Walking through the front door, I looked back to see Skye waving goodbye to some people on the bus. Just like my sister to make friends on the first day. I opened the door to see Leanne sitting at the kitchen table, talking on the phone. I wasn't in her direct line of view, so if I maneuvered correctly, I could slip up the stairs and be in my room without her noticing. Easier said than done. The wooden stairs were warped in some places and creaked depending on where one stepped. I sucked in my breath and leapt quickly pass the small corridor that lead to the kitchen. I twisted and listened intently, but Leanne was still talking as animatedly as before. Looking up the narrow staircase, I tried to determine which boards look the safest.

First step, no sound. Second step, no sound.

I was actually feeling a little smug when my heel landed too sharply on the third step, causing it to groan in protest. Leanne stopped speaking for a minute, then I heard the chair squeal against the kitchen floor. No doubt by now she heard the television Skye was watching in the living room, so I decided that it was best to get it over with sooner than later. I laid my bag on the fourth stair, which of course, made no sound and proceeded to the kitchen. Leanne was finishing her conversation when I approached her.

"Yes, I know that it's full...she needs to attend...he said so himself...yes, just call me if there are any cancellations." She hung up the phone and looked back to me.

"So?" She asked excitedly.

"So what?" I asked sarcastically.

"Oh come on, Bri. If you don't give me the dirt on the first day, Skye will." Leanne threatened lightly.

"Yeah, I will!" Skye shouted from the living room. She walked in and headed to the refrigerator.

"My day was amazing," she began.

"Hold on," Leanne interrupted, "really, did you like it there Bri?" she asked me, now concerned.

I nodded my head dramatically. "Yes, I actually liked it. It's a pretty small school though, nothing at all like the schools in Seattle for sure."

Leanne smiled at the fact that I didn't have a horrible day like she must have expected. I was glad that she didn't press it any further, I don't know how I could handle telling her exactly how wonderful my day had been. Skye interrupted with news of a freshman football player who had caught her eye, and the squealing began. I excused myself and went upstairs to start my homework. I sat on my bed and looked over my schedule again so I would be better prepared for my classes. With the numbered buildings that all looked the same and the forests that seemed to encompass the whole campus, it was definitely easy to get lost or confused. It was ridiculous, the three classes I did manage to find on my own all had assignments due the next morning. This school was definitely big on academics; either that or they felt the need to torture the student body on the first day. Two hours and sixty-five trigonometry problems later, I collapsed onto my bed. Dinner wasn't for another half hour, so I let my mind go over the day.

The walls of the school are what caught my attention. They were stark white, blindingly white. It was as though no students had ever come near them, they were so clean. To get from one class to the next, required walking through little stone pathways created between each building. The premise was easy enough, but when each building looked identical to the next, it was easy to stray.

I never took much heed for the weather, but I realized that I would have to invest in thicker clothing. If it wasn't drizzling outside, then it was overcast and cold, which I only recognized when I unsuccessfully tried to find my English class, shivering with schedule in hand. After about three unsuccessful tries to find my class in the labyrinth of rooms that weaved through the adjacent buildings, I turned my efforts to finding the main office. I was lucky enough to find that room easily. The small and rather mousy looking secretary greeted me as I walked in.

"Hello dear, may I help you?"

Her voice had such a fragile tenor to it, I wondered if she had an illness, or was just exhausted.

"Oh, um, yeah. I need to find my classes, but I am kind of lost," I admitted bashfully.

She smiled at me and her thin lips stretched over a broad grin."Oh, that's understandable; you must be new here. Well, I suppose you didn't go to the new student orientation?"

I blinked once or twice before I realized that I had no idea what she was talking about."No...I didn't know about an orientation."

"Yes, well for such a small school we shouldn't have one, but with all the new students arriving, we need some way to set our rules and order."

My head perked up a little at this news, "New students?" I asked.

The secretary, whose nametag read 'Ms. Fina', nodded, her wire frame glasses threatening to fall of her nose, "Yes, well a lot of the natives attend some classes here. Some have only a few advanced classes, and others maintain a whole curriculum here; it helps when they go off to college, and we even have a young man who teaches Native American studies." She smiled grandly at the ability to brag.

"That is impressive," I admitted, "so now I guess the school is more full than usual."

"Yeah, but it's a welcome change. The students learn so much from Mr. Uley."

I smiled and was genuinely interested in what Ms. Fina had to say, but I knew that eventually I'd have to get to class. I opened my schedule again and looked up to her. "So, where am I supposed to be?"

