This chapter took me a while. Because English is not my mother tongue and I write every chapter in German first, it is a pretty big effort. But I already wrote the next two chapters in German and they should come out soon. :)

Besides, I recognized that the chapters become longer. So isn't that a consolation?

WARNING: Strong language.

His freaking smile. That was the first feature you recognized. Also, this smile somehow had the power to let you become upset. Maybe because it was just so inappropriate. You cadets stood there because you've just lost so many precious things, homes, families, loved ones or because you just were afraid to face such a fate. There are huge creatures, who just were out to hunt down their next human snack with zest and you guys – more or less voluntarily - decided to prevent this.

And. This. Goddamn. Guy. Smiled. You concluded that he was either very naive or just completely nuts. However, you did not really care about this sort of things. 'Cause eventually he was the ONLY ONE who decided to help you up. Did the other cadets just weasel themselves out of it because they were afraid of consequences? Like pathetic cowards? Or was it just the old 'Every man for himself'-thing? That should not be like that. You were comrades –

oh.. no.. In the end, you were just unlucky fellows, after all. Faceless mannequins. A stranger among strangers.

The person in front of you held his hand out towards you... you hesitated and just kept looking on the gesture of kindness disguised as a handshake.

You were still completely in trance and lingered in your current position. Your body, however, was as good as new again. No trembling. No pain. Just pure fanscination. Somehow the boy's presence seemed to calm you – well, except for his friggin' peeeeermanent grin..

Then, finally, you accepted his offer and streched your hand toward his. When they met and a firm handshake took place, it aroused old feelings. The feeling of concealment.. and... inner warmth. With his soft and gentle hand, he pulled you up surprisingly easy. When your feet were on firm ground again his full face crystallized in front of you.

A slightly brown teint. Luminous, kind, inviting eyes, like doors to his soul. Freckles everywhere. No seriously. There were so many freckles, it would have been a sheer impossible plan to count them. They exuded from the nose' bridge to his not really distinct cheeckbones. Almost completely black, short hair, from which some strains fell in front of his forehead. All those features created such a harmonic face, you were absolutely relieved.

And now you were standing there. The sun began with its setting and thus, your hands, still tightly embraced, were dipped into a dark red-orange light. With every moment, it became more awkward and suddenly you pulled your hand reflexively out of his. But immediately, you felt really embarrassed, you started to manufacture a babbled excuse: „Oh..Uh...Thanks.. This.. was really nice. You know, helping me and stuff."

„No problem.", the boy responded. Oh sweet mother of crap his voice is even more sickly sweet than his smile. Who would have presumed that? Hell, if there would be a competition for the most innocent prepubertal voice, then you, fellow, would break all records effortlessly!

You weren't really sure what to say now, clearly, smalltalk wasn't one of your strenghts. However, you somehow felt like you had to continue the conversation.

„Your... name... it was Marc, right?", you asked while your voice revealed an unmistakeable unsecurity.

To your surprise, the boy gave a short laugh and answered: „Almost. I'm Marco. Marco Bodt. I'm really sorry but it seems I didn't catch your name.

„Oh, well, I almost got it right... I'm (Fir-)-eehh.. I mean.. I'm Lina. Lina Kresch." He rose an eyebrow and looked at you with confusion while you gave yourself an imaginary headbutt.

Mother-fuck. Shit. Not again. Come on.. you just have to remember this damn information. Here, you're not (First) (Last) but Lina Kresch. Lina goddamn Kresch. Get used to it already!

Again, he gave a laugh. „You sure?"

„Of course I'm sure.. But.. tell me.. Why you? Why did you help me up? You were the only person, who helped me. Tell me why." Your intonation was filled with distrust as you changed the subject toootally skilfully.

„Oh, well.. you know.." His skin turned slightly red and he rubbed the back of his head nervously. His shy glance was directed to the sky. „I'm just convinced that you should not bail on someone like that. Also, since it's kinda my fault tha-"

But before he could continue his sentence, you interrupted him abruptly. In complete disbelief, you waved your hands around in front of your body. „Wait a damn minute here. Your fault?" Now you started to laugh sarcastically into the dark, maybe a bit too loudly. „No bullshit, Marco Bodt. Why would it be, of any kind whatsoever, your fault? Because we looked at each other for a split second? I thought it was just priceless how you smiled at Shadis so icecoldly. It was my own stupidity. I did not pay attention, which was punished. Don't panic.."

