A/N: Hi again! Here's chapter two of Sora's adventures at the Grammar Academy. Enjoy! And please review!
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Chapter Two: Orientation
"Ahem. Sora... Kanoa, is it?" The headmaster peered down at me through his half-mooned spectacles from the other side of the desk, his hands knotted into a dual closed fist. His golden eye gleamed through the shallow glass.
"Y-yup!" I gulped. Usually I am pretty put together but I couldn't help but feel a little unnerved by the aged man before me. He wore a deep maroon robe, matching our school blazers, long pants and skirts. I couldn't help but notice his rather muscular form for his age, showing even beneath the robes. His hair was long, frizzled and salt and pepper in colour, drawn back into a plaited pony tail behind him. He wore an eye-patch over his right eye behind his glasses, presumably from some war he had previously served, with a matching long scar down the left side of his face. On his desk was a name plate stating "Headmaster Arkridge".
"No need to be nervous young lad." The man attempted a smile – at which point Kairi let out a small giggle in the seat beside me. "Firstly, I like to get to know all my students. Your mother tells me that you were a Grade A student at Destiny High and despite some difficulties, you like to push yourself. That is exactly what we want to see in our students and what we select them for."
My face reddened a little. "Well... I-" I fumbled. "Yes. It's my dream to move off this island and to do good to the world. I'd love to be a doctor or veterinarian and help people or animals." I looked down, fiddling with my thumbs, fearing that my own goals were set way too high above my limit. To be honest I still wasn't entirely sure what I wanted to do with my life. I was into music, art, literature and science. It was extremely hard to get animals on the islands with the strict quarantine laws we had, and I had very much loved the dog we had whilst I was growing up. Sadly he had passed. My cheeks blushed even deeper as I felt Kairi's hard and curious gaze beside me, clearly intrigued at my ambitions.
"What a good lad!" The headmaster gave a generous chuckle through his words. "I feel when any mind is up to it, a person can achieve any goals they are willing in life through hard work and dedication."
I smiled weakly. "Wise words, Sir."
"Cracking on, then. I would put you through the boring code of ethics we have, but I trust my students to be mature enough to keep to the rules. Here is a rule handbook instead. I think you may find they will be quite different from Destiny High's, but I am sure you won't have much trouble adhering to them. Kairi here tells me that you are a polite young gentlemen that averts trouble like the moon to the sun." He recounted, singing the last part as Kairi would have done as he handed over a short notebook across the desk to me.
My face shone an even brighter shade of red as I glanced across to Kairi, who was also supporting her own pinkish blush.
"Also, here is a homework diary with your timetable. You will need to have this signed every night by your mother to confirm that you have completed the set homework for the day which you will write in here. I have lined up your classes with Kairi for this first semester so you have someone you know to help you to your classes, but for today and tomorrow she will show you the grounds and introduce you to some of both your teachers and peers. Any questions?"
"No sir, thank you." I answered, receiving the second, larger notebook from the older man.
The elder nodded to us both. "Master Kanoa, Miss Taru, you may leave."
I nodded back at the older man, thanking him again. Kairi gracefully stood up and reached for my hand, pulling me out the door. My heart skipped a beat at her touch.
"Alright, Sora! Let me show you where your locker is!" She said playfully, winking at me as she pulled a key out of her pocket.
"Sure. Are they large? We had tiny ones at Destiny High – could only fit a handful of books in there."
"Oh yes, definitely. You could fit a body or two in the ones here!" She chuckled at her own joke. "But seriously, what did you guys do with your bags? Destiny High is on a hillside. Don't tell me you had to carry your bags up and down those cliffs all day?"
She was right, and my back began to ache a little just thinking about having to carry my bag up those dastardly steps every day.
"Well y-yeah" I stammered. "It wasn't that bad, though. But that's good news! I've always wanted a large locker." I grinned.
Kairi tilted her head "I couldn't imagine that. Not with all the extra stuff I bring for extra curriculum here!"
I smiled, remembering the times I had to bring my sailing equipment to school on sports days along with my trumpet for band practice, and my heavy bag full of textbooks.
We neared a large set of lockers, each one having a flamboyantly decorated nameplate with a first name and a last name's initial. All except one, which happened to be blank.
