Kat Howells's Story

"Zero. Wake up."
His brows arch at the sudden noise blasting in his ear.
"What?"
The young man asks dumbly, sitting up and sighing as he slowly opens his eyes.
"We're at the boarding school. You're gonna be late to orientation."
Elizabeth taps impatiently on the steering wheel.
"Already?"
Zero mumbles, sounding totally defeated and sits up, stretching.
'God forbid Tyler actually drive me somewhere. Some father.'
He thinks bitterly and looks over at his sister with a sad expression.
"Oh come on... Don't do that."
She looks in the other direction.
Zero snickers and steps out of the car. He grabs his suitcase from the trunk and closes it. He looks over at the school with a distressed sigh and starts his walk away from the car.
"Zero."
His sister suddenly says, the window down.
"What?"
He sighs.
"I love you, alright?"
"Mm..."
Zero doesnt make eye contact. He briefly nods, and keeps walking.
Elizabeth rolls up the window and starts driving.
"Poor kid..."
She whispers to herself and turns the radio back on.

Zero walks into the school, being tiny and having to slowly slide through all of the students.
'I should have an advantage here, being small... Where the hell are Jackson and Penny when I need them?'
He thinks, and grunts in discomfort.
Zero gets closer to the stairs, and can just barely see Jackson above everyone.
'Oh thank god.'
He deeply sighs and tries to get to him as quickly as he physically can. Finally, almost bursting from the mass of students, Zero literally slams into Jackson.
"Woah man-"
Jackson starts, and then pauses.
"Hey."
He grins.
Zero wraps his arms around Jacksons waist and clings on for dear life.
"I thought I wouldn't make it in there."
He mumbles against Jacksons stomach.
"I thought you wouldn't either."
He snickers.
"EHEM!!"
A very young, girlish voice clears her throat beside them.
"Hi Penny."
Zero mumbles, not even having to look over to know exactly who it is.
"Ugh. Snob."
She rolls his eyes and flips her hair, slim arms crossed over her chest.
Zero slowly uncoils himself from Jackson and looks at her.
"Fine. Hello my dear Penelope."
He says sarcastically, but seriously.
"Hi Zero."
She grins and punches his arm.
"Ow.."
He rubs it, chuckling softly.
"Register yet?"
Jackson asks. Zero shakes his head.
"There's no way in Hell I'm doing that now."
Zero shudders, looking at all the students crowding everywhere. His voice is an odd mix of Italian and British, it's a little feminine, but totally cute.
"Ill carry you on my back."
Jackson shrugs.
"Everyone at home already thinks we're gay, lets not start that here quite yet."
Zero sighs. Jackson genuinely laughs.
"Guess you're right."
He rubs where neck-meets-shoulder.
"Are you two sharing a room?"
Penny asks adorably, resting her elbow on Zeros shoulder and leaning against him. The older boy doesnt mind.
"No."
Jackson simply shakes his head.
"I get my own room."
Zero shows a toothy smirk and raises his eyebrows multiple times.
"Totally not fair."
Penny scoffs.

As the students begin to clear, Jackson and Penny lead Zero to the register table.
Zero listens to the lady drone, and reaches out to grab a random pen.
He feels the other girls hand and immediently retracts his hand to his chest.
He gives her a brief stare, and slowly nods, then grabs another pen.
'Sorry'
He doesn't bother to say out-loud.
'Introvert.'
Jackson thinks as he watches the two with amusement.
Behind him, Penny yelps as the taller boy, like Jackson, almost knocks her over. She rocks back onto his hells and is stopped when her arms are help.
"Um..."
Her innocent eyes scroll up to his face.
Instantly, Penny smirks.
"Watch where you're going, alright?"
Penny says comically with a cute smile and stands up.
"Appreciate it though, Aussie."
She winks confidently with a snort and pulls her arms away.
Unnoticeably, Jackson stares at the other guy rom the corner of his eye; Displeased and uncomfortable.
"Penelope."
He says softly.
"What?"
Penny snickers.

"You're like, an inch taller..."
Zero mumbles, staring down at his paper.

