Dear Journal-

Guess who got expelled from Old Corona High? Even worse- guess who just got expelled from Old Corona High by his own father?

You got it right- I, Varian Vatter, was expelled today. I am pretty mad, but what's worse is that Father- yep, the one who expelled me- is disappointed in me now.

Perhaps I've blown up one too many chemistry labs, but... It still kinda sucks, you know? I mean, now I'm expected to transfer to Corona High School- that's right, in the city!- for my actions...

And my own father expelling me...

I guess the fact that your kid blows up chemistry labs on accident is a serious mojo killer.

I hate to be a new kid. And... Surely the people in the big city have heard of my "antics." They won't accept me. They'll never accept me...

Will they?

Anyways, I should probably get going. Father says the drive into the city takes a couple of hours, so we should hurry up since he's got to be at Old Corona High early tomorrow.

More later.

-Varian

Despite being an only child who was on a one-on-one trip with his father, Varian sat in the backseat of the car, feeling extremely dejected.

Having imagined that his first trip to Corona City would be... Well, a trip, he was extremely ashamed to be heading there now on completely different business.

"Varian, it's all for the better," Quirin said, adjusting the rearview mirror so he could see his son better, "you'll find that there's a new life- a better life- awaiting you in Corona City."

Varian grunted, focusing on his hands. His raccoon friend, Ruddiger- who came along on the trip but wasn't allowed to stay at the school- chittered softly and climbed onto his lap. The young boy chuckled a little bit, gently stroking Ruddiger's fur.

"You'll make more friends. More human friends."

"Yeah, sure. Because humans adore me."

Quirin fixed his firm, steely gaze on his son. "Wherever this attitude is coming from, I don't like it, young man."

Varian could sense what his father was keeping confined to his mind. This attitude you have? It's probably the reason why you hardly have any friends.

He tried to be a good person. A good student. A good friend. A good son. But it seemed as if the entire universe was against him.

He knew he was different- well, even more different than everyone else- but he had always believed that the fact that he was different would make others like him, or at least try to be kind.

He couldn't have been more wrong.

"You're glad I'm transferring. You're glad to finally have me out of your hair."

"You know that's not true, son. It's just-"

Quirin kept on talking, but Varian had tuned him out, just like he always had. Long ago, it had gotten to the point where he couldn't stand his father lecturing him all the time.

Quirin often treated Varian... Poorly, I suppose you could say. Yet he was protective of his son. He was tired of Varian's antics, and yet he stood up for him.

In other words, Varian's father was a tough map to read.

Ruddiger chittered again and Varian looked up to see Corona City sprawled out in front of them, its skyline just as he had seen in pictures. Skyscrapers were scattered throughout the city, and urban homes and parks... But, most impressive of all was Corona High.

The campus had once been a palace with surrounding grounds, but it had since been transformed into, well, a school with classrooms and lecture halls and dormitories.

It was simply amazing.

"Wow," Varian breathed, fogging up his window, "just... Wow."

Quirin gave a slight smile. He enjoyed seeing his son's excitement and fascination over many little things, things such as seeing Corona City for the first time. He wished he could stay with Varian for a little while longer, watch him experience and explore the city for the first time, but he knew that he couldn't. There's a reason he had gotten up at three o'clock that morning to drive Varian to Corona City, the same reason that he was going to let Varian simply grab his stuff and go.

Quirin had to get back to Old Corona High.

Of course, this wasn't okay with either of them, but neither of them wanted to be the first to admit that. And so they held their silence.

After some time, the car pulled up in front of Corona High, which was actually way more impressive up-close and in person.

Varian got out of the car and went around back, ready to grab his things. He was pretty surprised to find a young woman already there, loading his stuff onto a cart, almost like you'd find at a really fancy hotel.

"Um, excuse me. What-"

The girl looked up at him. Her reddish-orange hair fell in waves down to her mid-back. Her eyes were a startling jade green, and she had freckles scattered across her face. Her smile was warm and welcoming, but at the same time, it was tired. "The headmaster is just inside. Take the hallway to the right. His office is the first door on the left."

"Oh-kay," Varian stammered, "thanks. And... My stuff?"

"Will be in your dorm when you get there."

"Thanks," he said again.

Varian kind of felt obligated to go say good-bye to his father, but when he turned around, he found that the car was gone.

Fine, he thought, it's not like I needed to say good-bye, anyways.

Sighing, he turned and entered the building.

"Erm- excuse-"

The secretary, a thin guy with a pencil mustache- the nameplate said NIGEL- nodded. "Headmaster Frederic's expecting you."

Varian was curious, but he knew better than to let it get to him. Reinvention doesn't start with asking annoying questions.

"Thanks."

He entered the headmaster's office, where he immediately saw that three people were holding court, for lack of better terms. One was obviously Headmaster Frederic- a big, bulky guy with a beard and mustache, as well as a serious, stern, yet kind gaze. The other two were women. Varian assumed that one of them was Vice Headmistress Arianna, who also happened to be Frederic's wife.

The third person remained a stranger.

Varian rapped his fist against the interior of the door, clearing his throat for attention- a trick he had picked up from his father- and was pleased when all three looked up at him.

For the first time, he saw the faces of the women: both had wide, curious, bright green eyes, though the stranger had freckles.

The stranger's hair was brown, much like Arianna's, but it went down to her chin.

"Ah, you must be Varian Vatter," the headmaster spoke, "welcome to Corona High School."

"Thank you."

"As you should know, I'm Frederic Leeson, headmaster. This is my wife, Arianna- vice headmistress. And this is our daughter, Rapunzel. She's a senior here."

When introduced, Arianna nodded, while Rapunzel gave a friendly smile and a little wave.

Just then, another man burst into the room. This guy had mischief written all over: in his brown eyes, in his grin, even in his stature. His hair was done almost perfectly, and his goatee looked all too perfect.

"Hey, Blondie," he shouted- which confused Varian, since nobody in the room was blonde- "don't you remember our plans?"

Rapunzel looked at her parents. They nodded, and she smiled again, hugging them both before running to join the man in the doorway.

"And that's her boyfriend, Eugene," Arianna explained.

"Anyways," Frederic butted in, "it's about time you got a tour, huh?"

At these words, another person entered the room, but not in a noisy way like Eugene, nor with an air of intimidation like Varian.

No, this young woman entered, nodded to the headmaster and headmistress, and then went to stand along the wall.

Varian was transfixed. The young woman had short, black hair that was streaked with a few lighter shades of black. Her skin was extremely pale and her complexion was absolutely perfect, and not in the obnoxious way that Eugene's hair was. Her eyes were narrow, but Varian could make out a hazel color.

"Varian, this is Cassandra," Arianna said, "Cassandra, Varian. The new boy in J323."

Cassandra nodded again and left the room. It took Varian a moment or two to realize he was supposed to follow her.

She lead Varian around the campus, staying quiet for the most part, unless a friend called out to her. But Varian was okay with that.

Finally, they arrived in front of one of the two dorm buildings.

"Here's your orientation packet. It includes a basic map as well as your schedule, a directory, rules, and other important things. You might want to read up on all that tonight and walk through your schedule tomorrow. School session starts on Thursday- two days- at eight o'clock. In the morning. Oh, and here's your dorm key. Take the elevator to the third floor. J-wing is to your right. Take another right and the second door on the left should be your dorm."

Varian took mental notes of everything she was saying- or, at least, he was trying to- and wasn't at all surprised when she left immediately after finishing.

"Deep breaths, Varian," he murmured softly to himself, "remember: total reinvention."