"I think this is the most fun part of orientation!" Kairi smiled into her words. "We do typography in our literature class, so the more advanced we get the better and more unique our nameplates become. I think the idea is kind of neat. Anyway, you get to do one on your first day though with templates."
She opened the locker with the key she held. Inside was a large arrangement of plastic letters in different fonts and colours within 5 different small baskets. The letters being S, O, R, A and K. I quickly picked out a legible font in an aquamarine colour – my favourite colour that always reminded me of Riku and I's secret island's beautiful reef. They already were laced with double sided tape so we both got stuck into putting them on my name plate.
"You know," Kairi started with a small smile. "I kinda missed seeing your face around these last few years, Sora."
I let out a huge, cheesy grin. She lives on a different island now, so she and her mum don't come over as much as they used to when we were younger.
"I missed you too, Kairi. Actually, my mum wanted to know if you could ask your mum if you both wanted to come over after school tomorrow?" I asked, almost pleadingly.
"Hah, hasn't that woman heard of a phone?" She giggled, raising her brow in that way that made my chest tight.
"W-well, yeah, but it's dead and she can't find the charger. And something about how face to face invitations are nice every once in a while or something... My mother." I chuckled, adding to her laughter.
"Alright. I'd love to come over. I don't think mum has anything planned, but I'll let you know tonight. What's your number again?"
I blushed slightly. She's asking my number, already? I mean I guess she sees us as friends, but if she really wanted it could have just asked for it from her mum.
"U-hm.. 642-353-231" I said slowly, making sure she dialled in each digit into her phone.
"Done! Alright. Put your bag away so I can give you a 'Le Grande Tour'!" She exclaimed, twirling on the spot with a show-girl like charisma. She still kept her playful smile dancing upon her lips the whole while. She interlocked elbows with me unexpectedly, pulling me into a skip towards the second courtyard. I knew she had changed a lot over the past few years, and although some things never change – like the cute playfulness and her being a bit bossy. Even then, I still wasn't quite expecting this!
She showed me the different buildings within the school, marking out each one on the map inside my homework diary for me with cute annotations as to what I had said each one reminded me of. It really was a beautiful school – the sandstone buildings and cobblestone pave-yards only added to the eloquent feel of the place. The gardens and hedges were kept impeccable by what I could only assume was a very skilled groundskeeper. She had just finished showing me the school's sports facilities, including a blitzball pool when the bell rung.
"Lunch?" I assumed.
"Yeah. Come on, let's get to our lockers. I need to introduce you to my best friend Yuffie."
I followed Kairi at her seemingly brisk pace. By now I assumed it was her natural speed and had adjusted my more than slow demeanour to be able to keep up with her. We neared the locker area. I fumbled for my locker key in my pocket and took out my sandwich from my lunch box as Kairi went off to find her own and catch up with her best friend.
I was quite surprised to find her leading back towards me a girl with a short black bob and a headband around her forehead. The girl had the top few buttons of her shirt undone, and you could clearly see a black lace bra peering through from beneath her white blouse.
"Yuffie, meet Sora. Sora, meet Yuffie! Sora and I went to the same off-island primary school. You know, the one that only ever has like 10 students!" She giggled.
"I know the one" Yuffie said with folded arms, seemingly inspecting me from head to toe with a bit of an obnoxious glare. "Usual spot, Kai?" The dark haired girl inquired, her expression softening slightly as she turned to Kairi. It infuriated me a bit to hear her name shortened. I rather liked Kairi as a full name.
"Sure! You coming, Sor?" Kairi beckoned me to follow them. I couldn't help but feel uncomfortable. It definitely felt as if the dark haired Yuffie was already harbouring some ill thoughts of me. But why? Jealousy? I'm sure I would soon find out.
We walked over to a lovely little wooden walkway over one of the other fountains in the school. It was a secluded spot and watched over a few of the courtyards. When the girls stopped, I assumed that this was the 'usual spot'. I sat down awkwardly, taking out my sandwich so I could begin to nibble on it.
From then on, other than a few glares thrown at me by Yuffie when Kairi wasn't looking, and a few sweet smiles from Kairi every so often, I was pretty much on my own that lunchtime. The two babbled on about chemistry homework, Yuffie's 'annoying boyfriend' and other silly banter. It was only at the end that Yuffie finally decided to warm up to me a little.
