The Hands of Life

Chapter 4: New Country, Same Tendencies

"Aww, you're not in my class."

I took my schedule back from my dissapointed friend,"Can you come with me to Alex's class?"

She nodded and laughed as the boy yanked himself from my grasp. I pinched his arm and he yelped again. This time he stayed by my side.

"He's in class 1-C."

"Oh, that's down this hall."

I nodded to her and walked with my friend and brother down the hall. I was thinking about what I should make to eat when I get home. I was trying to avoid thinking about the kids in class. In my other schools I was only pointed out to be new, nothing much. I had to remember that this was Japan and I wasn't exactly from here. That made me much more interesting.

"Sis?"

"Hm? Oh, have a good day Alex. I'll pick you up after school."

He nodded and went into his classroom. School still wasn't to start for about twenty minutes. That was long enough to get to my class. I looked to Koizu for help and she nodded,"It's upstairs, I'll show you."

I yawned with my black haired friend. I hadn't seen her since I was in fourth grade. This wasn't crashing and burning like I had thought it might.

"We're here~" She sang to me.

I looked up to see class 3-B. Well, this was it.

"Thanks, Koizu."

She smiled and put a hand on her hip,"You know, you're Japanese is really good for someone who just learned it."

I smiled back and spoke in German,"I know, but that is because I can do this."

Her eyes nearly popped out of her head,"What was that?"

"It was German. I wanted to be a linguist for a while there."

She squirmed under my stare, hearing the bell ring. She slumped her shoulders and waved to me,"I have to get to class now."

I waved back to her and into the classroom. The teacher was already at her desk. She noticed me and communicated in English,"You're the new student from America?"

I nodded,"I can speak Japanese."

She looked relieved and stood up as students began to pour in. I regretted this decision. I was hoping that this would be like back in America.

...I expect too much.

"Class, sit down."

Everyone made sure they were in their seats and many looked up to me curiously. I fixed my blue jumper and looked back to the teacher.

"This is our new student, she just moved here from America." Many of the students smiled brightly. "Please introduce yourself."

I nodded and looked them over,"Hello. I'm Lynn Carmichael. I'm still new to the Japanese language so forgive me if I make mistakes."

The class greeted me in various ways. The teacher, who I noticed had put her black hair up and covered her brown eyes with glasses, was pointing to an empty seat,"Please sit there Miss Carmichael."

I once again regretted this all. I can't stand going by my last name. I followed where her finger was pointing and couldn't help but notice a kind of cute boy near me. His dark blue colored hair was choppily cut over his forehead. He had tan skin and, from what I could tell with my quick glance, brown eyes. He wasn't the hottest guy alive, but there was this air about him.
I sat down in my seat two seats behind and one row over from him. I set my things down and looked up to the board, ignoring the stares that I was getting. I was a pro at this, but I still wasn't a pro with hopeless crushes.

"Thank the lord that that's over." Alex groaned to me. I had left the room once everyone else was gone like I used to back in America. I was asked a lot of questions, but they were really just stupid things. I had scolded myself in the classroom for glancing towards the boy, Sanada Genichirou, so many times. I was being such an idiot.

I patted his shoulder,"Using your Japanese?"

He nodded and smiled, trying to keep himself together. Back in America he hadn't had many friends in Tennessee because of stupid things. I was hoping that it was better here.

"Let's get going."

He nodded again and we began to walk out the door. I hadn't seen Koizu so I figured that she was in a sport or something. From what I had spoken to her about though she never mentioned one.

"Their obsessed with tennis here." Alex said to me in english, tossing his hands behind his head. There was that brotherly attitude.

I decided to respond in english,"Well, they have different preferences here in Japan."

He scoffed,"More like lame preferences."

I glared to him and pinched his arm again. He yelped and punched my arm. I glared and ran after him, ready to give him a beating.

"I memorized all the words for you..." I stopped the chase and picked out my phone. I loved the song that was playing, but Koizu was calling and I had to pick up.

"Moshi Moshi."

I heard her whine on the other side,"You left school~"

I sighed and pushed my hair behind my ear,"I waited in the classroom for a moment, but I figured you had something to do."

She laughed loudly on the other side. I didn't get what was so funny about it.

"Come on, Lynn. Me? Something to do? Maybe if you were in it." I heard her snap her fingers,"That's it!"

I sighed, wanting to not get into this with the girl. Thankfully a loud voice on the other side stopped her.

"Ah, gotta go Lynn. Tomorrow meet me at the tennis courts after school."

I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to the girl, but remembered that here in Japan we had school for a few hours on Saturday. Alex wasn't going to be too thrilled.

I am proud of this chapter to say in the least. I realized that in chapter 2 I never italicized the phone on Koizu's side, and now I feel horrible about it, but I have tried that road with editting that back out many times and each time it never seems to save =_=.

I apologize again. Please leave me a review or something of the such. Oh! And thank you to those who favorited and/or alerted this story :]

~Tai.