Chapter 6

Sitting up, I shut off my alarm and look at the key. It looks like a normal skeleton key, aside from odd markings up the shaft. I look around for my pouch, and find it on my dresser, on the opposite wall from me. Getting up, I walk over and put the key into the empty pouch, then put the pouch into my backpack. Glancing at the clock, I find myself five minutes behind.

"Crap." I rush and get ready, shower, then blow dry my pixie-short brown hair and throw on a pair of slacks and the school-issued shirt. I grab my bag and keys, then head down the apartment steps and wait with Peter for the bus. We wait in tense silence, and I swallow my fear and extend a hand.

"Hi. We didn't exactly get off onto a good foot. I'm Asta." He turns to me and takes it hesitantly.

"Peter."

"You don't like me," I say, dropping my hand to my side.

"What? No! I'm, uh," He scrambles to say something, but I interrupt him.

"I get it. It is kind of your job to look out for danger. I promise I'm not what you suspect."

The color drains from his face, but before he can respond, the bus turns the corner. We get on and I find an empty seat a few in front of him. Fortunately for me, I just get a few bored looks and we make it to school without incident.

We arrive and I filter in with the rest of the crowd and make my way to the front office. Mrs. Crew, who I had talked to previously, greets me when I enter.

"Hello again! You have your map, correct?" She smiles, pausing from clacking on her computer.

I nod and pull it out of my pocket. She takes it and highlights hallways and classrooms.

"These are your best possible routes through the school, and these," She points to the classrooms, "Are your classes. If you have any trouble, just ask anyone. Most kids here will point you in the right direction, but just remember you can't go wrong with asking teachers!"

I thank her and leave the office, following the map and maneuvering through the clogged hallways. I find my first class and approach the teacher at his desk, which is surrounded by none other than Peter and his friends. He looks around them and sees me.

"Ah!" he says, causing the others to turn and look at me, "You must be our new student!"

"That I am," I say with a bit of fear.

"Cool! Alright, we will put you... at lab 3, the seat closest to the wall."

"Ok." I hesitantly walk over to the labeled lab top and put my bag down.

"So where are you from?" I look up as Ned asks the question.

"I'm from a, uh, small town in Ohio. Oberlan."

"Big move. Who'd you kill?" GruntsMJ, and I snort. "My parents died in a nasty crash. I-" I hesitate, trying to think of more details. "I was at home and they were on their way home from a shopping trip."

"Oh." She says, looking regretful," I'm sorry." she says, and I wave it off.

"No need to apologize, it's ok."

Before any more conversation could be made, the bell rings and I sit on the stool. I watch as all the group except Peter leaves, and he sits on a stool about three desks away. More people filter though, and eventually, the class is full.

"Alright class, today is a big day! A lot of things to do, extra credit to earn, and of course, the test! But first," he claps his hands together. "We have a new student! Do you want to introduce yourself to the class?"

This is the worst part of being new. AlthoughI had never been to a new school, I have always dreaded the first day. This is the kind of bull I hate. I know the teachers mean well but they definitely don't achieve it. Pushing my fear aside and ignoring the tingling in my fingers, I stand. With my face growing increasingly hotter, I say, "Uhm, my name is Asta, I'm from Ohio, but now I live here."

"That is quite a move! Well, I think everyone is glad you're here, and a warm welcome with that!" He moves towards the middle of the room and begins teaching. I hated chemistry in my dimension, but to my surprise, I find this class makes sense and I am successfully able to understand the lesson. Once we have finished with the notes, the teacher claps his hands together and his voice makes me jump.

"And now the moment you all have been preparing for. Remember, your assignment was to memorize the entire PTOE. Since this is fifty points of extra credit, it would cover this coming test. Since some aren't the best at math, but better at memorization, this could come in handy, as if you get them all correct, you are exempt from half of the test. Now, who's the first victim?"

Flash's hand shoots into the air.

"All right Flash, recite the entire periodic table and their weights, starting with Uranium."

"Of course, sir." He answers and begins reciting. He gets about halfway through before the teacher stops him.

"You made an excellent attempt, and I'll give you 25 points. You would have been fine, had you not confusedRoentgenium's weight with Copernicium. Next?"

Peter's hand is picked next, and he recites them all. One by one everyone goes, until no one is left but me. The teacher turns to me, and unfortunately, the entire class does, too.

"Would you like to try?" I nod, and he tells me to start with Einsteinium. I close my eyes and began reciting, starting slowly and surprising myself with how much I know. Though I have no idea how I know them, I find that the more I think about the topic, the more everything becomes clear. I finally find myself coming full circle and back to the starting element, and I open my eyes. My heart is pounding and I'm freaking out. Not once did he stop me and now everyone is watching me.

"Very good, Asta. What school did you say you're from?"

"Ohio Central, sir." I fiddle with my pencil as I answer.

"Well, thanks to Ohio Central, you are exempt from half the test, and you have received fifty extra credit points." He walks around, handing out the test. "Now, let's begin!"

I glanced over at Peter, and he makes eye contact before looking down at his test.