Veleminis

Fish

My next class was History, which I was surprisingly good at but it was only because it was currently focused on a time when Veleminis had last had a strong contact with the human world. While select few humans knew what we actually were, most had knowledge of Veleminis but had never seen it. We developed a fair few of our customs during that period which subsided with the humans.

Unfortunately for me, the humans moved on. We didn't.

The girls didn't have History with me, so it was up to me to find my own way around. There was a short food break in which I would need to find my locker and the cafeteria. I had never been directionally gifted so from my calculations, I was probably doomed.

That was until I met Fish.

On my hopeless venture, I came across a boy, leaning against the wall. He held a small stick-like thing in his middle and index finger. His thin arms pulled his hand holding the stick to his lips. Without realising I was staring, I gravitated towards him. In awe of his actions. He inhaled with the stick and dragged it away again, exhaling a breath of smoke.

"Haven't you ever seen someone smoke before?" He asked, finally taking notice of my presence not three metres away from him.

I shook my head.

"What is it?" I replied. He opened his eyes with shock. Maybe I should've seemed like I did know what he was talking about.

"My God, you must be one sheltered child. What rock did you just crawl out from?"

"Sheltered is one way of putting it... but there is no need to be rude, I simply asked you a question."

"Fine then. Smoking is something I do to chill out. It calms me down, keeps the pent-up teen angst at bay. This here that I am holding is called a cigarette. You like one end with a lighter and then breath in the smoke. Some say it's addictive." He had a strong smell surrounding him and his voice was husky but despite everything that told me I should avoid him, I felt strangely safe around him. "Want some?"

Say no Tana, this doesn't seem like something a princess should take part in. My stupid brain was telling me no but my curiosity got the better of me. He outstretched his hand towards me and I took the cigarette between the same fingers he had, putting it straight to my mouth and inhaling. I took in too much smoke and began an intense coughing fit, dropping his cigarette to the floor.

"Jeeze newbie, you didn't have to suck on it so hard. " Despite his words, he began patting me on the back, disregarding his cigarette on the floor.

When I finally got my breath back, I stood and looked at him again. He had unruly brown hair that was short on the sides and back of his head and long on top, a style I had not seen before at court.  He was lean but also had clear muscle definition in his arms. What shocked me most was his facial piercings. He had a lip ring on the bottom lip. His eyes were captivating as if he had seen more of this world than anyone could possibly imagine.

"Uh, sorry, I uhh... Sorry..." I really wasn't sure what to say or which part I was apologising for. Dropping his cigarette, coughing all over him or staring at him strangely. Then suddenly a shrilling sound broke my thoughts.

"No, it's fine but I think it's time that you, Newbie, get to class."

"Oh no, is that really the bell? I don't even know where my locker is!" I wasn't really saying it to him but a part of me was hoping he would help me out anyway.

"So demanding." His words were serious but his tone and eyes gave me the idea that he was joking. "What's your locker number and while we are at it, what is your next class?"

"Oh yeah," I had to sift through the papers and books in my bag to find the ones I was looking for. Once I finally found my timetable and locker information sheet, I handed it to him.

"So Tana Winters, should we hit up your locker first?"

"How do you know my name?"

"It's on both the pieces of paper that you just gave me." He gave me a cheeky smile.

"Well, it's only fair that I know your name too."

"Pat Fisher. Most people just call me Fish."

"Okay Pat, can we go to my next class via my locker? My Shoulder is burning from all the books in my bag." The second bell rang, meaning class had started. "I don't mean to be rude but can we hurry too?"

"Course T. Give me your bag, I'll carry it to the lockers."

"Oh, I didn't mean you had to carry it -"

"I know, but the more you argue the later we get. Just pass me the bag" I did as he said and he swung it over his shoulder and began walking. "You coming T?"

I quickly followed.

The school seemed like a new kind of maze. One that I really wasn't familiar with and that set an uneasy feeling in my stomach as I was so used to familiarity and repetition. Since yesterday when I arrived in this world, I felt an overwhelming feeling of uncertainty because I was so used to monotony and routine and this was anything but.

Pat rounded corners and guided me to my locker.

"Um Pat, I don't know how to work the lock..."

"Wow, you really have been under a rock. So it's pretty easy. Do you mind if I look at your code? It's hard to demonstrate without it." I nodded and so he continued, demonstrating as he spoke.  "You have three numbers and its pretty simple but just watch what I do. So your numbers are twenty-seven, ten, and thirty-five. You turn it three times clockwise and land on your first number and then two times anti-clockwise to the next and finally just turn it back to your last number"

He showed me and the lock popped open.

" Thank you so much!" He passed me my bag and I just stuffed it straight into my locker, closing the door and replacing the lock to where it was before. "So fourth period drama is where?..."

"Follow me" He ushered to trail him giving me a warm smile.



...



When we finally arrived Pat asked me a question that baffled me completely.

"Why shouldn't I mention you helped me?" I was so gratefully to him and it seemed strange that he didn't want any acknowledgement for that.

"Look, I am not the sort of person people like you hang out with. I get in a lot of trouble. You will probably get in trouble if they knew you were with me."

It started making more sense but I still couldn't understand why he seemed so sure he could only get me into trouble.

"Okay I won't mention you. I really wish I wasn't late for my first drama class." Finally I realised that me being late was irrelevant because Pat would be even later to his next class. "Pat! I totally forgot. You are going to be even later for your own class!"

"You can't be late if you never show up..." He gave me a wink and walked back down the hall we had come from. I shook my head, a small smile lingering on my face. I kept looking towards his direction even after he disappeared from view.

"Excuse me, what are you doing loitering outside my classroom?" Snapped a lady from behind me. I turned towards her, shock evident on my face.

She was surprisingly young, blonde hair framing her face. She had rectangular glasses on which seemed to hide her face. Considering she was a drama teacher she seemed entirely introverted. Introverted and rude.

"Sorry Miss, I was lost and couldn't find the class. You are the drama teacher right?"

"You must be Tana Winters. My incredibly late student. So kind of you to make an appearance." She reminded me of my tutors back at home.

" I am terribly sorry Miss, it won't happen again."

"Hurry up please."

I walked straight into the classroom and searched for a chair. Except there was none. The students, who all were staring at me with mixed expressions, sat on the floor in a half circle. My eyes caught on Kinsey and Aliah who were shooting me nasty glares. I suddenly realised they must've looked everywhere for me. I mouthed a sorry and sat on the outermost edge next to Kinsey.

Kinsey put an arm around me and I put my head on her shoulder suddenly exhausted. She pushed two books towards me. One was called Drama Terms and Key Words, and the other was called Richard III by Shakespeare. Both intrigued me and I honestly excited to read each and every book I had received today.

"Okay class, we will pick up from where we were before we were so rudely interrupted."