"That might make me all the more adjusted, actually." I mused out loud.
Uncle Tommy let out a nervous chuckle. "Glad you see it that way and I am really hoping the dean understands, because she wants to talk to you." He said, whether he was for real or not, time had to be of the essence.
"Oh… OK." Was my only response as I rose to walk over to the door, Auntie Katherine tugged me back down to my seat.
"Tommy, are you sure about this?" Kat asked, Seemingly aging about a millennium with worry, now is not the time for her to treat me as if Lord Drakkon is behind that door.
I just turn my head and give her a glare, she let go of me right on the spot, allowing me to stand up and walk over to the door.
I knocked once before squirming an inch away A faint "Come in" seeped through the door, one last look to my reassuring godparents (well, Tommy was reassuring, Katherine was more worried), my fingers gently gripped the door knob, turned it, pulled the door open and walked through before gently closing it behind me.
Inside was a sea of grey or Silver, I'm not sure, I never am.
I saw the back of a woman, A waterfall of shoulder blade length brunette hair and an athletic frame dressed in a beige pants suit.
"You wanted to speak to me?" I nervously asked, resisting every impulse to run away, maybe no more stories of the Dino Thunder, not into how they treated their reformed enemy ranger when the cat spontaneously tore itself out of the bag and all that's irritating enough, but it inadvertently had me believing that every head of a school is just like Elsa, scary and unreasonable by day, an evil General by night.
She turned to face me, Greenie-hazel eyes and symmetrical features cloaked in barely sun-kissed skin was what I was met with, some of the features were familiar. "Oh… I'm… you must be Marissa." The tone in her voice sounded Stern, but delicate and her accent seemed Middle Eastern, but at the same time, it sounded like she hasn't lived there in a while.
I cleared my ever drying throat and spoke. "That is correct." Sounding surprisingly normal, for someone in a panicked mood.
"Don't be shy, have a seat." She said, gesturing to one of the seats in front of her desk, I did as I was told as if I was ordered to, this probably caused her eyebrows to knit together, her face plastered a worried look onto itself. "I'm Dean Kylie Malakai."
In hindsight, I can see why and it probably had more to do with my appearance alone, my metabolism had me looking like I suffer from an eating disorder of some kind and I was skittish as all heck, this was my first ever foray into a public school setting, but for some thing I've been waiting for, it was bit nerve-racking, can you blame me?
"You wanted to speak with me." I repeated, annunciating a little, I wanted us to cut to the chase, before I wound up in the hospital or a psychiatric ward for my anxiety at this very moment.
She looked taken aback, but just said of me what was told about me, I did confirm What was correct and corrected what was incorrect, there was about 70/30 ratio of the respective things, when I was free to go, I walked out of that office relieved and impressed.
…
"This cannot be what a regular school dining hall looks like, can it be?" I asked when me and my godparents walked into the dining hall, it made a fancy restaurant look like your run-of-the-mill fast food joint.
"Earnie's juice bar was never this big." Katherine answered. "And that wasn't even our dining hall in our high school."
"Uncle T. Was Haley's Cyberspace ever this big?" I asked, a chuckle and shake of his head was the only answer he gave.
We made our way to the lunch line, all I had the hankering for was an ounce each of every kind of meat on the menu (that part was surprisingly small), a small portion of dry spaghetti and a ladleful of tomato soup to drink.
"Maris, don't you think you'd like to sit with someone other than me and your godfather?" Katherine asked looking for a table to sit at.
"They look friendly." Tommy said, pointing out a table with five occupants and an empty seat waiting for a sixth.
He's right, they do. Space Ruby told me, I theoretically agreed.
I recognized Silas as one of them, and there was the free-running southern belle in pink and her male cheerleader in green; There were two more boys though, a young black man in a blue soccer uniform and a young blond man with Down's syndrome in yellow mechanic-overalls.
With a hard swallow, I answered "No thanks, I'm not feeling very brave today." An appalled look was abruptly plastered on Tommy's face.
We found a table to sit at almost immediately after. "I guess if you're nervous about your first day of school, we won't force anything on you." Katherine reassured, this comforted me a little bit.
"Just understand, you'll have to exit your comfort zone sooner or later." Tommy unhappily said, and here I thought he understood my qualms.
"I choose later" I softly stated before taking a sip of my tomato soup. "It's gonna be harder than I thought." I looked at Silas and his crew, The former gave me a sad look, my eyes just started from his gaze and a pout that was far too subtle to be so to the average person.
...
https/youtu.be/5Ba9_jaN7EA
Leave it to registration to be of zero help to someone like me. I thought in frustration keeping up my search for my Mythology class to no avail, fifth time I ended up in front of the cheesy gold double-door to the gymnasium. "Am I going in circles?"
Something told me at that moment it was a mistake to not have uncle Tommy and Auntie Katherine with me, but no no, parents and legal guardians wave their children off to school because it's normal, gosh why do I have to be so clingy? And why does it have to backfire on me when I try not to be?
I leaned against a cumulus clouded wall and let out a frustrated sigh for a minute before watching a pair of twins walk through the hallway, the willowy twin was making weird hand gestures that the athletic twin seemed to understand.
