ABNQ(Signals) Chapter 1

Well, it's been while to say the least. I'm sorry and I will save you my excuse, and my promises of another update because I wil not update on time. Life just gets in the way. Stercus accidit. so, until net time.

James Diamond silently cursed to himself as sunlight began to stream through the large bay window, illuminating his room in a soft orange glow. Cursing the light, James looked at the clock. He had twenty minutes until his alarm rang, until he would be forced out of bed to start his daily morning rituals. Cherishing his slumber time, he lazily rolled over onto his stomach and nuzzled his head into the pillow, admiring the feel of his satin sheets. He could have just lay there all day.

Or maybe he couldn't. Today was the first day of school, and the anxiety from his brain was spreading to all of his extremities. The cursed light stinted all chances James getting his required 8 hours of beauty sleep. After rolling over continuously for five minutes, gave up. He sat up in bed with a deep huff. A long tanned arm grabbed the mirror beside his nightstand. Scrutinizing eyes looked into the piece of reflective metal, taking stock of each detail in the reflective image. James couldn't help but admire his reflection in the mirror. His highlights looked fabulous, and caught the light perfectly. His skin decided to behave, completely bare of all blemishes. He looked perfect for the first day of school.

Then he saw them.

Hairy little fiends aligned along his jaw line and chin. Immediately, he rushed to the bathroom to destroy the army of rogue hairs on his face. Today was the first day of school in a new town, a new state to be precise. James Diamond could not be seen with unruly stubble on his chin. The first impression is the only impression. James had to make it good. One wrong step could make him the social pariah of Woods Academy for the next two years.

An hour and a half later, James was spraying his hair with Cuda Massive Hold. He smiled at his reflection, eyes drifting to the corner of the mirror. His perfectly arched eyebrows furrowed as he looked at the reflection of his clock. If he did not hurry up, he was going to be late. So, he ran downstairs keys and book bag in hand.

In the kitchen sat Harrison Diamond, yelling at who James assumed was his newest assistant Miranda – or was it Janet – finger angrily pointing at the invisible fiend in front of him. James dove for the refrigerator fishing out his usual morning mix in a smoothie cup. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his father put his phone down, putting the scolded employee on hold. Harry, as James liked to call him nowadays, gave his son a big hello and wave. As usual, the wave went ignored. James only walked to the garage door as if he hadn't heard a thing.

Ten minutes before eight, he pulled up to a building, intimidating in size and foreboding in aura. More fortresses stood behind their head counterpart. The whole campus was fucking creepy, if not ancient. The school had obviously been established in the dark ages, or whatever age those scary-looking gothic style buildings were popular. Or maybe it was established with the equally gray man that just opened the door for James as if the older man was watching him from the inside.

"Hello, James. Welcome to Woods," the gray man beamed. James nearly stared at him awestruck, partly because he was still reeling at the fact that this man was waiting for him. Didn't he have stuff to do at a school of such "elite quality and standard". If not, he should totally work on making the campus more attractive.

And, there was the fact that Headmaster Griffin's name fit the man's birdlike features. His narrow face consisted of small beady eyes, and very long nose that pointed downward to an even sharper chin. Even though his thin lips smiled, James could see the no-nonsense in man's stiff posture, and felt it in the tight handshake they exchanged.

James cleared his throat in an attempt to shake off his shock before he smiled and mumbled, "Yes, thanks." Headmaster Griffin merely stared at him intently, as if trying to hold back.

"Can I ask why you're late? At Woods academy, punctuality is a skill a student must posess. Tardiness will not be tolerated." the other man said in a gruffer tone. James cursed to himself for he could feel a lecture coming on.

"Well, sir. I haven't actually visited the school in person. My Dad just gave me his GPS and told me to have a nice day."

Griffin merely pursed his beak, and scratched the back of his graying head, and replied, "Just don't let it happen again." His voice had evened back to his normal tone.

When in doubt, bring up Daddy issues.

Or lie. Harry did give him a GPS because James got lost a lot. The younger Diamond had never visited the school, despite his Dad's insistence that they register him together. James refused. The Diamond men did not have the best relationship, but it was both of their faults. So, it wasn't a complete lie.

