I stroll into the classroom, my pain warming me up and causing my cheeks to tint slightly with blush. I hope my marks from our fun aren't getting infected.

A tall and handsome man with deep brown eyes and inky black hair looks at me and does a double take.

What, do I have something on me? I check but don't see anything obvious. No stains, smudges, tears, or anything like that.

I decide to ignore him and find a chair. Sitting down, I take my backpack off and fix my skirt. I pull out my notebook and pencil which are now my only means of communication. Fingering my necklace, I am about to lose myself in a daydream, but the man who was staring comes over interrupting me and my thoughts.

"My name is Axel Toma. Am I to presume that you are Sang Sorenson?" He asked politely.

I simply nod. Mr. Toma seems to be waiting for something, but I don't know what to do or what he is waiting for so I just sit and fiddle with my necklace. With a disappointed look in his dark eyes, he turns and walks off.

"Alright, class. Today we will be focusing on pages fifty through sixty-three in our textbooks. Read it silently. I am passing out a reading guide that will be due at the end of the class. Once you are finished, you may have a free period to silently catch up on work. Not that you should have any work this early in the year," He announces, his smoky voice filling the classroom.

With that, he starts to hand out the reading guide. I take the history book out from the basket under my chair. I open up to page fifty and Sarah reads the pages two at a time memorizing every piece of information. It takes her no longer than a few seconds for each pair of pages and soon we are finished with the reading part. Quickly, she writes down the answers to the questions in the guide.

Five minutes into the class and we are done. I set the guide in the corner of my desk and pull out my notebook. Opening it up to a new page, I start to draw a bloody rose. It is a Chrysler Imperial, my favorite rose. They are normally red and the rose I am drawing is a deep red that is dripping matching colored blood from the thorns that surround it.

The class is over soon and I smile goodbye to Mr.Toma before walking to my next class.

I have to walk across the campus to get to my Japanese class. While I am in perfect shape due to Star's training during my sleep, I still hate any form of exercise. Including walking. And standing. And anything like that nonsense.

Annoyed with the walking, I fling open the door and see Dr.Green looking startled again. What? I like to fling doors open, especially when I am mad or tired.

Dr. Green grins when he sees that it is me. He certainly is a strange man.

"How's your throat, Sang? Is it hurting?" He asks, being the doctor that he is.

I nod eagerly. I love the burning sensation. It helps keep me focused and makes everything sharper. Dr. Green looks taken aback at my answer. Maybe he didn't expect it to hurt...?

Humans are such strange creatures.

"You're still a human," Sarah points out unhelpfully.

I make a point of ignoring her insult.

"I'm so sorry, Sang. I can give you so more medicine during lunch when you come for me to check up on you," Dr. Green offers.

I shrug my shoulders, not caring either way.

"Well, get ready for class," He says before saying in Japanese, "Hello! Are you having a good day?"

Because of Star, I understand that he is speaking Japanese and what he is saying. I nod my head happily in reply. I have made so many pretend friends!

Dr.Green looks startled. Does he always look that way?

"You speak Japanese?" He asks in a hushed voice.

Once more, I nod. It feels like all I can do is nod, shake my head, and shrug.

"Point to your favorite color if you can understand this," He commands.

I point to my lacy pink shirt. Duh. Who doesn't like pink? Nobody, that's who.

"So you know more than the basics too?" Dr. Green says excitedly.

I nod. I can speak anything in any language I hear and write anything in any language I read. Too bad I can't actually speak right now. You know, Mother's drink certainly has drawbacks.

"Wow," Dr. Green whispers his cheeks tinted pink. I don't think I was supposed to hear him and I don't think that he knows that I heard him. More students file in and this snaps him out of his blushing daze. I swear. He is such a strange man. I fight my own blush and sit down in an open seat next to a window.

Dr. Green starts the lesson and I tune him out. Bored, I start out the window and talk to Star.

"Okay, Star. I need you to do a full body scan," I instruct.

"Got it, Sang." A couple seconds later come her results.

"Your throat will be ready for you to talk when you wake up tomorrow, but your voice will be raspy. Your whip marks are healing and not infected. As soon as you get the chance, you need to change your bandages so they stay healing and clean. You should be at full health in a couple of days since the whip marks were shallower this time. As for the bruises, I will help them heal a bit faster. This will only be true if Master doesn't hurt you further, though."

I roll my eyes. "Her hurting me is only a part of our playdate. She doesn't even play with Marie and she is nicer to her and likes her more. I would rather have the pain and keep her happy, especially since we don't mind the pain."

I spend the rest of the time working on my rose drawing. I add a layer of color to the pedals. I am so focused on my work, the sound of the bell makes me jump like a kangaroo.

Quickly, I gather my things and head to the cafeteria. My backpack bangs on my back and makes my sores hurt worse as I run as fast as I can to the cafeteria. I make it just before the halls became crowded with the swarm of students.

I skip the line area since I am the first one there and head toward the counters. I am so glad our school has free lunches for those who qualify and, believe me, I qualify.

Happily, I wave to Ms. Rosa. She is the nicest lunch lady ever. In fact, she is probably the nicest person that I have met.

