It was an unbearably hot and muggy day in Summer Heights. The sun was blazing; everywhere the eye could reach found bronzed children and teenagers in thin shirts and shorts, while dogs and adults were sweltering under their thick coats and heat-trapping work suits. Even though most of these had been tailored to accommodate the heat, little respite was found from the atmosphere's unyielding grogginess.
At Summer Heights High School, novelty gripped staff and students alike; for, walking across the playground alongside Ms Murray, were two new students due to start at the school today. Inquisitive eyes stared from the classroom windows as the boy and girl walked towards the main door. Luca was the taller of the two, and slender with it – he had floppy blonde hair and bright blue eyes, a stark contrast to the purple tie he had slung loosely around his neck. Emily came up to his shoulder, and had bright brunette hair, brightened by the sun, and dark, brooding eyes. At first glance one would never guess that they were siblings, but that they were.
"… and I think you'll find you'll both fit in perfectly well here." Ms Murray ended, having concluded the tour of the school grounds; both kids had quickly become bored with her spiel about the school moving up in league tables, and how many extra-curricular opportunities were on offer. "I have assigned you both to your classes, and you will each have a student mentor from your class to show you around for the first week or so."
Ms Murray led them both into the foyer of the reception, where two students from the school were stood waiting patiently.
"Luca Orton-Jones, meet Daniel Everton. You will be in 12W with Miss Wheatley. Daniel, if you could show him to your form room…?"
Daniel nodded and beckoned for Luca to follow him up the stairs. Luca sighed heavily, hitched his backpack up over his shoulder and followed suit, leaving Ms Murray and the two girls behind.
"Now, you two are both in form 10G with Mr Gregson. Emily Orton-Jones, this is Mary Takalua, one of our most esteemed students here at the school. I will warn you, Mr Gregson is quite a strong character; just try not to take him too seriously and you'll be just fine."
Emily nodded and nervously looked over at Mary, who smiled reassuringly back at her.
"You'll be okay. Come with me, I'll take you to registration."
Emily nodded once again, at a sudden loss for words. She took a deep breath and carried on alongside Mary down the corridor.
It was going to be a long day; she could feel it.
"PUCK YOU, SIR! I didn't even do anything!"
Mr Peterson sighed heavily; he could feel another grey hair coming through as he spoke.
"Now, Jonah, watch the language please. That is an una-"
"But I didn't even say anything! I said puck! WITH A P!"
"I KNOW WHAT YOU MEANT!" Mr Peterson steadied himself. "Anyone this side of Australia could have heard you, and they all know what you meant!"
"Argh, this is so fucking gay. I didn't even do it!"
"Jonah, please." Mr Peterson had noticed the two girls crossing the playground towards Mr G's demountable, and was desperately trying to pull the volume down for the sake of the newer of the two. He had clocked that the other was Jonah's sister, and this gave him some relief, as no doubt the new girl would hear about Jonah from her soon enough.
"You're late. First day of year 9, you BARELY made it this far, and YOU'RE LATE. Look at your watch. It is now 10 minutes to 9, and so there are only 10 minutes of registration left. The proof is right there on your wrist. And you're STILL trying to tell me that you're not late?!"
"But sir! Look" – Jonah gestured towards the girls – "THEY'RE late and it's still just me who's in the crap?! That's so unfair! This is SO fucking HOMO!"
Mr Peterson sighed exasperatedly in response. "They're meant to be late. The new girl had an orientation this morning. And how could you deliberately try to pull your own sister into YOUR mess?!" He braced himself, ready for a sharp, scathing response from the boy. Surprisingly, nothing came.
"Jonah…?"
But Jonah was away. He had never looked back from the girls, his eyes locked on the new year 10, following her from the top of her head, down the length of her hair to her waist, and back up to take in her face. For the first time in his life, he felt lost.
Mr Peterson clocked what was happening and let Jonah stew in a mix of his own anger and bewilderment, smiling ever so slightly to himself at the sight, an idea already forming in his mind.
As she crossed the playground by Mary's side, Emily heard a commotion coming from the direction of the back gate, by the demountable they were heading towards. She felt Mary turn and look across, before grumbling in exasperation.
"Ugh. Don't mind him, Em. That's my brother Jonah… idiot extraordinaire."
Bemusedly, Emily turned to look towards the gate. The boy was incredibly tall – she guessed that he must be about year 11 – and he had brilliant bouncy hair, jet black. He was stocky but not big, and his uniform was ever so slightly large on him, his tie undone and hanging loosely around his neck. Altogether, she found him to be a very attractive lad. She stopped short as he turned to look at her; his eyes wandering over her, his mouth slightly agape
She decided to make the most of it. Smiling slightly from the corner of her mouth, she narrowed her eyes slightly, before throwing a wink in his direction.
Without waiting to see his reaction, Emily turned abruptly back towards the demountable and briskly and purposefully walked with Mary towards the front door. Grinning to herself, she reflected on how her first day could not have gone any better; and it still wasn't even an hour in…