Marco's face turned even more red, he shifted his weight on his left and then his right foot, again and again, he was just so edgy. „Oh, come on. Don't be so rough to yourself... Uh- however, it is pretty late, isn't it?"

You nodded silently.

„Let's go back to the others, shall we? You're hungry, too, aren't you?"

Then you felt it. The former pain in your stomach was transformed into hunger. Intense hunger. You laid your hand on it and it started to gnarl loudly. „Hell yeah!"

The food cot's door unclosed as Marco an you entered the room. There were so many cadets.. It didn't look like so many when you all stood on this huge open country but now, all jammed together in one lousy cot? Damn. So many people. Not that you had significant interest in such a thing, after all, you just were there because you had to not because you wanted to meet new friends. However, it could't hurt to have some allies here and there.

Marco and you both snatched a tray and you went to the food distribution. Meh... deliciousness is another matter.., you thought while a woman handed you a bowl filled with a brown-grey stodge. Marco met a similar fate. You turned around almost synchronously and sighted your comrades for the next three years with a cautious consideration.

You spotted some vacant seats in the corner of the room and you headed them straight on. The small chats with Shadis and with Marco covered you daily needs in terms of socialitzation completely and the only thing you wanted to do know was eating and going to bed. But Marco had different plans for you.

After you already made some steps on the creaking wooden floor, a familiar, soft hand grabbed your upper arm out of nowhere. However, this action was so unbelievably unlucky that you almost dropped the plate with your delicious gourmet soup on. Fortunately, you were able to balance the plate – and yourself – out just in time. You turned your head around and darted a reproachful over-the-shoulder-glance at the boy with the innumerable freckles behind you.

„What the hell, Marco?", you shouted.

He tried to defend himself with a not really convincing puzzled look on his face and again, he started smiling. „Oh no, I'm so sorry, really. I just didn't want you to sit alone all throughout the dinner and stuff." You were totally poised to deliver him a speech about your ability to decide for yourself but you were already too worn out for this kind of discussion.

So you nodded and followed him while sighing silently. You went to the other side of the cot and Marco sat down next to a big, blonde boy. Well, more mountain than boy when you think about it. Opposite to him, there sat a rather withdrawn tall boy with short dark-brown hair. There was a vacant seat next to him so you decided to sit down there, after that, you exhaled relieved.

Full of happines because of your snatched dinner, maybe a bit too much happiness, you looked down at the plate. The bowl filled with the gray stodge was there, of course, but the bread... The only halfway eatable dish was gone. Totally shocked, you perused all the things happens recently.

We went through the door.. the distribution..the abandoned seats...I almost face planted it... Marco and I went to th- wait a minute. WAIT A GODDAMN MINTUE. There. It had to happen there...I just did not... drop it? Jeez, this whole day is just a complete pain in the ass..

Totally frustrated, you jumped up and pounded your fists on the wooden table in front of you, thus dishes began to topple or fell on the ground and bursted into a thousand pieces.

„Eh.. eh.. Lina?", Marco asked in complete confusion but you ignored him entirely. You turned around and made your way through a ton of cadets, while simultaneously receiving 'What the fuck..'s and 'Oi..'s from every direction. But you didn't really care, all you wanted to have was your damn food.

When you finally arrived at the accident secene, you knelt down and examined the floor. Left, right, left, right. Damn it.. Nothing but legs and feet. Your food was gone, just like your relatively good mood.

Suddenly, two small feet emerged in front of you and your gaze moved upwards. It was a blonde girl, she looked very apprehensive. „Is everything alright? Did you lose something? Can I help you somehow?", her voice was pretty squeaky. Some people here clearly are utterly Samaritans, aren't they?

„I... uh-..", you stammered before you straightened yourelf again. She was short, even you had to look down on her. „I just... it seems I just lost my bread. But since it gone... it doesn't matter." A sad sigh escaped your lips. The girl had marvellously big blue eyes, they were absolutely beautiful. But her voice was kinda annoying, such a I-am-a-little-and-vulnerable-girl-voice.. Ah well, it's not her fault after all.

