Chapter 1

Kadic Academy

Starting a new school year is tough to begin with. Imagine doing it in the middle of the year and having to move away from your family. That's what my parents decided to do with me. They said I needed to be sociable and thought sending me to a school where I would have a roommate would be a nice idea. It's not that I don't like people; it's just that I prefer to spend my time alone, seeing as everyone thinks I'm invisible anyway. I've heard good things about the school, Kadic Academy, so I'm hoping this will be a fresh start seeing as nobody knows me. The principal, Mr. Delmas, made a point of personally giving my parents and I a tour of the school. It's a beautiful campus, but looking around I wondered if I would ever fit in at this school. After completing the never ending tour, my parents wished me goodbye and when they thought I wasn't looking made a point to ask the principal to look out for me.

Not long after my parents left I was escorted to my room by Jim, the school's gym teacher, who told me every rule. Hearing him you would have thought he knew the school handbook by heart.

"You'll be bunking with Aelita, one of our top students, so if you have any questions be sure to ask her. And here we are." Jim said, pointing to the door in front of him.

"Thank you." I said quickly, hoping he would leave so I could finally sulk by myself.

"Right." and within a few minutes Jim was gone.

Walking into the room I was greeted by laughing voices. Sitting down on the bed with pink sheets was a girl with short pink hair and an outfit to match. Beside her was a boy about her height with short blonde hair and glasses. He wore your average Joe outfit: blue shirt, khaki pants, and blue shoes. Across from them in the corner standing up was a boy with short brown hair that looked like it was naturally spiked. The boy wore a tan shirt with a greenish shirt over it, khaki pants, and some sneakers. Last but not least, sitting on an empty bed I guessed was mine, sat a boy with spiked up blonde hair with what looked like a purple diamond in the middle. He wore a purple outfit and pinkish looking sneakers.

After staring blankly at them all I finally introduced myself, "Hi I'm Harmony. I'm supposed to be bunking with Aelita."

The girl with pink hair stood up and made her way to the doorway where I was standing, "Hi! I'm Aelita", she said extending her hand.

Grateful to have been in the right room, despite the fact I was taken here by a teacher, I shook Aelita's hand.

"These are my friends." Aelita said cheerfully.

The boy with glasses stood up, "I'm Jeremie."

"Hi, nice to meet you."

The guy in the corner came over to where Aelita and I were standing, "I'm Ulrich." He extended his hand as well.

"Hi."

The person across from Jeremie jumped up and came right beside me. "Hay, I'm Odd. Hay look! It's time for lunch!"

"Have you been watching the clock this whole time Odd?" Ulrich asked.

"No!"

"I swear sometimes I think you have two stomachs Odd." Aelita chimed in.

They all started laughing the way best friends did; of course I wouldn't know. Picking up my stuff, I hauled it to my bed. Debating whether to unpack first and risk missing lunch or go to lunch and deal with this mess later was up for debate.

"Why don't you join us for lunch?" Aelita asked pulling me out of my thoughts.

I guess that gives me my answer. "Are you sure? I don't want to intrude or anything."

"Yah why not?" Ulrich said.

"Sounds great. You'll have to lead the way though. I don't really know where I'm going. I kinda ignored the principal."

They all laughed. "She learns quick!" Odd said through a laugh.

This time I laughed with them. Maybe this year wasn't going to be so bad after all.

The cafeteria wasn't what I thought it would be. It was exactly the same as my old school, St. Monroe's High, which made me feel a little bit at home. Following the gang into line I got what Odd recommended, soup with fresh bread. Sitting down at the table I was surprised at how welcoming they all were. On our way outside we were stopped by a girl with black hair and two boys standing behind her looking like lost puppy dogs.

"Ulrich dear I when are you going to learn that you belong with a much cooler crowd than this?" gesturing to all of us.

"Sorry Sissy your definition of cool and my definition of cool are a lot different."

So that's the famous Sissy they warned me about. Apparently she's the principal's daughter and has a serious thing for Ulrich. She's also rude and as dumb as a post, at least that's what they told me. Turning to me, she gave me a once over and gave a grin that spelled nothing but trouble and left.

"Just ignore her." Jeremie reassured me.

"Are you sure? I didn't exactly like that look she gave me."

"Positive."

"If you say so."

"So do you know your schedule yet?" Ulrich asked.

"Uh, yah. It's right here!" I said pulling out a wrinkled piece of paper.

They all examined the list of classes and made little remarks I couldn't quite make out.

"Looks like we'll be seeing a lot more of each other." Odd said with a smile on his face.

"I don't understand?"

"We all have the same schedule." Aelita said helping to clear my confusion.

"Great!" This means I won't be alone, at least not here.

We all smiled and after being given a not boring tour of the school and told some rules of their own Aelita and I went back to our room, the boys to theirs.

"So what do you think?"

"Well I definitely like that we're by woods and your friends are great Aelita."

"Don't you mean our friends?"

This took me off guard and I guess it showed on my face because Aelita just smiled and giggled at me. Tomorrow was the start of classes and boy was I nervous. Aelita gave me a reassurance which is what seems like everyone has been doing for me but it still didn't hurt to get some more. Excited for the first time ever about school I set my alarm and drifted off to sleep.