Disclaimer: I own none of this.

First Sight, IV

Though I had previously passed a similar class on Vulcan, I was required to attend Advanced Xenobiology in the period following lunch. Upon entering the classroom, I observed that the only empty seat was beside the male with the golden hair – James Kirk. As I walked down the aisle beside him to introduce myself to the teacher and get the required signature, Kirk straightened in his seat. I assumed his interest in me was based on my status of newcomer. I did not bother to verify my assumption by looking at his face to decipher any emotion he might have shown.

The instructor, a Dr. John Smith, signed my slip and gave me a textbook (which was decidedly…odd…considering that most forms of textual information had long since been converted to digital media and were displayed on PADDs. But, taking into account the many varied idiosyncrasies of human nature and the fact that Dr. Smith happened to be wearing an old-fashioned suit with scuffed laced-up rubber-soled shoes, perhaps the book was not so strange). I then took my seat, next to James Kirk, ignoring the sidelong look he was directing at me.

I did not glance up as I set my book on the table and took my seat. In the corner of my eye, I saw Kirk's posture change: somehow he managed to convey an attitude of alertness while managing to lounge casually against the seatback.

The lesson, on shifts in cellular anatomy throughout the early evolutionary periods of the major humanoid races, was surprisingly not tedious. Though I had already covered the subject while on Vulcan, Dr. Smith's style of presentation was eccentric, energetic, meandering, and sprinkled through with information I had never learned before. However, while it did hold my attention, the lecture was not quite captivating enough to distract me from the young man who sat beside me.

James Kirk would not cease to direct his line of sight towards me.

And, on the single occasion I turned my head to meet his stare with one of my own, he simply smiled widely, and winked one hazel eye. The tips of my ears grew heated from a sudden rush of blood.

Dr. Smith noticed our inattentiveness and threw a pencil (my mind proceeded down a tangent: who had a pencil? Did they not die out with the close of the twenty-second century?) at Kirk.

"Mr. Kirk! It's just a tiny bit rude to stare at people, by the way. In case your parental figure never told you that."

I snapped my gaze back front. I did not look to see if Kirk did the same.

When the bell rang to dismiss us from class, Kirk turned towards me in his seat and moved my chair with his feet so I was likewise turned towards him.

"Hey," his smile was beyond classification, "I know you're new, so I was wondering if you wanted a tour or something around town. There's not much, but you should know where you're living, right? I wouldn't mind showing you around."

I was not tempted by his offer, nor by anything…else…that I saw. (Not that I saw anything. I was not staring at Kirk. Visual appeal did not interest me, so, therefore, I had no reason to stare at Kirk. Beyond a cursory glance. Which was not, I told myself, staring.)

"Thank you, but that will not be necessary," I informed him. "If you will excuse me, I must depart so as to be able to attend my next class in a punctual manner."

I supported my words with physical actions and left the room.

"Hey, Spock!" a female voice exclaimed. I turned around to see Christine Chapel, one of the students that I had sat with at lunch and who I also had Xenobiology with, her light blonde hair falling into disarray as she ran to my side. "Do you need any help finding you next class?"

"Negative."

"Oh." Her countenance fit an adjective I heard my mother use: crestfallen.

"If your next class is near the same vicinity as mine, I would not object to your company as we walk," I did-not-blurt out. "I am headed to the gymnasium."

"I have gym next, too!" Christine smiled again.

Christine spoke very little as we walked, making me reevaluate my opinion that teenaged human females enjoyed the sound of their voice to the point of incessant chatter. Apparently, not all teenaged human females were like Janice Rand.

But as we drew near the gym, she spoke up: "So, I noticed Jim Kirk deflated his ego enough to talk to you and offer to give up time to show you around. You should probably know that Janice will be pissed at you for that. She's obsessed with the guy."

"I believe I might have noticed at lunch that she admired him, but I do not comprehend how the depth of her infatuation can negatively affect me. Kirk initiated conversation, and I declined his offer." I avoided any remarks that might have been seen as unkind about obsession being an indication of severe mental instability. Also, it was possible Christine was exaggerating.

"But she'll be angry because she does everything she can to get him to notice her - and then you come into class, and he stares at you the whole time. She gets envious." She shrugged. "Probably, she'll spread nasty rumors about you behind your back."

"Words are incapable of causing harm."

Christine made a little snorting sound. "Physically maybe not, but emotionally?"

"Vulcans have no emotions."

"Anyways. I'm not surprised Kirk talked to you, I would have done the same." As she smiled at me, she experienced muscular convulsions in her eyelids.

"Christine, are you entering into a seizure? Your eyes are twitching at an abnormal rate. Is there any medication you need?"

Immediately, the movement stopped.

My first day attending a Terran school was an unusual experience. I tried to list all the ways in which it differed from the school I attended on Vulcan, information I had previously gained, and my own expectations. However, my mind kept reverting to the memory of a pair of warm hazel eyes, one of them closing in a wink.

A/N: Wow. So, finally at the end of the first chapter of "Twilight". It pains me to have to read it again, but I get to write K/S slash from it, so....maybe balances out? Anyways, now that I have all the expostition done, I can probaby pick up the pacing of the plot (because I have been informed that it drags a bit and all you lovely readers will get bored after a while).

I would like to take a moment to thank everyone who has left a review. And another moment to thank everyone who subscribed/favourited - even if you didn't leave a review. And a third and final moment to everyone who has taken the time to read up to this point. Yay.

I'll try to have an update by Monday night (PST). I think I can manage that.

Live long and prosper,
~Plumage