Wirt stepped in the school seconds after Stevie, careful to not to stick to close to him, and followed him to their home room, Mr. Anderson's class. Mr. Anderson was a thin man wearing running shoes. Between the shoes and the overall lankiness, Wirt assumed he was a runner. Wirt took a desk on the opposite side of the room from Stevie, ignoring him entirely. A high voice cleared her throat next to him "you stole my seat, newbie" "oh so it's gonna be like this" he thought "just like some cheesy romance novel" he turned to face a slightly pimply girl with a displeased expression on her face. "Sorry" he mumbled. Then clearing his throat asked "what seats are empty?" her face softened slightly and she replied "those ones that make a square around Steve Jr. Callihagn" she said his name with a sneer and Wirt sighed slightly "Thanks"

grabbing his stuff, he settled into a seat behind Stevie.

Mr. Anderson started staring around the room soon after, looking confused. He spotted Wirt and his expression melted into an 'ah, that's why' face and he gestured to Wirt. He headed up to the desk, stopping in front of it. "Your Wirt? Wirt Callihagn?" His face melted into confusion again "are you two…?" he asked weakly, gesturing to Stevie, who was giving them a death glare. "Yeah," Wirt mumbled. "Were brothers, twins. I usually come in the summers for a few weeks but i'm here now for… personal reasons" he squeezed his eyes shut, trying not to cry at the memory of his mom and stepdad. "I miss you guys…" Mr. Anderson's face resolved again and he nodded. Just then Wirt noticed how everyone was staring. They must have heard the conversation. He sighed and slunk back to his desk.

Four periods later, it was lunch time.

Cue *crippling* anxiety.

After 15 minutes of being cut in front of, pushed, and quietly insulted in the lunch line he took a seat in the courtyard outside, still silent.

This particular courtyard was simple, a yard with a garden full of painted rocks and sign that proclaimed the Elroy raiders rocked, trees, grass, some flowers, and picnic tables. Almost no one was outside, it was too cold for that, but he didn't mind.

He felt the cold, but it didn't bother him.

Some birds, late to migrate, twittered in the trees, flying about.

Above him, a squirrel chattered as it gathered nuts for the fast approaching winter, talking in an endless chaotic stream of mostly proclamations of how good nuts were and how winter was gonna be cold this year.

He kinda missed the days when he couldn't understand animals.

Noticing him, the squirrel stopped on a branch for a moment, dipping it's head. "Caretaker" It acknowledged very cleary, before moving on.

The very familiar sound of a clearing throat rang next to him and he turned to see the same girl from homeroom, with a bunch of friends all holding trays. "You stole our seat again" she declared, this time sounding much colder.

He didn't even bother fighting back only nodded, grabbed his tray, and moved to a nearby table. "Hey!" she called after him. "Sorry!" he turned back, confused. "What?"

"We were just testing you" she apologized. "We wanted to see if you were as bratty as your brother" she paused "He is your brother right?" "yeah" he replied, slightly wary. "I mean, you seemed nice but we wanted to make sure. Let's start over." glancing at her friends she said "thanks girls, see you later" they nodded.

She stuck out her hand. "My name is Jennifer, you're Wirt right?" "yep," he agreed, shaking her hand. She sat down at the table and patted the space next to her. He sat down across from her, ignoring the seat she specified. "So" she mumbled around a mouthful of school quesadilla. "Why did you move here? I had no idea Steve Jr, had a brother"

"yeah, i'm his twin brother. If anything he's the evil twin, really. I had to move here with our half brother on our moms side to live with dad" he pulled a face. "You two are twins?" she inquired "are you close?"

"heck no" he replied, pulling another face. "We've never been close. Were more like distant cousins that hate each other. We switch off summers coming or going to see each other but they never are fun. I hate them"

They talked for a little while until, at the door, one of the lunch monitors stuck her head out and declared lunch was almost over. Jennifer cleared her throat (why did she do that so much?) "It was nice to meet you" she declared cordially, before leaving.

In the tree the squirrel chittered "Well, that was awkward"

"Shut up please"

A/N: Summer Break is making me so happy right now. Right after I post this I'm driving to Minneapolis to see Cristopher Paolini and get my book signed. on that topic, when I have a chance I'm gonna write a Inheritance Cycle series I have been planning for a very long time now