Call Me Cyli

Chapter 1 - New Boy in Town

He's yellow.

The info registered slowly in Cylindria's mind as she, along with several others, stared in awe as the yellow boy took a seat in the back of the class, along with other newcomers.

It was the start of a new school year, and nothing was as ordinary as a few new students joining their class. Each of the new students gave an introduction of themselves and were given their seats, as per usual.

What was unusual, was that the boy who introduced himself as Pac was a colour that none of them had ever expected to come walking into their classroom. He was yellow.

A Yellow Orb.

All eyes were on the yellow newcomer until they had to cease their staring when the teacher called for their attention.

As Ms Globular was starting with her lesson, discreet whispers floated around in the class, particularly within a certain popular group - one that Cylindria was part of.

"He's yellow," Poly whispered loudly to the group, her eyes wide in something between alarm and wonder.

"I thought they were extinct?" came a softer whisper from Tetrah, Poly's twin sister.

"My dad says that yellow people used to have superpowers," says Cubo as he nervously looked over to the back of the classroom, where the yellow boy was sitting.

"What if it's a joke and he's actually just covered in dye?" Came a theory from Skeebo, the only one who wasn't as riled up as the rest were.

"Make-up stores don't have yellow body dye anymore, ya dingus. The only customers who used them are extinct... at least up until now," Tetrah retorted, casting an annoyed frown at Skeebo, who merely shrugged.

As her boyfriend continued discussing and whispering discreetly with their group, Cylindria found herself stealing a glance at the newest additions to their class.

The yellow boy – Pac – was doing his best to focus intently on their teacher's lesson, but there was an underlying nervousness to the way he held himself. He must be aware of the class's attention on him. But he loosened up when the red boy sitting next to him whispered some words of encouragement. I think that's Spiral? Cylindria thought, vaguely remembering how the taller, red teen had introduced himself in front of the class earlier. Most of them had paid more attention to Pac to care about the other new students.

"I think it's kinda cool," the pigtailed girl whispered, rousing her friends out of their tense debate. She didn't see the way Skeebo frowned at her remark.

"It is cool," Cubo agreed, although hesitantly. "But if that thing about superpowers is actually true, then what if he's a secret government spy? Or even an alien?" the burly, dark blue teenager theorised, eyes as round as the twin moons.

"He's none of those, you conspiracy monger," Skeebo said, dismissively. "He's just another student. Probably a total nobody, if you ask me."

Cylindria frowned in confusion at Skeebo, a look that her boyfriend clearly missed as he leaned back in his chair and focused on the lesson. Why would he already label a new student as a 'nobody' when he's barely met him?

"Eyes on the board, students! I'm sure your rapt discussions among yourselves can wait for recess," Ms Globular called, snapping everyone out of their gossiping and forcing them to pay attention. The whispering stopped, but it didn't stop a few more stray glances towards the back of the class.

Cylindria picked up her pencil and got to work on writing notes into her textbook, following her teacher's instructions down to every detail. As she worked diligently, she heard Tetrah and Poly murmuring to each other about the latest fashion trends, and Cubo was leaning back in his chair to talk to Rubix about football practice. The topic of the yellow Pacworlder went away as quickly as it came, and already her group of friends were focussing on their daily chatter and chasing the latest trends. Nothing new.