"So Sora..?" The girl inquired.
"Hmm?"
"How do you like the school, is it everything you expected?" I could just hear that underlying tone of snide in her voice, even still.
"Yeah it's a beautiful school. Much nicer than Destiny High." I paused, pursing my lips. "Do you guys usually sit alone or are you usually in a bigger group?" I asked, perplexed. Kairi was pretty much a social butterfly and didn't strike me as the sort of person to only sit with one other person.
"We just choose to sit alone is all. Besides, it's nice up here. A big group of people wouldn't fit in this spot." Yuffie almost spat. I could tell she was only trying to be as polite as possible because the oblivious Kairi was sitting next to her.
"Fair enough. It must be almost time for class, yeah? What's up next for us, Kairi?" I briskly tried to shut down the conversation as the tension was feeling a little high.
"Oh, um. We're meant to meet some of our teachers! I already have had most of my teachers before, but Headmaster Arkridge wanted to make sure you felt comfortable with your teachers before your classes. I guess we'll catch you later, Yuffie!" Kairi smiled, standing up.
Yuffie pouted, but stood up and forced a hug from Kairi. The Mahogany haired girl chuckled slightly whilst patting Yuffie's shoulder, brushing off the sudden embrace. I scowled inside. It was so completely obvious that this Yuffie girl had feelings for Kairi, too. But then it dawned upon me that I, myself am guilty of the same feelings and desires, if this were the case. Perhaps I shouldn't be so quick as to judge.
Yuffie shuffled herself off to her locker to get ready for class, whilst Kairi grabbed me by my hand and pulled me aside in the corner of the walkway, out of sight from the courtyards. She then reached out to grab my other hand with her other, interlocking fingers with mine as she stared into my eyes. My breathing became shallow and my skin began to prickle. I was unsure as to what was going to happen but she was so close I could almost kiss her... I sure hoped she wanted to confess her desires to me and my love for her in fact, had been reciprocated. The pause was killing me. It looked like she had trouble stringing words together in her mind, and didn't know quite what to say.
"So... I'm sorry about Yuffie. She comes on a bit strong sometimes..." Kairi looked down with a bit of a sad look. "...She doesn't really get along with many people, and, well. She's been there for me through some tough times and is a really good friend of mine, even if I am her only friend." She bit her lip, those gorgeous sky blue eyes beginning to well up.
My heart broke a little inside. Obviously I was expecting something a bit different with how flirty she was being, but I bit down my sour feelings and pushed a faux smile onto my face.
"Hey, she did come on a little strong, but it kinda seemed like she liked me toward the end there!" I teased, trying to make her smile.
"Heh, yeah. I feel terrible for her. She's been a bit of an outcast at this school since day one, and well... yeah. Outcasts kind of stick together. I'm sorry that you're stuck with me for orientation.. you're more than welcome to go sit with some of the other groups at lunch if you like." I could hear the sadness in her voice well and truly clear. Even if I didn't like Yuffie, I'd more than likely pick to sit with Kairi any day over mingling with new people. I wasn't so much a big-group sort of person, anyway. I decided not to press on why she considered herself an 'outcast'. My heart fluttered, remembering she was still holding my hands.
"Don't be silly, of course I'll sit with you! Besides, who else do I know in this school?" I laughed light-heartedly, trying to lift the mood. The bell rang before Kairi could reply. She shyly let go of my hands, looking slowly up at my face.
"So, meeting teachers, huh?" She brought back her playful grin. "We'll have to start with Mr. Icanza. He's our woodworking teacher. I get the feeling you'll love him." before I could inquire, she brisked me off, pulling me by my hand toward the one story flat building at the base of the school, a large veranda framing its front.
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A/N: So there you have it! It's all pretty innocent at the moment and may appear clear cut but there are plenty of tangled webs of mess and fun to come for you all *chuckles evilly* I hope you all enjoy! And I forgot to mention. Parts of this fic will be a bit dark, but I can promise that no one dies? :) The first few chapters are a bit fluffy and boring for my liking but after everything is up and running I promise it gets more interesting!