Korra's knees where literally knocking together as she stood at the main office of the 'Private Institution For Benders.' The whole place was intimidating to the girl who came from a school that couldn't even afford to the mow the football field. It was up to date with the latest technology and security, and she couldn't help but feel star struck by all these amazing people walking the halls. They would scan a badge through a turnstile and enter a number onto a keypad in order to get into the building.
Even in order to go into the main officer she had to have an escort my a soldier. A soldier, nonetheless, that wasn't entirely happy about his duty of being assigned as security at a high school. Nervously she fidgeted as the perfect looking secretary behind the desk searched her computer files for Korra's schedules.
"I'm sorry, what was your element..." She asked boredly, and Korra turned red as she replied;
"Um it's water!" Her voice squeaked slightly, and the secretary didn't even acknowledge her as she stood up to walk to the printer. When she returned she shoved a few pieces of paper and a badge with her picture on it into her hands.. Hesitantly the alaskan native took the the items, clicking the badge to her chest like she saw the other students have.
"That badge is also your room key. You have your class schedule and some paperwork that you need to fill out so we can get your medical records transferred over to our medical department. The other paper is a form stating that all information inside the turnstiles is completely confidential, and you can't leave the building with any of your homework or books." The secretary took in a deep breath as if she was sick of explaining the inner workings of the school, "You are in the southern dorm, where other water benders live. If you have no other questions you should leave and find your room."
With that the secretary sat back down leaving a startled Korra standing there. The soldier who was by her side gave her a sympathetic look, before motioning for her to follow him. "My name is Howl by the way," He said as he lead her back outside of the main school building. "And don't worry about Ms. Takako, she's always like that. I'll take you to the uniform shop so we can get your your school uniform and after that to your dorm. Your room number should be on your badge beneath your picture..."
Korra nodded her head, sticking close to the soldier's side. She was thankful that he was being so nice to her, specially after the way she was treated by non-benders after the incident and RPH happened. As they walked Howl explained the inner workings of the school, telling her how to get through the turnstiles, and how to use the badge to get into her room. He also warned her to stay away from the pro-bending teams, specially during pro-bending season.
"Why is that?" Korra asked and Howl made an unpleasant face at the topic.
"The pro-benders here are the strongest benders in the whole school, and because of that they think they run it. Not to mention I can't stand the Fire Ferrets, just because they are a team made of good looking guys they think the can leave no girls for the rest of us..."
Trying to stifle her laughter, the new girl on campus did her best to be sympathetic to the soldier's trouble. She listened with a small smile as he complained about how Mako was always getting all the girls in town to chase after him, even though he was dating the chairman's daughter. Though according to Howl, this daughter was the most beautiful creature that the land has ever beheld and she was famous for even making movie stars pale in comparison.
"She sounds frightening..." Korra said shuddering as she picked up her uniform, looking at it's simple yet elegant design. She spent a good while admiring it before Howl called for her to follow him to the dorms. When they finally got to the southern dorm, Korra's jaw dropped as she nervously gulped. "This place looks like a hotel not a school dormitory!"
"Government won't spare any cost when it comes to their precious benders..." Howl said almost bitterly. Korra gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder as if she understood his feelings. "That's right...you just discovered your bending right Korra...most of the students here attended the Institutes since they where young..."
At that Korra sighed, telling Howl not to remind her of how far behind everyone she already was. After a quick exchange of cell phone numbers she told her soldier friend goodbye, and headed into the building that was decorated to look like the south pole. Taking a second to regain her composure she hurried to the elevator and quickly pushed the second floor button. Thankful that everyone was attending class, she got to her door without anyone bothering her.
The room was anything special. All it had was a small twin mattress, with a desk, a small closet and a sink area with a mirror that hung above it. At the back of the room to the right there was a door that lead to a small conjoining bathroom, that consisted of a toilet and a shower stall. The simplicity of the room actually made her feel at ease, since the whole school itself was a bit overwhelming.
"Ah, mom what did I get my self into this time!" Korra said, falling onto the small mattress, staring up at the ceiling. "This place is completely overwhelming...I don't know how I'm gonna get through this place..." After laying in self pitying silence like a normal teenage girl would she forced herself up and decided to get changed into the uniform.