Jackson turns around to meet her eyes and pauses.
"Er, I can... Help you with that..."
His voice becomes hushed as she walks away.
'Real smooth.'
He sighs a chuckle and turns back to Zero.
"Done yet?"
Just as he asks, Zero hands the lady his paper, and she hands him back his uniform. Zero nods.
Penny wiggles herself between the two older boys she's practically grown up with as they walk.
"Penny you can't come to the boys dorm. You'll get in trouble."
Zero says blandly.
"Ugh. Boo."
She rolls her eyes uncaringly.
"Penelope no."
Jackson snickers.
"You both suck."
Penny sticks out her tongue, and then waves and walks off to her dorm.
'#309...?'
She questions and slowly opens the door to see a vibrant haired girl.
"Hey."
She smiles outgoingly and sets her stuff down onto the other bed.
"I'm Penny."
She smiles brightly and holds out her right hand, holding her left behind her back and standing on her toes.

"Close to the dorm."
Jackson sighs.
"Later mega-douche."
Zero smirks.
"Midget."
Jackson pops his lips as Zero walks out of sight.
"205."
He hesitates at first, and then just opens the door. Jackson cant help but smile at the ironicy that the same guy who bumped into his precious sister would be his dorm partner.
'Wooooooooow. Thanks life.'
He licks across his teeth and walks over to the open bed, setting his stuff down.

Zero gets to his dorm, he actually had to walk backwards from where him and Jackson had gone. Zeros dorm is right by the entrance to the boys dorm block.
He opens the door and looks around.
'Alone <3'
He sighs contently and throws his bag against the wall, closes the door and plops down onto his bed comfortably.

"Nice to meet ya."
Penny nods and starts unpacking. She has white bed sheets with vibrant red printed roses all over it.
"Id love to."
She looks over her shoulder and smiles brightly.
"I be. Names Penny."
She grins, and then Penny pauses. She stares at Kats face for a long minute.
"... Nah."
She snorts a laugh and looks away.
"Just my imagination."
She chuckles to herself and lays her uniform flat on her bed.
"They're kinda cute right? Just me?"
Penny chuckles, examining it.

"Jackson."
He sighs, unpacking.
'Whatever man.'

Zero doesnt even unpack his clothes or his bed sheets. Instead, the first thing he sets up are his speakers. The first thing he literally blares; Black Dog by Led Zeppelin.

"Yeah I guess I should too..."
Penny pulls out a blue dress and changes into it, then matches it with plain white heels.
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/16/a7/75/16a775ec775da35100433e58bf76d2ec.jpg
She ties her hair up in a lazy side-pony, finding it cute and casual.
"Huh? Yeah I know. Probably the last time in a long time."
Penny sighs honestly.
"I think we should get going. I have to meet up with my brother and his friend so..."
Penny smiles cheerfully.

"Yeah."
Jackson only replies because he feels like he kind of has to.
He puts on a silver button-up, a grey waistcoat, and a black tie with thin blue lines going diagonally up it.
He also wears black dress pants and puts on what would be his school shoes.
"Christ..."
He mumbles in the bathroom, making sure his tie is adjusted. Jackson never liked dressing up, and Zero doesnt either.
He already knows Zero will be bitter about it.
Regardless, Jackson leaves the room and walks downstairs.
'He never told me his dorm-....'
Jackson thinks, and then stops at the end of the hall. Even from there, he can hear the music from Zeros room.
"Little shit."
Jackson snickers and walks to his door. He has to bang on it to be heard.

Zero mutters something before walking to the door and opening it.
"What's with the get up."
He says dumbly.
"It won't be just me. There's this meet-and-greet fancy orientation thing. I don't even know."
Jackson sighs and lets himself in.
"I'm not going to that."
Zero scoffs.
"You have to, the teachers will be there and I guarantee they'll get pissed if you don't come. This is private school."
Jackson snickers.
"Yeah I know."
Zero mutters quietly as he digs through his suitcase.
He pulls out a dark blue short-sleeved button up and puts it on, not bothering to change out of his black jeans or old converse.
"Fold your sleeves up. Looks funny if you don't."
Zero says as he shuts off the music.
Jackson does as told, folds up his sleeves to his elbows, and they both leave the room.
"Think we should meet Penny?"
Zero asks as they walk outside.
"I can bet you she'll get to us before we even START getting to her."
Jackson snickers.