James thought he could have heard a pen drop in the quiet hallways of Woods. There's usually something ominous in the quiet, and right now that was Griffin, staring ahead with his birdlike eyes, droning on and on and still on. James knew he would forget everything within a matter of minutes.

One thing James did notice was the size of the school. It was like Hogwarts, so great in size. He almost wished he had paid better attention to the tour or even accompanied Harry to register.

Almost, but not quite.

After the tour, the Diamond boy was dropped off at his first period, which was still going on. Griffin's tour must have been shorter than he thought. With a deep breath, he walked into a classroom with about twenty bored looking students sitting at ten tables. The source of their weary expressions was a balding fat man, still going on about radians because he failed to notice his new visitor. The tanned teen looked at his new classmates while he waited for his teacher to notice him. He really didn't want to interrupt the educator's passionate monologue about sinusoids.

So, he familiarized himself with the room he'd be spending his mornings in. The first thing he noticed was an African-American woman sitting in the very back of the classroom listening intently to what he was saying. Judging by the navy wool trousers and crisp white blouse, she was a student teacher. Poor woman, he thought. Out of all the teachers, she received the red-faced man without a volume button.

Next, he saw a brunette boy sitting in the front row. His back sat ridiculously straight in the chair as he hung onto every word of the man's lecture. He and the student teacher were the only people listening to the large man's voice, instead of sleeping or staring off into to space. James could tell he was the teacher's pet. If that kid looked anymore eager–

"Who the hell are you?!" boomed a deep voice.

James's head whipped around to the bald man sitting in front. The teacher caught the attention of every other person in the room. One kid even fell off his chair when he jolted awake. Soon, everyone was looking at James. Some in disapproval, but most in curiosity.

The tanned teen cleared his throat as he handed the note to the red-face man, too scared to laugh at the kid on the floor. He tried to control the quivering in his voice when he said, "James Diamond, sir. I'm the new student. Professor Griffin just dropped me off here."

Instantly, the man turned back to his normal shade.

"Well, I'm Mr. Rocque. Welcome to AP Trigonometry here's your syllabus. And, here's your seat, beside Logan" he said, surprisingly calm as he gestured to the seat beside the brunette boy. Then he looked at James directly in the eyes, sending a chill down the new student's spine. "Do not cheat off him. I can tell."

The tanned teen simply remained in silent shock, partly from fear, partly from the fact that the teacher just called him dumb, and partly from the fact he was in Advanced Placement. It was obviously Da–Harry's doing. He understood the elder Diamond was trying to help, but he saw his grades. What in the hell made him think that James Diamond, slacker extraordinaire, could survive college level math? He may have been able to handle English, history, or possibly even science, but not math, his worst subject. It was going to be a long year.

With a heavy heart, James sat down. Before his butt hit the seat his new tablemate, chirped, "Hi, I'm Logan Mitchell. Welcome to Woods Academy! When did you move here, James?"

It took James to moment to figure out what the boy said, because his greeting came out in one word. When he did, he just smiled and greeted Logan back. Logan's face turned bright red, surprising James.

Either Logan was extremely shy or he had a crush. James would just have to see which fit.

Usually, he would dismiss a nerd like Logan, but based on the circumstances, he decided to just smile and nod. Soon, Mr. Rocque resumed teaching, and the rest of the class period, James watched Logan from the corner of his eye as the pale boy furiously took notes on everything Mr. Rocque said. It's a wonder his arm didn't fall off.

When the bell rang and class dismissed, James tapped Logan's shoulder, secretly hoping to get another blush out of him.

His attempt succeeded.

"Hey Logan, I was wondering if you could show me where this room is," he said pointing to his schedule. "Oh, and I didn't really take a lot of notes today because I didn't understand the lesson. Can I copy yours?"

Logan nodded back, a little too eagerly, looking at James schedule to find the room number.

"Sure, I have that class next. I'll walk you there. You can copy my notes then."

James then looked at his schedule when he realized why Logan was in his next class. It was AP Chemistry. He also noticed that the majority of his classes were Advanced Placement. Thanks Dad.

It was good thing he had the short pale brunette that was currently helping him navigate through the halls.

Maybe this year wouldn't be so bad after all.

Until next time folks. Tell me how this is in a PM, review, or by pigeon mail. Whatever floats your boat.