*Chapter 32*

Tessa inhaled a sharp breath and gazed ahead; the large lobby, which overlooked the atrium like innards of the school library, was quickly becoming desolate. It had two, tall ceilinged hallways on either side of it, that led to different wings of classrooms. The walls were a warm, honey brown. The whole school reeked of sophistication, warmth and high stature. With soft lights the lined the high ceilings, Tessa began to feel smaller and smaller. She knew she'd be just fine going to whatever classes she had to go to alone, though the only person she didn't want to run into was Selka; for the sake of sassing him into next week and landing herself in trouble.

As she strolled down the hall, she kept her eye out for any other new students; she was unfortunate to find that everyone looked to seem like they knew exactly where they were going and where they had to be. Tessa hoped she didn't stick out like a sore thumb. She tucked her long hair behind her ears; she kept them out of the pig tails she usually kept them in. She figured, for the time being, that they might look a bit too childish. She slowly approached her first classroom, on the right. She made sure the room number was the same as he number on her schedule.

As if she were creeping up on a sleeping beast, she slowly eased her way into the open door of the classroom. She let her eyes adjust to the beautiful classroom; her eyes eagerly looked about as warm sunlight, from the game like atmosphere Academy was in, glinted through the windows on the wall opposite the door. The rows of high counters and bar stools all faced the windows, as well as the three white boards strategically placed around the windows. Tessa eased her way in and gently looked about; gentle souls were strewn all about the room, some chit-chat with others while others relaxed and kept to themselves. Tessa glanced to her right and noticed a few empty barstools towards the back corner of the class. She quickly made her move and sat down. She glanced at the student a few seats over from her; she figured she'd warm up to strangers eventually, though for the time being, she knew she'd just want space and nothing but.

Tessa gently set her bag on the ground, by her feet and finally felt a relaxed air come over her, as if she had successfully beaten a level in a difficult game she was unfamiliar with. She finally let a smile come over her face as she allowed herself to get a good look around. The room was beautiful; birch wooden floors, stainless steel accents and gentle, bright green potted trees and plants crowned the environment friendly. The warm sunlight put Tessa at ease. She gently glanced around at the different kinds of people around the room, everyone looked so different, though with that, everyone fit right in with each other. Tessa furrowed her eyebrows in delightful confusion and felt a gentle wave of knowing hit her; she was right where she belonged, with other self made programs. She relaxed her shoulders once and for all, though she glanced to the front of the room; she immediately double took on a certain someone that was sitting in the middle of the classroom. She felt her skin grow cold at the sheer, hard fact that hit her square in the face, as to who was sitting merely two seats diagonal and forward from her; it was none other than Selka.

"Do you think she's lost?" Penny wondered sadly as she peered about the courtyard; Emery kindly waved her down.

"She'll be fine! I'm sure she's just slowly on her way," Emery assured as Penny lightly relaxed, though she kept her eye out.

She felt thankful she was able to find Tammy and Emery; their cozy retreat for lunch was the perfect relaxing spot. It hung outside, tidily tucked near a small, babbling fountain that had been discussed earlier. The cold grass and cobbles undertow were pricked and boasted the Academy's cool spring time air and weather. The sky was a warm blue and was dotted with gentle clouds, the sun hung high in the air, to signify lunch time. The medium sized courtyard was hugged by Academy's other two wings, in a castle like structure. It's decades of age held true to it's unending wisdom, the walls sat stoic and poised, as if the memories and knowledge it had obtained was priceless. A small fleet of sparrows flitted about, as if to rejoice the beautiful weather as well.

"It's gorgeous out here," Tessa finally chimed as she approached her two cousins and friend Emery; Penny immediately beamed.

"There you are," Penny worried, "We thought you were lost."

"Correction, YOU thought she was lost," Tammy laughed; Emery merely giggled into her sandwich.

"Thanks, Pens," Tessa eased as she lightly sat down next to her. Penny gently nodded and scoot over to make room.

"So, how was your first three classes?" Tammy wondered to her two cousins; Tessa gently glanced at Penny.

"Interesting," Penny inquired gently, "The way this school works is very much a 'do it yourself' kind of thing."

"I noticed that," Tessa breathed.

"Yeah," Emery added, "You sort of have to jump in where the class is at and just catch up where you can."

"That's sort of what I faltered at," Tammy grumbled, "I was prepared for the teachers to hold my hand. Partially why I failed two courses last year."

"You sort of have to be self-motivated," Emery concluded.

"My classes are awesome," Tessa said with a confused smile, "I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't anything like this."

"I haven't made any friends," Penny complained.

"It's the first day, Pens," Tammy chuckled before she took a bite of her food.

"It's okay, Penny, I haven't either," Tessa breathed, "I sort of am just hoping to keep you guys on my roster and that's about it."

"You don't want to bother with anyone else?" Emery wondered gently.

"It's not that I don't," Tessa lightly shrugged, "I just am on edge because of the dance."

"You and Zane rocked that, I wouldn't worry too much," Tammy barked gently, "I'm certain you've been recognized by people. I had people asking me about my 'younger wrecking cousin' and how did you ever get so good at dancing."

"Really?" Tessa beamed in confusion as Tammy nodded, "Wow... Well, I'm super thrilled to announce that I have my first hour with Selka."

"You do?" Penny inquired with bulged eyes, "Did he notice you?"

"No, but it's bound to happen," Tessa stated in a dull tone.