Sighing, she turned to a cabinet below her desk. I took the moment to look around the office. Typical school office, padded chairs, awards on walls, there was even a flickering light bulb that all academic offices were probably required to have. It was a large room, very cozy, although the various types of potted plants were a little much.

"Okay, here we are," Ms. Fina announced, pulling out a thick file with papers. "What is your name?"

"Brielle Williams" I answered automatically, not thinking about where I was. The secretary looked through the file once, then twice, and then a third time, becoming more frazzled as she flipped through each page.

"Williams?" The secretary asked, obviously confused about an inconsistency.

I looked up at her then, realizing my slip of tongue. I had used my mother's maiden name, the one I would use whenever I went to a new school.

"Oh, my mistake. I am so used to using my father's name," I lied. "The name should be Brielle Choiseul."

Looking over once again, she smiled as she found my file.

"Here we are," she sang, "the orientation has already started, so none of your classes are in. After lunch, you go to Psychology which is in building 7." She looked up to see if I was catching everything, I simply nodded.

"So I have free time until then" I asked rhetorically.

"Yes, I guess that gives you time to learn the campus a little better if you wanted."

She smiled and was about to say something, when another person caught her eye. She looked over my shoulder to the sound of the door opening. "Skipping orientation Mr. Call?"

I looked down at my schedule when I heard a resonant voice drift toward me. "You know I never miss an orientation Ms. Fina. I was just looking for Sam."

"Mr. Uley had to go off campus, but he will be back by lunch," Ms. Fina looked at me and then her expression grew optimistic, "Oh, this is perfect. Brielle, you can have Mr. Call assist you in your endeavors."

I turned to see the person she was referring to, expecting it to be a teacher. I concentrated on the face I saw that was walking towards me. He looked so familiar and I tried to figure out why. It struck me as he waved lightly in my direction again.

"Um, hi." He spoke quickly.

"Hi." I answered back slowly.

"Can I see?" He asked, pointing to my schedule.

I handed it to him and watched as he surveyed the class list. This couldn't have been the same boy from a few months ago. No, this person standing before me had to be at least twenty, and there was no way he was this tall from the last time I saw him. My mind tried to convince myself that this was someone else, yet I couldn't lie at the evidence that was staring at me right in the face. This was my mystery boy.

"Well, I think that you will be good hands, Miss Choiseul," Ms. Fina announced.

I snapped out of my thoughts and turned to smile back at her once more before heading for the door. 'Mr. Call' and I walked for a few moments before he spoke again.

"So, how do you want to learn the buildings, by letter or number?" He wondered aloud.

I considered my options for a moment. "I think, I will go with letters first. We can learn numbers later."

"Oh, no...you are learning, not we," he remarked softly.

I grinned at his response."Well, if I am learning, I think I should at least know my teacher's name," I commented jokingly.

He stopped and looked thoughtfully at me. I thought I had said something wrong until he broke out into a smile of his own."You're right. I seemed to have forgotten my manners. My name is Embry," he said with one hand outstretched.

I took it."I'm Brielle," I replied softly.

"Well, it is very nice to meet you Brielle."

Embry and I spent most of the morning roaming the halls. He would point out markings on the buildings or make up little names that would help to remember each different corridor.

"This is Hall C. The ketchup and mustard stains on the wall can help you remember that," he said with a sly grin.

"How would that help?" I asked confused.

He looked at me gravely as he spoke, "because, this was the first hall that we all ran to when the war broke out."

I couldn't help the small chortle that escaped my lips. "The war?" I asked dubiously.

"Oh yes," he continued cheerful now, "it was a great battle. The food fight of '08…no one will forget that one."

"A school-wide food fight," I mused, "you sound like you are very proud." I replied with a grin.

Embry simply laughed and continued to lead me around. "I should be. I was the one who thought of it."

I glanced at him with an unbelieving expression. "You...started it?"

"Yeah," he stated with a grin, which quickly left his lips when he took in my expression. "Oh, no, It is not like I am a troublemaker or anything, it was during the spirit week. The faculty got involved as well." A slight twitch at the corner of his mouth gave away his joy in this fact.

I shifted my gaze back to where we were headed. "Oh, that's good. I wouldn't want my first friend at this school to be a delinquent." I smiled.

"Brielle?"

"Brielle?"

I snapped my head up at the sound of my name and awoke out of my reverie. I turned my head toward the sound of Leanne walking up the stairs.

"Bri, didn't you hear us calling?" she asked slightly annoyed.

"Sorry, I guess I was daydreaming." I admitted.

"Well, come on, it's time for dinner." She said over her shoulder as she left my room.

I got up and headed for the kitchen, feeling like I would really like my new school.