Stuart watched his father toss his suitcase and duffle bag onto a cart full of other luggage. "Do I really have to go?" He asked, had already known the answer. His mother put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed firmly. "Stuart, we worked really hard for this, we-"

"Stop trying to get out of this, Stuart; You're going to America and that's final- your mother and I worked hard to buy you a ticket," His father interrupted. "We can't afford your education with you here- so this is the best option. You need to be grateful, boy." Stuart looked down at his feet angrily and held his right arm with his left hand.

"But I don't want to!"

"2D!"

2D yelps as he sits up straight and looks around. He turns his head, staring at the person sitting beside him on the bus; Russel. "W-what?" He asks hastily. "Somethin wrong?"

Russel snorts a bit and shakes his head. "Nah man, you fell asleep and we at school."

2D groans as he slowly stands, rubbing his head a bit; he must have fallen asleep on the ride over. He internally curses his insomnia. "You okay? bad dreams?"

"Memories," 2D admits, as the two steps off the bus, behind a couple of other students. "It's been a year since I got here but I don't think I'll ever be used to American schools."

Russel nods a bit when a short, Japanese girl joins them quietly. "Sup Noodle,"

The girl greets them in Japanese before pointing towards the main office.

"What?"

Noodle sighs and starts to walk that way, "Follow."

Noodle and Russel stare at each other for a moment before jogging a bit to catch up with her. They both peer inside the main office windows to see what was going on inside. Russel huffs and points to a tall, tan man wearing a white button up shirt and tight black pants. "Who the heck is this clown?"

2D shrugs. "New student?"

"No way! That dude gotta be like in his late 20s..."

Noodle nods in agreement. "Teacher."

"New teacher?" Noodle nods again. "What for?" She shrugs. 2D felt his heart beat a bit faster when the man turns the window and glare at them.

They all duck and Russel groans. "That's a good first impression," He says sarcastically. He immediately shuts up when the door opens and the new teacher steps out. The first thing 2D notices were the man's boots; they aren't exactly what teachers typically wear. The next thing he noticed was his upside down cross and...his chest hair. 2D felt his face grow warm as he gazed up at the handsome stranger.

"You three got a fuckin' problem?"

Noodle and Russel look at each other, almost searching for an answer. 2D, however, couldn't seem to take his eyes off the tall man. He wasn't a very clean shaven looking man but there was something undoubtedly...well, sexy about him. 2D flinches when his head snaps down at the blue haired kid. He opens his mouth but stops for a moment. "What the fuck is wrong with your eyes?"

2D quickly looks down, trying to hide them from the man's judgmental stare. He scrambles to his feet and walks off quickly keeping his gaze at his feet. Russel and Noodle follow behind him, unsure what to say. Everyone knows 2D was sensitive about his eyes, it was just common knowledge.

"2D, man that guy was just-"

"Can we just get to class?" 2D interrupts. He looks at Russel and sniffs a bit. "It's fine, I'll be fine."

2D sighs out of relief when he sits beside Russel and Noodle in music class. He sets his guitar down and smiles at the two of them. "Hey," He says casually. It was the last two periods of the day and he didn't want to seem sad; He really likes music class. It took up the last two periods of the day and it always calms his mood after a chaotic day. "You feelin better?" Russel asks.

2D ignores the question and instead takes out a notebook. He opens it to the first page to reveal a clipping from a magazine. He points to a portable looking piano and grins. "See this bad boy?" He asks, "That's the Yamaha P45! I'm savin' up for this."

Russel looks over, his eyes growing wide. "Where the hell you gonna get 378 dollas?!"

2D perks up and points to himself. "You're looking at a new proud employee of..." He trails off when he sees the teacher from earlier walk into the room and head to the front. He crosses his arms, not even bothering to write his name on the board; like other teachers do.

"My name's Murdoc Niccals. Pick up an instrument, don't play it, we're going around and saying why ya picked it." Murdoc introduces before going around his desk and sitting on it as he lights up a cigarette. He motions towards a random student. "Go, now."

