~START~

The dingy school bus pulled up. Outside, another school, just like the rest. This was the last stop, so there was no other choice but to exit the humid vehicle. I sighed, tossing my bag over my shoulder, and scrambled to my feet. I got off, landing on the unforgiving side walk unsteadily.

The bus promptly left, as if relieved to be rid of me, which was probably true.

Taking in my new surroundings, I examined the school. A late summer sun shone down on the tall buildings with tan roofs, circling a paved courtyard scattered with kids. Nothing new. Admitted, a lot more greenery and open grounds than the previous ones, but other than that I saw few difference. What did they call this school? Kadic? Well, by the end of this week I'll probably be hearing the nickname roaming the halls. The nickname that follows me. Then they'll see that this school is just like the rest.

A long sigh escaped me. Sometimes I think there's just something wrong with me. Either way, this was my new school, so I tried to be optimistic since I'd have to live with it for a while.

I started off casually, passing under an old arch connected to the gate. Ingraved on it I spotted the name again; Kadic.

As I continued into the courtyard I realized I was being watched by a scrawny four-eyes lurking in the shadows of one of the trees near the gate. Soon enough, he approached me, looking less creepy in direct daylight.

"So," said the fellow blond, "You're new around here?"

"Yeah, I just arrived," I replied. Wasn't that kind of obvious?

"Want me to show you around?"

"That would be great."

"Okay, follow me," he began heading off in the direction of one of the taller buildings. "By the way, I'm Jeremie," he said once I was walking alongside him.

"My name is Odd." Don't make fun of it, I though to myself, cringing in anticipation of the coming commentary.

"Don't worry, I only make fun of the people I know really well," he replied. I guess I must have said that last part out loud, too.

"Heh, thanks," l laughed lightly. "So where are we going?"

"Principal's office."

%%%

"And welcome to the school!" Was the last thing I heard the dignified principal say to me before I left the office.

"So," Jeremie pulled up beside me again. "What room are you in?"

I tossed the small key to him as we exit the building, "You tell me."

Jeremie fumbled with the key as he caught it, and was identifying the number when he let out a laugh.

"What's so funny?"

"Your in the same room as one of my friends," he said, still amazed and amused.

"Oh." I swiped away a pesky fly in the breeze. "Does he bite?"

Jeremie laughed again, "Only a little."

%%%

Jeremie led me around the school first, pointing at each area and reciting a short description, then we headed over to a large building he said the dorms were in. As we walked up the single flight of stairs I got a few questionable glances from the other students, which I opted to ignore.

Finally, Jeremie brought us to a door. The two digits on it matched my key, which he was still holding. 42.

"Here we are," Jeremie said. He slipped the key into the hole easily and unlocked the door. We both stepped in.

"Hey," Jeremie caught the attention of the brown-haired boy sitting at the desk across the room. He seemed to be hunched over some book on the desk until Jeremie called to him, then he turned around and noticed me.

"Who's this?" he asked.

"The name's Odd."

"This is your new roommate," a chipper Jeremie informed him.

"Oh, okay," the boy was noticeably unsure what to say. "Come on in."

"Thanks," I entered shyly. "So, which side's mine?"

He joked, "why? Did you want to start putting a line of tape down the middle of the room?" He chuckled in kind of a creepy way.

"I told you Odd, he doesn't bite," Jeremie semi-understood and tried to play along, ultimately failing.

I was glad when my roomie finally remembered to answer my question. "It's that side," he pointed to my right.

I dropped my bag on the bed and sat down. Jeremie seated himself on the bed opposite mine, and looked as if he'd remembered something.

"By the way," Jeremie pointed to my roommate, "that's Ulrich."

Ulrich nodded.

An awkward silence filled the room, and in an attempt to break it I started, "So..." But it didn't help because I had nothing to follow it with. A whole minute passed before anything was said.

Then someone came through the door saying, "oh Ulrich," in a playful tone.

The girl who had called him stopped in the door way. Her brown eyes went wide, staring at me like I had three heads. She wore all black, all long-sleeved, with combat boots to match. Her dark hair was cut at ear-level, and she looked Asian, I noticed.

"Who might you be?" she asked me.

"I'm Ulrich's new roommate, Odd," I introduced myself.

"Oh. I'm Yumi," she said.

Meanwhile Ulrich rose to his feet, and walked toward her and the door.

"And-" Yumi was going to add something else but Ulrich mumbled to her, "Come on."

As she was being pushed out the door she wrapped up in a different sort of way by saying, "and it seems like I've got to go. Nice meeting you!" Just like that, they were disappearing down the hallway.

"Where's the fire?" I asked Jeremie.

He fixed his oval glasses, "Oh it's nothing, their just going to practice."

"What practice?"

Jeremie smirked, "come see."

~FIN~

Excited! This is my first fanfic. Please review!