A/N: Hi, so this will be a multichaper Foxxay high school AU fic. I hope it isn't too terrible let me know what you think! I'll be updating everyday until I'm at school (probably).

The Rate of a Catalyst

Chapter 1: The Variety of Living Organisms

The shawl wrapped tightly around her bare shoulders offered little in the way of protection against the cool September air. The early signs of autumn were finally appearing and although both the trees and Misty Day had tried to rebel, they could do nothing to stop the frail, technicolor leaves dropping to the ground as the Cajun walked along the path.
Mercilessly, she stepped on one, an already dead thing surely wouldn't notice the crunch of it's rotting cells. The chloroplasts had long since left the leaf meaning it could no longer photosynthesise, no longer live. Misty sighed as she took another step down the short cut she had immediately found upon arriving in the quaint little town. She felt strangely connected to the leaf she had trod on, for she too did not have the energy to respire. Not with the first day of school looming over her head.
Misty breathed heavily, realising a shot of air out of her nose as she nuzzled her chin into her shoulder as she walked. A small breeze found its way through the hidden tree bark and into Misty's bloodstream. She shivered and hugged her shawl tighter, tassels dancing in the wind. Good God, why did she not bring a coat?

Misty arrived at the school gates not missing how they alarmingly resembled how she imagined the gates of hell to look. "Robichaux's High School," Misty muttered to herself. Slowly, she made her way to the front door, avoiding all eyes which were placed on her. The stares from the students were colder than the breezes which invaded her on the way there. They were cold and calculating. Misty sped up her pace slightly arriving inside the school and at the top of a long corridor.
And there were so many people.
Misty wasn't used to the population, the rush. Students chirping away like birds at their lockers, catching up with their friends after a long summer holiday. Misty looked at the variation of people she would be forced to learn with, with an unsure and almost scared look on her face. She surveyed the corridor, spying different uniforms on boys and girls- splashed in the school's patriotism and colours. She saw an entire variety of different organisms in the corridor's ecosystem, all human, but all different nonetheless.

Misty kept her head down, not wanting to make eye contact with anyone. She rushed through her corridor, trying to find- oomph. She collided into someone, dropping all her papers in the meantime.
"Ow! Watch where you're going!" A fair, straight haired girl with a solemn face complained as she rubbed her shoulder. Misty must've clipped it on her train-like walk.
"Oh, I'm real' sorry. I didn't mean ta'," Misty stuttered as she dropped to the floor to start collecting her papers once more.
The girl, dressed in a small black, but detailed dress, sighed before crouching down to help Misty pick up her papers. "Sorry for being snappy, it's just... You know. First day of school- it's a mad rush. I'm Zoe," Zoe looked up for a moment to smile at Misty. She couldn't tell wether it was apologetic or not, but the girl, Zoe, seemed genuine enough.
"I'm Misty, nice ta' meet ya'. Do ya' know where I can find ta' head's office?" She asked.
"You're new?" Zoe asked, Misty nodded in reply as she finished picking up her work and stood up once more. "Just down the hall. It's not hard to miss, it's quite fancy," Zoe directed. "I'll be going now, I can't miss class on the first day. I'll see you around, Misty,"
The Cajun nodded as Zoe past her. Walking to the end of the hall she noticed how Zoe was right- the Head's office was indeed, 'quite fancy'. The door was wooden, a dark wood, standing out from the rest of the school. On it, the door had only 2 small, square windows and a plaque that read:

"Ms F. Goode. Headmistress of Robichaux's High School

1971-"

'1971? God this bitch has been here a while,' Misty thought to herself as she knocked on the door. A faint "come in" was heard from the other side as Misty opened the door.

"Hello, Ms Goode?" Misty asked cautiously as she stepped into the office. It was light in the room, but very stylish. Although simple, the cream walls themselves seemed to represent authority. The few pieces of furniture present, such as the black fur rug on the wooden floor or the oak bookcase behind the equally wooden desk complete with various antiques and old books, made Misty feel out of place and intimidated. This feeling did not go away, but was in fact, made more intense when Fiona Goode turned around to face her.
The headmistress had a kind face, beautiful, but with her beauty came a coldness that was so easily cast over her features. Her black dress was evidently expensive, as were her heels which Misty could see under the desk. Her legs were crossed in a manner of propriety and her blonde hair was styled in a way that framed her face. She would've most certainly been the pinnacle of human beauty in her younger years. Misty was taken aback.
Fiona smiled at the Cajun, a small set of teeth leered at her in a curve of the mouth which danced upon her lips but didn't reach her eyes. Misty was actually quite scared of the woman. Which was ridiculous, she was just her head teacher.
"Ah! You must be Misty Day," Fiona smiled knowingly, a look which made Misty feel somewhat uneasy. "Please take a seat," the headmistress motioned to a leather seat that was posh, but less superior than her own.
"Yes," Misty tried her best not to let her accent show through. "I just moved here,"
Fiona nodded like she'd heard it all before. And she had. "Well Misty, I'm sure you'll enjoy your time here with us at Robichaux's." The older woman opened up one of her desk drawers and produced a small piece of paper. "Your timetable. Your locker is number 035 and you should find all your necessary books situated in there. You may leave,"

Misty stared wide eyed, too scared to move, as the woman spoke, before the words 'you may leave' finally settled in and she jumped into action. "Oh! Right! Thank ya' Ms. Goode," she grabbed her timetable from her desk and sped out of the door, eager to leave the steel gaze of Fiona Goode.