September 2, 2015- 10:22 AM

We all sat there, stunned into silence, our eyes fixed on him. It felt like an eternity, though in reality it was only three and a half minutes. No one seemed to know what to say or how to act around him. After all, he was famous—a kid who could easily be found in newspapers or magazines. In fact, I had seen him in the magazine I was reading this morning!

"Hello, everyone. It's a pleasure to meet you," he said, his voice smooth and confident, breaking the awkward silence.

His voice jolted me from my thoughts. I studied him from my seat, which was almost at the back of the classroom. He looked unusually slim for an eighth-grader, his pale skin almost glowing under the fluorescent lights. His gold eyes had an otherworldly quality to them, and he wore a black beanie that seemed out of place given the sweltering heat outside. He had rings on the middle fingers of both hands, and his freshly issued uniform fit him like it was tailored specifically for him, giving him an air of sophistication. I didn't notice it immediately, but his clothes made him look almost like a gentleman from an old movie. I didn't realize it until our eyes met. He was staring intently at something—or someone. What was he looking at? I glanced around the classroom and saw that many students were looking at me. Was he staring at me?

Ella, ever perceptive, noticed my discomfort. She stood up with practiced ease, her movements smooth and natural. "It's nice to meet you, Kid," she said warmly. He turned his gaze from me to her and smiled.

"Yea, it's great to have you in our class," several other students chimed in, their voices mingling into a chorus of welcome.

"Alright, everyone. We have a lot to cover today. Kid, why don't you sit behind Feldt for now?" Mrs. Robinson said, her voice carrying a hint of authority. I gasped softly, my eyes darting quickly to Ella, who was now snickering. She winked at me before returning to her seat. I cursed inwardly. Ella always had a knack for pushing my buttons.

Kid walked to the desk behind me, his footsteps light and deliberate. He tapped me on the shoulder, and I turned around slowly. He extended his hand, which was adorned with the rings I had noticed earlier. "I hope we have a great year," he said, his smile genuine. "By the way, what's your name?"

My cheeks heated up at his words. "O-Oh, my name's Feldt," I stammered, shaking his hand. "Feldt Grace."

"That's a beautiful name," he replied with a warm smile that made my blush deepen. I managed a shy smile in return, feeling a flutter of nerves.

"Okay, everyone, let's get back to it," Mrs. Robinson said, her voice firm as she tapped her long fingernails on a desk. "We're going to discuss high school applications, testing, and the procedures you'll need to remember for shadow visits and interviews."

Here we go, I thought, bracing myself for Mrs. Robinson's high school prep lecture.

After what felt like a marathon of Mrs. Robinson's lecture on high school prep, and an additional hour and a half spent writing about our eighth-grade experiences and potential high school choices, we finally left the classroom. The hallway buzzed with chatter as we made our way to I.M.P.A.C.T. (also known as guidance), where Dean Owain was set to talk to us.

While we were down there, I couldn't help but glance at Feldt. She seemed like an average girl on the surface, but there was something more beneath. Her hair curled perfectly around her face, and her eyes sparkled whenever she smiled, though I sensed an underlying worry.

As Dean Owain began speaking, I noticed a few boys from my class trying to get my attention without disrupting him. I scanned the room to ensure the coast was clear and quietly moved to a seat near them.

"Wow," whispered the boy with the temp fade, "you looked like a chimpanzee for a whole minute." I weighed whether to be offended or to laugh. I chose the latter, chuckling quietly, which made him sigh in relief.

"Oh, thank the Lord," whispered another boy with a bald fade. "I thought we wouldn't be able to joke around with you."

"It's good to know that you were wrong," whispered the boy with a short afro. His comment elicited a soft snicker from me and the other boys.

"By the way, I'm William," the boy with the temp fade said, pointing to himself. "That's Gordon," he added, pointing to the bald fade boy. "And I'm Eric," he said, indicating himself. "It's a pleasure to meet you guys," I whispered back.

Suddenly, I noticed the room had gone silent. Looking up, I realized Dean Owain was no longer at the front of the room. Turning around, I saw him standing right behind the boys, his gaze intense. How did he move so silently? My face betrayed a mix of shock and confusion.

"What's wrong, Kid?" William asked, his voice a mix of curiosity and concern. I remained silent, my eyes wide. I saw some younger students struggling to suppress their laughter. Dean Owain let out a dramatic "Ahem!" causing the boys to jump and look up. The room erupted in laughter, though a few of us, including Feldt and the girl who welcomed me, were only snickering quietly.

Dean Owain took a deep breath before half-yelling, "HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO SAY THIS? YOU DO NOT TALK WHEN I AM TALKING!" He glanced at me and then back at the boys. "Are you trying to drag the new kid into your trouble?" I raised an eyebrow. "H-Hey, it's not like that!" William protested. "We were just—"

"SHUT UP, BOY!" Dean Owain interrupted. "You're lucky I'm your uncle; otherwise, you'd be in worse trouble. Demerit!" He started to leave but stopped halfway, turned around, and motioned for me to come to the front. I stood up, my heart pounding, and walked to him. He made me turn around to face everyone. "Everybody, this is Death the Kid. He will be joining our family this year," he announced with an unusual emphasis on the word "family."

"Kid, can you tell everyone what school you came from before you started here?" Dean Owain asked.

"Death Weapon Meister Academy," I replied. The class responded with collective oohs and ahhs. "Alright, boy," Dean Owain said, "Go sit down." I nodded and returned to my seat with the other boys, feeling the weight of everyone's curious stares.