New Haven

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

The teacher stood there staring at his wristwatch; as Dusk and Clowe stopped unsteady in front of him dressed in their P.E. uniforms, “You made it” He said with a smile that lit up his face. Clowe and Dusk felt relieved; until he leaned in with no expression and said “but barely.” They froze looking at one another when he turned his back to confront the rest of the class. They accidently slept through their alarm clocks; even Clowe who was used to waking up this early was late on their first day of school. Dusk saw Dean and Holly sitting in the back and nudged at Clowe joining them, as the P.E. teacher started to talk.

“My name is P.E., as in Welcome to Physical Education students. I will be your teacher for the next four years. We will run the Island for Physical Education and we will swim for Physical Education. There are only two ways that you are getting out of Physical Education in the mornings,” He said lifting his left hand up to count “One- You get into a sport and are transferred out of my class and into your coaches’ class period. Two- You’re dismissed because of Student Body Council responsibilities or you are excused by the headmistress herself.”

“Wasn’t that three,” Dusk asked.

“Shh.” The back row turned to silence her.

“Alright,” She mouthed back. He placed his hand behind him with the other one and frowned “Now every year I have a student that thinks that they are too sick to do Physical Education. Let me just say this now, that if you are too sick to exercise, then you are too sick to attend any of the many school functions and activities that we have at this school.” He grinned as the students all mumbled around him, “let’s begin.” After two hours of physical education the bell rang and Dusk and Clowe headed to their next class period. Walking in Dusk saw Dawn sitting in the back of the class next to the windows.

“Hey guys over here” she waved at them as they made their way to her. Dusk and Clowe walked towards the back of the class as a tall young looking man in his thirties came in. He wrote his name on the black board. He wore dress pants, a vest, and tie with a fedora hat. He looked like a person born in the Rat Pack era. All the students seemed to like him as they laughed and joked with him before the bell rang.

“For those who are new to New Haven,” Dusk and Dawn were shocked to hear a Cajun accent coming out of their Californian teacher, “We welcome you and I welcome you to my history class. As for the rest of you ghouls and girls welcome back to another year of History and to commemorate this grand event, here are your first assignments for the year” he said grabbing a pile of papers from his desk as everyone in the classroom moaned “Yeah, yeah, just pass them back. I have to give you homework…it’s the law… you know Ms. Haven’s law.” Mr. Johnson handed the assignments out as the students passed them back. “Now as you can clearly see not all of your assignments are the same. We, as your beloved teachers, have done this so you guys won’t be tempted to cheat or copy off of each other. This is how all assignments will be handled throughout the entire school year.” He said looking around the class as everyone smiled or giggled.

Dusk stared down at her paper as Dawn leaned over to her desk reading one of her own questions out loud, “Inscribe a three to five page essay on one significant figure from one of the main Holidays. Describe their importance and contributions to their particular holiday. Include your opinion on whether or not their legends have stood the test of time.” She looked at Dusk and Clowe questionably, “What the frackness does that mean?” Dawn asked looking confused.

“I don’t know but we can figure it out together,” Dusk said, “I got that one too.”

“I didn’t,” Clowe said.

“Don’t worry. I’ll still help you Clowe.”

“Thanks Dusk.”

“Hey we have the same assignment,” Someone said from behind them causing them all to turn around. The girl was the cherry blonde hair girl from the main Student Body Council; Dusk had recognized her from the student orientation assembly. “Hi I’m April Showers” the girl said, and then out of no where she started laughing, “That’s funny Showers get it, like bathing, but it’s my name…” the girls looked at each other and then back at April who eyes widened “You two must be new here. Nice to meet you” She said extending both her hands which Dawn and Dusk both took. Clowe waved to April as she waved back happily, “Oh, my god I love your uniforms there very uniformly.”

Dusk and Dawn both looked down at their uniforms, “We’re wearing the same ones” Dusk said motioning to everyone in the class.

April gasped as she looked around the room “We totally are! That’s so cool.” She giggled looking around the room with stars in her eyes. April was spunky and full of energy, yet she seemed a bit ditzy and random in her conversation. The girls walked out of class holding their assignments in their hands.

“I’m going to write about Persephone. She was the goddess of spring’s bounty” April said, “What about you guys? What persons from the holidays are you going to write about?”

Dawn shrugged her shoulders “I don’t really know. I didn’t even think there were any famous holiday people, besides like Santa and baby Jesus.” Dusk smiled and agreed with her.

“Hey, how is Persephone a significant person to a holiday?” Clowe asked

“She’s connected to the coming of spring which eventually got connect to the holiday of Easter.”

“Oh.” The girls said in unison.

“I can’t believe you guys all got the same assignment. I don’t have that” Clowe said looking at her paper, “I have to write about the family tree of the Greek gods and goddesses and compare them to the Norse Gods and mine has to be five pages long.”

“Hey we could make a study group and we’ll all help each other out and…” Dusk jumped up as April grabbed her by the shoulders.

“I love groups that study!” April said overly excited, “We could even study in the library.”

“That’s a great idea April.” Clowe said approving April’s thirst for knowledge.

April looked at Clowe with a blank expression, “What is?”

Clowe looked at her and giggled nervously, “Studying at the library” Dawn said looking at Dusk and Clowe who just smiled.

“Great idea Dawn why didn’t I think about that” The girls smiled and shaking their heads as Clowe changed the subject. They talked about their assignments again. Dusk felt a warm breeze at the back of her neck. Turning to look around the hall, Dusk spotted Alec leaning up against the wall looking towards them. Her eyes made contact with his, making her cheeks warm up and her stomach began to do somersaults.

