly got out, or were shoved to the wall. Bryce walked into his room and looked around, not expecting a kitchen honestly. His little gang 'oood' and 'awwwed' at the accommodations and he walked into his room. "Great... A fuckin bunk bed." He sighed not looking forward to having to share a room with another person. Bryce liked his privacy. They set his stuff down, and set up the rather large stereo system and once it was ready started blasting music in the room. They all sat in the room, and chilled for a second opening up a window. "Yo dog.. Wanna burn some green?" His buddy Adrien grinned holding up a marijuana blunt. "Ahh.... Shit man, you know I'd love to but I don't know how shit goes down here. Besides, somebody could just walk in any second and I don't wanna tell my folks I get kicked out on the day of admission." They shrugged and hid the blunt away just talking laughing and having a good time. Anyone that would walk in after them would get a 'wtf are you doing here?' look.

Chris-Alice got out of her aunt's dirty white car and looked away from the sun. "Chrissy, are you sure you'll be okay here?" her Aunt Eunice asked. Chris-Alice looked at her, smiled, and said, "Of course I'll be okay. I know how to escape danger when I see it." Her aunt looked at Chris-Alice with concern and replied, "I don't mean that kind of danger, deary. I'm just worried about your well-being." Chris-Alice turned around to look at the school she would now be attending and thought, I'll be okay here. She grabbed her stuff from out of the trunk of the car and tossed it over her shoulder. "Say goodbye to your Uncle Bert, sweetheart." said Aunt Eunice. Her Uncle was sleeping soundly in the front of the car, and snored every so often. "Bye Uncle Bert!" Chris-Alice yelled through the window. He moved slightly and turned around, mumbling goodbye in his sleep. "Have fun darling. And be careful. I don't want to see bad grades either." Chris-Alice gave her aunt a kiss on the cheek and said, "Bye Auntie." then turned around to walk towards the main building.

I hope my roommate is here now. I don't want to look awkward while looking for my room, she thought to herself. She took out the piece of paper from her pocket telling her about her room number and who her new roommate was. Dorm room: 120; Roommate: Jeri Garland the paper read. She walked around the building until she found her hall. Chris-Alice scanned the door numbers until she found her room, 120. She opened the door and saw Jeri reading a book on her bed. "H-hi! I'm Christina Alice Snow but, you can either call me Chris-Alice or Snow. It's nice to meet you, ummm, Jeri!" Chris-Alice dragged her bag to her bed and threw it on top of it. "How long have you been here already?" she asked shyly.

Xero his way to the back of the car and pulled out his small dark bag decorated with small white dragons and swords, flinging it over his shoulder, not messing up with his shirt, since it was up to his lower shoulder. It had clothes and a few small chocolates. He closed the trunk quickly began walking up behind Aaron, attempting to make it to the side of him. "Make sure you don't forget something sweet." He poked Aaron in the shoulder and looked down a bit, pulling the paper from his bag and looking at the dorm number. 113. He looked back up at Aaron for a moment and thought a little bit. Would Aaron carry him if he asked? It was such a far walk. Almost a kilometer. Perhaps half that or even smaller. He was just feeling lazy. Then he looked back at the paper a moment. Roommate: Bryce McKregar. Who was that? He poked Aaron again. "Hey... can you carry me to my dorm? It's one thirteen, which is right next to you. You'll even get to meet my roommate." Then imagined who Bryce might be. He examined the people around him. Most of them dressed pretty well and seemed confident of themselves for the school year. He adjusted the bag and looked on.

'Amidst the sickening crash of the door being broken down and the insistent sobbing of her mother clutching a static phone, Cecilia didn't know what to do. Her adolescent mind couldn't comprehend what was happening, even as the woman beside her repeatedly called her father's name. All the child could do was awkwardly hug for comfort, and mention the arrival of strangers when they appeared from behind the living room door. Everything after this went on in a dazed blur: her little body being shoved out of the way, the explosive anger of her mother and the wordless banter that was exchanged. Then, a sudden flash of light; and she could no longer remember.

But this time, Cecilia could swear she heard the aftermath. Screams, so many screams, yells and shots of gunfire. It was as if hell had broken loose, perhaps the apocalypse, but the child couldn't see past the obstructing view of a chair. Every so often, a shower of red rained from some forlorn cloud in the sky; or so it was comprehended. She didn't want to see. She didn't want to hear. Climbing from the back of the armchair, she was only thinking of reaching the happy picture of her mother and father together, beside her. But why was it a blood covered half-serpent, ever so softly resembling her mother, that greeted her?'

Save me. With an immense shudder, Cecilia vaulted upright; waking up in, literally, cold sweat. And, as she was napping in complete isolation among a blanket of trees, it couldn't be described as the best first experience of her Senior year. Weren't repressed memories supposed to stay repressed? What's the point of forgetting, then, in the first place? It took only a moment to gather back her scattered nerves, getting up as she did so from the base of a large oak tree. Brushing the remnants of dirt and leaves from her shirt, she had only thoughts of the nightmare in mind; proving her efforts on attention-diverting to be hopeless. The dream itself wasn't quite so special, but rather the fact that it just kept freaking repeating.

