Well, here we go. It's Monday, the first day of my exams. Today we'll be covering the English portions. All the reading, all the writing, ugh. I suppose I'm glad we're getting this over with on the first day.

My full name is Alexandria Linda Stone-Elling. I adopted Shane's last name, but I wasn't quite ready to give up my first surname just yet. It had nothing to do with Ricky, but I just felt like it was a small part of me that I didn't want to lose. My name was significantly shortened, just to make things easier, so my parents were able to get me into the school system as Alex Stone. I guess I'm also in the system as a boy since that's what it says on the new school ID I just recieved. Huh... I wonder how they were able to pull that off?

Take a deep breath. It's fine. You're fine. I'm fine. ... I know I can get through this, so why am I so nervous? All I have to do is pass these tests, and I'll never see Max and those other jerks again.

"Hey. You nervous too?"

"Huh?"

It was the guy to my left. Our desks had the metal bars on the right, so he was leaning toward me. He was tall and fair-skinned, with blue eyes and blonde hair.

"Yeah, I guess."

"Yeah. I took this test last year, and barely made it. I haven't really been keeping up with my studies, and there are a lot more students than last year, so I'll be lucky if I get in this time."

"Oh. ...Wait, you have to take the test again?"

"Yep. Anyone who doesn't have the money to get in needs to take the tests. Every year. They want to make sure you're learning."

"Huh... That's weird."

I liked his accent, and he was cute, but there's no time for that here. Besides, the test is here now. I have to focus on that. We were given a snack break, and I took my share and just went off to sit at some far corner of the large lawn in front of the building. The wind blew softly, and I like how it felt on my ears. I'm glad my ears didn't look weird like I was afraid they would. I sighed as we were called back in to finish the test. The next day, we had our math test. I moved seats because I thought it was lame how everyone always sat in the same seats all the time. I mean, I understand when we are assigned seats, but that's about it. The same guy sat next to me, but we didn't really talk, so that was cool. After that, we had our science exam which is where I started getting nervous.

The last day, Thursday, was where I really began choking up. It was the social studies test. The one where you are questioned on economy, government, and history. Economy was basically like math made of only word problems, and I always loved government related work, but history was-I hated history. There were interesting aspects, but unless I learned something about it in the last two weeks, I would forget completely about it and focus on the part of the subject we were currently studying. The work was easy, but whenever the tests came, I couldn't recognize anything on there aside from maybe five questions. I sighed in exasperation. I guess it was a good thing Michael had the idea for me to study, otherwise I would be royally screwed.

"Ugh..."

I laid against my desk even though the rest of the students were on their way out. The instructors weren't going anywhere soon, so I was taking my fucking rest. Ugh...

"Hey, we're done with the exams, you know."

"I know..." I responded weakly as I forced myself up. It was that blonde guy.

"Hey, don't sweat it," he chuckled, "If you're this nervous, then you probably got in."

"What? What are you talking about?"

"Well, usually when teenagers are this nervous about getting into school, they're the smart ones who get in with no problem."

I scoffed in amusement, "Thanks."

That was all for the interaction between us. He chuckled and waved to me as he walked out the door. I let the anxiety sink away for about a minute more before I finally decided to get up and leave.

It was Tuesday of the next week, and I was anxiously awaiting for my letter since school there would start in less than a week. The regular school year starts a week after the school I was trying to get into, but their schedule is a week early. ...Only the heavens know why...

I sighed as I laid back on my bed, exasperated and alone with my thoughts. That was a dangerous thing sometimes. I heard the knob to my door jingle before little Cassandra came running up to me with something in her hand. I noticed John walk in a bit and Mom and Shane leaning in the doorway. Uh-oh, I think I know what this means.

"Hey, Andra. What you got there?"

"Show her Cassie," John urged.

"Dad said this is your letter for your school. ...Are you really going away like Michael?"

"Well... Let's see."

I pulled her onto my lap and ripped open the letter with my index finger. I could feel the air become tense as everyone fell into suspense mode. I assumed everyone could tell what it said by the look on my face and the weird happy uneven breaths I was making. I looked up at everyone to confirm I got in, and they congratulated me. Hey, sometimes you just didn't need words.

"You're leaving?"

"Yeah, but I'll be much closer than Michael, so we can visit each other, okay?"

