Chapter #3High School by: Unknown "There's no sense pouting about it, Wes. You're going to Tailwind High, and that's final!"
Your dad's voice boomed from the driver's seat of the family minivan. A mix of emotions filled your head: anger, nervousness, disgust, and, you had to admit, curiosity, just to name a few.
You were on the way to be dropped off for your first day at Tailwind High School, a hundred and fifty miles from your home. It was the first day of your freshman year, and while all your friends from middle school were heading to East Jefferson High back in your hometown, your parents, liberal activists that they were, just had to enroll you in the new exchange student program between the schools. It was an idea that you hated; not only were you going to be in the middle of a group of giant anthros, not only were you not going to be able to see your friends until fall break at the earliest, but you were going to be the only human for miles. It was an idea that didn't sit well with you.
"Don't worry about it, hon," your mom said from the passenger seat. "All your stuff from home has already been sent to your host family's house, and we sent them a recipe book with your favorite foods. It'll be just like back home. We'll be sure to email you often and be up to visit for family weekend in a month. It won't be so bad."
You sigh and stare out the window. So far, the streets had been pretty empty, only seeing the occasional feet of a giant anthro passing by. You didn't quite know what to expect, but you knew that it was going to be a tough freshman year.
Finally, the van pulled up to a massive building that looked to be ten stories tall and as wide and long as the Pentagon. You knew that Tailwind was a fairly small school, as anthro schools went, with only about one hundred students across the four grades, but that didn't make the enormity of it all compared to you any easier. The van stopped, your dad jumped out and opened the door for you. You hesitated to jump out. Was this really the best way to start your high school career?
"C'mon, slugger," your dad said (you hated it when he called you that, as you haven't played baseball or any sports since elementary school). "Let's get moving."
You grudgingly unbuckled your seatbelt and stepped out of the car, backpack in hand. Your dad gave you a pat on the shoulder, and said, "You show those Anthros what humans are made of! Make us proud!"
Your mom had gotten out of the car and ran around, throwing her arms around in a tight embrace. "Ohh, my little Wes, how proud we both are of you! You're going to be doing something nobody else has ever done, honey," she said as she planted a kiss on your cheek. "Stay safe, and let us know if you need anything."
With that, your parents both jumped back into the van and pulled away. You watched as the van disappeared into the distance, back towards human civilization and everything that was familiar to you. It took all your strength to fight back the tears that were beginning to form in your eyes.
You turned around and looked at the large building and the grounds that surrounded it. Classes had already started; the school administration felt it best that you arrive after all the other students were safely inside, at least for the first day. You took a deep breath and headed inside.
Once inside, you looked at the map of the building that the school had so helpfully provided for you. You needed to head to the principal's office, which luckily was right next to the entrance you had come in at, though it still was somewhat of a long walk for you. Pushing open the door with all your might, you stepped into the office.
Waiting for you there, sitting behind a large mahogany desk, was the principal, the only anthro you ever really had talked to before, back a couple of weeks ago when this whole idea was first being discussed. He was a tall, svelte, bespectacled ocelot named Jacques, who was well dressed and looked like he was overflowing with confidence. Looking up from the papers he was reading, he noticed you, smiled, and said, "Ah, Wesley, welcome to Tailwind! How was your trip?"
"Okay, I guess," you said. "A little long."
"Well, we're really glad to have you here, believe me." He stood up and walked over to you, each step causing the ground around you to shake slightly. When he got right in front of you, he leaned over and stuck out his massive paw, with the palm facing up. You couldn't help but notice that his claws, which were retracted, could easily impale you in the blink of an eye. You gulped, and stuck out your hand, grasping one of his fingers and offering a quick shake.
Jacques chuckled, shaking his head, "Well, yes, we can shake hands, I guess, but I was actually thinking you might want to...how should I put this?...be a little closer to my eye level. Would you like me to lift you up on to my desk?"
You nodded, and stepped forward onto his paw. "Hang on tightly, now," Jacques said as he slowly started lifting up his paw into the air. You grabbed on as tightly as possible so as not to loose your balance. After a few short, scary seconds, he brought his paw to the desk, and you quickly jumped off.
"Thank you," you said, a little shaken.
"Your welcome,' Jacques said as he sat back down at his desk. "Okay, let's get down to business. You already know your class schedule and have your books, I presume?"
"Yes, it was all in the packet you sent," you said, still trying to catch your breath.
"Excellent. Then the only thing I have left to do is to introduce you to your partner for this year."
"Partner?" you asked, confused. You didn't remember hearing anything about a partner.
"Oh, yes, I guess we never told you." Jacques peered down through his glasses at a sheet of paper. "The host family you're staying with also has a child your age who is just starting at Tailwind as well. Your parents and I thought it would only be proper to have you paired up, at least for the beginning of the year, so you could get better acquainted with how our schools work."
"Oh, okay," you said, again growing slightly nervous. It would be nice to have someone to help you get accustomed to all this weirdness, but something felt slightly off about the whole situation. "Well, who is it?"
Jacques pressed down on an intercom, and said into it, "Okay, come on in." From the opposite end of the office from where you came in, another door opened. You spun around. "Wesley, I would like you to meet..."   indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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