Donnie's POV

When we finally get out of the car, Dad stops us at the sidewalk, and begins yelling at us. I- I really don't know what we did this time, and he's talking so loud and fast that it's hard to make out exactly what it is he's screaming, so I just keep my head down, sneaking a few glances at Raph to see if he can hear what he's saying. I really don't know if my ears will work properly after this. I look up for maybe a second, just to see what the school looks like, and there's these two kids there. Not that I didn't expect kids, it IS a school, after all, but there seems something… odd… about them.

Maybe it's the fact that the only people I know are some of the thugs from gangs that Saki runs. Yeah, we know about those. Not that he doesn't TRY to keep us from finding out about his illegal work, just that he doesn't do a very good job. And we've overheard Xever say a few things about our dad.

Maybe it's the fact that our only friends are Casey and each-other. After all, I don't know them. But then, that's just it. They seem almost familiar. Even though I know I've never seen them before. They both seem to be completely covered in what must be their favorite colors. Not that I can blame them, of course. One of them- Blue- is staring at Raph like he's trying to read his mind. His straight black hair lays in neat banngs over his ocean eyes, making his gaze seem all the more mysterious as he scrutinizes my older brother. It's weird seeing someone stare and knowing they don't want to hurt us. Instead, he seems to be trying to find out if he knows us.

The other- Orange- is trying to shake his brother- that's what I assume they are- out of his daze, before ultimately giving up and settling for looking our way as well. He glances briefly at Raph before his bright baby-blue orbs find their way to me. His curly blonde hair, messy and free, offsets his brother's dark, straight. Freckles dot his pale, round face, making him almost look a year younger than I know he is. His gaze, though an almost icey-blue in color, seems warm and friendly, childlike even. It makes me somewhat jealous to see them standing together, so carefree and happy. I quickly discard the thoughts. It isn't their fault they aren't related to him. I look back down at the ground.

The two boys keep watching until the bell rings. I almost don't notice, lost in thought, but Raph grabs my sleeve and pulls me along, shouting something back at Saki. He rushes towards the doors, and for a moment time slows down as I turn my head and we rush past Orange. His eyes widen when he looks at me, and before I know it, time speeds up again, and Raph swerves to avoid Blue, who jumps back with a look on his face that rivals all funny chicken videos. I almost laugh, a small smile crossing my tan face.

Soon after we turn a corner I hear Orange laughing as well, comparing his brother to a chicken- hmm, guess I'm not the only one- and saying goodbye. That's when I remember, as Raph slows down and I gain my footing, that we have to go to SEPERATE classes. My breath quickens. Raph turns around as soon as he hears my hyperventilating. He puts his hand on my shoulder and smiles. I smile back, not as worried as before. He hands me my schedule, though I almost give it back. After all, I had memorized it shortly after we received them from the school. Instead I turn back and begin walking around the lockers, trying (and failing) to ignore the disgusting condition they are in. I turn left twice before i end up in another long hall. The lockers on this side are the same. I grimace, almost walking past the room my first class is in.

Science. I'm not really that smart, at least that's what Dad always says, and I at least know enough not to argue, but I really like science because it just makes sense. No people, no worries, just facts. No one can change facts. And with my life, there's just something comforting about something so solid. The one catch is that at school, there's other people. I know I'm probably going to be the dumbest person there, and I hate it. I-I-... I've never been to a real school before, Raph and I were always homeschooled by Dad. He taught us Japanese and basic martial arts, before handing it off to one of his employees. He didn't have a name, but he always reminded us of a tiger, so we ended up calling him Tiger Claw, and I guess it stuck. He taught us a lot, and even some English. English is one of the hardest languages, butRaph seemed to get it almost instantly. I struggled so much that Dad gave up after teaching me the basics. If he didn't think I was useless before, then he did then. I stayed up every night for two months after that until I could understand most of the language, but I still have a stutter and can't speak most of it.

That's one reason why I'm glad that Jones will be in the class. He learned Japanese from Raph, and even helped me with some English, once he understood both languages pretty well.

I step into the classroom and look up to see that Orange is waving from 'his' desk near the front of the room. He whisper yells, "Yo, Hoodie!" and I know he's talking to me because he and I are the only ones near the front of the classroom wearing hoods, and mine is the only one up over my head. Funny, I AM always wearing my hood… at least in public, so it's almost fitting, and he seems like the kind of person who enjoys giving people names, not in a mean way, just… it's kind of his thing. I can respect that.

I shuffle over to where he is… well, sitting isn't the right word, because he's barely even touching the seat with how much he's bouncing around, leaning over the desk, talking to other students, staring at me- wait, what? Oh. He's leaning over his desk and mine, trying to look at my face. I'm not exactly sure how to respond, after all, I don't like being in the spotlight very much, and people don't usually take notice of me unless they're making fun of me and oh my gosh why is he just staringatme!? doisayhi!? Orwhatcuzhe'sjust- okay… calm down… breath… slow breaths. Think about this logically. He's a nice-looking kid, younger than me by maybe a few months, friendly with everyone… curious. He probably just wants to know what I look like, or if I want to talk.

I'm shaken out of my thoughts when he leans away suddenly. For a second I'm worried, before I realized that I had been glaring at him, and he must have taken that as a sign that I wanted him to back off. Stupid anti-socialism! Why can't I ever interact with people!? I sigh, turning away and burying my head in my arms on top of my desk. The classroom is nice, clean, and- thank God- nothing like the lockers. Rather, it seems to be a spacious, pristine blue and white room, with cabinets filled with clear glass bottles and thermometers. It smells like baking soda and vinegar, but oddly sweet. In the front of the room stands an average-height man with dark brown hair and sideburns. He introduces himself as Mr. Rockwell.

"Alright class, rather than going over rules like the rest of the school, we will be playing an ice-breaker game."

Huh. Didn't expect THAT. Most of the teachers here seemed… i don't know, boring i guess. Before I know it, everyone is meandering over to the front of the classroom, and gathering into a large… failed attempt at a circle. I shuffle behind Orange until he sits down, and I flop down next to him. There are several more kids in class than I had thought there would be, but, luckily for me, Casey is in this class as well! Good thing too, because I don't know if I could speak in front of a crowd on my own.

After a couple of other people go, including Orange, who's name happens to be Michelangelo, or Mikey for short, and then it's my turn.

I start to panic for a second before Casey nods at me, the question clear. I nod and stand up.

"Konichiwa."

As i turn out of the classroom, Mikey calls after me. I turn around and he asks if he can call me Donnie. I nod, smiling. Maybe it won't be so bad here…