She always feeds me a lot more than she should. Ms. Rosa knows a little of what goes on at home and sneaks me medicine and bandages along with food.

"Hi, Sang. How are you today," Ms. Rosa inquires politely.

I smile and, using sign language, I sign, "I hurt my throat, so I can't talk. What is for lunch?"

By now the other students are coming in and Luke is walking quickly in the lead.

I wave to him as Ms. Rosa answers, "Today is beans and rice with canned peaches and the usual vegetables."

She looks concerned about my throat and how I hurt it, but she doesn't actually say anything.

I give her a smile in thanks and take a tray. Luke comes over and gets in line behind me. She gives me an extra scoop of rice and beans and we move on. The next lunch lady gives me extra peaches and the next gives me the pile of carrots I always get. I give them each a big smile in thanks and grab two chocolate cartons of milk. Hopefully, Ms. Rosa will explain to the other lunch staff why I didn't say hi and thank them.

Luke thanks them all, pleasantly surprising me. Not enough of the students thank them. Most of them ignore them or complain about the food. Ungrateful worms.

Luke looks at my tray and his eyes nearly pop out of his head.

"How did you get so much food?! What are you going to do with all that food?!" He cries.

I stare at him confused as I follow him out to one of the courtyards. I am going to eat the food. What else would I do with it? My pretend friends are so weird. I shake my head at his odd behavior.

We go to the courtyard that nobody goes to because it's at the back of the campus and involves a lot of walking to get to meaning less time to eat. Plus, there aren't many tables so if it's full, you wasted time going there.

The place is completely empty and we sit down at one of the metal tables. Luke is right in front of me and we are both in the middle of the rectangular table. Luke starts to eat right away, but I pull out my notebook and a pencil first for just in case I need to do any talking. Well, communication. Paprika walks over and I give him a wave and a smile. A smile spreads across his face in response as he sits down next to me.

"How are you, Sang? Is your throat better?" Paprika asks.

Surprised, Luke remarks, "I take it you have already met each other."

I nod and Nathan explains, "We had to take the bus yesterday and today. We take the same one."

I jot down, Hi Paprika! My throat should be well enough to talk tomorrow. Luke, I live across the street from Kota.

Once I am done, I turn it in a way so they both can read it at the same time. They nod their understanding and Luke raises an eyebrow at Paprika's name but doesn't say anything.

We are about to start to eat when a group of boys walks over.

"Hey, who is this ****ing beauty?!" A strange and handsome boy shouts.

He is taller than me, of course, and has perfectly styled brown her with two locks of blonde hair and bright blue eyes that stand out against his bright orange shirt. He is wearing an orange button up, dark ripped jeans, and a pair of expensive grunge shoes without any laces. A set of crystal studs adorn each year and one ear has an additional three black hoops.

Kota and the strange boy are with North and two others that I don't recognize. Luke smiles at me and introduced us.

"The loud one with the colorful language is Gabriel Coleman. The giant is Silas Korba and the other is Victor Morgan. This is Sang. Her voice isn't working so she will be writing instead of talking."

Victor stiffens up. He is handsome like they all are with wavy brown hair combed back from his angular face and eyes that are more than just brown. His eyes are like an inferno of emotion and intensity. Some wear their hearts on their sleeves, he wears his heart in his eyes. Victor is tall and slender, not as muscular as the others but bulkier than Kota. He is wearing a white shirt with silver pinstripes and dark blue jeans. A silver medallion glints from around his neck.

The giant, as Luke put it, is a giant. Silas has black hair and black eyes with olive skin. He is huge and muscular and seems a little nervous for some reason. He is wearing a dark blue t-shirt with matching jeans.

I smile widely up at them causing Silas to relax.

"Hello, Sang," He says quietly in a deep voice that has an accent and seems to rumble.

I quickly write to Victor, Are you the pianist?

Victor, if possible, stiffens even more and nods.

I write to Silas, Are you Greek?

He grins at me, puffing his chest a bit with pride.

"Yes. I was born and raised in Greece. I am impressed that you got that from just two words."

I smile shyly and shrug. It wasn't me, it was Star.

Luke and Paprika start to talk about their homework. Apparently, they are in the same literature class and didn't finish the homework from yesterday.

Victor seems to relax a little. Maybe he is just shy around new people.

To Gabriel, I write, I like your earrings.

He looks up at me and grins, but something catches his eye. He flips the page and sees my rose drawing. Gabriel looks at me and shock is clear on his face.

"Did you draw this?" He demands.

I shrink away a bit and take it back, flipping the page back and write, Yes, I drew it during two of my classes.

I nervously hand it back. Gabriel reads it and his crystal eyes bug out.

"You drew this in just two **** classes?! ****!"

Kota looks at him, "Calm down Gabriel. May I see the drawing?"

And just like that, my drawing is being passed around the table. Everyone looks kinda shocked.

Gabriel mutters, "The gorgeous *** girl draws a masterpiece in just two hours. How the **** is this even ****ing possible?!"

