Outbreak

(This is gonna a be a story set in the present, but with a few things different.  Think of it as an alternate version of Earth...kinda like what Marvel Comics does.)

The first day is always the same, whether you're in grade school, high school, college, whatever. You meet the people you're going to see everyday, learn the routine you'll rarely deviate from, get the materials you'll need. The orientation that you'll get no matter what kind of school you go to, in any country on this earth...only thing is, I'm not from this Earth. Not originally, at least. My name's Jacen,  I'm 15 and I am a citizen of the United States...who was born in the middle of outer space.

Some time in 1993, they figured out how people could live comfortably in space, and the government had a number of families live on the giant shuttles, like a giant focus group. My mother and father were both born on Earth, and were in the first test batch of people to go up. My father was an officer in the Unified North American Armed Forces, or UNAAF for short. He met my mother, a flight attendant for the airline that regularly had flights for soldiers, while on his final tour for the UNAAF. He retired in 1994, and about 10 months later, was living on Star Station 05. I was born 2 years after the move, and after about 14 years of living on the space shuttle...my parents decided it was time for them to go back to Earth...that giant sphere I always saw outside of my window. It was there in my eyes everyday, when I woke, when I walked the halls of the shuttle. Even all the history classes I had taken, couldn't prepare me for when I actually set foot on the planet's surface.

People were happy, on their way to start their daily activities. Skyscrapers stood tall, trains and buses full of people raced to their destinations. Today was the day I entered high school as a sophomore, and I was actually pretty excited. I had heard of being in a class full of people like myself, actually getting to learn without being in front of a computer.

With my luck, I was going to do just fine. Life on the space station was just like being on Earth according to my parents, minus the atmosphere. Learning was rather accelerated, and what was considered college level education on Earth, was my middle school curriculum. My parents always told me; "Don't let your smarts get to your head, you're an incredibly intelligent young man and the best son anyone could ask for, but pride can be the downfall of even the smartest person. Always be humble." Their words rang in my head as I walked down to the school, bag on my back, headphones around my neck.

"You guys hear about the new kid? Word around the faculty office is that he's one of those people who came from the Star Station project." I heard someone say while they were sitting on a staircase.

"Wow, you think he's some kind of alien or something?"

My heart sank, I wasn't even fully into the first day of classes, and I'm already being surrounded by rumors...so much for my luck. Before opening the door, I looked up at the sky...it looked a dull gray, and I instantly was taken by thoughts of being in space...the people, the view I had of the Earth whenever I looked out one of the station windows...I briefly questioned my own ability to handle this before quickly shaking those notions away...

I walked into the school, making my way to the door marked "OFFICE". A woman looking to be in her mid-30's sat typing away at a computer, with a cup of what I assumed to be coffee sitting next to her hand on the desk. I looked at my watch, it was 8:00 and I didn't have to be in my homeroom for another 30 minutes.

"Uhh, hi. I'm a new student, I got a phone call about two days ago telling me to come to the office to get my class schedule and orientation?" I said, looking around the room.

"Can I have your name please?" She said sweetly looking up at me, I could tell she was a genuinely nice person.

"Jacen McNamara."

She looked up at me, a short look of disbelief appeared on her face before she quickly rubbed her face, and putting on a saccharine smile. I started to question my earlier assumption of her being genuine.

"Oh, well...the -ahem- Principal will see you personally. I'll buzz you in, it's the door to your right." She said, as she picked up the phone.

"Thanks...I think" I muttered the last part under my breath as I walked over and had a seat in the chair outside the principal's door.

"Principal Lewis, he's here."

She hung up the phone and continued typing, occasionally looking over at the door.

At that moment, the door opened and I heard a voice tell me to come in. I grabbed my bag and made my way into the rather plain looking office. A man, sporting a flattop haircut, sat at a large mahogany desk. His faced looked hard and weathered, and had no signs of softening anytime soon. The nameplate read "Principal E. Lewis", and a small grouping of picture frames sat on the right side of the desk.

"Take a seat, son." He motioned to one of the two chairs sitting in his office, right in front of his desk. I did as he said, sitting straight up in the large, and surprisingly comfortable chair with my bag sitting on the side of it. "So, you're Jacen McNamara...I heard you lived on one of the ships in the Star Station project, is that right?" He asked me as he took a sip from his silver thermos.

"Uhh, yes it is." I said uneasily.

"Interesting...are you familiar with our school system here on Earth? I'm told that the system of education up there is accelerated and differs a bit from our traditional schooling."

"Yes I am, the learning was mostly done on computers, but we had traditional classes from time to time."

"Ok, good. Now, you seem like an intelligent young man, so I'll be direct. I was in the military when I was younger, became an officer, then retired some odd years after. I moved here, and got a job as the principal of this school. I've been doing this for almost 10 years, and I've kept every thing in good order. So, no troublemaking...no getting into fights, or anything of the sort. Just keep it on the level, and everything will be fine. Clear?"

"Crystal, sir." I said. He reminded me of my father, in his being direct, and the way he said things. He made it plain and clear, laying down the law.

"Excellent, just stick to that, and you'll be alright. Now, here is your schedule and locker number. You'll get your ID from the secretary on your way out." He said as he handed me a piece of paper, and as I took it and got my things together. I made it to the door before he spoke up, as I stopped and turned to look at him.

"Oh, and one more thing. Welcome to Allendale High." He said with a slight smirk on his face.

"Thank you, Principal Lewis." I said grabbing my stuff and walking out. I got my ID from the secretary, and walked into the hallway. I paused and posted myself up against a wall. 

Homeroom...room 504. Alright,  I can get through this.

Ok, that's the end of the first chapter. This is gonna be a highschool gets a zombie problem story. It's gonna be focused on my OC Jacen, and could get a bit graphic in later chapters. This is my first story on Wattpad, but most certainly not my last. Enjoy the first chapter, tell me what you think, and I'll post chapter 2 shortly. -Jumaani H.