A beaming smile quickly found its way to Cassandra's face once more. I was going. I really got in. ...Well, I guess this just means one thing. I need to start paying more attention in my history and science classes.

The rest of the week went by quickly, and I packed what I could into boxes and a couple bags. I had several flats, but they had to be ones that wouldn't cut into my skin. Ugh. I didn't bruise very easily, but boy did my skin love to be cut and rubbed off, so I only took my ballet flats. I don't even know where I got them from considering I've never even done ballet. I also had a few pairs of flip flops, a pair of sandals, and a pair of sneakers. I was gonna take my fancy shoes, but I wasn't supposed to be wearing many girly things. Right! I had a lot of gym shorts, pajama pants, and sweat pants, so I took those and a few denim shorts and pants that wouldn't make me look too femenine. I had a few unisex shirts, but my mom insisted I buy clothes to my figure, so they were mostly curved. She says I have and hourglass figure. I never thought so. I also didn't think it ever mattered since I always had a bit of a gut. I always had those baby fat kinda cheeks on my face, but I was lucky enough to have had them gone for the past two years.

I spent my last Saturday with them as awesomely as I could since Mom and Shane helped me pack most of my things during the week. John occasionally helped too, but he was usually on rascal duty-that meant watching Cassandra and making sure none of us bumped into her head while we were moving things. ...Three years was going to be a long time away from home, but it'll probably be gone by the time I realize it. I better enjoy my freedom while it lasts. Not that being here is bad, but still. Who doesn't want a little freedom every now and then? I'll probably be in the school twenty-four-seven aside from breaks, but I have to start somewhere.

It was Sunday. I put on a grey shirt with a red wool sweater vest over it. I also wore a pair of khaki slacks along with my grey sneakers. I was never one for fashion, but hey, I liked it, and that was all that mattered to me.

Someone by the name of Sir Romulus had come to pick me and my things up and to help me move into the school. I wonder if he knows... I mean, the teachers might not know, but who of the staff do? There was a moving truck and a very nice car waiting for me. A chauffer was driving the car, so Sir Romulus was riding with me in the back.

"So, Alex. You're mother tells me you're transfering schools because you've been having troubles with other students?"

"Uh, well, yes. I mean, please don't think bad of me. I don't pick fights or anything, but it's just that these three boys have been picking on me since I started high school, but I'm really not sure what I did wrong. And I know how that sounds, but please don't think I just push blame onto other people-"

"Ha, ha, relax Miss Stone. You're mother has explained the situation to me, and I will get to learn what you're like soon enough."

"Miss Stone... So, you know..."

"I do, and we have arranged for you a private room as long as you don't cause any problems with the boys~."

"N-no! Of course not, sir!"

It was kinda weird how he sang that, as if he wanted me to stir up trouble... How strange.

"So, does everyone get a special ride like this?"

"Well, usually, yes, but I only come along when I want to meet the student myself. Especially special cases like yours."

My face began to heat up. I'm a special case. Great. Now I feel weird, and like I'll be kept under watch. Or something creepy like that. I saw his hand in front of me, and he was holding a candy bar in it. I looked back up to him.

"You like chocolate, sí?"

"Sí. ...Uh, I mean, yes. Thank you," I stuttered as I gently grasped the chocolate bar.

"Um, so what do you do? Are you like a... Something?" I asked, mumbling the last part to myself because I couldn't really think of a title.

"Well, you could say I am like the dean. Me and my best friend Germania run the school, so you better behave because Germania is kind of a hardass. You'll probably meet his grandson Ludwig first, so just think of him like that, but with flowier hair," Romulus chirped with a smile.

Flowier ...hair? I began to picture fabio with a German accent. Why a German accent? Wait, wasn't Germania like a huge country or something some time ago-

"Miss Stone, just remember to behave around the boys, okay? I know it might be hard, but you are a buena little soldier, sí?"

"Uh, yeah."

What on Earth is he talking about? I'm not that kinda girl. And I know what I'm doing here. ...Well, at least, I hope I do. I took a small gulp before speaking again.

"Actually, sir."

"Hm?"

"Can you, maybe not call me Miss Stone when we arrive? That will probably make things a lot easier," I chuckled nervously.

"Ha, ha, sí, sí, of course, Signor Stone."