Veleminis

School

"So, you've got your bag, notebooks, pens, highlighters, phone..." Diana kept rolling through things that I would need for my first day of school. Ever.

I had always had private tutors so to finally be able to sit in a classroom with others was beyond exciting. I continued nodding to Diana though I was not actually listening anymore. I was so distracted with thoughts of who I would meet and what I would learn about the human world that I totally missed her warnings and directions.

"Aliah, Kinsey, you don't have to come to the human's school if you don't wish. It will be nice having a familiar face there but I want you both to be comfortable. Even if that means going alone." I did truly want them to come so it was hard to offer them another option. From my other side, I heard Casper snort unattractively.

"You know I am going as well?" I chose to ignore him and decidedly that was a better idea than indulging his childishness.

"Princess, we would follow you anywhere. Not because we have to but because we want to." It was Aliah that said it but Kinsey smiled warmly in agreement. I was so lucky to have these girls with me, through the good and the bad. Hopefully one day I would find a way to pay them back for everything they have done for me.

"I don't know what I would do without you both. I want you both to know I really appreciate every-" I was cut off.

"Okay, enough of this mushy stuff. Let's head over now. Chop chop!" Casper was being as annoying as ever. I rolled my eyes at him and we left.

The story we had told the school was that Aliah and Kinsey were Diana's daughters (she had a good laugh about her having theoretical children). I was Diana's niece and was now living with her because my parents were working in another country. I guess that was really true. I had no clue what Caspers part in any of this was and honestly I didn't really care.

We got into Diana's car, I sat in the front with Diana driving and the rest were in the backseat. Yesterday, Diana tried to explain all the technology I would come across. The car made some sense to me because it was something that had often been rumored about but then she began talking about computers and laptops and so many other things and it began to go completely over my head. She said that if any technology came up at school to tell them that my parents do not allow any forms of technology and I was only just learning about all of it now, which was again the truth.

"Seatbelts on kids."

"I'm so excited!" Everyone already knew but I couldn't contain myself any longer.

"I know sweet. Just to let you know, must kids hate school so while I don't mind your excitement, it may make things difficult there. I don't mean that you can't be happy but you just need to rein it in a little bit okay?" Diana said while concentrating on the road and other cars.

"Okay..." My mood instantly dampened. How did the other children not appreciate what they had?  I had been taught privately my whole life and could count on one hand how many friends I had made to this day.

The car stopped and we had finally arrived.

The school building looked like a small castle. Maybe just because the royal palace was all I had to compare it to be it seemed less esteemed from what I was used to. But there were kids my age everywhere. They swarmed the school steps. Casper got out of the car and bolted, wanting to have no association with us. Or maybe just me.

Not that I cared. It was good.

"I guess this is it." I tried to keep my voice steady and hide my nerves. I turned to my Aunt and gave her a hug across the car, it was not comfortable at all.

"You will love it dear." She had such warm eyes that calmed me down well. Suddenly she remembers something and begins shuffling through her handbag and pulls out her coin purse. " I almost forgot, here is money for lunch. There will be a big room where everyone will eat and you can buy food. I will give you enough money for you girls and also Casper just incase."

"Thank you. Girls, we'd best be going now." Diana handed me a couple notes of money and I placed the money in my bag. We all emerged from the car and the butterflies in my stomach were back in full force.

Deep breaths, you'll be fine Tana.



...



"So here is your timetable, there was a request that you would have the same classes but we could only accommodate that to some degree as we already have so many students. It is arranged so most days you will have your first and last classes together but that was the best I could do sorry." The administration lady had put three separate sheets of paper on the bench above her. She began rambling about find us a map and we each grabbed our assigned timetable. Our official last names where Woodridge and Winters. I was now Tana Winters, Princess of nothing. And boy did that make me happy.

The lady finally found our maps and pointed us in the right direction to our next class, saying if we needed help to find others we could come back to her or ask a student.

On my timetable, it said we had English first which was a subject I assumed I would excel in as it was my strongest back with my tutors as well. Once we finally found the classroom, everyone was already seated. The spare seats were spread across the classroom. My ladies and I would be separated. I knocked on the door, though it was open, I hoped it would be more polite.

"Who might you be? I do hope you are not late to my class." The teacher stood there with cold eyes. Eyes that told me she was probably a hard one to win over. She was probably aged to her late 50's but it was hard to judge because humans aged quickly. She wore glasses with a beaded strap from the frame on one side to the other.

I realised I still hadn't said anything.

"Oh, uh... Is this Mrs Carrsons class? We are new and the front lady said to give you these late slips." My girls stood silently behind me as I tried to navigate my way to her good graces.

"Well I guess I can excuse you this once but don't let it happen again, head to the back of the room and grab a novel from the left pile and a textbook from the cabinet underneath. Then find yourself a seat."

We quickly hurried to the back of the classroom and did as she said, grabbing the novel Pride and Prejudice and a textbook as well. Finding a seat was more of a challenge because seats were far and few. I whispered to the girls "Quick, I don't want to get in any more trouble."

So I decided to go sit near the middle next to a boy. Now, this may not be so strange to the humans but I had to have an escort if I spoke to a boy and generally there was a two-metre rule.

As I sat, I examined him more thoroughly. He was quite handsome with short black hair and deep blue eyes which contrasted his tanned skin.

"What's your name?" I said quietly once I was seated.

"Johnathan Veer but just call me John." He had a calming voice that made it easy to talk to him and I felt comfortable conversing with him. He extended his hand as many men did when they would give me a greeting kiss on the hand. For some reason, he had it sideways and not palm up but I offered my hand anyway.

The issue was he seemed confused. He initiated this, didn't he?

"You shake the hand..." He trailed off just as confused as I was.

"Am I interrupting your conversations Mr Veer?" Mrs Carrson Sent us a glare and we didn't speak for the rest of the class.