Hey, your American beauty stalker is staring at you again.

Dawn!

What? You know I’m right.

No your not!

Yes I am. Why don’t you go talk to him and asks him why he’s following you?

No.

You go over and talk to him or I swear I’m going to start playing show tunes in my head as long and as loud as I can, until you do!

I could block you out

“That’s why I mentioned ‘loudly’.

Fine! Dusk took a deep breath before making her way over to where Alec was; does he have to look so good all the time? I bet he wakes up looking like he just came straight out of a magazine, unbelievable, Dusk smiled to her self as she reached him. “Hi I’m Dusk Nightingale” she said sarcastically. And you are?” she asked extending her hand to him. Alec looked amused by her for some reason and pulled his body away from the wall taking her hand into his. Dusk was always taken aback by how tall Alec was. When he was leaning against things or sitting down, so she always forgot how tall he was until he was standing right in front of her, all six feet and more of him.

“I’m Alec Heart and I’m Dean’s roommate, but then again, you already knew that.”

“Yeah you’re right, I did know that. Your roommate talks a lot.”

“So does your sister,” he said glancing toward Dawn.

“Yes, she does.” Dusk smiled as she stood awkwardly in front of Alec not quite knowing what to do next. Well, I talked to him. That’s all Dawn wanted so… now she can leave me alone.

“Well, um …bye then.”

“Bye” Alec said as Dusk turned to walk away from him when April came skipping up in front of her.

“We got homework on the first day of school. Isn’t that great Alec?”

“Yes April I’d say it was fantastic.”

“Dusk is gonna help me with my assignment in Mr. Johnson’s class.”

“Really!?” Alec asked shocked, “You guys got the same assignment in class?”

“Yes. Why do you look so surprised?” Dusk asked. Alec looked towards April as if he were trying to communicate something to her in secret but April seemed to find the ends of her hair more interesting then him.

“Are you sure you got the exact same assignment April?”

“Yup! Me, Dusk, and even Dawn. I’m going to have a study group, Yeah!” April began to turn in circles humming a song to her self as Dusk noticed that April wasn’t getting the hint. Alec was obviously trying to give her a hint about something. When Alec noticed that Dusk noticed he quickly splashed on a smile across his face and turned his charm on full blast.

“I’m just surprised. Mr. Johnson usually gives out multiple assignments at the same time so kids don’t cheat. I’m just surprised that you and your sister got the same assignment, that’s all.”

“Oh…”

“I forgot!” April scared both Alec and Dusk as she stopped spinning and turned to them. “Dawn told me to tell you that she and Clowe went to the cafeteria already to get in line for lunch. She seemed like she was really hungry,” April nodded her head with a bright blank smile, “She also asked if you could get her lunch bag out of her locker, cause she left it there and it has her food in it,” April stopped suddenly and looked up at the ceiling scrunching up her nose in the process.

“Was there anything else April?” Dusk asked.

“What? Oh no, just that. I think,” and with that April began to spin and hum the song again while looking down at the ends of her hairs.

“Well I guess I’d better go. Bye Alec. It was nice to really meet you, finally.”

“It was very good to officially meet you too,” Alec smiled as Dusk turned and began to speed walk in the direction of Dawn’s locker. Dusk was hoping that she remembered her sisters’ locker combination. Alec laughed as he watched Dusk try to escape her own awkwardness. They had just shared the most interesting conversation that Alec had since the first time he met Dusk. Even though it was simple and plain. He laughed as Dusk turned down the first hallway she came to, then immediately turned around and began walking back down the previous hallway, her face a bright red, looking from side to side before turning down the right hallway. Alec continued to laugh to himself until April’s hair suddenly whipped him upside the head.

“Ouch April! April! April stop turning, April please!”

“What Alec?” April stopped and looked up at Alec, “Oh, hi! We have to go to lunch. Where’s Dusk? I was going to go with her. Did she ditch me?”

“No. April, Dusk did not ditch you” Alec said with a smile.

April looked at Alec a moment, “Alec, your smiling” April stated as Alec brushed off her comment.

“Well I’m off to food,” April said beginning to skip towards the cafeteria.

“Um, a moment April,” Alec said stopping April by the shoulders, “Would like to explain to me how Dusk and Dawn got the same homework assignment as you in Mr. Johnson’s class.”

“Cause he passed out homework,” April answered.

“Yes, I get that, but how did they get your assignment?”

“I don’t understand the question. Can you phrase it as a statement?”

“WE,” Alec said pointing to April first and then to himself, “Don’t get the same homework assignments as the norms do. Isn’t that right?”

“Of course it is” April answered, “I like this game! Give me another one.” Alec laughed at April’s obvious innocence.

“Okay April” he paused before continuing, “How do you think two norms got assignments that are only supposed to be for our kind.”

“Maybe their like kindred spirits or something, maybe their not normals after all.”

“April, sweetheart, if those girls had been kindred spirits then the High Council would have been notified and they would have been at our special orientation.” April seemed to ponder this for a little while then began blinking uncontrollably.

“All this thinking is making my brain holder hurt.” Alec smiled, amused at April, “But you’re right, that is kind of weird. Oh well.”

“Oh well?”

“Yeah, oh well. Who cares if their kindred or their normal girls? The lunch ladies are serving tater tots and I’m hungry,” and with that April took off skipping. Alec looked down the hall a long time after April,

“I care,” and with that Alec leaned back onto the wall and stared out the window.