PART IV

Sage Date strolled into the auditorium and was immediately the cynosure of all eyes: doe eyes from the girls, and jealous glares from the guys. He seemingly had everything: looks, popularity, brains. Of course everyone in the room had brains. This whole assembly was just for the kids in the advanced Biology classes.

As most people turned back to what they were doing, Sage walked to his seat and continued to scan the room. Most people he didn't know, except for the kids in his class, sort of. There were a couple of others that he knew - Mamoru and Masanori in the corner there. And now that he thought about it, he could at least put a name to most of the girls in the room too...

And then there were those Sage knew only by reputation. His eyes fell on the blue-haired boy sitting by himself in the back of the auditorium. The boy seemed to be scanning the room as well. Their gazes locked for just a moment before the blue-haired boy found something apparently much more interesting to glare at.

The school genius, Sage thought. What's his name again? Hashita, Hashiba... something like that. He followed the boy's gaze to the other side of the auditorium to rest on another that he knew only by reputation. Ah, the relatively new biology whiz kid. Probably the genius considers him a rival or something. Sage looked back up at the blue-haired boy. Something intrigued him about the boy, though he wasn't quite sure what. He didn't get a chance to think about it, as the assembly was about to begin.

* * * * * * * *

Rowen sat in the back of the auditorium, alone as usual. As more people started to file in and find their seats, Rowen scanned the room for any familiar, though not necessarily friendly, faces.

Down towards the front, Rowen caught Mr. Popularity staring at him. What the hell do you think you're staring at? his mind spat. Just 'cause you think you're better than me, just 'cause you've heard the rumors. Well fuck you. Rowen tore his gaze away and immediately found something else he wished he hadn't.

What the hell is he doing here?! Rowen growled softly in the back of his throat. No wonder Kento hasn't needed my help with anything. He's got him to do it. Damn it, the one friend I've ever had and then he had to show up. Doesn't he know what it's like to be a fucking social outcast! The lights dimmed leaving Rowen to fume in the darkness.

* * * * * * * * * *

A period after the assembly, Rowen headed for the stairway to his next class. The assembly had been utterly boring, much as he had expected, leaving his mind free to fume at the injustice of his life. He had fumed all the way through studyhall and was still fuming on his way to History.

Rowen stopped at the top of the stairs to let some other kids go by. He was about to step down when he felt his chest tighten and he gasped. Shit, not here! He backed away from the stairs towards the wall, trying not to panic. He'd only had an asthma attack in school once before. Fortunately it had been a small one and he'd been with Kento at lunch. As far as he knew, no one else in the whole school knew he had asthma and he wanted to keep it that way.

Rowen leaned against the wall, half wishing that it would just swallow him up and never let him out. Doing his best to be invisible, he closed his eyes and repeated to himself everything that Kento always told him: relax, focus on deep even breaths, visualize everything opening up. Somehow it seemed to work better when Kento was there to say it.

But it did work and soon Rowen was breathing easier. He knew he was late to class already but he didn't care. He was just glad that he'd be able to go to class at all. Steadying himself against the wall, Rowen straightened up and slowly opened his eyes.

He looked over the banister to the landing between floors and glared. That blonde jackass from the assembly was staring at him again! So much for no one else finding out, Rowen thought bitterly. Pissed off all over again, Rowen ran down the stairs. He brushed past the blonde boy, knocking into his shoulder. He continued to run down the stairs, looking back only once to see that the other boy hadn't moved, hadn't turned, hadn't reacted at all. Rowen ran all the way to History.

* * * * * * * * * *

Sage trudged up the stairs. That dumb assembly had been very tiresome and Sage had almost fallen asleep in his last class. He was about to start up the second flight of stairs when a movement at the top caught his attention. He looked up to see the blue-haired boy from the assembly backing away from the stairs with a slightly panicked expression. Sage watched, concerned, as he backed into the wall gasping for breath.

Finally it hit him. Asthma, Sage thought. Wow, I've heard all the rumors about his home life and I know practically every kid in school hates him, and now this. The poor kid's got a really shitty life despite his intelligence.

Sage was beginning to wonder if he should go up and help him when the crisis appeared to have passed on its own. The boy straightened and opened his eyes. And very quickly, Sage once again found himself on the receiving end of his icy glare. Uh oh, Sage thought. The blue-haired boy rushed down the stairs, knocked into Sage, and kept running, leaving Sage only able to stare at where he'd once been.