Few things had ever intimidated Elina.
The sparse handful was nothing out of the norm. Grades. The occasional responsibility. Formerly spiders, even.
This, however, Elina mused, was the first time she had been intimidated by something this irrevocably simple. True, grades and some other things had been common, but not quite this mundane and clichéd. Transferring schools, on the other hand-
Elina's eyes slammed shut and she winced. It really was a simple thing. She should be able to do it. It wasn't like she had anybody but Dandelion before.
But today wasn't the day to do. No, Elina had resolved to use this day to the maximum, to relegate herself to an observer, watching and learning the ways of the school. She wouldn't be outsider for long.
It wasn't that she was particularly shy or submissive, just particular to the point of being paranoid. You had to make success. And Elina would. She just needed to know what success was in this new environment.
The sheer bus stopped in front of her as she thought this, puffing out bits of smoke as it ground to a halt. Elina could glimpse other students, sheltered within the tinted windows. It was now or never.
Elina hoisted her bag further upwards on her shoulder, took a deep breath, then stepped onto the massive bus with a small lurch.
"Name?" Asked the bus driver politely.
"Elina. I'm coming to tenth grade?"
"Ah, right here. Welcome aboard! The name's Hue if you need anything."
"Thank you." Elina smiled, then walked down the daunting corridor splitting the bus. Elina decided on sitting in the back, deciding it would suit her purposes of observation. It could also give her some peace and quiet before she had to immerse herself in school once again.
The bus moved forwards near seamlessly, pulling into the heavily trafficked road. Elina turned to the window, blankly staring out of it for awhile. The bus stopped, then started a few times, and a couple of students boarded. Nothing too interesting, or even noteworthy, Elina decided, until a certain yell broke into her musings.
"I'M TOO HOT!"
Elina turned from the window to see a flamboyant, tan boy, leaping onto the bus with his arms outstretched.
"HOT DAMN!" Chorused the rest of the bus, cheering and accepting his high fives as he made his way down the aisle. Elina turned away, somewhat confused by the alien custom.
"Well well well! Who might you be?" Elina turned back around. He had stopped at Elina's seat, peering down at her with a hand on his hip.
"Oh! Nice to meet you. My name's Elina." She replied, as cordially as humanly possible. He grinned and slid into the seat.
"Well, Elina, it's very nice to meet you. I'm sure we'll have a lovely relationship from here on out." He winked.
"NALUUUUUU." The bus protested, jeering at him.
"Wha-at?" He asked gamely, playing the crowd.
"Don't pick on the new girl." A stern voice said in front of them. "I'm sure she can live without your help." The girl seated in front of them turned in her seat, facing Nalu with a half-serious glare.
"Excuse me, Glee, I'm certain Elina likes me. Right Elina?"
"Of course!" Elina said without thinking. "I'm ready to be anybody's friend!"
"Well here's a news flash for ya- he doesn't want to be your friend." A well-dressed boy with headphones encircling his neck made it to their part of the bus. He scooted in next to Glee, eyes locked on a computer he was carrying.
"Wha-" Elina stared at Nalu, but then resolved to turn back to the window. "Nevermind."
She mounted her chin on her fist, staring out the window as pieces of the conversation drifted her way.
"You just have to ruin everything, don't ya Linden?"
"It's not his fault you're notorious."
"Notorious?!"
"New girl every week, dumping 'em as soon as you can land a new one."
"That's rude."
"You're rude."
"Hmph."
She shook her head slightly, trying to clear it of the shallow exchange between Nalu and Glee. What kind of school was this?
Peering out of the window, Elina caught herself staring at a motorcyclist. The rider was particularly skilled, swiping the machine around the road effortlessly. The only feature visible from her all-black ensemble was a long blue braid, rippling in the oppressive wind.
Elina bit back a sigh. What she wouldn't give to be so carefree, so unburdened, so-
"Attention, students!" Hue's voice crackled over the intercom. "We are arriving at school. Please grab your bags."
A bronze hand reached below their adjoined seat, grabbing her bag and handing it to her.
"Your parcel, madam." Nalu held the pale pink bag out to her, a goofy expression dancing around his face.
"Thank you." Elina simply replied, taking it.
"See? She does like me!" Nalu directed at Glee.
"Common courtesy and preference are two very seperate things, Nalu."
"Save it for the theater Glee. Today, you've lost!" Nalu proclaimed with a childish brand of joy.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night." Glee replied with a smirk, shuffling into the cramped line of students trying to leave the bus. Linden turned and clapped in approval, and Nalu's mouth compressed itself into a thin line.
"Come on, Elina." He left their seat. Seeing literally no other choice, Elina followed him off the bus.
They slowly moved through the bus, clogged with students all trying to disembark. Elina rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet expectantly when the line was too stagnant. The bus now seemed small and cramped, filled to the brim with sweaty, tired teenagers.
Finally. Elina found herself at the front of what couldn't even be called a line anymore. She waved to Hue, thanking him, then turned back to the crisp, fresh air and blue sky. It was time to begin a year.
Suddenly, a loud roaring sliced into her thoughts. Elina whipped around, searching for the source of the noise. It sounded almost like-
At that very moment, a motorcycle burst onto the deserted parking lot. It rose onto one wheel, not hesitating for an instant as it slammed back down to the pavement with a satisfying smack. The vehicle neatly slid into the space next to the bus, the driver sliding off in a single, surprisingly well-executed move. Her hands moved to grip her helmet, cleanly sliding the shiny black guard off. She tucked the headgear under her arm, shifting her gaze upwards as her dark blue braid gently waved in the breeze.
Elina gaped, her mouth dropping. The motorcyclist from earlier went here?
"Nori!" Nalu waved from behind Elina, yelling repeatedly to the girl.
"Stuff it Nalu. I can see you." She replied coolly, sauntering over to the bus with her helmet still niched between her arm and hip. "Who's the new girl?"
"Elina. She's a transfer. Whadaya think?"
Nori stroked her chin with her free hand, thin eyebrows arching in thought. "Pretty cute. Better than some of your other choices, but still nowhere close to being me."
"Tease." Nalu rolled his eyes. Despite her rule to observe, Elina felt somewhat uncomfortable with them discussing her, so she tried to change the subject.
"Well, it's nice to meet you Nori." She extended a hand. "You seem pretty good with that motorcycle."
"Pfft, yeah, I guess." Nori blushed slightly. "Nice to meet you too. Just do yourself a favor, and stay away from pretty boy over here." She raised an eyebrow in Nalu's direction.
"Hey!" Nalu yelled. "That's a fine thing to say to your best friend!"
"Believe me," Nori turned back to Elina. "It'll make your life easier."
With that she whipped around and stalked away, hips swinging slightly in rhythm with her azure braid.
"I may not be that close to Nori, but she's definitely right about Nalu." Elina turned around to see Glee behind them, arms crossed and glaring at Nalu.
"Well I certainly didn't see you sitting next to Elina on the bus!" Nalu fired back, putting his arm around Elina.
"Somehow I don't see you having her best interests at heart." Glee stepped forwards. "Come on Elina!" She shoved Nalu's arm from off of Elina's shoulder, took her hand, and they walked off. Elina only had to question again.
What kind of school is this?