Altair quickly silenced his alarm when it went off. Perhaps today he could escape without his guardian noticing. Al Mualim was not a man you wanted to run into early in the morning. He wasn't a man you wanted to run into period. Altair got dressed and pulled on his white hoodie. He spent a few moments in front of the mirror, sparing only a moment to glance at the picture taped to the glass. 'أين أنت يا صديقي؟' Altair mentally asked himself that question everyday, but he couldn't bring himself to think about it's answer. He grabbed his backpack and peeked under his door. He could maybe make it to the kitchen before..., but he heard movement and decided that breakfast wasn't worth it. Hopping through the window he was out of the house and into the alley. Walking along the cracked cement he headed to the school. Once inside he was the plauge. Something that should be avoided at all costs. No one talked to him, hardly looked at him, and they certainly weren't less than 3 feet away from him. 'Good.' He thought. 'I don't want to acknowledge them, and none of them want to acknowledge me.' 'Except Connor.' Even thinking about the annoying Mohawk boy made Altair frown, causing people to take another step away. 'Ugh. Maybe I scared him enough yesterday.' 'He wasn't that bad.' 'He wouldn't leave me be.' 'He wouldn't quit.' Altair's frown turned into a scowl. 'Everyone quits.'

His first period went as usual, and then it was off to science. He took his seat and waited. As soon as Connor would sit down he would move to the edge of the table as he always did. Sure enough there was Connor, but before sitting down he moved his own stool away from Altair's. A little odd, but it didn't upset him. 'This is great! Now I don't have to worry about moving myself.' Once it was time to work Altair put his head down, and started listening to his music. There were no pokes today, and nothing said to him. In the hall he walked quickly knowing that whatever his pace Connor would match it to talk. However, he ended up walking alone to history. The same thing happened the next day, and the next day. Connor would move away from him, and wouldn't pay him any attention.

The next week, and fourth school day of being ignored, Altair started to wonder. 'Why isn't he talking to me?' 'Why should I care? He's not bothering me! I successfully broke his happy spirit and crushed his caring soul!' Altair congratulated himself with a smile. 'I shouldn't be smiling. He wasn't that annoying, and he was trying to be my friend...something I could use since M...' 'No! I don't need anyone. Especially not a goody two shoes.' 'Just say hi. He'll probably answer if I start the conversation.' But Altair knew he would never do that. 'Nah. Sooner or later he's going to try again.' The same routine continued the next day, and the next day, and the next day. Finally, after seven days of nothing, Altair was getting annoyed. Connor came in, moved away, and was quiet. Altair kept glancing over at him to look for any reaction. There was none. When the bell rang Connor went to pick up his science book, but before he could Altair shoved it off the edge of the table and stood there. 'Now what are you going to do? Yell at me?' Instead, without looking at the perpetrator, Connor calmly bent down and picked it up. Altair continued to stand in the middle walkway. After waiting a few moments with his head down Connor just walked around the table. 'Nothing?! Really?!'

In the hallway Altair caught up to him and "accidentally" bumped his shoulder. Connor moved to the side to give him space. Altair did it again. Connor walked faster. So did Altair. Connor stopped. Altair did the same. 'C'mon you must be getting bothered. Yell, glare, sigh even. Look at me! Talk to me! Something!' But he didn't do anything. He just stood there refusing to acknowledge the Arab.

Altair stared at him, and then with words barely audible he said. "I'm sorry." Connor looked at him, but didn't say anything. Altair swallowed. 'I said sorry, what else do you want from me?' "I'm sorry that I was so rude and yelled at you. Also sorry for being such a jackass today." When there wasn't anything else but a nod Altair rolled his eyes. "I apologized twice! I never apologize once, so stop the damn silent treatment already!"

This time Connor smiled. "I forgive you, and I'm really sorry that I ignored you. You have no idea how hard it was to not reach out and talk to you! But I'm glad that you're letting me be your friend...unless you don't..."

Altair shrugged. "Nah. You can be my...fff...fffrriend. You're not...too bad."

"Yay! Can I have a hug?"

"Hell no."

"Oh...a handshake?"

"Don't make me hate you again."

"Sorry." Connor waved. "I'll see you later then."

