Solstice: PLOT

"Here," the redhead offers his hand, "I'm so sorry!"

I take it and he helps me up. "Thanks, it was my fault… I guess that's why they say 'don't run in the hallway!'"

"I guess," the redhead smiles and starts picking papers off the floor.

"I'll help," I offer as I bend down and begin gathering pages. I notice he dropped his watch, so I pick that up too.

The redhead inhales sharply as I touch the metal.

I try to feign confusion, but honestly, I'm not surprised. I would be horrified if some random person unknowably picked up one of Dinoval's gadgets.

The redhead quickly snatches the watch from my hand and blushes horribly. "It's… delicate…?" he excuses embarrassedly.

"Sure," I shrug casually and hand him the rest of the papers. "My name's Silvia, what's yours?" I ask just to get it out of the way.

"Daisuke," he replies, happy to change the topic.

"Daisuke…" I repeat, "that sounds foreign. Do you have relatives out of country?"

"Actually… I just moved here last summer, so this is my first year here," Daisuke explains.

Sure… I smile, "cool! This is my first year here too! Do you want to talk in the Commons before school starts?"

Daisuke's eyes light up. "Okay," he replies happily, "… but… where is that…?"

"Oh, did you print off the map?"

He shuffles through his papers and hands it to me.

"It's right here," I point and take note of a small dot on the paper in the art room, "right down the main hallway and then take a left. I need to organize my locker; I'll be there when I'm done, okay?"

"Alright," Daisuke smiles and takes the map back, "I'll see you there!" He walks off towards the Commons.

-Minutes later-

I nearly jump out of my skin after I shut my locker.

"What in the name of Frith are you doing here?" I demand as I clutch my chest and try to breathe regularly.

"Just waiting for you to finish," Satoshi replies coolly from behind me.

"Well…! Do it more loudly next time!"

"'More loudly'?" Satoshi echoes with a mischievous smile.

"Oh, so you think you know better English than me?" I counter angrily. I sigh, "anyway, I met Daisuke, we're going to talk in the Commons before school starts."

Satoshi nods. "Fine. I'll see you later." He walks away and I follow. He starts descending the stairs to the library.

"Where are you going?"

He stops. "The library."

"… You do know it doesn't open until 7:45, right?"

"… I suppose I…" he trails off and looks at me.

I shrug. "… Should go meet your teachers…?"

Satoshi looks down. 'Maybe I'll pick the lock.'

I smile, "see you."

-Later-

Daisuke and I happily converse about random things at a table in the Commons.

"So what lunch do you have?" I ask.

"Ummm…" Daisuke looks at his schedule. "I have five-" he suddenly freezes and his eyes widen considerably as he stares straight through me.

I blink and turn around.

Chillin' against a brick pillar on the other side of the room, Satoshi analyzes us carefully.

I glance at my watch. "Well, school's going to start soon," I comment and sling on my backpack, "it was nice meeting you, Daisuke, but we should head to our first classes to avoid the rush."

Daisuke nods numbly.

As I make my way for the stairs, I notice Daisuke isn't the only one staring at Satoshi, a few giggly gaggles of girls eye him enviously. I smile smugly and make my way to room 204.

Cynthia: *laughs manically* Satoshi has his own little creepy gaggle of girls!

Solstice: *backs off* A-are you serious...? And what's a "gaggle of girls"?

Cynthia: *stops laughing* You know, a group of girls. Like a gang of guys.

Solstice: Oookay... don't think that's right...

Cynthia: You say something?

Solstice: Nope.