After dropping Teony's books off at the principal's office my phone said there were only 5 minutes left so I had to rush to make it to my new homeroom on time. I didn't think that there was much you could change about homeroom but apparently I was wrong. At first, I thought I walked into the wrong room because I didn't notice anyone from last year. Then I realized that the years were mixed so while not having my friends with me will be disappointing, at least I didn't embarrass myself by bursting into the wrong room.

Because I'm here so late all of the seats are filled but they're not assigned so hopefully if I'm earlier tomorrow I can sit in the back like the hermit I am. Before I attempt to look for a seat I spot a hand attached to a very familiar bluenette.

"Katelyn!" Who cares if I'm getting looks, I'm with friends now. I make a beeline for her desk.

"Geez!" She accepts my hug. "Happy to see me or what?"

"Yes," you have no idea. "First I was confused because I didn't see anyone, then I was concerned because I saw that the grades were mixed and what if-"

"Chill," she puts a hand on my shoulder stopping my frenzied rant. "I'm happy to see you too, I thought I was going to be stuck with just…" Just…? She sighs and gestures over her shoulder. "Her."

I glance over her shoulder but the only person that stands out to me is Kawaii~chan. I'm actually surprised that I didn't notice her from the get-go. Kawaii~chan can be very noticeable. "Aphmau~Senpai!" she squeals in excitement before gathering her stuff to come and join us.

"I See…" Kawaii~chan can also be loud.

"Yeah," she sighs in amused resignation. "I like Kawaii~Chan as a friend but she's…"

"You guys have NO IDEA how happy Kawaii~Chan is that we're all in the same homeroom!" she pounces forcing Katelyn to steady us.

"Same!"

"We need to take a selfie together!" she settles between us pulling out her phone.

"Why not?"

"Sure! Let me just-" oh no. I pat my pockets frantically. I find chapstick, my charger, and my new locker number and combo.

"What is it?"

"My phone isn't in my pocket."

"Maybe you left it in your locker?"

"I haven't put things in my locker yet." I spin around. Maybe it fell when Kawaii~chan tackled me? I start pacing running my hands through my hair.

"Maybe in your backpack?"

"I didn't bring it today!" I didn't think I'd need it. I definitely had it in the bathroom because I felt it when I reached for my chapstick. I had it when Ivy tripped me in the hallway because I felt it jab me when I hit the floor. "The last time I remember holding it was in the principal's office because I used it to check the time."

Kawaii~chan places her hand on my shoulder stopping my pacing. "Then you must have dropped it somewhere."

"It's probably by the principal's office," I admit. "I'm going to go get it"

Before I can leave, the intercom rings with an announcement. "Attention Students! First off, welcome to a brand new school year! Let's be ready to make it amazing! I'm excited to announce that our first assembly of the year will take place as soon as the bell rings. Please report to the assembly hall for a special announcement from the principal. Afterwards, we'll get to meet our school clubs looking forward to seeing all your smiling faces!"

"Looks like you won't be able to get your phone yet," Katelyn adds.

"Forget that." I get up and start putting my things back in my pockets

"But- You'll get in trouble if you don't make it to the assembly."

"Plus! We're working as mentors at the club fair!" Kawaii~chan reminds you.

"I'll be fine! I'll sprint there and then sprint back." The principal's office and the assembly hall aren't very far apart. "I just gotta-"

"Wait! Before Aphmau~Senpai goes, we have to take that selfie!"

"Kawaii~chan-!"

She wraps her arms around us dragging us in. "Selfie Time!" she takes the picture before I can object so I'm not sure what face I'm making but I didn't stop to check rushing out of the room towards the principal's office.

I retrace my steps letting my eyes scan the ground and hoping that I don't bump into anyone because I'm definitely not watching where I'm going. As I approach the principal's office I see Ms. Veronica and my old math teacher yelling at a student that I don't recognize.

"Here," he reluctantly grunts, shoving something into the boy's hands. "The principal said you're allowed to wear your piercings. I still think your excuse for wearing them is completely bogus!" oh boy he's gotten started. "Honestly! It's the sign of a trouble maker if you ask me!" Yeah, I can't watch this anymore. "Why I have half a mind to-!"

