He stood at the entrance to his new high school. The doors looked like they had recently been painted, and they looked newer so, next to the crumbling cracked cement of the outer walls. Through the window he could make out a dismal foyer, with scratched slate tiles and a ratty old orange couch leaning against the wall.  There was a potted tree in the corner next to the doorway, and he wasn’t sure if it were plastic or real. Given what he knew about the public school systems in this country, he assumed it was plastic.

            The sun was peeking over the horizon now, illuminating the foyer. A school bus pulled up next to the building, and a trickle of students came pouring out. Taking this as a sign to get a move on, Reinhard Helfried Ethelstan took a deep breath, and opened the door.

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            He had arrived an hour early, and yet by the time the office staff had gotten things in order, it was in the middle of his second class. Reinhard knew he was in for some sort of lecture when his assigned guidance counselor, Mr. Willingston, insisted that he personally walk Reinhard to his class.

            “Now Reinhard, I understand how difficult it is, starting a new life in a new country. That’s why we’re here to help you. Now if you run into any problems, any at all, I’d like for you to come and see me,” Mr. Willingston said in a friendly tone.

            “Yes sir,” Reinhard mumbled, hoping he would stop talking. Unfortunately, he didn’t his wish.

            “Now I know that it’s easy to get influenced, especially at the wonderful age of seventeen, but I encourage you to stand your ground. You may want to try certain things just to fit in. I challenge you to stand beyond that Reinhard. Things can be very good for someone who chooses to follow the rules,” he continued seriously, “but they can also be very bad for those who decide to act otherwise.” Mr. Willingston paused to let the veiled threat sink in. “You understand?”

            “Yes sir,” Reinhard replied, very eager for the conversation to end. This time things seem to be in his favour, as they mercifully reached the room number they had been seeking. Mr. Willingston rapped on the door, and waited. An intelligent looking man with long blonde hair, amber eyes and glasses answered the door.

            “Mr. Watari, I’ve brought you a new student!” Mr. Willingston said with a cheesy grin on his face. Reinhard had to fight the urge to gag.

            “Oh, so this is the Reinhard I’ve been hearing so much about!” Mr. Watari said with enthusiasm. Beyond him Reinhard could see a gaggles of students trying to get a look at him. “You’re a bit late, as we’ve just finished going over the notes, but I’m sure you can get them off of someone.”

            “Well, I see he’s in good hands,” Mr. Willingston replied. “I’ll see you later then!” With that, he walked off, and disappeared around the corner.

            “I’m Mr. Watari, but please feel free to just call me Watari,” his new biology teacher continued. He led Reinhard inside. Mercifully, he did not address the class to introduce him. “I have you sitting there, in the front next to Reggie,” Watari continued, pointing at a well-dressed redhead. “Hey Reggie, this is our new student, Reinhard. Would you let him copy your notes?”

            Reggie looked up rather reluctantly. “Yes Mr. Watari.”

            Reinhard took a seat next to the young man, who quickly passed over a sheet of paper. “Don’t write on it,” Reggie said sternly. Reinhard was rather surprised to hear a thick Russian accent. “I hate it when people do that.”

            “I won’t,” Reinhard promised, but Reggie didn’t seem to care and quickly turned back to his assignment. Reinhard stared for a moment, then shrugged and began copying the notes. He was pleased to discover it was all stuff he was familiar with. Watari came over and gave him the assignment. By the time class was over, he had finished.

            The bell rang and Reggie rushed out the door. Reinhard briefly wondered what he’d done to peeve the boy off, and then realized he still had his notes. Sighing, he got up and followed the Russian. He groaned when he noticed that he had a locker right next to him.

            “Hey Reggie, I forgot to give you back your notes,” Reinhard said, approaching the redhead.

            “You didn’t write on them, did you?” Reggie asked, taking the notes and inspecting them.

            “No, I didn’t,” Reinhard replied. He started to open his locker. “We have lockers next to each other. Isn’t that neat?”

            “Yeah, great,” Reggie muttered. Again, Reinhard wondered what he had done.

            “Hey Reggie! Looks like you got a locker next to the new kid!” came an amused voice. Reinhard turned around and saw a younger teen, with dark skin and strangely enough, and eye patch. He looked away quickly, not wanting to stare.

            “No really Logan? I didn’t notice,” came the sarcastic reply.

            “Oh lighten up!” Logan said teasingly. “The sky isn’t scheduled to fall until next week!” He laughed heartily at his own joke. “Then again, I think Kaian plans to reschedule again.”

            Reggie rolled his eyes. “Hey, aren’t you gonna at least introduce me?” Logan asked, hurt.

            “Logan this is Reinhard, Reinhard this is Logan,” Reggie rattled off. “Now if you’ll excuse us Reinhard…?”

            “Forget that Reggie, he’s coming with us!” Logan piped up. “Kaian insists on having lunch with the new guy today!”

            “I’d love to,” Reinhard said with a touch of defiance in his voice. Reggie sulked, but led the two to the cafeteria.

            Logan kept up a stream of chatter. “So Reinhard, didja bring a lunch or are you buying?”

            Reinhard held up a brown paper bag. “I wasn’t quite sure I’d like the menu here.”

            “Smart move,” Logan said appreciatively. Reggie merely grunted in agreement. Reggie opened the door to the cafeteria, and stepped in, with Logan right behind him. Reinhard went to follow, but ran smack into someone.