Time to scrape together some courage. Space ruby told me.
Feeling obedient, I waved my hand for attention. "Um… excuse me." I called.
"Yes?" The athletic twin asked, grabbing her willowy twin by the upper arm, guiding her to me.
"Well, registration did say my mythology class is in this area." I sighed. "But I'm not exactly sure where, can you point me in the right direction, please?"
"We're actually from the high school division, just visiting our mom, she is a sports coach in the college division." The willowy twin answered while making strange hand gestures, what was that all about? "Wait a second, isn't it a little early to be headed to class?"
"Huh?" I asked in confusion. "What exactly are you talking about." What was she insinuating this very moment?
"You have no idea what we are talking about?" The athletic twin asked.
"Not really, why?" I asked, A little frightened that they would accuse me of something. "I'm new here, what do you expect me to know?"
The Athletic twin opened the door to a crack, that was the loudest sound anyone could have ever heard, and me not having any sensory issues, that's saying something, are these girls insane? What if there was a game going on in there?
"I guess seeing is believing, just sneak a peek inside the gym." The willowy twin said, I wasn't kidding when I said I was feeling obedient.
Odd to think they still do this, but there was indeed a shirts and skins game of basketball going on inside the gym and among that, there was Silas… on the skins team… and boy was the color black a slimming color?
All I could say was "Did he get stronger?" My head was spinning and my heart pounded against my ribcage.
He was the tallest and strongest of either team, every muscle from neck to waist rippled and bulged with each move, the only thing I found more unnerving than my sudden heart attack symptoms when in his presence were the upside down U-shaped scars on his chest.
It caused me to think back to my recurring nightmares, waking up in a hospital, but having no legit rhyme or reason to be there in the first place, following some nurses to the ICU and seeing a male figure dying, watching medical personnel attempt to revive him… And the dying boy looked like Silas no less... Even I struggle to understand my mind's inner machinations, why would it show me this?
"Don't ask where he got those." The athletic twin said.
"Those scars, she means." The willowy twin followed.
I won't bother, I have an idea as to where and how. I thought with a shudder Before pushing away such a thought and turning to the twins. "OK now can you point me to my mythology class?" I asked, hoping to not get in trouble on the first day, freshman orientation day one of five yes, but day one of school nonetheless.
"Hey, new girl, look out!" Someone frantically shouted, the ball they were presumably playing with wizzed Pass my head, my eyes followed the ball as it bounced off a door across the hallway and into my hands, I was only trying to make sure it didn't hit my chest and for some reason, that was enough for me to get compliments from those who were chasing after the ball.
Silas in all his shirtless and sweaty glory quickly hobbled to me, give you one guess as to why. "Nice catch, you alright though?" He asked, impressed and concerned, of all times to struggle to look people in the eye, it had to be a tall shirtless ultra muscular dude a mere two feet if even that from me.
I kid you not, the Internet was right, a thin sheen of sweat really does enhance the hotness and the tippedy top of my head comes up to his collarbone, every rippling and bulging muscle from his neck to his pelvis is higher definition the closer he stands to me, his biceps looked about the same size of his pectorals and don't get me started on the scars on his chest… Again.
Don't get me wrong, what I saw on him was impressive, but if I didn't run this very moment, that dude would have to revive me, my hands just shoved the ball into his toned as heck abdomen and I bolted to the very door the ball bounced off of as quickly as my feet could carry me without tripping, opened the door before running through and closing the door behind me.
"Why'd She do that?" I heard the athletic twin scold, my back plastered itself to the door behind me, my knees buckled beneath, my throat developed a lump and I just sank to the ground into a fetal position to catch my breath.
"You must be Marissa." A voice said, causing me to let out a yelp, I looked in the direction of said voice and I saw a ginger man. "Sorry, but if you're here for mythology class, I'm afraid you're early." And I'd be more than happy to wait outside, but I don't wanna go back to the wolves.
...
Hopefully I was headed in the right direction, my butt was literally running late for my archery class.
Wearing my favorite bow like a sash so that I don't drop it along the way, I sprinted across the sidelines of the soccer field, ducking anyone that stood in my way because they weighed more than me. "Excuse me, does anyone know where the archery class meets?"
And who should speak up and sprint along side me, but one of Silas's 'disciples'? More specifically, the one in a blue soccer uniform. "They meet just outside the gymnasium, you cannot miss it." He said, sounding Spanish or at the very least, Latin.
"Thanks, man." I said, waving goodbye as he stopped in his own tracks. "Eternal gratitude." There was no way my butt would stop until I made it to archery class.
"Happy to oblige." I heard him shout after me.
And there it was, the archery class, outside the emergency exit to the gymnasium, no judgment on that one to be honest, church did the same thing during vacation Bible school.
I stopped in my tracks when I finally made it, I'm not gonna lie, my skin started to excrete mineral water and every muscle and bone attached to me from the chest down felt as if it was set ablaze, ABLAZE I TELLS YA!
