Authors Note: Going to clear a few things up real quick. First, the beep test is a physical fitness test, I'm sorry if you didn't catch that, I didn't realize Australia was apparently the only country that used it. Secondly, Noah Shepard is my favourite custom Shepard and the one I played through the series with. Originally she was going to be a Renegade but ended up very Renegon because of her indecisiveness on issues and people. This is why you will see her jump emotions rather quickly. Also no, I don't hate Miranda, I don't hate anyone in the series. Now that is all cleared up, back to the story! :)

The dull ache in her head roused her from the least comfortable sleep she had ever been in. Why was she even asleep? Didn't she have class? Oh no Anderson would kill her. Noah cracked an eye open with an involuntary groan, finding that her surroundings weren't her room, they were too white, too sterile looking, "I've died haven't I? I suspect this is what heaven looks like."

A chuckle sounded from across the room someplace, footsteps, and then an all too familiar face was perched over her, "No, not quite dead, though I'm surprised David didn't kill you for creating this entire mess."

Chakwas. Doctor Karin Chakwas. Of course she hadn't died. Another involuntary groan left her as she recalled the events in the gym hall, "Okay, so this achy feeling isn't just my imagination? I was slugged in the head, wasn't I?"

A nod and then another voice that sounded none too Chakwas-like or too happy, "You were hit with a biotic punch, it shattered your nose and fractured part of your jaw, and got blood all over my gyms nice clean floor."

Anderson appeared on the other side of her bed, causing Noah to attempt to sink into the sheets and never return. He continued his tirade as she half cowered, "Chakwas repaired your nose and your jaw, your bruising will last for anywhere up to a week, she tells me. And you know, I'm finding it good that it was able to be healed within such a short time, because god forgive me, Noelle Janice Shepard you are in a world of trouble."

"But I-..."

"No buts. It's been less than a week and you've already made someone angry enough to want to hit you. The entire purpose of you coming to this school was to pick your act up, start your future on a clean slate. If you're plotting revenge then I suggest you stop, Miss Lawson's coach is already dealing with her."

Noah allowed her jaw to drop at that, staring incredulously at first Anderson and then Chakwas, before settling back on Anderson again, "Look I'm pissed she hit me, but she doesn't deserve to be punished. Hell I would have hit me too."

Anderson shook his head, cutting her off from trying speaking, "I've already given Gwen Wasea my full permission to decide your side of the punishment for this, no matter how sore you are. Expect to see her within the next twenty-four hours. Also Miss Lawson has agreed to apologize for the incident, I expect you to return the same courtesy. You're nearly an adult Noah, act like one."

A few tense moments of silence followed before he walked away from the bed and back out the door to the infirmary. Karin offered her a comforting smile and hand to the should before disappearing from view as well, tending to her paperwork. As Noah watched her go she found herself thinking that it was going to be a very long day - especially when she realized just how bad her face hurt after pressing a gentle finger to it and flinching.

Noah had no idea how long it had been since she woke up, she'd gone through the notes that she requested Chakwas give her about the classes she had missed, and now she was seated on the bed, fiddling with her omni-tool on a piece of medical equipment she found. She'd been alone in the room for an half hour now that Chakwas had to run out to help a hockey player who was reported to have serious injuries.

Letting out a huff of air, chucking the medical equipment aside and crossing her arms she decided she'd had enough of sitting around and got up, taking off the medical overcoat and hurling it aside. As it turned out, standing up quickly happened to not be the best idea and so for a moment all she did was stand very still as her head felt like it was spinning.

It was then when the swish of the door sounded and someone, a young girl by the sound of their voice, walked in and started talking, "Doctor Chakwas? A boy has been hurt in the science labs, I was sent by Mr. Solus to come collect you for help?"

Noah thought about laughing but decided against it, instead she reached forward from where she stood and opened the curtains a bit, "She left a while ago, sor-" the final word didn't get to leave her as the girl, Asari as it turned out, jumped in fear, clutching at her chest, staring wide-eyed at the very bruised Noah.

Shepard of course couldn't help but smile, she probably should have thought to introduce herself and not scare the poor girl. However that reaction was definitely worth it, the girl looked nothing less than adorable when she jumped, "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you," the girl shook her head, still not saying anything in return, "Chakwas left a little while ago, something about a hockey player and that they really needed to stop getting into fights."

The Asari girl was still very tense and wide-eyed, nevertheless she nodded and pointed back towards the door, "Well then, I'll be going to find another nurse then if Doctor Chakwas isn't here."

Neither girl made any sort of movement, Noah was still smiling at her, even though she found smiling hurt a little more than expected. The silence sulked around a little more before the Asari finally blurted out, "Are you the one that Miranda Lawson hit?" immediately covering her mouth and mentally berating herself for asking such a silly question.

Noah nodded before poking gently at her face again, "News travels fast around this school, doesn't it?" she chuckled a little before holding out her hand, "My names Noah, you know, just in case the name didn't travel along with the news."

