Christian looked around the large playground. A number of boys and girls were running around aimlessly, screaming. Some were running away from something, and others were running towards something. Some were running together, and some were running into each other. There was laughter, screaming, shouting and a lot of other noises coming from Christian's class-mates, all of which made him very uneasy.

To add to the strange atmosphere, Christian was trapped on the playground. Surrounding him was a fence that stopped just above his head, keeping him and the other kids trapped inside, and the older, taller kids trapped outside. Some of the older girls were standing by the fence, looking in at all the little kids running around, and Christian could hear some of them cooing very loudly and calling out to every little kid that they found cute. There were some boys who were staring into the caged playground, cheering on the little boys when they pushed or shoved their friend. Some of the more social little boys even went up to the bigger boys to receive high-fives for knocking down their friends.

Christian clutched his backpack close to his chest. His father had dropped him off and was told to leave him in the kindergarten playground. Dustin had been assured that every kid would get to their classroom no problem.

That was the last Christian saw of his father. Now here he was, at school, all alone.

He had never been surrounded by kids his age. His sisters were much, much older than he was, and most of his cousins were as well. The only cousin he knew who came close to his age was Elena, though she was still six years older than he was.

There was Engel, his niece, but she was two years younger. When Christian was with her he was the big boy, she was the little girl.

Christian made his way across the playground, trying to find somewhere quiet to hide until the teachers called him into class. As he crossed the pavement, a few kids ran right into him, knocking him off balance, but never knocking him down. He heard a few of the older girls calling his name. He was the Commander's youngest child and only son; of course they would know his name and want his attention. Christian simply ignored them though as he began to run away.

On the other side of the playground, just by the fence, was a little bench that all the kids used for their backpacks. Christian claimed a spot and sat there, holding his bag on his lap, hugging it tightly against his chest. Inside were his favourite blanket and a small pillow his mother bought him for nap time. He couldn't wait until he got inside so he could hide underneath it and wait for his father to pick him up from this zoo.

As he continued to watch his classmates run around like wild animals, his eyes fell upon another boy who was just arriving. The boy was clinging to his father's leg, like Christian had done. While the dad talked to one of the teachers on duty, the boy was looking around, terrified. Suddenly, his father picked him up and carried him onto the playground. Christian continued to watch until the father set his son down on the bench, right beside Christian.

"Okay, sport, just put your bag down here and go find some nice kids to play with," the father said to his son before kissing him on the forehead. "You're going to have a great first day, I promise. And when you come home this afternoon you'll have a little surprise waiting for you."

"Okay daddy," the little boy nodded before his father abandoned him. The boy sat beside Christian, clutching his bag. Slowly, he turned to Christian, "Hi…"

Christian smiled nervously, "Hi."

"What's your name?" the boy asked.

"Christian. I'm three, but I'm almost four!"

"I'm Hayden. I turned four a long time ago."

Christian began to laugh. This boy had the same name as his sister.

"You have a girl's name," he teased. Hayden frowned.

"No I don't!" he shouted. "It's a boy name!"

"My sister is called Hayden," Christian said.

"Your sister has a boy name," Hayden frowned.

Christian nodded. He couldn't argue with that logic. Maybe this Hayden boy was right. Maybe his parents did give his sister a boy name.

"I have a brother," Hayden said. "Do you have a brother?"

Christian shook his head, "Only two sisters. They're both really big and they could beat up your brother."

"No!" Hayden said. "My brother's 11."

"Sammy is 21," Christian smirked. He won.

"My brother's name is Sammy!" Hayden cried out excitedly. "Daddy calls him Sam, though, and sometimes my mommy calls him Samuel, but only when she's mad."

"Do you have a sister?" Christian asked. He had always wanted a brother, and was envious of Hayden. At least if he had a sister they would have a little more in common. Hayden nodded.

"Yeah. I have a baby sister. She's one. She sucks, though. I don't like her."

"What is her name?" Christian asked. He wished he could be a big brother. He liked having a niece, but he knew that wasn't the same. At least if one of his sisters was younger than him, he could boss them around.

"Christina," Hayden smirked. Suddenly he reached out, tapping Christian's arm, "Tag, you're it."

Hayden jumped up and ran as far away from Christian as possible. Christian watched him run off, a little hurt before realising they were playing a game together. He hopped off the bench, forgetting his bag beside the fence as he chased after his new friend. When he finally caught Hayden they standing in front of the wall. Christian reached out and tapped him on the arm.

"Tag, you're it!"

Suddenly a bell rang and all the kids began running for the door. Christian and Hayden looked around, disappointed their game was over.

The kindergarten teachers started calling for names, trying to gets the three and four year olds all lined up in two rows so they could be taken to their respective classes. Hayden and Christian listened carefully.

"Christian Brooks!" the teacher with the blouse and glasses called as she pointed to the end of her line. Christian looked at Hayden.

"I hope you're in my class," he said. Hayden nodded before hearing his name.

"Hayden Crooks!" the same teacher called out. Christian smiled as Hayden joined him in line. When Hayden was settled with his bag on his back, he tapped Christian's shoulder.

"You're my new best friend," he whispered.

Suddenly, the big playground didn't seem so scary for Christian, and neither did the jungle of savage children still screaming and running around, ignoring the teachers who were trying to get them to quiet down. He had made a friend.

When all the kids were lined up, the two classes started going their separate ways. As Christian watched the kids from the other class leaving him, he looked over his shoulder and saw his new best friend. His lips curled into a smile.

School really was fun.