"Won't Zane love THAT," Tammy laughed, Tessa rolled her eyes lightly.

"What class is it?" Emery kindly wondered, though the look in her eye was that of lethal delight.

"Applied Coding," Tessa stated, "Easiest class ever, and I've only been here for three hours."

"Meat head didn't pass Applied Coding?" Tammy bellowed with an enthusiastic smile that her and Emery shared.

"User Almighty," Emery hissed as the two girls laughed; Tessa beamed and rolled her eyes.

"I was sort of wondering what he was doing there," Tessa giggled, "I'm sure he just doesn't care."

"Well, he's a popular guy," Tammy concluded with a few more breaths of a laugh, "Popular people don't need education. They're heads are so big because they're so full of themselves."

"Oh, but he IS cute," Emery chimed in a sly, girly way that made Tammy roll her eyes.

As the Academy day came to a close, and students of all kinds began to slowly mosey back to their games. Some lingered on school grounds; it was a safe haven for a lot of gamers. Tessa gently gazed back at her new home with a proud smile; she felt a sweep of excitement come over her, as her first day proved to be a success. She finally tore her eyes away from the glorious, golden walls of the outside of Academy. She gently shoved a few of her fingers into the pockets of her jeans as her two cousins, Emery and herself gently strolled down Academy's stoop and into Game Central Station. The Station was still and quiet, aside from the specks of self programmed gamers that lingered about and moseyed home. Tessa finally exhaled a gentle breath, though she immediately caught it and was swiftly reminded that the day was far from over. Her heart jolted as her eyes immediately shot to the one game that practically begged her to come closer; Dead Zed sat in looming wait. It lured her in, begging her in delightful charm to hurry on over. Tessa raised her eyebrows in the surprise that hit her skin as she quickly felt the gears switch in her head.

"Hey guys, I'll catch up with you later," Tessa said as she lightly interrupted Penny, Emery and Tammy; all three girls looked at Tessa in a confused way, though Tammy raised her eyebrows in knowing as Tessa began to back-step away from the three.

"Where are you going?" Penny wondered, almost sadly.

"I promised Zane I'd meet up with him after Academy," Tessa lightly shrugged and hoped they wouldn't tease her on the subject matter. She hooked her thumbs into the arm holes of her backpack and tried her very hardest to act natural.

"Ahh, 'meet up'," Tammy used her fingers for air quotes, though she beamed Tessa an annoyed smile as her cousin shot her a dirty look in response, "Be careful, Tess. Dead Zed isn't exactly hospitable."

"Why does everyone keep saying that?" Tessa argued in an annoyed tone as she continued to back-step, "I've been there over a dozen times and it's never made me feel genuinely frightened, or anything. Only thing I can think of is it's maybe dangerous at night, yeah?"

"Just stay on your toes, Tess," Tammy said through a gentle sigh as a worried look chased after her cousin, "We can't afford to lose you. Just stick with Zane and don't walk home alone, okay?"

"I promise," Tessa assured, "I'll be fine!"

"See you later, Tess," Emery lightly waved, as did Penny; Tessa kindly waved them off and swiftly made it into Dead Zed's outlet.

As if speed walking was her profession, Tessa quickly emerged into Dead Zed's opening. The game was glorious, the warm sunshine made the jungle trees practically sing, though Tessa knew they held a darker undertone underneath the canopies. She gently eyed the forest and kept her eyes glued to Zane's humble little town that hung in wait, just for her. She inhaled a gentle breath and began to head down the path she was oh so familiar with. She continued on for a few minutes, the massive trees over head gently swayed and kindly welcomed her to the game. She smiled up at Dead Zed's beaming atmosphere with a kind smile, she let herself get lost in thought. She lugged her backpack farther into her grip and felt her heart jump up and down at the thought of being in Zane's cheery presence once more. Just as she was about to continue on the path that was lightly marked, the felt a strange sensation under foot.

Tessa largely furrowed her eyebrows and stopped her quick pace and froze. She glared down at the ground and felt her fleeting heartbeat immediately sink into that of confused fear. She held her breath and gently peered about, though before her brain could process anything coherent, the jungle trees around her began to slowly drum into a chaotic shake. The game's core hummed a deafening, electric boom, as if it was merely routinely following duties. Tessa exhaled a nervous noise and threw her hand out. She took a few clumsy steps forward as her vision before her blurred into chaotic whirls of greens and browns. Before she could begin to process what had happened, she suddenly was face to face with a jungle that had shape shifted into something that was beyond anything she recognized.

Tessa's eyes widened in pure fear as she whirled around. With just one glance, she immediately noticed the path she was on had vanished; she slumped her shoulders and turned in a confused circle a few times. She held her breath and quickly jolted her eyes around in a panic. She exhaled a few hard words of disbelief and held her hands to the sides of her head. She grabbed the hair on her scalp and gazed off into the jungle that was now completely different. She knew Dead Zed was known for it's shape shifting jungles and courses, though she never thought she would ever be planted right in the middle of the chaos. She peered around in grief stricken fear; everything that had looked familiar now looked completely foreign. She felt tears of horror sting her eyes as the town, in which she once could lightly see, was now nowhere to be found. She swallowed hard and exhaled a shaky breath as she felt permanently alone, for once in her life. She felt the cold realization hit her like a demolition site up for grabs. She sat in still fear and tried her hardest not to think about the inevitable.