Cipher

Chapter 4: Day One

"Should I have worn a different color?" Cipher asked self-consciously as he and Isaac made their way to first hour. Luckily for Cipher they shared it.

"Why would you ask that?"

"I do not know," he squirmed internally, trying to keep an outward calm. "People whisper as we pass. I was unaware black was such a significant color." He watched as a few students' auras sparked with fear.

"What exactly are you worried about?" Isaac asked sliding down the wall to sit and wait for the bell to ring.

Cipher slid down next to him. "I do not appear frightening do I?"

"Frightening I-... Oh," he drew the sound out. "I see. Your marks look like tattoos to other people and you're afraid that that along with your color choice could scare people off."

"I was not concerned until now," Cipher huffed. "Could you not have told me of this before we left this morning?"

"Hey, I think you look normal enough. You're the one who brought it up. Why are you even worried about that kind of stuff?"

Cipher was about to retort, but stopped short when a girl walked up to them.

"Hi, I'm Cindy" she said, her voice practically bubbled enthusiasm. "What's your name?"

"My name is Cipher and this is Isaac," he replied after a beat, unsure what to do. "Are you in our English class?"

Cindy turned to look back at the classroom door across the hall, her blonde ponytail whipping over her shoulder. "No, mine is a few doors down. I just wanted to see what all the buzz was about." she paused looking between the two of them. "Well," she continued when neither of them spoke. "I'm guessing from your tattoos that you're one of the famous aliens from fifteen years ago. You'll have to tell us what it's like in area 51." She smiled like it was a joke.

There were so many things wrong with what she said that Cipher didn't know where to start; or even if he wanted to. The bell rang before he could decide which. "Excuse us," he said pulling himself up from the floor and stepping around her, Isaac close behind.

Once Cindy was safely out of earshot Isaac nudged Cipher, "did she get anything right?"

"No," he could barely keep the helpless laugh out of his voice. "And I am not sure whether or not to feel offended."

"Novelty friend?"

"Most likely," he took a deep breath. "It is going to get worse before it gets better."

It wasn't really a question, but Isaac replied anyway, "Probably."

***

First hour went as well as could be expected. It was mostly just going over the syllabus and the teacher's expectations for the semester followed by introductions: name and favorite book. Cipher tried not to let it bother him when it got awkwardly quiet as he introduced himself to the class. He discovered that Isaac was a fan of the Ender's Game novels. He knew that Isaac liked to  read, but the conversation hadn't gone much further after that.

"Is that why you did not mention it in our conversations?" Cipher asked between classes. They didn't share their second hour, but Isaac came along to make sure Cipher found the right room.

"Maybe a little. I mean the first book is about how humans destroy an alien race." He seemed a bit hesitant to talk about it.

"We are in a much different situation than the one proposed in the book, and they aren't completely destroyed."

"Wait. Have you read it?"

"Only the first few books, among others." Cipher shrugged. "It was a way to get to know humans when I did not have any real ones to talk to."