Authors Note: Hi, first fanfic ever. I'd appreciate reviews just to see if you like the concept so far. Yes it's a kind of high-school AU, but it's set between the ages of 16 being the youngest of the main student characters to 19 being the oldest. Hope you enjoy it! It's 3.5k words, so a little long for first chapters but I couldn't stop haha.


The Normandy Academy

If there was a single thing in the world that she was certain about, it was that this wishy-washy business of mandatory schooling or trades training until 20, was an absolute joke. Seventeen year old Noelle "Noah" Shepard had never quite been one to have the willpower to sit in a stuffy room for what seemed countless hours a day and be forced to listen to old people drone on and on about subjects she was sure would never come in handy. She knew this was a ridiculous idea, this being forced into attending some stupid prestigious academy that he had said would be good for her, a new chance at a future. Yeah well he was wrong, she told herself as she slumped further down in the car seat, arms crossed firmly and aggressively over her chest.

She observed the buildings from outside the car window, the ride from Boston Airport to her new school was supposed to only take about twenty minutes, it had been forty-five and counting. Next to her the man she affectionately referred to as 'the one who got stuck with me', smiled at her before nudging her in the side, "Cheer up sour face, this is good for you, it's going to be a new start and you'll be around decent people," he said with a rather annoyingly happy tone.

A murderous glare was thrown his way, he just laughed it off before returning to his datapad. That's what he didn't get about Noah, she was happy back in New York, she had friends there. Friends? No. That didn't sound right. Allies. Yes that sounded better. Noah had allies back in New York, the Tenth Street Reds as they were better known - a large gang in an even larger metropolis. Aside from the 'the one that got stuck with her', The Reds were the only family she had ever known and in truth, though she'd never verbally admit it, Shepard missed them. Missed skipping school and ransacking old buildings or terrorizing other local schools with them.

For a moment, and only a moment, a sombre emotion ran its course over her face before she snapped back into a cold glare and turned toward the man, arms still folded over her chest, "How much longer will this take Anderson? I'm bored and this car is hot as fu-" the last word didn't get a chance to leave her mouth before the man reached over and flicked her ear, not even looking up from his datapad. Noah yelped in pain, clutching at her face while sending another murderous gaze his way, "Oh how very mature of you," she sniped though her tone had a laugh hidden somewhere beneath it.

Anderson, David Anderson, Retired Admiral David Anderson to be completely factually correct - although as far as Noah knew, he preferred to be called Principal Anderson nowadays. How embarrassing she growled to herself, having the only man who she had ever looked up to as a father figure being her Principal at this new prison of a school. She pretended to hate him for every little thing he did, but she loved him with all the care and kindness she could possibly secretly muster. He had after all been more than willingly to take her then six year old self in when...well when her parents decided she was too much to handle or whatever their half-assed excuse was.

Directing her murderous gaze back out the window, she discovered she was no longer in the high-rise buildings of central Boston. Suddenly she found herself looking out at a place that looked far too rich for its own good. And holy shit, was that four story cottage-like-building a house!. Without noticing she was doing so, she had let her jaw hang loose, and Anderson, letting out a rather hearty chuckle had alerted to the fact he had seen it, "Close your mouth kid or the flies will get in. Welcome to your new area though, we'll be passing old Harvard soon and then it's only another five or so minute drive."

Shepard snapped her mouth shut but kept her eyes glued to whatever was going on outside. She had never been somewhere that looked this fancy. Yeah sure, New York was fancy in its own way, but it was all city. Noah had lived in a large and rather expensive apartment that overlooked the nicest parts, but she had never seen something that looked so peaceful and rich as this. It was only a minute after gawking that she realized how much she detested this already. Pompous rich arseholes they probably all were. And then she realized with another sigh of discontent that everyone at school was probably going to be much the same as the people who had taken up residence around it.

The Normandy Academy was her new destination of course, where else would she be expected to attend? It was a fancy school run and financed by the Alliance Military, though that didn't necessarily mean you entered said military after graduation. She had googled it on the plane trip between cities. The students were either genius material, sporting gods, wealthy little army brats, or just plain talented as hell. It boasted itself on having an amazing sporting division and even more amazing science division.

