"Demon child." "Draculina." Ever since moving to America, Robin Nikov had found herself at the butt end of insults and bullying over her morbid sensibilities and Russian accent. She was only eight years old when her uncle Saul had brought her to America for a better life, but still, almost seven years later, she was getting driven out of yet another school for being different.
"Don't worry," her uncle assured her. "Someday you will find someone who truly understands you."
Though, that was very little comfort coming from the man who was constantly referred to as a giant.
Saul, since defecting from their homeland, worked as a security advisor, so it was not like moving suddenly was too hard on him, but Robin still felt like a burden to him. She was taller than most boys with a love of all things dark; the chances of her finding anybody who would accept her after first glance, seemed impossible. So, with a sigh, she stepped out of her uncle's car, and looked up at the site that was inevitably going to be just another educational institution on her long list of "schools she had to leave." However, the school had come highly recommended by one of her uncle's friends in the government, so maybe it wouldn't be so bad.
Mar Sept Academy, was a lot dirtier than she expected. From a distance the five story building looked almost like grand piece of venetian architecture, but up close, on the ground level, wrappers and cigarette butts clung to the dingy outer walls. She held her breath as she caught sight of a bandana clad young man with black lipstick smoking by one of the outdoor stairwells.
The man looked at her and smiled, letting a smooth trail of smoke tumble past his lips.
"Nmaaaa, can I help you?" He said flatly.
Robin stiffened up, clutching her current reading material to her chest defensively. Her heart was racing wildly; she wasn't expecting to have to deal with another person so soon.
"Principal's office," she managed to blurt out.
The young man's eyes widened for a second as she spoke but then softened as he smiled. He flicked the cigarette away and approached her. His eyes looked her over, causing Robin to clutch her book ever tighter to her chest.
"I'm actually here to see the principal as well," he said, giving her a slight nod. "Just follow me."
When Robin Nikov and the mysterious man arrived at the correctly labeled office, they were greeted by a blonde sophisticated looking woman with glasses. She had her clipboard propped underneath her bosom, making the cleavage she already possessed seem even more pronounced.
"Well," the woman chided. "If it isn't mister Iceberg? Is Franklin's guardian too busy to show up again?"
The young man beside Robin raised his eyebrows. If he was representing someone's guardian then he must be much older than she initially thought he was. Robin looked away.
"I keep telling you, he can't leave the factory," the man snapped. "Besides, I know you like seeing me, Miss Kalifa."
Miss Kalifa, let out a huff and adjusted her glasses.
"That's sexual harassment," she said coyly.
"Dinner Friday then?" Mister Iceberg asked, leaning in.
Clipboard met the bridge of the man's nose, as Miss Kalifa turned to Robin. "And you are?"
Robin's eyes grew wide upon being addressed. She straightened up to her ever growing height and looked down at the woman.
"Umm... I'm Robin Nikov, the new transfer student," she replied quietly.
The woman looked startled upon hearing the girl speak and quickly removed her clipboard from Mister Iceberg's face. The man also seemed to be quite taken aback by her statement.
"Oh goodness," the woman said adjusting her glasses again. "You're quite tall."
Then Miss Kalifa glanced from the door behind her to Iceberg and then Robin. "Principal Spandam is currently dealing with a disciplinary matter, but as soon as he is finished I am sure he will be happy to-"
A loud crash and the principal's door flying open suddenly cut the woman's statement short, as a boy, who was even taller than Robin was, came bursting into the hallway.
"SUPER!" The boy yelled with his hands thrown above his head in seeming victory.
Robin was slightly blown away to see anyone taller than she was, let alone on her first day. Not to mention, he had BLUE hair. She instinctively grabbed one of her black locks, as the boy turned to look in her direction. His eyes were a piercing grey. The boy lifted one arm as he approached.
"Oi, Dumberg," the boy seemed to growl. "I got suspended again."
Robin was floored. He was being way too casual about that. Even with all her trouble in school, Robin could never imagine being suspended. Robin quickly analyzed the situation. The boy had addressed Mister Iceberg casually, which meant that he was most likely Franklin.
While mister Iceberg and Franklin began to bicker about what some guy named "Tom" was going to think, Miss Kalifa tapped Robin on the shoulder.
"Principal Spandam will see you now," the woman whispered.
As Robin sat down in the principal's office, she could not help but notice the ice-pack sitting on the principal's hand. She looked up. The principal was a squirrely looking man. Robin estimated from the wrinkles that he had to be in at least his mid thirties. His hair was wavy and disheveled. He looked a bit too eccentric to actually be a school principal, but, then again, appearances weren't everything.
"So you're Robin Nikov," the man said, attempting to shuffle a stack of papers with only one hand. "We here at Mar Sept... would very much..."
Papers tumbled from his hand.
"Would very much like to welcome..." After a minute of failing to straighten the papers he turned towards the door. "Kalifa!"
The elegant woman entered the room, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Yes, sir?"
Principal Spandam placed the remaining papers on the edge of his desk, and gestured towards Robin.
"Could you, grab the schedule for her classes, and show her to period B?" The man stammered. Kalifa picked up the papers and nodded, signaling with a finger for Robin to come. "And get me some more ice!"
Robin silently followed, as the woman guided her through the school, explaining every little detail of the school's history and code of conduct. The halls were all off-white and smelled of bleach, and Robin was quite surprised to see bars on many of the classroom doors as they ascended higher into the school. It almost made the place seem like a small prison. When they arrived on the fifth floor, her guide stopped in front of a door labeled "Biology" and knocked. A curly black-haired man with a sparse goatee answered. He looked the pair over and smiled.
"Well you must be the new student," he said in a smooth deep voice. He opened the door wider, so Robin could enter. "We've been expecting you."
As Robin entered the room she was greeted with the silent stares of the other students. One particularly pale and moody kid in the back stood out in his spotted hat.
Then, from the front of the room, the tall girl could hear snickering and whispers.
"Alright class," the teacher said, closing the door and crossing in front of her. "This is Robin Nikov. She will be spending her time here at Mar Sept with the rest of you lot. Are there any questions?"
A brawny boy in the front row raised his hand. "How's the weather up there?"
Laughter.