"Mr. Niccals, I don't think you should smoke in-"

"Shuddup!"

While varies students take turns explaining themselves, Russ takes out his drumsticks and taps them gently together,

"Think we should start a band?"

2D laughs a bit. "A band? Really?"

"Yeah...nothin' professional, just for fun, ya know?"

"Chinese girl's up."

"I am Japanese!"

Russel shakes his head. "Let's not get her started."

Murdoc shrugs. "Why'd you pick a guitar?"

"Electric. Sound good, It feel good."

2D is distracted when Russel talks about his drums, explaining every detail. His gaze starts at his notebook, venturing up around at the students and eventually landing on Murdoc. From his brown leather boots to his tight, leathery pants. His white, button up shirt fits perfectly to his form and yet, seems to still be loose. A few buttons at the top were undone to reveal his tanned chest, his chest hair popping out ever so slightly.

"If you're done checkin me out, kid," Murdoc says, causing 2D to jolt and look up at his face. "What'd ya pick?"

2D blushes and looks away, picking up his guitar from the case. "I didn't..." He shakes his head and mumbles a bit. "I picked a-"

"Speak up!" Murdoc snaps.

"Sorry, sorry!" 2D apologizes profusely. He clears his throat. "I-I chose the guitar because it's very versatile and easy to use." He grins a bit. "It's easy to transport too. Not only that but it can be very romantic-"

"Movin' on!" The teacher interrupts, getting off his desk and fixing his collar. "For the next hour and a half, you'll all go just outside and play those interments. I'll go around and observe." Without another word, Murdoc heads to the back of the class and opens the door, leading to a grassy area of the school.

2D hears a couple of students giggle and begin to gossip about him "Checking out" their new teacher. He quickly stands up, guitar in hand, and follows Russel to the door. When passing Murdoc, 2D glances up a bit and notices him staring back. He looks away again and hurries outside. He picks a close by spot, which was on top a small hill.

"Do you think he hates me, Russel?" 2D asks as he sits down with his legs crossed. "Did I do somethin' wrong?"

Russel sits across him and watches 2D prop his guitar on his knee."No idea, man...hey, why don't you play somethin? Maybe I can learn from you two?"

2D's happy to hear that and holds the neck of the guitar. "I've been working on a song, actually! Noodle knows it, so she can back me up." As if on queue, noodle brings up her own guitar and begins to strum in perfect sync with him.

After a minute of playing, 2D begins to sing.

City's breaking down on a camel's back

They just have to go 'cause they don't know whack

So all you fill the streets, it's appealin' to see

You won't get out the county 'cause you're bad and free

You got a new horizon, it's ephemeral style

A melancholy town where we never smile

And all I wanna hear is the message beep

My dreams, they gotta kiss it, 'cause I don't get sleep, no...

They both pause before playing again in a softer beat.

Windmill, windmill for the land

Turn forever hand in hand

Take it all in on your stride

It is sticking, falling down

Love forever, love is free

Let's turn forever, you and me

Windmill, windmill for the land

Is everybody in?

They both immediately stop. 2D laughs happily and nods to Noodle. "I think we're gettin' a hang of it," He says, "That went perfectly!" Russel stares at him, his mouth agape.

"You can sing?"

"Oh," 2D blushes, "Yeah, I forgot you didn't know- I used to sing all the time as a kid." He sighs and takes out a bottle from his bag

"Your headaches are back?" when 2D nods, Russel sighs as well and grabs the bottle, helping him get it open. "You knew about his headaches, Noodle?" Noodle shook her head and reaches over, smacking 2D's head.

"Ow!" He pouts. "You hit too hard!"

"Next time, you better tell us." He sighs and nods.

"I"m sorry, guys.."

Russel's expression softens. "We forgive you. Right Noods?" She just simply nods. "Our new teacher though..." Russel begins. "Were you really checkin' him out?"

2D lets out a soft gasp, his face once again turning red. He fiddles with the strings of his guitar, not wanting to look either of them in the eyes.

"Yes," He admits. "I was."

