AN: Sorry that I have been gone for a ridiculously long time, school has been kicking me right now.

Suggested song: We Are Going To Be Friends, White Stripes

August 28th, 1990

It was a miserably cold day to announce the end of summer for the students at Star Order Academy. The boarding school was getting a scholarship student, something that hasn't occurred for the past three years. Two year 7 students were gossiping about their new classmate as they walked through grand mahogany halls.

"I heard that she's from Hackney," Veers told the ginger boy beside him.

"Hackney? They're just letting in anyone now, are they," He responded to his friend.

"Apparently. I wonder what she'll be like?" Veers asked with a sneer.

"She'll probably be vulgar and... rough. Like those punk musicians who end up as bell ends," Hux stated in a factual tone.

"Well then, given the time I had best be going to class. I'll see you at the dorms tonight."

The boys went in separate directions. The ginger walked through the portrait filled halls to a tall door that was elaborately decorated. He quickly went into the classroom and took his usual seat in the front of the class. Over the next several minutes the class filled up with familiar faces to the young man. Then a girl with shoulder length brown hair walked into the room. She looked overwhelmed and excited. She took a seat at the front of the class next to the boy.

"Hello, I'm Rey? What's your name?" She asked in an extremely happy tone.

She held her hand out for a handshake as she introduced herself.

"Armitage Hux," he said in a very slow and confused tone.

It was very unusual for anyone to be this forthright with him, aside from Veers. He quickly assessed her uniform, the tie was done incorrectly and her shoes were a bit muddy but aside from that she was well put together. He was quickly pulled out of his evaluation by a question from her.

"What instrument do you play?"

"Guitar and piano primarily, why do you ask?" He said perplexed.

"Well, I think you can figure out a lot about a person by what instrument they play. Well, I mean, it's not an exact science or anything but," She rambled.

"What do those instruments say about me?" Armitage asked, cutting off her thoughts.

"Oh, well, I think it means that you are detail oriented but can often miss the undercurrents," Rey said quietly as she looked over at him sheepishly, "Am I right?"

"That is fairly accurate, but may I inquire as to what you mean by 'undercurrent'?" He asked, curious as to how she would respond.

"Oh, it means that you don't understand the larger groups, sort of living in a bubble if you understand what I'm saying," She stated as red coloured her cheeks, "Now that I say that I realize its kind of a dumb idea."

"Don't worry, I won't hold it against you. Now, do you mind if I asked you your original question back?" Armitage asked with an artificial smile.

"I'm fairly certain I already told you my name," Rey said with a smile, "but to answer your question, I play drums and bass primarily."

"So what does that say about you?"

"Apparently I understand the undercurrent but don't care too much for the finer things in life, or details for that matter," she said.

"So you're my polar opposite?" He asked, genuinely starting to enjoy their conversation.

"If my theory is accurate," Rey stated as the teacher walked into the room.

"Hello students, welcome back to another year. For your new classmate and all of you who have forgotten, my name is Rae Sloane, but you can call me Ms. Sloane," she waited for the room to quiet down from the few students who were chuckling, "Speaking of, I wish you will all welcome Rey with as little judgment as possible."

At this, she quickly glanced across the classroom before starting up again, "Today we'll be forming your bands for the rest of the year. Please try to find a group with as much diversity of sound as you can."

At this Armitage noticed that Rey froze up. Clearly, she was scared of not being able to find a group.

He looked over at her before stating, "As I had noticed before the instruments we play are compatible."

"You sure you don't want to go with your friends?" She genuinely asked.

"In this school, you don't really tend to have friends," Hux told her before immediately feeling dumb, "Sorry, that probably wasn't encouraging."

"No worries, I kind of expected that," she said, as some of her excitement visibly drained away.

"Look, that doesn't mean it's impossible. We should probably find some more band members before their all gone," he said as a way to cheer her up and distract her.

"Alright, that's probably a good idea," she said as the initial excitement returned to her face.

"And... everyone's paired up already," the red-headed boy said as he noticed that everyone was already separated into groups of five.

"We could just multi-track," Rey simply stated as she also noticed the state of the classroom.

"Multi-track? Do we even have the skills for that?" he asked.

"Well, I can play bass and drums, you can play piano and guitar, it sounds like it would work," Rey said, "Are you up for the task?"

AN: Once again, sorry for the long time off. I'll try and have another chapter for The Art of Combat up as well soon.