User blog:Addfire/Everyday Life in an Everyday World

Chapter One: An Introduction, Of Sorts

Archibald 'Archie' Kathigits adjusted his backpack, and took in a deep breath of air. A mid-year transfer into a new school was intimidating, and worse yet he was leaving all sorts of friends behind. On top of that, he was only a freshman- he didn't have the advantage of age to get people to like him. And going to a boarding school, no less...

The school was large, and imposing. The walls were steel, and it all looked very new, although he knew that the school – which was called Regus' Institution for Young Souls – was roughly a century old. He mustered up some courage, and stepped inside.

He found himself in what he assumed was the school's lobby. It was wide, and open, about the size of a small house. He was slightly scared. How did he even get into a school like this in the first place? His grades weren't good enough to merit a scholarship...

A woman walked over to him, and sneered. "So you're the new transfer, eh? Archibald? Sounds pretentious."

Archie gulped. "Actually, you can call me Arch-"

"I don't really care. I'm Secretary Seryu. I have to escort you to the Principal's office... lucky me. Don't cause me too much trouble, or I'll put something unfortunate on your permanent record."

Oh god, this lady is terrified.

"I'd give you a tour of the place, but I won't. Hopefully some student'll do it for you..." Secretary Seryu was constantly mumbling and griping. She even complained about the quality of the air. It was strange, she looked attractive and wealthy. Her eyes were darkish-black, and her hair was dyed lavender. She was wearing jeans, which was strange because shouldn't the faculty be more dressed up, and a white tee-shirt.

Archie bumped into the Secretary. "We're here," she said, looking down at him disdainfully. She opened the show with a fake air of panache, and Archie stepped inside, gulping. If the Secretary was that rude, how bad would the Principal be?

The Principal was a woman who, despite her grey hair, looked rather young. Her eyes were grey as well, and in contrast to the Secretary she was extremely dressed up. She wore a blazer and tie, plus a skirt. She leaned over the table and shook Archie's hand.

"My dear Mr. Kathigitis," she began warmly. "What a pleasure it is to have you at my humble little school! I'm Principal Regus, by the way."

Archie did a double-take. ''Humble? This place must be in the millions! ''

"Uh, the pleasure is mine?" He managed to get out, uncertain.

"Oh, I hope Miss Seryu didn't scare you too badly," she continued. "She's a little rude, I know, but she gets the job done. There isn't anyone else like her."

''That's for sure. ''

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Now, you'll be on the fourth floor with the other Freshman, in the West Wing. Room... 636."

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Oh! Uh, alright. So, I guess I just go up the stairs and then to the..."

<p style="font-weight:400;">"The right. Now, I would like to give you the rules now, so they are out of the way. First of all, no drugs or ciggarettes, or anything of that sort is tolerated here. I'd assume you already knew that."

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Yeah."

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Secondly, while our school is co-ed, and I like to keep it that way, any sort of... intimate relationships... are prohibited. I'm not banning love, but, well, sex. Oh, don't snicker. We're all adults here."

<p style="font-weight:400;">Archie nodded, and straightened his face.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Third, we don't really have a dress code aside from don't be naked. Fourth, no vandalism, petty or otherwise. Fifth, arson and other such felonies are prohibited. Sixth, blah blah blah."

<p style="font-weight:400;">Principal Regus kept talking, although Archie zoned out. This was all basic school stuff.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"And that's it! Hopefully you find your stay at my school fulfilling."

<p style="font-weight:400;">Archie nodded, gave Principal Regus one more handshake, and said goodbye in the most respectful way possible. He began walking up the stairs, and eventually reached the fourth floor.

<p style="font-weight:400;">''Now, did she say right or left? God, I'm so bad at directions... uh... the right.''

<p style="font-weight:400;">Archie turned to the right, and immediately bumped into two other freshman. One was muttering, "Kathigistis... sounds fancy... could be a good fit for a more simple name? Maybe one of the Thomas kids?" Without looking up, the freshman said sorry and moved onwards.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Hey, can I see the picture of this kid?" said the other. A document was passed, and the freshman looked at it. "Uh, Ava?"

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Yes Liz?" Freshman One, now known as Ava, replied.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"I think he's the one we bumped into." Freshman Two – Liz – tried to be discreet.

<p style="font-weight:400;">Ava turned around to face Archie. "Oh, so you're Archibald! Great! I'm Ava, Ava Ignus. Nice to meetcha." She had short brown hair, which fell just past her ears. Her eyes were a more green color. She had a hairband on, which had a little potato on it. Her shirt had some vines on it.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Er, just Archie," Archie said, a little embarrased.

<p style="font-weight:400;">Liz shook Archie's hand. "I'm Liz Winters, how do you do?" Liz was blonde, with cobalt-blue eyes. She was very whispy, and her fingers were dextrous.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Fine, just great. So, who's Thomas?" Archie asked.