Altair headed into the history classroom. 'Well that didn't go as planned. What happened to the joy that came from being feared and alone?' 'Guess I decided that 6 years of being alone was enough. Besides, Connor seems like someone I could...' Wait...no. He didn't actually like the Kenway kid, did he? No. Of course he didn't, he didn't like anyone, Connor was simply someone he could stand. 'No. I don't like him, at least not now, but perhaps this new friend could grow on me. Connor Kenway, the befriender of Altair Ibn-La'Ahad.' Altair smiled to himself.

Once home Connor pulled out his phone and hit the Skype app. He watched as it was dialing, and after a little while the face of a woman appeared on the screen.

"Hello honey."

"Hey mom."

Ziio smiled at her son. "I actually expected a call sooner than this."

Connor smiled back at her. "Well I uh...I've usually been hanging out with my new friends, or I knew that you were working."

"You know I don't care if you call during work hours, they're pretty lenient. But I'm glad to hear that you've made friends. How are you adjusting to the big city?"

"It's um...it's certainly different. There are a lot of different rules, like how I shouldn't talk to strangers, or go out at night, and lots of other things."

"Yeah...I probably should've went over a few things before you left."

"It's okay. Dad went over what I should and shouldn't do, where the good and bad parts of town are, and other precautions. Then Ezio, Desmond, and Leonardo told me things too."

"Those last three people you mentioned are your new friends I'm guessing."

"Yep. They're all seniors just like me, and they're really popular. We're all part of this group called the Brotherhood."

"That sounds like a lot of fun! Anything else at school?"

Connor had to remember all that happened. "I managed to become friends with another kid, his name is Altair, and that was quite an accomplishment. Grade wise I'm getting all A's so far, only a B or two in History, but Mr. Hastings is an extremely strict teacher. I really really like my video productions class."

"Naturally since I remember you making little slideshows all the time." Ziio kept her bright smile. "You also have gym don't you? How's that been going?"

"Um..." Connor thought of Captain Kenway. "It's uh...the activities are fun, and they're super easy to learn. The teacher however...he's um...he's a little different from most. He...he talks like a pirate all the time, and I don't really understand why. His last name is also Kenway so that's a bit awkward. I asked dad about him, but he says we're in no way related."

Ziio mumbled something that the microphone didn't quite catch.

"Can't hear you mom."

"Oh it was nothing. So um...," Ziio's smile had faded, "how is...your father?"

Connor brought his own smile back. "He's great."

"I bet, when he's actually home."

"I manage to see him every night and every morning. Occasionally I get notes."

Ziio rolled her eyes. "Oh boy. Notes. How caring."

Connor wasn't so happy with his mother's sarcasm. "Well...you'd be surprised, but he's a lot more caring than you made him out to be."

"Hm..." Ziio appeared to be thinking about something.

Connor didn't really think before saying the next sentence. "Caring enough to get a second chance in my opinion."

Ziio's curious look turned into one that almost resembled disgust. "Humph. You've only been there for ten days, I don't believe that's enough time to form such an opinion."

Connor immediately regretted saying that. "Sorry, I didn't mean to..."

Ziio sighed. "Oh no, it's no big deal."

"So um...how's the house hunting?"

"It's not the best, but I've found a few places that we could work with. Anoki has been helping me search, and taking over your household responsibilities." Ziio smiled again.

"Speaking of household reponsibilities I was just headed out to buy some groceries."

"Oh? Why would you do that? Your father is a grown man."

"Yeah well he doesn't do much eating at home. The only food currently here is a loaf of bread, a few eggs, a quart of milk, and a freezer full of ice cream."

For once when talking about Haytham, Ziio laughed. "That's certainly something that hasn't changed. Your dad does have a weakness for ice cream. Let me guess the flavors. Mint chocolate chip is one, cookie dough, cookies and cream, and then chocolate fudge brownie."

Connor didn't know how to react as he checked the freezer. "Um...yeah."

"Oh I knew it! Have you combined any yet?"

"No...I haven't even thought of that."

"Neither had I! But then on one of our dates Haytham took me out for ice cream and he ordered it with a ton of flavors mixed together and it was one of the most delicious things I've had. And when we got married there were always those four flavors in our freezer, occasionally a fifth to change things up." Connor was surprised that his mom actually seemed happy and excited to be talking about his dad. "It was so much fun! I don't know why I ever stopped doing that. Well I've got to go, there's another house to tour and then Anoki and I are going to dinner. Call again anytime."

"Sure thing mom, same goes for you. Say hi to Anoki for me."

"I will. Love you Ratonhnhake:ton."

"Love you mom." Then Ziio blew her son a kiss, and he blew one right back.