Dear Journal-

According to my new friends- I can call Craig and Jonah my friends now, right?- and based on what I've read previously, school here in Corona City shouldn't be too terribly different from how it was back home in Old Corona. But one can never be so certain, especially if their name happens to be Varian James Vatter.

Anyways. Day one.

I've already survived geometry and chemistry without incident- thank heavens!- but still... I have driver's ed next, so I guess we'll have to wait and see how that ends up...

-Varian

"I can't believe it, man!" Jonah exclaimed, slapping Varian on the back, "you know the entire freaking periodic table of the elements... By heart?!"

Varian nodded. "I... I never really had much to do back at home- especially after Mom died- so I just... Began to memorize it, you know?"

"That's impressive! I don't know that many people who can actually say that about themselves. Could you maybe demonstrate?"

Varian took a deep breath in, preparing to begin. But he was interrupted by a loud voice right next to them.

"What are you two talking about?"

Jonah turned to Craig, patting Varian's shoulder firmly as he spoke again. "Varian here has memorized the entire periodic table!"

"Really?"

Varian nodded. "I mean... Don't you guys have special talents, too?"

"I suppose you could say that," Craig conceded, "I mean, Jonah can memorize things really fast."

"Oh?" Varian asked, raising an eyebrow, "I thought you said it was impressive that I'd memorized..."

"Give him the name of a song, speech, or book. Give him a Bible reference. You ask, he delivers. But science or math?"

Both Craig and Jonah gave a thumbs-down, blowing raspberry.

"You'll have to demonstrate for me sometime, J," Varian said, "now, Craig, what about you?"

Jonah grinned. "Craig's good at voice impressions. Honestly, it's amazing."

Craig grunted a little but didn't say anything. Varian grinned at his roommates, glad to be learning even the tiniest bit about them. They entered the classroom and took their seats, talking quietly amongst themselves until the bell rang.

"Okay, people! Now that we've got that out of the way," Mr. Markson announced, clapping his hands together, "let's get to discussing your driving partners- and, if it applies to you, your driving groups. Out on the practice range, you will be with your roommates. If you only have one roomie, same rules apply. If you don't stay on campus, thanks for the extra work. I expect you guys to stop by my desk once class is done."

Varian looked at his classmates. He only recognized two people on the same side of the room as him, the side that seemed to belong to sophomores alone: he recognized Craig and Jonah.

On the other side of the room, seniors. This included a few more people that he recognized: Rapunzel, Eugene, Caroline, and... He groaned. Of course Cassandra was there. What were the freaking odds?

"As for street drives," Markson continued, "there's ten of you. Five cars. And only one of me. Since I can't necessarily trust sophomores alone in cars on the road-"

He shot a glance at Eugene, who squirmed uncomfortably. Varian chuckled a little. What fun stories could be unearthed?

"And since I must plan lessons sometime or other- I have enlisted the help of these six seniors. Two sophomores to one senior. It'll be up to them how your street schedule will look."

Cassandra tentatively raised her hand. Markson saw this and acknowledged her.

"A majority of the sophomores are guys," she pointed out, "not to question your judgment or anything, of course, but-"

Mr. Markson held up a hand, silencing her. "As you may recall, Miss Pendergraft, I have had my ways in the past, means of finding any acts of misconduct done or attempted in these cars. Of course, I still have these ways, so there's no need for you to worry. Now, does anyone have anything else to say, or may I continue?"

Cass folded her hands in front of her, slightly bowing her head as she stepped back. Markson heaved a sigh of relief, putting on his reading glasses as he pulled out a piece of paper.

"Okay! Assignments! Ackman, Vincent."

One of the seniors stepped forward and Markson read off two names. Eugene was up next. His two charges were Craig and a sophomore girl named Vex Laird. (She looked like she'd rather be anywhere than in driver's ed at the moment; Varian couldn't necessarily blame her). After Eugene came Rapunzel.

Only Caroline and Cass remained. Varian crossed his fingers for Caroline. But it was not to be.

"Pendergraft, Vatter. You'll be with Grant Peterson and Varian Vatter."

Varian stood up, moving over to the small cluster of desks that Cass had reserved for her group. Another boy- Grant, Varian assumed, for he had never seen this guy before today- followed suit and took a seat, glaring at everyone the entire time. After a minute or two, they were joined by Cass herself.

"Okay, you two," she finally said, after another long, awkward moment of silence, "time for the game plan. I don't like either of you, but I don't know how you guys drive, either. Vatter, tomorrow you'll drive with me. In two days, I'll have you both driving- yes, together- on the road. Peterson, on Friday, I'll have you drive. From there, I will gauge your skill level and if you two can even be in the same vehicle for any amount of time. And then I'll create a street schedule based on my observations. Got it?"

Grant just glared at her, but Varian nodded.

"Got it."

"Good."