"Hm? What?"
Penny looks around and grins.
"Jackson!"
She says and runs over to the both of them.
"He-y..."
Jackson starts, and then stops and slowly continues. He does NOT approve of the dress she's wearing, and it's evident in his expression.
"What?"
Penny arches a brow and rests her weight on one foot, leaning to the side with her arms crossed.
"Don't fuck around with her Jackson."
Zero warns softly, looking up at him.
"I just..."
Jackson sighs, scratching the back of his neck.
"You nothing, alright?"
Penny smirks. She looks over at Amelia.
"Oh, yeah, she's my dorm partner."
Penny giggles.
"Hey."
Zero waves his hand once.
"You were the one who bumped into me right?"
Jackson asks softly.
"Those bags looked pretty damn heavy..."
He chuckles.
Zero glances up at Jackson. 'Here we go.'
He snickers honestly and watches as yet another girl comes to them. The same girl at the counter, Zero specifically remembers.
"Call me Zero."
He looks between both girls with a light nod.

"Really? That's good.
Jackson smiles and laughs. His eyes look up to meet Jacobs face. Again.
"Hey.."
Jackson says un-charismatically.
"Hey clumsy!"
Penny grins, staring up at him.
"You can call me Penny."
She smirks, blossoming with a natural sense of fun and friendliness. Jackson looks over at Kat.
"Please."
He chuckles.
"Make that two!"
Penny turns to look at Kat with a smile, and then right back to Jacob.
"I'm actually gonna come with you if that's ok. It'll be hard to hold all those cups on your own."
Zero scratches his head.

"I am not that short."
Zero snickers softly, following after her.
"I don't know. I can't really tell yet."
He keeps up beside he, even with the sudden height difference. Zero starts filling cups with her.
"It's nice and all but, I don't really fit in here."
He shrugs ad glances over at her.
'If you couldn't tell by my poor English skills.'
"I never quite fit in anywhere though, so."
He genuinely smiles with a light chuckle.

"15, from here in Britain-Land if you couldn't tell by the accent. You're an Aussie I can assume? Calling me mate?"
She rocks back onto her heels a few times with a smirk.
"Pretty cute."
She says shamelessly.

Jackson tries his absolute hardest to just ignore them.
"So, Ammy?"
He makes sure he has her name right first.
"Where are you from?"
Jackson asks genuinely, wanting to further learn about her.

"Mm."
Zero only nods. He pauses at the compliments and glances up.
"It's pretty funky.."
He mumbles, not understanding how to take compliments.
Zero grabs all the cups and follows after her. He nods with what she says.
"I don't even think I'll be touring. Like at all."
He shrugs.

"Represent, amirite?"
She snickers playfully.
"Thanks. This dress wasn't cheap, ya know."
Penny holds her hands up and shrugs.
"Dress to impress; And obviously it's working."
Penny says boldly, still staring up at him.

Judice is having to force every muscle in his body to chill, rather than literally ripping Jacobs face off.
"Here. I've never been able to travel before but, I'd really like to. France always sounded nice. What's it really like?"
He continues casually though with a nice smile.

"If I ever left my dorm."
Zero chuckles softly and hands them their drinks.

Penny eyes her carefully.
"I know you though."
She smiles brightly.
"You're from that uh... That one magazine. Yeah, Totally Covergirl. You're a model."
Penny blurts everything.
"Hm..."
Zero analyzes her as well.

Jackson takes his punch but isn't remotely listening to their conversation.
"Well I mean it's kind of-..."
Jackson stops and holds his breathe, watching as she fixes his hair.
"Thanks..."
He shows a charming smile that's also very shy and bashful.
"You didn't have to um, fix it..."
He blushes ever slightly.

"Hm."
Zero respects her space and only watches them interact.
"How long have you been modelling for?"
He asks softly, showing a brief flash of an interested smile.
"Will you sign my tits?"
Penny smirks. Zero glares, and she starts laughing.
"I'm kidding!"
She holds her stomach and wipes a figurative tear away. Zero sighs with a smile and rolls his eyes, pretending to ignore her.

"Right..."
Jackson chuckles cheerfully.
"Anyways, I guess, Britain huh? It rains a ton here, even during the summer. But the buildings here are really nice. There really is a ton to do when you're not trapped in a school."
He says honestly.

"That sounds fun, but equally annoying. You must get noticed a lot, huh?"
Zero glances over at Penny and Jacob, then back at her and briefly snickers.

"I'm sure."
Penny smirks.
"They are preeeeetty nice~"
She stretches her arms out and laughs comically.
"Only kidding. I'm not THAT self centered."
Penny blushes.

"That would be really nice. Can't guarantee I'd be a very good guide though; I stutter all over the place."
Jackson smiles back.