'Shit' she thought with a scowl, 'Thanks Anderson, set me up into a school I will almost definitely not fit in at. Great caretaker that you are.'

They had just passed Harvard University, Shepard could tell, there were people wearing pretentious Harvard inscribed blazers. Had Anderson not been in the seat directly opposite, Noah was positive her window would be down and an obscene remark would have been thrown in their direction.

Her time spent in The Reds had really screwed with her perception of being a polite and proper young citizen. The Reds hated everyone richer than them and teased them half to hell, god they would have murdered Noah had they ever found out she was currently under the wing of one of the most influential ex-Admirals of the Alliance Military, and also had her bank account privately funded by an 'anonymous' source, though Shepard knew anonymous meant Hackett - another high class military man, friend of Anderson, and an Uncle to her.

And as she happened to be pondering on her rather dubious past, Anderson nudged her again and pointed out her window the towering school that they had pulled into the driveway of. Her jaw dropped open again. "Holy fuck..." she muttered, and this time the man didn't hit her, he just laughed and nodded.

It was huge, absolutely huge. Bigger than any school she had ever, EVER, seen in New York. Down the driveway further she assumed the gargantuan castle-like building was the main offices. But that's not what interested Noah, past the office she could see a large metal dome, adorned with lights, a sporting field obviously. It had a ring going around the top of it too, just below its overhanging roof, she could see lingering students walking around it, and there was a coffee shop it looked like on side of the ring. On either side of the main offices, with a large courtyard and fountain separating them where the offices hadn't stretched too, were two as large castle-like structures. She quickly noted one had "Grades 1 and 2" and the other "Grade 3 and 4" emblazoned on ornate signs out the front of them. Dormitories.

"Shit...those dorms are larger than the whole god damn school I went to, Anderson," she turned to him with a grin, he was smiling happily at her change of opinion about the place, he was worried she would hate it, "You did good, landing a job here."

He nodded as they began to pass the dormitory structures, "And you thought it would be military grade, am I right?" he laughed as she turned away to hide the embarrassed truth telling scowl, "The top school for the top students Noah. Wait till you see where the classes are held. These buildings were kept mostly as a front, to look old and prestigious, brand new inside of course. But the facility buildings are-" he was caught off as she slapped his arms to shut him up, her gaze transfixed out the window.

She felt thirteen all over again when he took her to see the zoo for the first time and she had spent a whole thirty minutes just gazing around, not moving, too anxious and happy to move. She could see the buildings he was obviously referring to, the end of her drive was arriving soon though, so it was a mere glimpse, but damn those were impressive she thought. They were as shiny as the dome, only the shine wasn't metal, it was some sort of glass, huge panes of glass.

The car pulled up out front of the offices, the driver and his associate got out to open the doors of their respective passengers. Noah smiled at the woman who was holding the door open for her, before glancing around at the school some more, in an instant she had forgotten about The Reds and was completely transfixed on everything that was laying before her at this very point in time.

A voice interrupted her thoughts, startling her enough to jump backwards and clutch at the stun gun at her hip. Anderson laughed, "I said are you ready to go in or shall I leave you here to gawk like a child?

She gave him the finger with a scowl, crossing her arms yet again to try to seem indifferent about the entire experience, but secretly inside she was the giddiest she had been in quite a long while. They entered the gargantuan office complex, Anderson was right, everything looked old outside but inside it was like stepping into another world; hell even the desk manager was an android, an android who was eyeing her with curiosity. Noah glared at her, them, it? and looked down to shuffle her feet, "Stupid robot," she mumbled loud enough for the robot to hear, she hoped.

Shepard could vaguely overhear Anderson talk to another lady at the desk, they were sorting out room arrangements and class timetables. Noah wished she could remember who's smart idea it was making her start just after Christmas holidays instead of in September like any normal student would. Oh that's right, it was hers, she had thrown a tantrum and compromised with Anderson to start during Christmas. 'You're such a dolt', she told herself, 'now you'll be all out of place'.

