"So… what do people do on the weekends here?" I asked Cass as we left our dorm to head down for breakfast the next morning.
"Homework, if they stay. Some visit their families. I don't." He said, straightening his tie.
"Well, I don't have any homework, and I can't go home." I grumbled.
"Fair enough," Cass yawned.
"I don't usually wear my uniform on the weekend." He informed me. "But I figured I might as well since you don't have any other decent clothes and you're also new here, which does not usually make a good impression. You'd come off as too preppy or uptight, so I'm helping you blend in." He explained.
"Gee, thanks." I said sarcastically.
"No problem." He replied, pushing the door open.
We walked the short distance to the main building in silence until we met up with Aly and Marco.
"Hey, it's my bro Cassius, and Mr. Definitely-not-Jacqueline! What's up?" Marco yelled to us.
Aly waved. She looked happy to be near Marco, which I will admit made me slightly jealous, but I pushed the feeling aside. I barely knew her, I was just being pathetic. Still, there was a certain magic about a girl who could make slacks and a button up look like a new trend.
"Hey, Marco." Cass said, giving him a fist bump. "Morning, Aly."
"Good morning." Aly replied.
"Hi," I said awkwardly. "I like your shirt."
"This is the same shirt you're wearing." Aly pointed out.
"Oh… yeah. Right." I said, trying not to blush noticeably.
"Shall we proceed into the comestible?" Marco gestured at the open doors of the cafeteria.
"Yes, let us." Cass said, imitating a teacher.
The two of them walked stiffly towards the door, as if they were wearing old fashioned suits.
"What dorks." Aly sighed, and walked in after them.
I was about to follow when someone tapped me on the shoulder. I looked around. It was the girl I saw at dinner yesterday, and her brother.
"Hi, I'm Helena." She said. "You're the new kid, right?"
"Yeah, I am. Jack McKinley." I introduced myself.
"Cool. You should sit with us for breakfast. We'll compare classes, become homework buddies." She said.
"Oh, I was actually going to sit with Cass and Aly."
Helena exchanged a glance with her brother.
"We'll join you." Anthony said in a surprisingly deep voice. It almost sounded like he had an English accent. "Cass and Aly are cool."
They went around me and into the cafeteria, me following them like the awkward being I was.
"So what are your specialty courses?" Helena asked as we stood in line getting our food.
"Specialty courses?" I questioned.
"You know, your electives. Why you're here instead of at a public school."
"Oh. Technology I think? I don't really remember, I didn't bring my schedule." I said sheepishly.
"You didn't memorize your classes yet?" Helena paused with her mouth open in shock.
"He only just got here." Anthony said. "It's the weekend, and everyone knows it's a good idea to clear your mind before the next week of school starts. That's why I finish all my remaining homework on Friday nights."
"Nerd." Helena muttered. I could agree with that statement.
As Anthony turned to serve himself some fruit salad, I noticed something sparkling by his ear.
"Hey, what's that?" I asked.
"My earring?" Anthony reached his hand up and twisted it.
"Yeah. Why is your ear pierced?" I asked. I thought it was odd that someone like Anthony would wear an earring.
"I actually have both ears pierced. I got them done with Helena a couple years ago. Quite painful." He went back to serving himself.
I still couldn't wrap my head around the fact that Anthony and Helena were twins. They just seemed so different; the only similarity between them that I had noticed so far was their matching earrings.
"So, what classes do you take here?" I asked them both. "Do you do the same ones?"
"No way!" Helena exclaimed.
"Definitely not." Said Anthony.
"I take Media Arts and Performing Arts, Anthony does Orchestra and Technology Advanced." Helena answered. "Hey, maybe you're in Anthony's Tech class!"
"I don't think so. I'm in Intermediate, not Advanced I'm pretty sure."
"Oh well." Anthony said nonchalantly.
After filling our trays we headed over to where Cass and his friends were sitting.
"Oh there you are, Jack! I didn't see you come in." Cass said, making room for me at the table. Anthony and Helena went around and sat on either side of Aly. I tried to catch Aly's eye but she was staring off in the direction of the door. Daria was just coming in.
"Hey Dars, we're sitting over here!" Marco waved.
Daria waved back and went to stand in line.
Aly grimaced. "Dars? Seriously?"
"It was the only nickname I could think of." Marco shrugged.
I could almost feel Aly's death glare.
"So what are you guys doing later?" Cass said, changing the subject. "I've finished all my homework, so I'm thinking of going into town. Nirvana's driving there to see her friend from Switzerland, and she has four empty seats. Anyone want to come with me?"
"I will." Aly said.
"Helena and I promised to call our parents, so we will have to miss out." Anthony replied.
"I've got to practice my Martial Arts, so that's a no for me. Sorry bro." Marco said.
"What about you, Jack?" Cass turned to me.
"I guess, sure. I haven't had classes yet, so it's not like I have homework." I shrugged.
"Perfect. Marco, do you know if Chloe could come?" Cass asked him.
"Chloe promised to do Martial Arts with me later." Marco explained.
"Okay, I'll find someone else to come along as well. Oh, maybe Daria can." Cass lit up.
Daria was just walking over with her tray, which she had loaded with strawberry covered pancakes.
"Daria, Nirvana's driving a few of us into the town, do you want to come? We could show you around, I know the area pretty well." Cass said excitedly.
"Sure, that sounds fun." Daria beamed. "Who else is going?"
"Just Aly, Jack, and I." He responded.
"When did Nirvana say she was leaving?" Aly asked.
"In three hours I think?"