"Well, that's one what to look at it."
He says.
"If you care that much for your parents..."
Holding the cup to his mouth, Zero mumbles quietly against it and takes a long drink.
"You have a good relationship with your mother then, I take it?"
He smiles softly, there's almost a look of hidden mourning behind his golden eyes.

"Heh. I can dig it."
Penny winks and laughs back playfully.
"Do you want help passing the rest of those out?"
She points to the flyers.

"I-I uh... Only when I'm nervous sometimes..."
Jackson blushes brightly.
"If that's what you really want I guess I can't object."
He chuckles sweetly.

Zero sucks in a breathe.
"... She's doing fine."
He smiles softly, deciding it would be better to lie, and keep everything else buried under his skin.
"Mainly been living with my dad but, she's ok."
He nods.

Penny took the pile, and equally froze as he hold her hand. She smirks and follows him off.
'Wicked hottie.'

"Really? Kind of hoping so."
He chuckles softly.
"No, I'm fine. Thank you though..."
Jackson smiles brightly.

"I get it. I'll see you around then. Kat, right?"
Zero shows a soft smile.
"Sorry Penny called you out on your model thing..."
Zero keeps a really hushed tone.
"Must get annoying huh."

"Jacob. What am I supposed to say to people?"
Penny comes up to his side, nudging her arm against his to get his attention.
"I uh, don't really know what to do."
She laughs.
"I mean I could just flirt around and see what happens but if that's not what works then,"
Penny snickers and shrugs.
'I guess I'm kinda awkward when I don't know what to do huh.'

"Hey! She clearly isn't interested in you and is getting annoyed. Stop being such a desperate prick!"
Jackson grins sarcastically.
'You're gonna get punch thrown in your face, man.'
He keeps these thoughts to himself.

"That must get annoying too."
Zero scratches his head.
"Hm? 16."
He glances up and smiles.
"How old are you? Pretty young for a covergirl, huh?"
He laughs softly.

"Oh really? Is that it?"
Penny chuckles and pushes his arm.
"Wouldn't you just love that?"
She ticks her tongue out playfully.

"No, I get it."
Jackson gravely rolls his eyes.
"What a douche. I'm sorry."
He sighs a smile.
"You have really small hands though..."
Jackson chuckles, not trying to be rude or anything.
'They're adorable.'

"You are literally me ok."
Zero laughs.
"You're like an inch taller. You're a shrimp too!"
Zero lightly nudges her with his elbow, still smiling cutely.

"Babe I have enough of those."
Penny holds up her hand with a confident smirk.
"I got this, wasn't even a question!"
She says smugly.

"Well I'm always here to help so~"
He shrugs and holds up her hand. He compares both of theirs.
"Oh my gosh it's tiny."
He chuckles with a bright grin.
"I have like a bassists hands though so I guess that's not really fair."
He pulls his hand away.

"Oo~ Led Zeppelin is a natural part of life of course."
Zero shrugs with a light smile.
"Manson?"
He asks back.

"Boy I don't just pop this corn for every man I see."
Penny laughs.
"I'd give a hug; But no kisses straight out the gate."
She crosses her arms under her bust.

"No, I started up percussion; Regardless of everyone telling me to play bass."
Jackson chuckles, watching her carefully.
"Drumset, more specifically. I'm not good on snare, or bells. Smaller things are kinda cool I guess, maybe bongos."
Jackson casually explains with a shrug.
"Do you play anything?"

"Nirvana? Don't go poser on me now."
Zero smirks.
"I don't want it to smell like the only song you know."
He snickers comically.

"Is that what we are? Alright then."
Penny giggles and hugs him happily.
"Yes, I give free hugs all the time."

"I heard it's really difficult. Is that way?"
Jackson asks, smiling softly as she messes with his hand.
'Aw, what a cute blush.'

Zero chuckles softly, showing a less introverted side for her to see.
"Let's see... Black Sabbath, Gorillaz, Green Day, MCR..."
He lists shortly and glances back at her with a cute half-smile.

"Yes!"
Penny grins energetically and starts handing them out, personality as bubbly as usual.

"Right."
Jackson smiles.
"I get that."
He nods, and looks down at his own hands.
"Errr no."
Jackson laughs sheepishly.
"I think Zero has, but my fingers would probably hit all the keys at once to be honest. I have good coordination but that takes a lot of skill."