Chosen: The Path of Heroes

One

Something strange happened to Tauzuri Jones on his thirteenth birthday, aside from the fact that it was also the day he started the ninth grade. That's right, thirteen and in high school. Zuri, as he was called, was smart and had been pushed up a grade, skipping the eighth.

His mom pulled her electric Volvo C40 up before McCallie High, one of the best schools in St. Louis, and Zuri sighed. High schoolers looked so much more intimidating up close. The boy had a thick knot in the pit of his stomach.

Mrs. Jones smiled and leaned over to kiss Zuri's cheek. He smirked, and his eyes darted around to make sure no one saw. The students busied themselves with filing out of buses and getting their morning horseplay in before classes started.

"I know you're nervous, sweetie, but everything will be fine. You'll make friends quickly because you're so darn likeable."

Zuri smiled lightly and nodded. "I know. Thanks for the ride, mom."

"Class lets out at 2:50 right?"

"Yes."

"Do you want me to pick you up?"

"Nah, I can walk. The house isn't that far."

Mrs. Jones' smile deepened, and she sighed. "Okay, honey. Don't forget that your father is taking you to see a movie tonight for your birthday."

"I haven't forgotten. Thanks." The knot in Zuri's stomach unclenched some, and he owed that to his mother's sense of soothing.

He got out and slung his backpack over his shoulder. After another crooked smile at Mrs. Jones, Zuri turned and faced the great structure of McCallie High. He started up the wide steps for one of the propped open double doors.

[*]

A zoo. That's what high school was. A collection of strange and exotic creatures, so Zuri thought. He crossed the wide foyer, dodging other students as he did. He stood in the middle of the main hall with its beige tiled floor and let his eyes roam, feeling even shorter. Lines of students swarmed around him like busy bees, hurrying to their first classes.

Zuri sighed.

He'd been to the high school on only one other occasion, for orientation in the auditorium two weeks ago. During that time, Zuri and all new students had been given school ids, booklets, layout maps of the school, and a tour. All in all, it was a good two and a half hours well spent. Zuri familiarized himself with the map and found the rooms and locations for his classes.

He liked to be thorough, always had.

The boy got suddenly jolted when someone bumped into him. He swung around to face the person and found a girl with pale green eyes staring back at him. She wore a black and gold cheerleader outfit with a matching jacket, and she was several inches taller than him. Her books piled at Zuri's feet, having toppled from her arms in the collision.

"Oh, I'm sorry," she said.

Before she could gather her books, Zuri did it. Trigonometry (a class also in Zuri's schedule), Earth Science, and Civics, including a couple of composition notebooks. Those were pretty 'brainy' classes for a cheerleader, Zuri thought, but it wasn't right to stereotype the girl. He'd been taught better than that. Who said cheerleaders couldn't do Trig?

Zuri smiled and handed the books over.

"Thanks." She smiled back brightly, revealing dimples in both cheeks.

"No problem."

"You must be new here. I'm Claira."

"Zuri," he replied, chuckling a little. "Wow. It's that obvious what a noob I am?"

Claira's smile deepened. "Well, it'll just take a moment to get used to the school. You'll find your way around easier soon. Did you need help getting somewhere?"

"No, I think I'll be alright."

A bell resounded through the hall, as it did in all hallways on every floor in every building.

"That was first bell," Claira said. "That means you have five minutes to get to class before second bell rings. You'll be tardy then. Nice to meet you, Zuri. I'll see you around, cutie."

"Okay." Zuri just grinned after her, watching her hurrying down the hall through the river of students, disappearing around a corner. He felt rather cool then; she thought he was cute. With his curly hair, full lips, and skin like milk chocolate, Zuri considered himself reasonably good looking.

Claira was nice...and pretty. And his first official friend made at McCallie High.

Zuri turned, and his face collided with the chest of a guy with stylish, short red hair. Judging from the guy's jacket, he was on one of the school's sports teams. His hazel eyes narrowed menacingly, making Zuri feel like a specimen under observation in a Petri dish. Two other guys in similar jackets flanked the one with hazel eyes, scowling.

Zuri's gaze flipped to each of them.

"You eyeing my girlfriend?" said Red Hair and Hazel Eyes.

"What?"

"Claira. I saw you watching her."

"Oh...well...she dropped her books and I picked them up for her. That's all." Zuri kept his composure, even though his body tensed.

For what seemed like infinite seconds, Red Hair and Hazel Eyes glared down at him. He finally nodded.

"Okay then, fresh meat. You just make sure you keep your eyes in your head."

Where else are they going to be, moron? Zuri wanted to remark but didn't because that threat was plain idiotic. He decided to simply nod.

"Good." The taller, larger boy laughed, and his friends did as well. He budged Zuri out of his way.

Zuri turned to watch all three guys move down the hall. He smirked, shook his head, and hurried to his own first class.