Wings of Fire As Humans

Making Friends Is Terrifying- Turtle

Turtle was living his absolute nightmare. Sure, he'd known all along that he would have to change schools at the beginning of Year Eleven, but nothing could prepare him for how horrible it would be. Pyrrhia High was much bigger than Jade Mountain Academy, and much scarier. 

"This is so cool," Anemone said. Anemone had actually been excited about moving schools, excited to meet new people who weren't the same wealthy, well-behaved kids they'd always known, whose parents didn't move in the same social circles as their mother. Anemone had also been excited to go to a school with a much more relaxed dress code, which had led to her cutting her long blonde curls (their mother's pride and joy), into a short, chic cut, and dying it pink. She was also talking about the possibility of getting her nose pierced, an idea that made Turtle's stomach turn. The idea of getting anything pierced was horrific to him. Thankfully it was also horrific to their mother, who had put a stop to the idea. 

"I wish I could show you guys around, but I need to get to a meeting." Sunny said kindly. "Qibli will make sure that you're okay." She and the other Year Twelves walked off, leaving the six Year Elevens.

"What form class are you guys in?" Qibli, Sunny's adoptive brother asked, pulling out his timetable, "I'm in 11B."

"So am I!" Kinkajou, the bubbly girl from the orphanage gushed, "What about you, Turtle?" She singled me out? Turtle thought, in a little bit of shock. Kinkajou was obviously a very colourful, energetic person and seemed like the sort of person who would overlook someone like Turtle, whose aesthetic was 'please overlook me'. 

"Uh, yeah, I'm in 11B too," he stammered. 

"Oh, Sora and I are in 11A," Umber said, "That's a shame. I was hoping to be in your class, Qibli."

"I'm in 11A, too," Anemone said. Turtle didn't know how to feel about the fact that he would be in a different class from his twin. Anemone was younger by fifteen minutes, but was always the frontrunner in everything, the confident one, the loud one, the pretty one. The one who got her braces off over the summer (Turtle still had not recovered from the injustice of that). It might have been nice to, just for a moment, not be in her shadow. However, on the other hand, Anemone was a good person to hide behind. Nobody paid attention to Turtle when Anemone was around and that was just how Turtle liked it. Besides, since birth, Anemone and Turtle had never been separated, really.

"Right," Qibli said, "Kinkajou and I will take you to class, Turtle. Umber, can you and Sora take Anemone to hers." Umber nodded, and the three of them walked off. Turtle, meanwhile, was quietly walking along beside Qibli, who was greeting and hi-fiving people as he went. Kinkajou, meanwhile, was basically skipping along, calling out hellos. Surprisingly, she was receiving a lot less replies. Soon they arrived at classroom 11B, where a kind-looking woman wearing a hijab was greeting the students.

"Hey, Kindle!" Qibli ran over to her, "You're my form teacher this year? Wicked!" 

"That's Mrs. Battle to you now, Qibli Goldman-Sanderson," the teacher replied, "Anyway, welcome back. The seating chart is on the door."

"We have a seating chart? In Year Eleven?" he asked, wrinkling his nose up.

"Yes, yes we do," Mrs. Battle nodded, "I find, with so many new kids, a seating chart is the best idea to get everyone to branch out and make new friends." 

"Oh, fair enough," Qibli said, and peered at the chart on the door, "I'm next to...Winter Royal. Hmmm...Royal? I wonder if he's related to the mayor."

"I think so," Mrs. Battle said, "Her nephew, I believe." 

"Nice," said Qibli. Kinkajou came up, rising up onto her tippy toes to see over Qibli's shoulder. 

"Ooh," she exclaimed, "My deskmate is Moonwatcher Black! That's an awesome name! Was she at Jade Mountain Academy, Turtle?"
Turtle shook his head. "Then she's a truly new-new girl. Awesome!" Kinkajou and Qibli both headed into the classroom. Turtle stopped to check the chart for his seat. He had been put at a desk in the middle of the room, seated next to someone named 'Peril Fireside'. His heart seemed to be doing an epic drum solo in his chest as he entered the room and found his desk. Already sitting there, with her feet on the desk was a terrifying girl.