A blue hand gently took her own, before retreating back to its owners side, "Liara T'Soni," she said as an introduction, "I apologise, I didn't mean to imply anything from asking if you were the one that Miranda Lawson hit," she shook her head a little, "I mean you do have very bad bruising, and I shouldn't presume things."

Shepard laughed a little, the girl was obviously shy and she tended to ramble a bit, but it was done in such an endearing way that she didn't really mind, she even found herself enjoying it. Liara fidgeted a little under Noah's laugh, "I'm sorry I don't understand humankind very well and I'm making a small fool out of myself by talking to you."

"No you're not," Noah replied, leaning against one of the posts that suspended the now open curtain, "It's a refreshing change from the people around here who seem to know everything. And it's kind of cute."

The Asari blushed, ducking her head a little, only forcing Noah to widen her smile. It was however short lived as standing at the door, arms crossed, was a disapproving Chakwas, "Liara," she said, glaring suspiciously at Noah who was holding her arms up as if to say I didn't do anything, "What can I help you with? If it were me you were actually looking for before this one decided to corner you."

Liara shook her head a little, quickly glancing between the girl and the woman, "No, no, that's not it, that's not what happened, Noah was being very nice, we were just talking a little," she took a small breath before continuing, "A boy in the labs blew an experiment up and injured himself, Mr. Solus is tending to him until you are able to arrive."

Chakwas nodded, standing by the door and indicating Liara to follow her in a moment, "We'll leave in just a minute," throwing another suspicious glare at Noah, "You're free to leave now Shepard, just try to avoid any cheerleaders until the ordeal has blown over."

With a quick nod and flashing another charming smile at the Asari, Noah grabbed her jacket from the foot of the bed and skirted around Chakwas, earning a quick and gentle whack across the back of the head as a quiet way of saying 'stop flirting with everything that moves'. Liara smiled at the bond the two had, earning a wink from Noah as she dodged another whack over the head before jogging off down the hall.

Liara looked at Chakwas with a nervous expression, the woman had a questioning eyebrow raised. Karin spoke as they moved down the opposite way of the hallway, "You know if she corners you like that again, just give her a stern look and threaten her with telling Anderson."

Not quite sure if she was joking or not, Liara simply nodded. However relevant it was, the suggestion simply deleted itself from her memory as soon as it was stored. If anything, Liara would be more than happy to be in the company of the girl again. She was honest and was the first person who seemed like she actually meant it when she complimented her on being cute. She was also the first human who didn't immediately begin questioning her on what it was like being an Asari, as she found must young humans tended to do.

Apparently it was well after school hours, Noah realized as she exited the infirmary and descended down the stairs of the offices. The sky outside was dark and the lights of the dormitories were on, bathing the driveway in a strange gold colour. She glanced at the office robot-lady-thing who was looking back at her with yet another curious gaze; before turning her power-walk into a jog out the side doors and around the corner to the cafeteria, her stomach grumbling in protest of her skipping out on lunch.

Dodging past a group of younger first year students, she pushed the doors open and manoeuvred her way through the dinner crowd to grab a cheeseburger and a far too large stack of fries. She'd burn the calories off later she was sure. Before she moved through the crowd again, finding Kasumi waving her over to the same table they were seated at the last few times they ate together, only this time Garrus Vakarian, the Turian she met in Gym class, was seated next to her.

"Hi," was all Noah said, mouth half full of fries, as she sat down across from them. Kasumi and Garrus shared a look before bringing up a plate from the seat between them and pushing it across the table. On it was a huge pile of the most delicious bacon Noah had seen.

She looked between the pile of bacon and her two friends for a moment before standing up and leaning across the table to hug them both in an awkward way before sitting back down and trying to shovel as much food into her mouth as possible. Garrus was the first one to make any real try at conversation, "There was so much blood..."

A silence crept over the table before all three of them began to laugh, Noah coughing back some food, "Shut-up Vakarian, I wish I had some kind of scar from it though..." she paused before she realized she actually hadn't seen herself since she woke up, "Wait, do I have a scar!"

Kasumi passed her a mirror from her bag, watching as Noah inspected the damage, frowning when she realized she was lacking a battle mark of any kind whatsoever. Chucking the mirror back at her, Noah pouted far more than was necessary, "Well that sucks, can't even get away with saying it was an angry Krogan now. Which somehow off-topically reminds me, how do you two know each other?"

They shared a shrug, before both at the same time mentioning they had Galactic History together and that they were paired together once and just never bothered leaving the comfort of that. Noah nodded before trailing her eyes around the cafeteria, strangely spotting a blur of colours coming toward her at an alarming speed, before it crashed into her with a punch to the shoulder that didn't hurt more than being a shock, and an added "Fuck yeah new girl, heard your dumbass got all up in the stupid cheerleaders face. Nice bruising."