"Noah," though she didn't respond to that call, she heard it all the same, in fact she heard the three others before that too, but she was more than content to stare at her feet instead, "Noelle Janice Shepard!". Her head snapped up at that one, glaring with absolutely livid fury at Anderson who was glaring right back, he had a look of 'yeah serves you right for not answering' plastered on his face.

The glare contest went on for another tense minute until Shepard let out a small laugh, lazily walking over to him, "Yeah what do you want old man?". He let out a huff of indignation, he hated being called that. He was only 48! In return for her comment he chucked her favoured N7 printed duffle bag at her, walking away and having her struggle to catch up "We're headed to your dormitory, I got you a room alone in one of the free Grade 3 dorms, figured it would be safer to have you alone than corrupt some poor girl," though the comment was supposed to be serious, he said it with a light and playful tone.

"Yeah yeah I know, kids here didn't have quite the upbringing I did, I get it, be nice, be somewhat courteous and for god's sake don't destroy anything valuable," she recited the exact words he had said to her when they were discussing, and by discussing she meant listening to him ramble on the plane trip up here.

"Good, you were listening," he focused his attention back on the datapad and to the office girl that was trailing next to him. As for Noah, her eyes were darting every which way. It seemed a few students had stayed here over Christmas break. She had two days until school stated up again if she remembered correctly.

The students that remained to be mostly of alien decent, and she noted with somewhat happiness that there was a healthy mix of all races here. It was a shame the Quarian's still had to wear their masks and suits on Earth, wrong chemical mixes and whatnot.

She had let her thoughts wander as she followed Anderson through a set of double doors, across a short courtyard with benching, through another set of double doors, and up several flights of stairs before he abruptly stopped and she had run into the back of him, reeling backwards and apologizing profusely. Both Anderson and the office woman had let out a small laugh before gesturing behind them. There was a door that read, "Grade 3 Dormitory 4" and a list of names and room numbers were scribbled by residents on the databoard beneath it.

Before Noah had a chance to read the names Anderson had opened the door, "Welcome to your new home for the next 3 years of your life my least-favourite adolescent." Shepard grinned at him before she turned her attention to the hallway before her and pushed past him and the lovely office lady she had not yet gotten the name of.

The dorm was nice, yeah nice was a good word to describe it. It was definitely modern she had realized as she walked into the shared lounge at the very end of the hall past the rows of six rooms and large shared bathroom. She had noted the one without a name would be hers. The lounge was a comfy homey kind of area. There was a fish tank off to one side with some badass looking creatures in it and a large TV was perched on the wall in front of a set of couches. She offered the room a smile before turning back to Anderson and the lady, "So this is nice, I hope you don't expect me to feed the fishes though, I'm terrible with animals."

All three members of the party laughed, before it was quickly explained a cleaner came in everyday to make sure the fish were feed at the lounge room kept tidy. She was then transferred via omni-tool a list of dorm rules. It was the usual stuff; no smoking, no illegal substances, curfew at 1am for Grade 3, 2am for Grade 4, ordered in food would be picked up at the office, no racism or sexism, no weapons. She nodded in affirmation that she had been listening and she was then transferred a map and her timetable. Anderson was standing off the side somewhat like a proud father.

Noah glanced down at the map, there was a cafeteria in a building behind the offices apparently, good she knew where to get food. She was told quickly about how to register for the optional classes and to add them to her timetable if she wanted. Making a mental note she reminded herself to look up the optional classes later, she had heard something about Advanced Combat Training. And finally the office lady had transferred Noah a list of club activities held around the school, there were a lot to put it simply. A heap of sport teams, with the major and elite chosen ones being Football and Hockey. As well as side science activities and something about a library.

Shepard waved her omni-tool off before staring at the woman with a smile, "Thanks, for all the information in such a short period of time." The woman bashfully smiled back before nodding to Anderson and heading back out the dorm door. Again the two were left alone, bags had been piled in front of Noah's door.

