Something's Wrong With the Different Realms

Thirteen: Earthen School

Harry Silvio

I was rudely awakened by a loud and annoying beeping noise. I turned over, expecting to find my little brother on the bed beside mine. It was probably him wailing at something after all. But when I waved my hand around, I found nothing but air. I thought that was weird when a voice called a name I didn't recognize.

"Harry!" it said, "wake up! Otherwise, we'll be late for school!"

I peeled open my eyes and glanced at my surroundings. Suddenly, it struck me that what had happened wasn't a dream, it was a horrible reality. My brother wasn't beside me but instead, I was sharing the room with my best friend, my sister from another mother, Allaira and some strange half-Earthen, half-Shallngsean dude named Gillian.

I groaned and looked out the window of Gillian's room; it was still dark. "Why?" I whined.

"I don't know but schools have always started at unreasonably early times. You kind of just have to get used to it. Anyway, since we don't have a lot of time, I suggest that you hurry up. I'll leave the room so you can change. The bathroom is across the hall from my room," Gillian stated before leaving the room and shutting the door behind him.

Zenobian schools didn't start until much later, until after the sun had risen, even during Winter. I guess it was something that I just had to deal with. I wasn't happy about it, I definitely wasn't happy, but I had to deal with it. So, I got up and changed. I did my daily hygiene routine which differed from Gillian's and headed downstairs to eat. After eating, Gillian helped me pack my knapsack or "backpack" and I followed him down the road and onto a long yellow vehicle called a school bus.

We headed past rows and rows of similar, almost identical houses. Past trees with their branches covered in snow. Past farms, spread out and with large fields. Past a few more houses and trails before heading to a large, brick building which I supposed was the school. We stopped a few more times before finally stopping at the school. During those stops, more people came on the bus. And when we stopped in front of what I assumed to be the main entrance of the school, all the students got up at once and began exiting the bus and making their way into the school.

"Are you familiar with your map and your schedule?" asked Gillian as soon as we were through the front doors.

Allaira and I bobbed our heads simultaneously and patted our bag to make sure that we had everything we needed. "Yeah," we said.

"Good," Gillian said as he weaved around a group of chatting students. "I can show you to your homeroom classes but after that, you're on your own. I'm pretty sure you guys will be getting some sort of a school tour sometime next week by a student in one of your classes, but for now, if you have any questions about anything, feel free to message me anytime you want. Okay?"

We mumbled a "yes" as Gillian rounded a corner in the hallway. I looked around, taking in the crowded hallways filled with chatting students all adorning strange Earthen apparel styles. Green, metallic rectangular storage containers lined the hallways. People would slam them after grabbing their stuff. Doors to classrooms were jammed in between the lockers. And every now and there, some sort of inspirational decoration was placed on the walls.

Allaira's homeroom class was downstairs and she waved goodbye first. Mine was upstairs and I had to climb the stairs to get to my class. Gillian's was also upstairs and two doors down from mine. I was glad Gillian was able to at least show us our homeroom class. As much as I didn't want to be here, I also didn't want to make a bad first impression and look like a fool.

Homeroom class was pretty short. My teacher just called out names and everyone said here if they were at school. I was also ushered around and introduced as the new student. And I got my designated school email and stuff so that was useful. But I had to stand in front of the class, stutter, and lie about my life when I was introducing myself. It was awkward.