Cloud Association: Pretty Boy Psycho

Day One

Trainees dressed in blue shirts, white trousers, and blue boots, sit at tables with pencils poised, ready to take notes from their teacher. She must be Master Clover. Has a serious look about her as she gives the boy with black-blue hair dirty glances as he rocks back and forth on his chair. I lean further through the archway attempting to gain some form of attention. This is dead awkward, strolling into class, not knowing anyone. Mega first day nerves.

"Do you need something?" asks Master Clover without bothering to look at me.

"The receptionist told me to join room one hundred and one." I hold out my note.

Master Clover snaps up the note. Only when she is done reading does she look at me. "You're two years behind everyone else in here meaning you've a lot of catching up to do. I hope you prove to be as intelligent as Cain boasts you are."

I edge towards the exit as everyone starts up chattering about Cain's Corey. Mess. Mess. Mess. At least the boy with blue-black hair doesn't seem the least bit bothered about me. He's in deep conversation, with a boy with empty eyes, as he keeps rocking on his chair.

"Let's have some quiet. Yes, we have a new trainee joining us. It really doesn't matter why he's here or where he came from." Clover nods her head at the front table. "Take a seat. Charlie will show you around today, won't you?"

"Yes, Master Clover."

A chair finally. Splendid. I sit down quick next to Charlie. "Hi." I even remember to give my biggest, hello a pleasure to meet you smile, and get a wad of paper and spare pencil pushed over to me.

Work. Work. Work. Okay.

"Geordie chair on all fours. You're making me nauseous," snaps Master Clover before droning into a lecture.

I think this is a history class. Yawners. Charlie and his two friends on this table are hunched over their paper, jotting down every word that comes from Clover's mouth. Drone drone drone is all I'm hearing. Double yawners. I pick up my pencil figuring I should attempt to write a sentence or two. End up slouching in my chair. Eyes flicker...

... "Corey," hisses Charlie as he nudges me in the side with an elbow.

"Who Corey?" I mumble.

"Master Clover asked you a question."

"Question!" The left side of my face is rested on my papers. I sit up properly, double quick, and un-stick myself from paper in the process.

"Do you know what happened in the year two thousand four hundred and fifteen?" asks Clover.

I tilt my head to one side as I have a think. "Lots of things I expect."

"Something specific," prompts Clover.

"I don't think I was born then."

"Obviously," sighs Clover. "Have you any grasp on history?"

Lots and lots. "A long time ago the clouds came. None of us were born then. People and trees started going hollow."

I get funny looks from every angle in the room. Hear Geordie snicker, "blond."

Trying my best to be myself, which is hard when I don't even know who me is anymore, I swivel on my chair and flick at my hair. "I know right."

When I turn back round I find Clover has dumped a stack of heavy books on top of my papers. A slim blue book is balanced on top of the pile. "Read these. They'll help you catch up." More like they'll help me fall asleep.

Yay class must be over seen as Charlie is loading his papers into his satchel. I grab hold of my books. Heavy. Ooh Charlie and his friends are already out the door. I hurry to catch up with them. Geordie shunts past me with his friend following him. Then two boys and a girl hassle by me sniggering.