The Case Files Of SH : Episode One- You Have To Start Somewhere

Insomnia

 I'd consider myself a morning person, I always wake up early, maybe a little too early. I was up before six, I don't know if I was excited or anxious about the day to come. I didn't sleep very well that night, oftentimes this happens the night before I go somewhere new. I probably only had five to six hours of sleep, although I didn't feel tired at all.

The grandfather clock ticked with every second, it was strange how loud it was, but I had only taken notice of it then. I had already gotten dressed for the day, Watson had already been fed, and his water changed.

When the clock struck six, I glanced at it's face and closed the notebook I was reviewing. As far as anyone else in the house was concerned, I hadn't been awake for two hours. I stood up and fiddled with my watch chain, maybe I was being too self conscious. I was about to leave but I glanced at the notebook lying closed on my desk, it wouldn't hurt to bring it. I picked it up and slipped it into my book bag.

"I'll take Watson hunting after school," I muttered, and with that I left my room, closing the door behind me. The lights in the mock victorian halls were off, but light from the windows still glinted off the picture frames. It was silent, the only sound came from my footsteps, even then they were muffled by the carpeted floor. Earth tones in a miscellany of van dyke brown, slate, and various shades of olive green; clearly painting a forest like picture on the floor and walls. I turned the corner to get to the stairs.

Baaya was coming up, she looked up and paused when she saw me, "I was just about to get you, Botchama," She said, looking up at me.

I chuckled, "It's alright, I've been up for a while."

She nodded, "Breakfast will be waiting for you in the dining room."

"Ah, yes, thank you," The change was a bit odd, I had grown up like this for most of my life but the past few years I had lived with my mother and grandparents in London. It was a much simpler life with no need of staff, I had grown accustomed to doing many things myself, even in the short time I was there.

I went down the stairs, nearly tripping on one, and walked to the dining room. It appeared father had just left, Baaya had just cleared his plate, but father himself was nowhere to be seen. My place was set and a little piece of paper lay next to my plate.

I picked up the paper and sat down. It was a note: Hey kiddo, hope you have a good first day. I'm proud of you, not everyone could handle a transfer like this. Be nice to the other kids, make friends, please bring them over. Love you~ Dad

I folded the note and tucked it in my pocket.

I didn't know if it was nerves or not, but I wasn't too hungry that morning. I gathered my things and headed out to the car. It would have been a half hour walk, but the weather was getting cold, so walking wouldn't be much of an option anyways. It didn't take long by car, not long in the slightest.

"I'll be back to pick you up," Baaya said, stopping at the gate.

I nodded and opened the passenger door, taking a step out of the car. There weren't many people outside as I walked up to the door, just a few students gathered in cliques. A few of them looked up at me. I stuffed my hands into my pockets and continued to walk inside, ignoring them.

"Ten seconds," I muttered approaching the front office.

One of the employees behind the desk gave me directions to my class, I thanked them and was gone as soon as I had come.

"They say you only have ten seconds to make a first impression," I muttered. No matter how precisely I can count them, those seconds always seem to slip away, "So make it count."

I was only a few steps away from the door now, the room was full, rows of desks, occupied by students in uniforms. My old school was very different, but still similar in many ways.

The teacher looked up from her roster and saw me hanging in the doorway, "Are you Hakuba-kun?" She asked, approaching me.

"Yes Mum."

She smiled, "Write your name up on the board, go ahead and introduce yourself."

Word count: 761

Sorry this chapter was a bit short, I'm thinking that since this is just the first chapter that the other ones will be a bit longer my usual range is 1000-1400 words but sometimes I'll make the exception like this time~Lavie