"Excuse me, Miss Veronica?" they all turn to look at me, surprised to see me there.

"Oh! Aphmau! Aren't you supposed to be going to the assembly?

"I'm heading right there right now. I just came by to check if a phone was turned in? I dropped mine around here and wanted to see if it was turned in?"

"I'm sorry Aphmau, but nothing has been turned into the lost and found yet."

"Oh," but where else could it be? "I'm sorry for bothering you."

"It's no trouble, but you should get along to the assembly before you get into trouble."

" Right! Please let me know if the phone has been turned on." if I come home without it Mami is going to be so disappointed.

"Come back and check after school. Now, get going." I wave goodbye and head down to the assembly hall. Maybe if I slip in with my homeroom I won't get in trouble?

Another change I've noticed, last year the assemblies were done by grade. Not this year, probably because homerooms are mixed as well. I sat in the back so I could leave early for the club fair. The assembly was just to introduce Principal Leya, the student's reactions were mostly shock that Principal Chad was gone and awe that she was a pretty lady.

I leave early after that to check in with the mentor station. Because I was the most reluctant to walk around looking for people to help, Teony left me at the desk which was almost worse because I can't leave and the Freshman are just as shy as I am so our interactions are stilted and awkward. As I bemoan my situation, two freshmen approach me.

One girl is reluctantly pushed forward by her friend. "E-excuse me? A-are you a mentor?"

"Yeah, how can I help you?" excited and earnest, I'm supposed to be excited and earnest.

They glance at each other and the second girl takes over. "Um… We were looking for the theater club?"

"Sure! It's to my left. You see the soccer club?" they nod. "It's right across from there!"

"Thanks!" they scurry off and I sigh in relief.

"Hey, Kitty!" oh boy. I slip my headphones in and pretend that they're not there. Maybe if I pretend to listen to music they'll go away.

"KITTY!"

"Kitty! Kitty! Kitty!" there's silence for a few seconds and I almost sigh in relief before one of them has the audacity to pull one of my earbuds out.

"What are you doing!?" I grab it back and shove Zenix away by his face before he can get any ideas.

"It's rude to ignore people when they're trying to talk to you Kitty," and I'm going back to ignoring. "Aren't you supposed to be a mentor? What if I needed help?"

"If you needed help you'd ask for Aphmau," I clarify. "No one here is named Kitty."

"Oh, but I really need help, mentor!"

"Oh yes! Help me!"

"Okay," I sigh and turn away. I catch sight of a familiar head of blue hair and choose to finally leave the table and escape the Neo Shadow Knights.

"I haven't talked to a single club yet…" he sighs. "I'm not ready for this…"

Aw. "Kacey?"

He jumps, startled "Aphmau, you're here!?"

"Seems like I keep running into you today!" I giggle. "How are you doing?" I ask, noticing his flushed face and nervous demeanor.

"I'm fine I guess, now that you're here. I don't really know what club I want to join."

"That's what this fair's for, silly." I take his hand, dragging him towards the sports' teams. "The first month of school is for finding out what you'd be good at, or interested in, before fully committing." I see Katelyn catch sight of us and approach us from the volleyball booth.

"Hey there little bro!" she slaps his back and drags him into a side hug.

"Katelyn!" we cry in sync, but for different reasons.

"You startled me!"

"How's recruiting going?"

"Still jumpy I see," she says ruffling his hair then turns to me. "Recruiting is going good. Any girls that pass by immediately get distracted by Pretty Boy 1 and 2 but I think we'll be able to get enough to hold tryouts and build a good team."

"Nice!" what time is it? "I think I'm gonna head back to my booth. Good luck with your club search Kacey!"

I kind of want to head towards the lost and found and see if someone's turned in my phone but I promised Teony that I'd mentor the club fair.

"Kitty?" A vaguely familiar voice interrupts my worrying but I vowed to never respond to unwanted nicknames, so other than a brief pause in my stride I continue towards the help booth. "Excuse me? Mentor?" I sigh in exasperation but when I turn around I'm surprised to see the ginger-haired Meif'wa that I bumped into this morning.

