After orientation they are separated into their first classes. Each student has a specialty, and that specialty determines what two block classes they take. Tony looks at his schedule typed on the little index card.
9:00a.m. - Mechanical Engineering
10:40a.m. - Applied Physics in relation to Robotics
12:20p.m. - Lunch
1:00p.m. - Elective (To be selected on third day)
2:20p.m. - Group Study
He sighs and walks to the designated classroom, already dreading an entire summer of having to work instead of have fun. He's been in this summer program for 5 years now, and he knows this school like the back of his hand and he just wanted one summer where he could have something exciting happen to him for once. He whips out his phone and types a message to his best friend.
Sorry, Rhodey. Dad wouldn't give. I can't make it to your parent's lake house next week.
The response is quick
That's what you get for being a genius, man. I'll have fun without you, no worries. I think that red-head from those business classes is going to be up there with her family the same week. Don't worry I'll keep her company.
Tony groans and sends back a middle finger emoji. He approaches his classroom door and shoves his phone back into his jacket pocket.
—-
Natasha folds her schedule into her back pocket very carefully, the classes and layout of the building already memorized.
9:00a.m. - Speaking Fluently - The Study of how Languages affect our Brain
10:40a.m. - Advanced Ballet
12:20p.m. - Lunch
1:00p.m. - Elective (To be selected on third day)
2:20p.m. - Group Study
She pushed the door open steadily and was surprised to find only about 10 students in the class. She settled into a seat in the middle. Not too close to be noticed, but not too far in the back to draw attention as a 'rebel'.
A textbook is laid on her desk as the teacher passes them out to each student. She flips it open and finds a smile on her face. The first section is on European languages.
—-
Steve walks as quickly as he can to keep from being late. He'd had a hard time reading the tiny print on the card and had finally given in, asking the TA if he could tell him what the card said.
He is staring at the card and misses the concern on the TA's face.
"Your first class is in the art studio on the far side of the building, one floor up, Room 205."
"Thanks." Steve says quickly, he's about to turn away when he swallows his pride and asks one more question. "Do you— Could you tell me the rest of my schedule?"
Bruce nods and holds out his hand for the index card.
"9:00a.m. - Studio Techniques in Color and Lighting
10:40a.m. - Visual Arts in Media, History, and the Future
12:20p.m. - Lunch
1:00p.m. - Elective (To be selected on third day)
2:20p.m. - Group Study"
Steve smiles at him. "Thanks, sorry about that."
He finally reaches the door to his classroom and pushes it open, eyes wide as he takes in the art supplies covering every shelf and surface. He smiles wider and takes a seat, carefully running his fingers over the canvas placed on the easel in front of him.
—
Clint steps into his classroom and takes a seat on the far side. He hates having his back to the door so he sits where it's in full view. He spins the card around on the desk, reading the small words again.
9:00a.m. - Math and Physics in relation to Trajectories
10:40a.m. - The Science of Aeronautical Engineering
12:20p.m. - Lunch
1:00p.m. - Elective (To be selected on third day)
2:20p.m. - Group Study
He'd been surprised when the acceptance letter came. He'd applied on a whim and didn't expect to get a response. But when they sent a thick packet of test materials, he had gone through them, filling out the forms and answering their mathematical and technical questions as best as he could.
When the acceptance letter came, he felt a sense of pride at having accomplished something when his dad never stopped griping about how he was wasting his life.
He taps his fingers against the desk and waits for the teacher as she passes out the syllabus.
—-
Bruce stares at the stack of papers. He's been going over them for hours and the pounding headache he's been ignoring refuses to lessen.
He steps away from his desk and walks to the water fountain. He takes several slow sips and walks the long loop around the school before coming back to his desk.
He picks up the next slip of paper and stares at it in disbelief.
Clint Barton
Milo's
"That's it?" He says, annoyed. He puts the paper off to the left, hoping someone else has that food place listed, or it was going to be hard placing the student.
It's only a few papers later that he stares at another paper in disbelief. In neat handwriting it says:
Steven G. Rogers
Milo's
"Well." He places that paper on top of the other one. "At least they'll have each other." He huffs through a few more papers until he sees the name again.
Natasha Romanoff
Milo's
Pavel's Deli
He carefully adds the third one to the pile and he doesn't know why, but his eyes keep landing on them as he sorts through the other slips.
James Bucky Barnes
Milo's Sub and Pizza Place
Leonardo's
All Nighter Diner
Bruce furrows his brow. He's been to All Nighter Diner many times, he loves that place. But he's never heard of Milo's and his curiosity grows. The only other students who were easy to place in groups by their top choices were kids who had picked well-known franchises or fast food joints. He adds the fourth paper to the pile and keeps sifting.
He's down to the last few slips and he's about to put a student who put Pavel's Deli to be the fifth member of their group when his eyes catch sight of the next paper.
Tony Stark
Action Burger
Milo's
Jemini's Cafe
He places the fifth slip onto the pile and finishes the rest.
He types up the official roster for the groups, ignoring the little bit of anxiety he feels about pairing up the richest kid in America, with a kid who he now knows (after looking up his student file) can't even afford glasses that he obviously needs.
He emails the roster to Erskine and heads home.
—-
Bucky lays on his bed, sheets at his feet since it is such a warm night. One hand rests behind his head and the other holds his schedule card.
9:00a.m. - Mechanical Engineering
10:40a.m. - Auto Mechanics and the Future of Automobiles
12:20p.m. - Lunch
1:00p.m. - Elective (To be selected on third day)
2:20p.m. - Group Study
he looks out the open window at the building across the street. He hears yelling from one of the windows like he always does. He tries to ignore it and shifts, thinking about his first day in the program. It had been a short one, they only went until their first two block classes were done. They will start the process of selecting electives and group activities tomorrow. He tried to pretend he wasn't nervous when his parents asked him about his day at dinner but the pounding of his heart told otherwise.
He hears glass shattering and lifts himself onto his elbows to see out the window. A small figure sits on the steps, staring up at the moon, their hair glowing a silver tint from the street lights.
He lays back down. His ma had told him that the building was a home for kids who never got adopted or put into foster care. The entrance faces the opposite street so he doesn't see very many kids go in and out of there, but he does hear the yelling and fighting that goes on almost every night.
He turns over in bed and closes his eyes, grateful he has a home and a family.
—-