Then she raised her index finger and pointed towards a girl with brown-red hair, tied up to a queue. Her fringe hung down to her eyes but was cut perfectly so that she could still see everything. She was holding... a bread in her mouth. „I think that was yours.. I'm so sorry.. Sasha is... special."

You eyes widened and you believed the right one started to flutter slightly. Determined to get your food back, you went to Sasha, who was sitting with her back to you and only noticed you when it was already too late.

You tapped on her shoulder, she turned around and greeted you with a appreciative „Mmpfh." Quickly, you grabbed the bread, which was still halfway stuck in her mouth, and pulled it out vigorously..

Sasha began to protest but immediately stopped when you teared it apart midmost and threw the half soaked with her saliva on the table in front of you two. Then you banged your flat hand on the table while the other bread half remained in the other one. You stood directly next to the deeply shocked Sasha, her wide eyes looked straight into your furious ones. With a surprisingly deep, but not loud, voice you said: „That. Was. MY. Goddamn. Bread."

„Jeez, Sasha.. Don't fuck with the crazy ones!", a bald boy said. You glanced at him and were surprised, because it was actually Connie Springer.

„This coming from the guy, who managed to make the friggin' salute the wrong way.. I'm not crazy. Just hungry.", you answered unfazed.

Some people around you started to giggle and Connie acted as if he didn't hear what you just said.

You raised yourself again and headed to your seat, chased by cadets' amazed but also perplexed gazes. You sat down again and started to nibble on your won dinner.

Out of the croner of your eye, you saw Marco's open wide mouth, so you turned your head in his direction and asked: „What?", clearly you were thoroughly bugged.

He began to stutter but wasn't able to form a sensible sentence. But then, someone else raised to speak, to your astonishment, the voice came from the front.

„Had a bad day?", he laughed.

You turned your head around slowly and then you saw him. His head rested in his palm and an unmistakeable shit-eating grin decorated his face. Aw.. daaamn.

„You think?", you answered cocky.

„Well, not everyone is able to piss off the instructor so badly that you receive a kick in the stomach. I mean, seriously girl. The hell is wrong with you?"

In a fraction of a second, your eyes became tiny slots, you crunched with your teeth and you scrunched up your nose unconsciously. „If I'd be you, then I would shut the fuck up. You want to annoy me? Not a great plan."

He again gave a laugh and raised his head. „And what harm could you do to me?"

„I have three years from now on. I'll come up with something.", you raised a corner of your mouth to form a catty grin. „Provided that you can stick it out." After that statement, you closed your eyes in satisfaction and took a spoonful of the stodge. But you quickly swallowed it in order to avoid its taste, which, you assumed, wasn't really great.

They boy suddenly jumped to his feet, totally in rage, and basehd his hands on the table. His yellowgold eyes blazed with anger. „Provided that YOU can stick it out three years long! I know you barely 5 minutes, Lina Kresch... and I ALREADY know that you are going to quit in three days and run crying home to mommy!"

Suddenly, you caught your breath and let the spoon fall down. The clanking sound of metal to metal resounded through the entire room. All blood drained from your face, your usually bright eyes became dark and your grin vanished completely. Slowly, you laid your hands on the table and pusehd yourself into a standing position..

A moment of complete silence pervaded the room and the boy obviously recognized that he had striken a nerve. Before anyone could have said anything, your arm zoomed across the table and your hand grabbed the boy's shirt collar. With all your force, you squeezed the smooth fabric and pulled it towards you, so that the boy had to lean over the table.

Dishes fell from the table and exploded on the floor. You looked him dead in the eyes, your furious gaze crossed with his surprised one. You also leaned forward so that the distance among your faces became vanishingly low.

„Well, I don't even know your BLOODY NAME and I'm sure that you're a TOTAL FUCKHEAD!", you whispered, but everyone could hear it.

With this sentence, you let go of him, turned around and left the small cot. Chased by baffled countenances. Marco tried to stop you but you didn't listen. You just wanted to be alone now.

Yup. What a successful first day.