Russel makes a loud hooting noise as he slaps his own knee. "That's hilarious!" 2D looks around at some students beginning to stare; even Murdoc is staring at them now. when the two made eye contact, 2D quickly looks down.

"So cute," Noodle laughs as well.

"Not you too, Noods," 2D says, feeling a bit ashamed. "Guys, come on." He mumbles. "You're drawin' attention-"

"What're you doin'?" 2D squeals and holds up his guitar as if to protect himself. He looks up at Murdoc, who is now towering over the three. The teacher puts his hands on his hips and glares down at the kid. "We were..uhm..well,"

"2D here was just singin us a song, showin off his guitar skills."

Murdoc scoffs and motions toward 2D.

"Show me, then, play something."

"R-right now?"

"Right now!"

2D fumbles a bit before he steadies his guitar, mentally going through all of the songs he's written so far. Murdoc leans against a tree and watches him closely. "Sing, ya bloody faceache!"

"What? Sing?" 2D looks up at him as if trying to plead. "I-i don't do good when people are watchin'"

"Sing and play, boy!"

He lets out another squeal before beginning to strum his guitar. "I-it's still in construction but um..." Why did he have to think to play a LOVE song?

He tries to push away all of the nervousness bubbling up in his stomach.

I lost my leg like I lost my way

So no loose ends

Nothing to see me down

How are we going to work this out?

Dreams aren't bad, I had turned back

I love the girl

But God only knows it's

Getting hard to see the sun coming through

I love you...

But what are we going to do?

2D admits his own voice surprises him. How easily he switch from a nervous wreck to being perfectly confident, as if it were only himself and his room; especially a song that he had sung specifically for an ex-girl of his. An extremely sensitive topic for him, especially since they had broken up only a year and a half ago.

Picture I'm a dreamer

I'll take you deeper

Down to the sleepy glow

Time is a low...

2D coughs a bit and sets his guitar down. "I'm sorry, I can't continue." He shakes his head.

Murdoc grunts. "How'd you get your eyes like that?"

2D looks up at him surprised, quite shocked at his straightforwardness. "W-what?"

"Your eyes- how'd you do that?"

2D narrows his eyes, seeming to become defensive.

"Car accident."

Murdoc raises a brow, "Car accident? That it?" He laughs dryly. "You must be weaker than a twig- easily ramped to the road and dented ." 2D stares into his eyes, anger filling him up. "Why so sensitive, boy?" as the bell rings. He slowly stands up and grabs his guitar. He turns away and heads back to the classroom to pack up. Russel shakes his head and pulls Noodle away.

2D practically slams his notebook into his bag. Hauling his guitar case and bag over his shoulder, he doesn't wait for Russel and Noodle and instead hurries to the bus and hops on. He smacks his head against the window and whines, "I'm such an idiot," He thinks, going over the events of music class over and over again.

"Hi." That made 2D jumps a bit, having not noticed her before. She had long, straight blonde hair and bright blue eyes, "I saw what happened to music class."

"Oh...we have music class together?"

She shakes her head. "No, but I was on my way back from the bathroom and I heard you singing. That teacher is the worst."

2D smiles sheepishly. "Y-yeah, he's a bit of a pain."

The girl giggles. "He's kind of handsome...but he's not my type." He tilts his head a bit but she just shrugs. "I'm Rachel...Rachel Stevens"

"2D, um, I mean Stuart. Tusspot." 2D stutters. "You liked my music?" "Yeah! I totally dig musicians!" Rachel laughs at 2D's rosy cheeks. "Come on- anyone would dig a musician. Especially a British one." She winks and 2D smiles shyly.

2D quickly forgot about the earlier events, with Murdoc pushed to the back of his mind as he makes conversation with the girl until she suddenly gets up when the bus comes to a slow stop. "This is my stop...Maybe you can play something for me sometime," She says, twirling her hair like a schoolgirl.

2D smiles back at her. "Maybe," 2D watches her turn and walk down the aisle. He suddenly frowns when he thinks about the new teacher. She's cute but...for some reason, all he could think of was that stupid guy. He lets out a sigh and looks out the window again. "What an asshole."