I don't think that I was supposed to hear that and I turn red. He thinks I am gorgeous? He is probably confused. Or just saying that. Or he needs glasses. My embarrassment turns to annoyance when I realize how often he uses mean words.

I turn my anger into focus on eating. I tuck into my huge lunch and it is all gone, except the second milk, in under three minutes. When I look up from my empty tray, all of them are staring at me making me turn red.

Stupid boys making me blush! I wish I could yell at them, but I still have no voice. Oh, joy!

Do you feel my sarcasm?!

"Did you just eat all that food?" Luke asks in an awestruck voice.

I nod and duck my head a little, bowing my head. I could probably eat more. They must think I am a pig. Master calls me a pig all the time. She says pigs like me shouldn't eat so much. Maybe she is right.

I am about to drink the milk when North Star shouts, "That's it! I give up! You are not drinking that milk, Sang! One was enough. Do you know how much sugar is in one of those?!"

I feel my blood boil. Who is he to tell me what to do?! If I want to drink chocolate milk, then I'm going to drink chocolate milk and there is nothing he can do stop me.

With Star's help, I move quickly. I open the carton and down it before he can stop me. I stick my tongue out at him. They all are a little stunned. I'm not sure if it was because I drank it so quickly or because I did what North Star said not to and stuck my tongue out at him.

"WHO DYED YOUR HAIR?!!" Gabriel exclaims, inspecting my hair. His bright eyes are wider than I would've thought possible.

I give him a funny look and decide not to answer his question. I'm not ready for my pretend friends to know that I am a freak.

"Star," I start, ignoring Gabriel. "When should I leave to get to Dr.Green, finish up, and get to class on time?"

"Now would be best. I am glad you are meeting new people, Sang."

I reclaim my notebook and jot down, I have to go see Dr.Green now. Goodbye and thank you all for letting me eat with you. It was very considerate of you to let me intrude upon your lunch.

I am so proud of my fancy words! This is why I am the queen of Triopolis. Not to mention, I control the armies.

Ripping the page out of my notebook, I set it down on the table. Quickly, I slip on my backpack, pick up my tray and trash, and walk back to the cafeteria to dump my tray and put it away.

Once I am done, I make my way to the nurse's office and am glad that it's still lunch period causing the hallways to be nearly empty. I open the door and Dr.Green smiles charmingly.

"So I see you didn't slam the door this time," He teases.

Walking inside, I shake my head at the weirdo. I hop onto his chair and start to swing my feet. He finishes up what he is doing in the cabinet and approaches me with two cups.

One has a small white pill and the other is full of water.

"I am so glad you weren't late for our lunch date," Dr. Green says with a wink.

I ignore him not understanding what he is talking about. I take the offered cups and take the pill. I hold it in my mouth until Star gives me the okay.

"You can take the pill. It will help you heal and take away the pain. I know you like it, but it isn't really healthy. The pill is safe and will work on your favor."

I sigh and swallow it with the water.

"Why did you sigh, Pumpkin?" Dr. Green asks curiously.

I shake my head not wanting to explain. He nods his understanding and smiles.

He starts to ask me questions.

"Is your throat hurting still?"

I nod.

"Did lunch make it worse?"

I shake my head. The milk helped soothe it. Stupid, delicious, amazingly chocolate milk.

"Will you have medicine available at home?"

I shrug not wanting to talk about home. I wouldn't want to explain about Master. Sarah says we should never ever tell people about her or our play dates. I think Sarah is the jealous type.

"Do you want to take any home?"

I nod. Star and Sarah have drilled it into me to always except medicine along with other things that are necessary if they are offered to me. You never know when our playdates will go too far. I like the pain, but I don't want to die.

"Okay, Pumpkin, I can give you one pill if you sign a paper."

Feeling like a bobblehead, I nod again. Dr.Green stands and leaves to go get the paper.

"Did I make the right decision?" I ask Sarah.

"Unfortunately, I can't see the future right now, but I do know that you need medicine," Sarah assures me.

I wait. And wait. This feels like one of Master's games where she has me see how long I can sit in the same spot without moving. I wonder if Dr. Green forgot about me. The bell rings and I decide to stay, just in case he comes back. It wouldn't be nice to make him go to all this trouble just to come back and see that I'm not even here.

Finally, the door flings open and he walks in sorta frazzled.

"I'm so sorry you waited so long. Apparently, the papers are missing so I can't even give you the medicine," He apologizes looking worried. "This school is not being run properly or efficiently. I'm sorry it is affecting your health now."

I give him a reassuring smile and a shrug to show him that it doesn't matter.

He slumps in relief, but his green eyes still show that he feels guilty.

"Here, let me write you up a late slip so you don't get into trouble for being late."

Quickly, he fills out the slip and signs it. Dr. Green tears it off the pad of slips and hands it to me. I give him a smile since I cannot say thank you out loud yet.

I hop up from his chair and grab my bag. I give him a wave.

"Bye! I will see you tomorrow! Don't be late for our next date!" He shouts playfully behind me

I ignore him again because I am confused by his actions and walk down the emptied hall. Hopefully, my music teacher, Mr.Blackbourne, is a kind and understanding man since I am kinda late for his class.