Anderson looked like he was about to saying something but seemed to choke on his words every single time, finally settling for pointing out the lounge room window back to the offices, "I'm on the very top floor, if you take the elevator up it's the door on the left, not the right like most students do, that's a board meeting room."

The girl before him nodded, filing that away, 'Disturb board meeting'. Again silence tumbled over them, the awkwardness in the room growing by the second. Noah decided to speak out this time, "Who are the other five I'm living with? Tell me they aren't annoying as fuck?" she watched as he lit up his omni-tool and checked the lists.

"Looks like you're rooming with Ashley Williams, Gabriella Daniels, a Quarian Zoe'lie Rann, and two Asari sisters, Lilith and Polsia. Can't say I've ever met the Quarian but the two Asari are nice enough, very intelligent tech users if you'd believe it or not, horrid at biotics. Gabby is training to be an Alliance Military Engineer. As for Ashley Williams, she was accepted in on a military scholarship to join the Alliance afterwards - she's smart though, exceptionally good with poetry."

Shepard nodded, so a Quarian, two Asari and two Humans? One who happened to be obnoxiously good with poetry, this ought to be interesting, confining herself to her room? Check. Her thought trail jumped overboard though when Anderson suddenly wrapped her in a awkwardly tight hug.

It was silent for a moment before Noah patted him on the back with a laugh, "You're going to be in a room directly over the courtyard from me, Andy. Unhand me immediately or I'll see to it I get moved to a further dormitory." The two stepped apart again, both grinning like children. Anderson clapped her on the shoulder before handing her a small wrapped gift, "Got you this before we left New York, thought you might enjoy it."

Noah took it and ripped it open, chucking the paper into the bin across the lounge room. Staring at the flickering digital framed photographs of New York. She had taken some of these. She remembered taking these, but she had thought she had lost the camera. But when a picture of her and Anderson at the zoo when she was thirteen popped up, she grinned like a crazy child before wrapping him up in a quick hug. "You have showered me in gifts and awkwardness long enough old man, get back to your work. I'll be fine. And if I'm not, I'll burn something down to let you know I'm not."

A laugh was passed between them, they both knew she was serious though. And then a few minutes later, after another round of 'see you later', Shepard was left standing in the hallway of her dorm alone - duffle bag clutched tightly at her side. Eventually after she decided it was stupid to stand around, she swiped her omni-tool over the lock on her door, listening as it whirled open and stepped inside.

The bedroom was small, like she expected, but it felt homey, just like the lounge. There was a comfy looking pod-bed in the corner near the window, and a desk opposite with a holographic interface built into it. A wardrobe and dressers stood next to the desk. All in all she could cross the room from every way in six full strides. Throwing her duffle bag beside the bed and dragging her other belongings through the door to sort through later, she plopped herself down on the mattress, scooping her pillow up from the floor and laying down, eyes trained on the black and white double striped ceiling.

She waved her hand at the door again, locking from afar with her omni-tool. Her mind was void of all useful thoughts. She supposed she should be trying to figure out where her classrooms and the like would be it was only eleven in the morning after all. But at this current point in time she just wanted to lay down and not think about the fact that this tiny room was now her home, instead of the massive expanse of New York City.

A sigh escaped her mouth as she turned on her side, looking at the picture frame she had set down with her duffle bag, it slowly scrolled through photos of her old home and of her and Anderson, and then there was pictures of her and Anderson's friends. A particular one caught her eye and made her smile a big wide smile though. It was her at was probably nine years old clutched desperately onto Anderson during the famous Christmas incident. An owl of sorts had thought it mighty funny to fly into the dining room window and of course Karin had hold of the camera at the time so when Noah had screamed and clung on desperately a photo had been taken.

'Damn them,' she thought as she laughed beneath her breath, before her thoughts trailed back to more sombre and tired things, 'Place better be worth me leaving my family behind Anderson,' was the one of the final thoughts she remembers thinking before she felt the tug and telltale signs of a body wanting a midday nap - she reasoned with her sleepy brain that she'd do important matters like get organized and eat later. "Don't lie, lazy arse" her own voice in her head chimed back at her. She dozed off with a content smile on her face at that thought.