Jack was suddenly seated next to her, Kasumi and Garrus wide eyed at the unexpected arrival. Noah herself just smiled and nodded as the girl examined her face, "No scars, so stop searching for them." A groan was heard from the tattooed girl, who proceeded to steal some bacon from the plate, much to Noah's despair, "You know this taking on the cheerleader thing makes us allies right?" she shook her head, still frowning at the lost bacon, "Shit yeah it does, stupid bitch has been all up in my face ever since I screwed up their little training sessions last year."

While glad to have a new friend, ally perhaps was the better word, Noah found herself letting her eyes wander around the hall again, finding them instantly drawn to the Asari girl from earlier who had just entered and was making her way to the long table surrounded by 'science-y' looking people. All three companions at her table followed Noah's line of vision, Kasumi being the first to speak in her usual cheery voice, "Liara T'Soni, she's in our year Shep. Biotic Science specialist in the making according the school. But everyone knows she prefers archaeology. She also has a rather large list of people who pine for her attention, all of them are currently seated at that table."

Jack snorted a laugh, shoving bacon at Noah's mouth which she took gratefully, forcing her eyes away from the Asari and back to her friends, "I met her earlier when I was in the sick bay. Not going to lie, she's kind of cute."

"Once you go blue, it's all you'll ever do," Jack commented, earning a laugh from the rest of the table and a gentle knock in the ribs from Shepard.

"Shut up Jack," she said although she meant well, earning a smirk from the other girl, "I'm serious though, she's cute."

Garrus was the one who this time decided to comment, and it was by far the most insightful, "I feel the need to warn you that her friend, Tali'Zorah, is extremely protective over her. And vice-versa. They've known each other since they started here. So if you plan on trying anything stupid Shepard, I advise you watch your back, because an angry little Quarian is the last thing you want," he looked back at the science table only to cough and turn away again, "Talking about trouble, you're in for it."

Shepard cocked her head and looked back at the table, finding instead a large Krogan and equally as intimidating looking purple skinned Asari making their way through the parting crowds. Shepard straightened her posture a bit, and put a hand on Jack's shoulder to stop her from doing anything stupid.

"Good, you have your little pet there under control," the Asari spoke directly and only to Shepard, smirking an arrogant little smile.

"I'm going to presume your Aria?" Shepard snapped back, her voice dropping into a defensive tone, one that Jack recognised she had picked up from her time in the gangs.

"Oh good, you were paying attention when the little thief here was explaining the hierarchy of the school. I'm glad you're not entirely dim witted."

Noah eyed the Krogan, a bodyguard obviously, but he looked as though he were uncomfortable intimidating the group, "Look if you're just here to gloat that your little minion managed to get a punch off on me, then I suggest you leave."

Aria laughed, not so much a joyous laugh but an evil don't fuck with me laugh, "You don't know much about me, do you?" she shook her head to stop Shepard from answering, "I'm not here to gloat, I'm here offering you thanks, if you want to call it that. Lawson's punishment has made this ordeal the most amusing thing I've seen all year. So congratulations, Shepard, for turning an ugly situation into one that deserves an award."

Jack had tensed at the mention of Lawson's name, forcing Noah to grip her shoulder with a little more force, allowing the Asari to continue her rant, "And the cherry on the top just has to be little Lawson's father storming into school after Wasea called him, I suppose he's none too happy his daughter has besmirched the Lawson name," she paused, smiling rather sinisterly, "Enjoy your dinner though Shepard, may as well eat yourself to death before Wasea catches up with you."

The Asari stalked back off, revealing that the entire cafeteria, including Liara and her table, had watched the exchange with a rapt interest. Shepard released Jack's shoulder with a cautioning glare and quickly turned away from the questioning looks of the rest of the student population, returning to her food.

Jack decided on snapping at the students who still thought it appropriate to look and turned back to a rigid Shepard, "Fucking cheerleaders, think they run the school."

"Drop it Jack," Noah snapped, crushing a piece of bacon in her hands, and taking a deep breath. She didn't care that she was confronted by the head of the student body, or that if she had said the wrong thing then, the Krogan would have easily created more bruises and broken bones. No, the most important thing she had gotten out of the conversation was the final part of information about Miranda's father. Noah hadn't meant this entire thing to get as far as parents being dragged into it. For the first time in a long time, she felt honestly bad about getting someone in trouble.

Glancing back up from plate of bacon to find Kasumi and Garrus had taken to talking to Jack about some sport Noah knew nothing about and finding that Jack had stolen her cheeseburger, she moved her eyes back around the room to see Liara looking at her curiously, ignoring the human boy next to her as he avidly tried to get her attention. Noah offered her a comforting smile, causing Liara to blush the same way she did in the infirmary and look back at the boy to pretend she was interested. She turned back to Jack, stealing the burger back and eating what remained of it, quietly plotting how she'd first apologize to this cheerleader, and then how to get closer to the blushing and shy Asari. Maybe she ought prioritize those differently. 'Yeah' she thought as she watched the Asari flick her gaze back to Shepard's table every so often, 'she definitely ought to prioritize those differently.'