The skirt was short, and Korra who was always known for being rather tough couldn't help put blush as she looked at her appearance in her room mirror. Quickly she found a pair of basketball shorts and put them on under the skirt, feeling instantly more secure. Looking at herself in the mirror, she pulled her hair up into her signature pony tail, using the clips she had received from her mother's old village to hold her hair in place.
"Okay Korra! This is your chance to start over!" She told her reflection, "No one knows about how you used to be a four-eyed bullied freak! This is your chance to become popular and actually make friends! So lets go!" She said bravely, while she clipped her badge to her chest and hurried back towards the main building.
Struggling at her first few attempts to get through the turnstiles, she eventually made it into the school building and excitedly began to look at her schedule. Figuring that everyone was in class, she could wander the hallways and try to find where her classes would be. The subjects did have some basic high school courses, like math, science and english, but the rest of the blocks where filled with things like water-bending, chi-building, and combat.
"Combat! What kind of school is this!" She said letting out a rather loud cry, and jumped when she got a response.
"It's a pretty awesome school once you get used to!" A strong male voice said from behind her. Turning on her heel sharply she found herself face to face, with a kind looking boy, whose bright green eyes stared confidently back into her own. Casting a look down at his badge, she saw it read 'Bolin Orion' and his badge, like his eyes, was a bright green color. "Ah a new water bender awesome!"
Korra blinked for a second, "How did you-" And she looked down at her own badge, only to see it was blue and feel entirely to stupid. Nervously she chuckled as she guess; "Earth bender then?"
'Bolin', as Korra assumed was his name, nodded vigorously. "YUP! And you must be Korra Maston, the dormant water bender! Everyone has been talking about you!" He said excitedly and Korra's face turned bright red. The fact that the whole school was alerted about her presence made her plan on remaining inconspicuous even harder. "I'm Bolin Orion by the way! The best earth bender in this school!"
Suddenly the top of Bolin's head was smacked with a text book. "The most delinquent earth bender in this school if you ask me. Why aren't you in class bro, Bei-Fong is gonna be pissed!" Korra peered at the man who now occupied the space next to the earth bender. He was a slender kind of muscular, unlike the other who looked like he lifted weights at the gym, but they looked similar. Trying to casually peak at his badge, she only caught a glimpse of it's red color, and half of the first name.
"Ma..."
"It's Mako...Mako Orion..." The guy stated and Korra jumped back in surprise, blushing from her own stupidity at being caught. "You must be Korra, the new water bender..." His tone was that of being unimpressed as he looked her up and down, his eyes landing on the gym shorts underneath her skirt.
"Ignore my brother, he doesn't know how to treat a beautiful, and rare beauty when he sees one..." Bolin said charmingly. It was the first time that a man had so blatantly attempted to flatter her, and she didn't know how to respond. His brother Mako on the other hand, felt it appropriate to his him on the head with a text book once again.
"Bolin get to class or you won't be able to participate in the upcoming match..." Mako lectured and Korra narrowed her eyes.
"Match?" She asked and then suddenly Howl's warnings about pro-benders and the fire ferret named Mako came rushing back. Startled she let out a cry, and took a few steps away from the brothers. "Gah! You are the guys that Howl warned me about!"
Mako look uninterested while Bolin had an amused look on his face, "Howl, you talking about the soldier that stands guard on the quarterdeck?" He asked and Korra nodded her head furiously. "What would he have to warn you about?"
Mako sighed and pulled on his brother's ear, this time forcing him to follow, "Come on Bolin we don't have time to be messing around like this!" He said, and Bolin groaned as he waved goodbye.
"TALK TO YOU LATER KORRA!" He cried and the new bender just stood their waving back. She wasn't sure whether or not she should be wary due to Howl's warnings or if she should be excited that there was someone who actually wanted to talk to later. Trying to wipe the stupid grin off her face, she returned to the task of trying to find her classrooms.
"Maybe...Maybe," She said to herself trying desperately to regain her composure. "This place will actually be pretty fun."