My classmates thankfully totaled nine until I showed up, three were helping the instructor set up the targets, one of whom was… Silas, shoot (absolutely no pun intended), why does he have to be if not in the same class as me in the vicinity? And if not for me literally running late for this class, I would still be asking why my body reacts to being in his presence the way I've already disclosed.
At least he had his shirt on, however, I could never unsee what was underneath, I can imagine that no one could.
Hopefully, this wasn't going to be a disaster.
A middle-aged blond woman in what looks like hunter's attire approached me "Is this Miss Fletcher's archery class?" I painted, I was out of breath. "Sorry I'm late…"
"It's alright, Miss…" Oh right, she didn't get my name.
"Grace, my first name is Marissa and my last name is Grace." I clarified still panting, earning a look of concern from Silas.
"Ah, yes, Miss Grace." Miss Fletcher self corrected. "It's alright, you're actually early."
"Thank goodness." I said, I literally ran to class for nothing and now my butt may end up doing one of two things: sitting it out or risking an unsafe drop in blood pressure that results in fainting.
"Would you like too sit this lesson out until you've caught your breath, miss Grace?" Miss Fletcher offered.
Silas looked at me like he was waiting for my answer with bated breath, seems advisable to say yes though. "Sure, why not?" I answered before locating the sidelines within the confines of the area class was being held and sitting on the floor… or rather, ground.
As for the class itself… Some learned quickly, others learned slower, Silas was either in the former ballpark or he was already good at archery, in hindsight, I don't understand why I signed up for the this class when I already know the skill, maybe it was some thing to do so that I neither get two free periods nor have school end too early.
I finally caught my breath 45 minutes into the class, this compelled me to rise to my feet and join the class while I still could. "Looks like the new college girl finally is joining the class." A random student said.
"Yeah, I finally caught my breath." I playfully retorted back.
"Hopefully, observation is as effective as participation." Miss Fletcher said, I could feel everyone's eyes on me as I stepped up to the line where the other archers were shooting their bows and arrows. "Let's see what Miss Grace has got."
I grabbed an arrow, set it into my bow, drew it back to the corner of my smile, fixed my aim so it would be lower than the target and loosed the arrow, It hit the target a little closer to the left, but it was a bullseye, everyone was shocked.
…
Either it was the end of the school day for the college division students or I've got a period all to myself due to not having a class to get to that very hour… well, I say "all to myself", but me literally running "late" found that I wasn't alone when archery class ended for the day.
One in particular that I was trying to ditch for fear of fainting, give you one guess as to who that could be.
"Hey, Marissa, wait up!" I heard Silas's voice call after me, stopping me in my tracks, the fast, but wonky pitter patter of his feet getting louder with each step indicating he was getting closer towards me.
He closed the distance between us pretty quickly by the time I turned to face him, I took a deep and sharp breath. "Can I help you with something?" I faked a smile.
"Well, if you count permitting someone to extend an invitation to an outing after school as something you can help me with, then yes." Silas answered, earning an eyebrow raise from me. "My friends and I are going to take a walk around the wooded area surrounding the army base next door, wanna join us?"
Had I felt safe doing it, I would've leapt at the chance and I know he's trying to be nice to me , but I was new here and barely got my footing. "In theory, unfortunately, I've got a boatload of things to unpack back at the boathouse to make it a boathome." Yes, I know I smashed together the word 'boat' with another word more times than was necessary, but I was a little anxious and would rather stay at the marina until I was perfectly adjusted into my new routine. "Maybe next week."
Silas's bushy yet well-maintained-looking eyebrows knitted together, I took this as a sign to quit while I was ahead and try to find my godparents. "That's how long it's gonna take?" He asked, his voice harboring a crack or two, indicating my declining of this invitation upset him. "Okay, maybe my friends and I can show you around the town when you finished."
But just as I was about to come clean…"Oh, she over estimates unpacking time." I heard Auntie Katherine chime in from behind me, my eyes widened and my heart sank. "She thinks she should be finished by the end of the week when really it'll probably be before dinner tonight, especially if she's got more hands than just her own to help her." I turned around to face her and uncle Tommy… And the dean, really?
Great, now I feel like I've been backed into a corner.
"Marissa, I know what it feels like to have to adjust to something new." The dean said, as appreciated as her attempt at comforting me was, I highly doubt homeschoolers with learning disabilities hit the same, heck, no two individuals on the spectrum are alike. "My son and my nephew were afraid to look around their surroundings when the three of us were on the run." Wait a minute, on the run? From what? "Moot point on that one, what isn't is that you're going to miss out if you don't get out there and I think that's what your godparents are trying to get you to do."
As good of a point as she has, I will get out there… Eventually, honestly, I will, it just feels like I'm moving too fast otherwise.
"Not today if she doesn't want to, if what her godmother says is true, maybe tomorrow afternoon." Silas said, almost as if he understood, not quite, but… compromise? "I did say that my friends and I should show her around town, maybe the next day will be a good day to do that, it is supposed to be nice outside again.
My godparents could only roll their eyes and groan. "Alright." They both said in unison, seems they could take what they could get.