It had first appeared a month ago, right in the middle of summer break. When Cecilia, almost a grown adult, had asked her mother about it, she had gotten an honest reply. "Yes, that was me, and they were bad people. Now go clean your room." Why thank you, mom. I couldn't sum the most traumatizing experience in my childhood up, in less than a dozen words, any better! Sarcasm, by the way, since that's actually more than a dozen words. In all honesty, the topic had been breached before. And if that was all Thea was willing to give, then there was nothing anybody could do about it. But ever since then, the dream had persistently kept coming. The beginning was always the same, but the end changed as many times as it could.

And sometimes, just sometimes, it's a little disturbing. The conclusion she had seen just now? It had been the main theme for days. A blood-soaked monster surrounded by.. bits. Cecilia didn't want to recall. In any case, that had been the most eventful her break had ever been; peppering her mother with questions. Which, unfortunately, resulted in the punishment of cold dinners in place of the delicious, home-cooked meals Thea usually prepared. Meals that I won't be having for another couple months, living in a cold, dark dorm. Speaking of which, it's about time to meet roomie number five, isn't it?

With those thoughts said and done, Cecilia hoisted her medium-sized suitcase over her shoulders (having been using it as a pillow) and promptly set off to the nearest path out of the Academy's forest. It had been some sort of tradition for her, ever since her freshman year, to take a peaceful nap right before moving into the dorms. The forest was a nice place to sleep, she had found, and it had all been a rather nice area to explore. By now? She probably knew it best besides the teachers, or the Headmaster. Suddenly, I feel so old. Right then at that moment, just as she emerged from the edge of the trees, Cecilia could've swore that she saw said principal entering the far side of the yard.

Oh.. crap. Was I implying anything? I don't think I was. Nevertheless, the culprit nonchalantly hurriedly checked her appearance (letting her hair down and fluffing her shirt) before nonchalantly practically flying in the general direction of the dorms. I am no coward. Nobody wants to mess with a Johanssen on the first day. No one. That, of course, had come from first-hand experience from Cecilia's sophomore year; when within that 365 days had accumulated something like a pile of little yellow death slips. And I don't even remember doing anything wrong! Besides skipping the first class to sleep. Ever since then, she'd been incredibly scared careful to never be caught slack off again.

In less than five minutes, this little part-dragon had dashed across campus to the entrance of the dorms; almost without breaking a sweat. Out of shape, considering how close it is. She stopped to the right of the door, dropping her suitcase to catch her breath and check on roommates. A steady trickle of kids were already filing in; though probably much too preoccupied to notice her sparkly presence. With a square, folded paper in her hands, Cecilia hefted her pack back up and entered the dorm; her mood well for how promising the year seemed at that moment. Think about it, one more year until I'm out of here!

And then, just as she entered a room labelled '218', her hopes were dashed to pieces. You couldn't mistake that sea-green hair for anything. Johanssen's daughter, Avie? Of all the people who I could be paired with, it has to be someone who's actually heard of that sophomore-year disaster?! (If you haven't noticed, most people have. Among her grade and her graduated seniors, anyway.) Careful not to disturb the sleeping girl, Cecilia edged across the room to the other, empty bunk-bed; letting down her suitcase soundlessly beside it. She wasn't, as you can see, quite keen on waking her new roomie up; nor nearly so tired to go back to sleep.

So, in the end, all this surprisingly studious child could do was get out a physics textbook and read it; with earphones drowning out most of the words. What kind of person would make math out of watching a damn apple fall out of a tree, anyway?

Out of ideas for the moment, Maire looked around her near-empty dorm, and a slight smile made it's way onto her lips as she noticed there wasn't anyone else in her dorm. *Perhaps I'll get my own,* she thinks hopefully as she jumps off her top bunk, landing cat-like, squatting on all fours. Her stomach grumbled, and she went over to the fridge, hoping it had something good in it. *No ramen... I wonder where the convenience store is?* With a pout she shut the door and went to her suitcase, glad she had kept the map her father insisted on giving to her. It wasn't until she looked at the map fully that she realized the full extent of the campus. "Oh, boy..." she muttered, trying to find the convenience store on the map. "Well, it isn't *too* far..." Then she checked her watch, wondering if it was worth the time it would take to walk there and back. Her stomach grumbled again, making up her mind for her. "To the convenience store!" She announced to nothing but air in an empty dorm.

*Here's hoping there's no guys out,* She added in her head as she left the dorm, bag back at her side, nose in a book. On her walk, she'd only look up to make sure she was going the right way. Once, when she wasn't paying enough attention, the toe of her Converse got caught in a crack in the sidewalk and she fell forward, barely managing to catch herself. Instead of worrying about herself, she fret over her book, making sure she hadn't damaged it. "Mom'll be so mad if I ruin her book..." she muttered, flipping through pages quickly. Once sure it was completely unharmed, she inspected the toe of her shoe. *Drat. Looks like I'll have to re-do it.* The Sharpie drawings on her toe had been scratched up, now only leaving parts of the random design.

"Ah!" Maire took out her notebook and pencil, making herself comfortable on the concrete. Her left hand was a blur as she wrote a new idea she had, oblivious to everything around her, completely focused on her writing and nothing but.