"Hi… Kai?" Was that his name?

"Yeah? Is your name not Kitty?" he looks bemused. "I thought that was strange, I've never met a human named Kitty."

"Yeah, no. where did you get my name from." though I'm sure I already know.

"Your friends over there," he gestures over his shoulder and I spot the Shadow Knights giggling to themselves like they just pulled a fast one over me.

I sigh in exasperation. "They're not my friends," I clarify. "My name is Aphmau, can I help you with anything?"

"I just- wanted to see if you had gotten those books to the principal's office alright," he replies hesitantly. "Shortly after I ran into you my teacher had me deliver papers there and the door was locked. So I wasn't sure if you made it."

That might have been a little rude of me. "I got them in. Thanks for asking," also- "while you were there did you see a phone?" please say yes.

"A phone? No, I didn't…Why?"

"I lost mine and the principal's office is the last place I remember having it," I clarify.

"Really? Well, I'm sure if someone found it they would turn it in," he assuages. "In any case, I'll be on the lookout for it."

"Thanks! I-"

"Aphmau? Are you helping this gentleman?" Teony interrupts our conversation.

"No- We're just talking." why? Because I don't like the look in your eyes.

"Good because I need you right now!" she grabs my wrist and turns to address Kai. "Pardon me, I need her." she yanks my arm dragging behind the bleachers.

"Ugh! Teony!?" I yank my arm back as we approach Principal Leyla.

"Here she is! My best mentor!" She announces pushing me forwards.

"I'm sorry what?"

"Perfect!" she nods in greeting before turning to Teony "Teony, are you sure you can't do this?"

"Positive! I've got FIVE freshmen following me around!" why would she do that to herself. "And aside from me, I can vouch that Aphmau is PERFECT for this job! Plus, she has expertise in this field."

"Huh?" What field? I am so confused.

"Wonderful!" Ms. Leyla turns to finally tell me what's going on. "It's a pleasure to meet you Aphmau! I'm principal Leyla nice to meet you!" we shake hands. "I have a serious issue right now. You see that young man over there? The werewolf gentleman with the blue fur?" She points to the student I saw when I went to search for my phone this morning.

"Yes?"

"He's a new transfer student from an all werewolf school. He's getting used to being in a diverse school and- well- we had a bit of an incident this morning. And a certain misunderstanding occurred."

"What happened?" It can't be that bad.

"That's not important!" now I'm concerned. "What is important is that we need someone to make sure he feels welcome. Which is why Teony brought you to me. So I'm leaving this job in your very capable hands."

"Um…" I guess since you told me too. I walk over. "Hi! My name is Aphmau," I put a smile on my face and hold my hand out in greeting. "They asked me to show you around-"

I don't like judging people. I understand that, no matter what people say, the first impression is the most important which is why I decided to actually put some effort into this introduction. I'm supposed to be the female alpha this year after all. However, I'm still just a human so when a guy I just met leans in to smell my neck naturally I get a little defensive. It only took a few seconds but he ended up on his back and now my hand hurts.

"Sorry!" I help him up. "But you startled me. People don't sniff each other here, it's not polite," I clarify.

"Oh," he brushes himself off then tilts his head in confusion. "I heard rumors you were the alpha female," he leans forward then seems to rethink. "But you don't smell like-"

"Woah, woah! Is everything okay here?" Teony rushes over to check me over and eyes the new kid warily. "I saw you push him and I-!"

"It's fine," I reassure her. "It was just a misunderstanding, I sniffed me, but we sorted it out."

"Are you sure? Because I can find someone else-"

"It's fine," I placate her. Dragging her back to the bleachers. "I know you're busy. Go help your freshman, I can take care of myself," it takes a little more reassuring but eventually she agrees to continue with her route.

"Right!" I turn back to my charge who is looking a little apprehensive. "Let's try that again. My name is Aphmau, I'm the mentor that was asked to show you around," I hold my hand out in greeting again. "What's your name?"

"I'm Ein," he states apprehensively.

"Great! I'm going to show you the clubs and then if you have any concerns about your schedule we can head back inside and I'll show you around."