||Hello Neighbour: A Better Timeline||

||Chapter 5: New School||

"I could just cover it with plasters. . ."
Nicky looked at the scars on his legs and his blistered hands, sure no one mentioned them but he knew someone at school was gonna ask eventually.
"But covering them will make it more obvious."
"Nicky, time to go!"
Nicky shrugged, grabbed his bag and rushed downstairs.
"Have fun."
"Thanks, mom."
"Have a good day at work, Dear."
Luanne nods, Jay taking Nicky to the car he handed him his lunch.

=

"Have a good day, Narf."
Nicky looked at him with uncertainty; He tried to smile, though it was probably not that convincing as his dad gave him a hug and smiled to comfort.
"Don't worry; Maritza and Enzo will be here too."
Least he knew someone. . . But he wasn't sure if they weren't like other kids, same goes with Aaron and Mya; Could they be playing into him??
Nicky waved his dad goodbye, and went inside feeling that dreaded feeling all over again.

~

The school was buzzing with students and teachers, Nicky was feeling. . . A little lost now, he wasn't sure where he was supposed to go so, his best bet was to find The Principal.
. . .
Wherever their office was.
He walked through the halls, reading the door labels and trying to wonder if the office was even on this floor to begin with-?
*FLASH*
"Ow!"
Blinded by a light, he stumbled back and rubbed his eyes.
"Hi!"
Once things went to normal, there was a girl holding a camera with a flash, she was wearing a Scout Uniform and was giggling,"Gotcha new kid!", oh great. . . He was still taking a second to let the spots in his vision to disappear.
"Hey! That's mine!"
Enzo snatched the camera from her, tapping a few buttons and handed it back to her,"Cut it out, Finch; it's his first day.", she huffed, stormed off as he possibly deleted the picture.
"Sorry about her; That's Finch, she likes to take pictures of people, fights and basically: Anything, even if they don't consent to having their picture taken.", Nicky looked nervous at that,"Oh. . .", Enzo clenched his fist,"One of these days, I'm snatching that camera and smashing it.", Enzo smiled,"Sorry about that, I'll take you to the Headmistress.", Nicky nods and followed Aaron, taking notes in his head that he later needs to transfer on paper.

~

"I see."
The Headmistress smiled, handing Nicky a timetable, a map of the school and some other stuff.
"Feel free to look at the After Schools."
Right, Nicky nods and waved goodbye as he went to class.

=

Mr Murtaugh went through the list, he then paused at an unfamiliar name.
"Nicholas Roth. . .?"
"Here. . ."
His eyes met Nicky's, a small boy, looked extremely tried.
"Hm. New face; First day of school?"
"Yes, Sir. . ."
Mr Murtaugh nods, making a note of something that made Nicky shift and become more uncomfortable.
"Well then; How about to welcome you to the school, let's start with a practical work."
He put the clipboard down and pointed to the boy next to him,"He will be your partner.", Mr Murtaugh began to pull up a Powerpoint and he turned to the boy next to him.
"Here. . ."

~

Mr Murtaugh walked slowly among the desks of students, stopping behind Nicholas he watched as despite it being his first day, he seemed to catch on to what they were doing quickly.
He smiled, the boy next to Nicky shivered and he continued to walk.
"I'll be checking-"
*BOOM*
Everyone jumped, Mr Murtaugh flinched; They all turned to the back.
. . .
"Sorry. . . Added too much. . ."
Mr Murtaugh sighed.

"Nicky?"
He was stopped, approaching Mr Murtaugh who was smiling,"You interested in Science?", Nicky nods,"Yeah, I mean. . .it's one of my favourite subjects and Mom's a Scientist.", "Really??", now this had his attention, he knelt down and handed Nicky a flayer,"If you're interested, you can join the Science Club; I'm not sure if you were told, but you can join up to 2 Clubs, so if you have another club in mind; Don't worry and check the times and days.", Nicky smiled,"Okay, uhm, thanks Mr. . .?", he shook Nicky's hand,"Mr Murtaugh; Science Teacher, we might meet if we hold any events down at the hall.", Nicky nods, leaving as he read over the leaflet.

=

'Inventors Club'
Nicky checked both their leaflets.
While Science Club is on Thursday after school, the Inventor Club was practically open every day after school.
He knocked on the door and peaked in,"Hello? I was told to come here. . .?", Nicky entered.

"Hi! Over here!"
A girl in a wheelchair waved, Maritza, Enzo and two others looked at him, he gulped and approached.
"Hi, I was. . . Interested in joining, if that's okay?"

Maritza's eyes lit up!
"Yay!"
Maritza tackle hugged him,"That's amazing!", Maritza then pointed to the other members,"You've already met Enzo my brother, this is Ivan, Lucy is the founder of the club and Trinity.", she waved and Lucy shook Nicky's hand,"Nice to meet you, I heard about you from Enzo and Maritza, but also from our other two members.", other two?
Like perfect timing, they entered.
"Aaron, Mya!"
Mya smiled, running to hug Maritza, Lucy and Trinity.
"Enzo."
"Aaron."
Nicky looked at the two of them, what was this about?
Though Mya, Maritza, Lucy and Trinity looked at them, and Maritza cleared her throat.
"Cut it out, you babies."
Lucy wheeled to Nicky,"Would you like a badge?", "Badge?", Aaron nods, showing his and it was a shape of a paint brush with his name on it,"We all decided to have badges, I like art so I have a paintbrush.", Ivan showed off his wrench badge, Maritza's football badge, Enzo's magnifying glass, Lucy had a light bulb, Trinity had a butterfly and Mya had doll badge,"Woah. . .", "So~", Aaron wrapped his arm around Nicky, leading him to a desk of paper as Enzo glared at Aaron, Maritza shaking her head, Trinity faceplamming and Lucy giggling.
"What would you like as your badge?"
"Uhm. . . Would, a science beaker be fine?"
Aaron smiled,"Perfect! I'll help you draw it and what colours you want. . .", Lucy turned to Mya,"They got along quick.", she nods, Maritza and Enzo were in a whisper shouting match with each other.
Oh boy. . . Those two.