<p style="font-weight:400;">Ava colored red. "Oh, you heard that? He's- don't worry about it. Besides, if you prefer Archie, maybe... uh... Edwin might be better, but it doesn't matter right now. I'm gonna be showing you around the place, introducing you to new faces and the like. Only the people who matter though, don't worry, I won't waste your time."

<p style="font-weight:400;">Archie noticed that Ava talked very quick. It was hard for him to keep up.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"So, you live on the West Wing?" Liz asked.

<p style="font-weight:400;">Archie nodded.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Cool, we should show him around and have him meet everyone," Liz said to Ava. Ava mulled it over, and then made a sure, why not gesture. "So you'd be in room 636? Coolio."

<p style="font-weight:400;">Ava went over to the first door on the left and knocked on it. A head poked out, tentatively supporting a messy head of brown hair. The face looked like the person behind it hadn't slept for a week, the bags underneath the eyes unnaturally large.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Whatchoowant?" the person, a boy, muttered. "Issa Sunday."

<p style="font-weight:400;">Ava rolled her eyes. "It's the afternoon! Alright, so maybe I'll waste your time a little introducing you to Tokumei. I call him by his last name, Unum, but honestly call him whatever you want. He would likely be in jail right now, except he's best friends with the son of the math teacher and he pulls all kinds of favours. Tokumei, this is Archie. He's new."

<p style="font-weight:400;">Tokumei managed a grin, ran his fingers through his hair, and then yawned. "Thass me, vagrant extrordinairre. Hope ya like whatchoo see, 'cuz it ain't changing." With that, Tokumei closed the door.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"How about we have him meet Rex next?" Liz said. Ava nodded, and rapped her knuckles on another door. "Come in!" a voice called.

<p style="font-weight:400;">The three kids walked into the room, and Archie was greeted with a fairly spacious dorm. There was room enough for a desk, closet, and bed, plus a ton of excercise equipment. Hunched over the desk in a swivel chair was a burly guy with reddish brown hair. He turned to see them. "Liz! Ava! Stranger!" He cried.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"I'm Archie," Archie replied. "I guess you're Rex?"

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Rex Martin Thomas!" Rex declared. He was enthusiastic, and practically shouting. The three heard Tokumei calling for them to be quiet, so Rex lowered his voice. "I'm really happy we've got a new kid... new kids are the best. I get a chance to mold some minds, amiright?"

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Sure," Ava said. "Now, he's got places to be, so I hope you don't mind..."

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Not at all!" Rex said.

<p style="font-weight:400;">The three steered Archie out of Rex's room. By this point, two other kids were standing in the hallway. "Hey, who's this?" asked one, who seemed more like a leader out of the two.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"This is Archie, and he's new here." Ava said.

<p style="font-weight:400;">The leader strode forwards. "I'm Magu Ludus. Call me whatever, but make it respectful, because I am going places. This," (here he gestured to the other kid) "is Edwin Dolofonia, a friend of mine. Since he's my friend, and I'm going places, he's going places too." Edwin waved, and then went to Magu's side. Archie had good hearing, and Edwin wasn't the best at whispering, so Archie was able to hear what was said.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Hey, Magu, isn't it suspicious that a kid joins halfway through the year? What if he's a spy or something?"

<p style="font-weight:400;">Magu whispered back, a little quieter, but not much. "If he's a spy, all the more reason to want him by our side. A good spy could propel you and I forward, and fast."

<p style="font-weight:400;">Archie thought about mentioning my lack of being a spy, but decided against it.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Alright, you two, enough of that," Ava said. "I gotta show Archie around. Where's Eddie?"

<p style="font-weight:400;">"I'm here," said a voice behind them. Archie jumped, and turned around quickly. Ava and Liz, likely used to this, just turned around in a relaxed way. Standing there was a blonde-haired kid in a black and red jacket. He was wearing scuffed jeans, and glasses that hid blue eyes.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"So, Archibald "Archie" Kathigistis. Hopefully you'll be more interesting than the rest of the people here," the person who Archie assumed was Eddie said, in what appeared to be an actually hopeful voice. "Also, glad that you have good reflexes."

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Uh, thanks. What's your... last name?" Archie asked.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Tantei. It's Asian, I think." Eddie retreated into a room.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Weird guy, that Eddie, but he's alright." Commented Ava. "So... let's see. Other people..."

<p style="font-weight:400;">The three went down the stairs. "Alright, we're on the third floor now," Liz said. "That's got the Sophomores. Second floor has the Juniors, and first floor has Seniors."

<p style="font-weight:400;">All three of them bumped into a towering giant of a kid, with eyes aflame, who looked down at them indignantly. "YOU DARE," thundered the giant, "TO ANGER THE VEZ?"

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Hahahahaha Vez what a joker okay let's run now," Ava said.

<p style="font-weight:400;">

<p style="font-weight:400;">TO BE CONTINUED

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