Mr. Jamerson was having us do some inclass study in history. Good thing my books were still in my pack. I pulled out the one I had been reading in the library and searched for the page I had ended at. A noise outside caught my attention and I glanced up to look out the window.

It was a nice, sunny day outside. I sighed quietly to myself and secretly wished to be outside for a walk to the park, or maybe off in my old cabin in the forest. I suddenly began to feel homesick. I missed my old cabin and wondered how it was. Did the people who chased us from it ever go and find our old house? Did anyone else ever find it? How was it doing now? I wanted to go back and visit it but I wasn't sure how I would find my way to it. Maybe someday Tellka and I could take a trip out into the woods south of Windia to see if we could find the cabin again. I sighed once more and went back to my reading.

The period was pretty uneventful. Lunch came quicker then I had expected and I hurried to get in the lunch line and grab a milk carton. I was heading out of the glass door to the outer cafeteria when the normal crash was heard. I didn't even glance up. The noise was so expected I sometimes hardly noticed it. I felt a bit guilty. I wasn't sure if I should feel sorry for Ray or not. Was it fair to treat him like that? I pushed the questions out of my mind and went to find Diane and Alex.

"So Kate," Diane started as I sat down. "What do you think of volleyball so far?" I shrugged.

"It's okay, I suppose. Makes my hands a bit sore."

Diane grinned. "That can be expected. Are you doing anything after school? Maybe we could get together and I could help you practice."

Tellka?

'NO.'

I shook my head at Diane. "I have plans today." She gave me a curious look.

"Really? What are you doing?"

"I have to study for History." I didn't really want to tell her about the practices I had with Tellka. I hated fighting, and I didn't want to give people the idea I enjoyed my job. Alex appeared at the table and sat down, a tray of cafeteria food in his hands.

"How can you stand to eat that stuff?" Diane gave him a distugsted look. Alex looked back at her with curiousity.

"You're one to talk." He pointed at her half empty tray. Diane stuck her tongue out at Alex and I snickered as Alex began to eat his lunch. I took a sip of my milk and glanced around. I noticed Ryan standing a ways away from us and pointed him out to Diane.

"Would it be okay if I invited him to sit with us? It's his first day here."

"Is it?" Diane glanced to who I was talking about and I nodded.

"Yea, he's in my science class with Mrs. Wireman." Diane chuckled.

"Poor guy, I bet he had to stand up infront of the class while she explained his recent history to the class." I gave Diane an odd look. She snickered. "I heard about a girl who was new to Mrs. Wireman's class last year. The teacher had her stand infront of the entire class so she could explain who she was, where she was from, and all that stuff."

I shrugged. "She just told us he was new..."

Diane nodded. "Well, call him over." She took a bite from her sandwich.

I turned to where Ryan was standing. "Hey..." I called out, hopeing it was loud enough to get his attention. It was. Ryan turned and I made a motion for him to come over. I smiled and Diane pointed to a chair for him to sit at. Ryan sat.

"You're new, huh?" Diane swallowed the bite she had been chewing and studied Ryan. "How long have you been in Windia?"

"About a week now." Ryan started to reply. "My mom and I moved out here from Cottland." Diane, Alex and I immediatly turned and stared at him. Ryan glanced at us.

"What?"

"Nothing..." I shook my head. "It's just that..." Alex cut me off.

"All of us came from Cottland... Strange, huh?" He smiled.

"I guess so.. Heh... Sorry.. I'm Ryan... Ryan Chiba."

I nodded. "I'm Kate. I saw you in science." I turned back to my milk and took another sip of it. Diane didn't seem to nervious to talk to new people as I felt. I suppose she was just good with strangers. I was feeling a bit uneasy, but doing my best to be friendly. I guess I'm just not good in groups..

"I'm Diane, nice to meet ya."

"I'm Diane's brother, Alex. Nice to meet you, Ryan."

I looked back up and turned to Ryan, trying to start up a conversation. "So, what are you doing here in Windia?"

"My mom runs a restaurant in Central Windia, called 'The Tiger's Catch.' Why don't you stop by when you get a chance?"

"Why not?" Alex smiled. I thought it was a good idea too. Maybe some day we could all get together and head down there after school. Maybe.. if Frank comes back soon... I missed Frank. Ever since I got the letter from him yesterday I had been thinking about him. Ryan and Alex had been talking a bit, but I didn't notice much until the bell rang for lunch to end.

"I'll see you guys later." I glanced at Ryan as he stood up.

"We'll see you Ryan. Nice to meet you." I smiled and we stood up, taking our packs, and headed off to our classes.

* * *

I hate english. It wasn't bad enought that I was just learning to really read, but now I had to work on writing. Dad never taught me much about being literate. Tellka didn't know much either, which left Carrie to teach me. She would help me out with homework at night, but basically I was picking up things as I went during the school day. It felt odd, like I was behind the entire class. I wondered how Diane and Alex were, if they had these problems. If anyone had these problems. I sighed and struggled through my english work. The bell couldn't come soon enough and then it would be off to the next class, and then PE.

'And then practice.'

And then practice...... I sighed. I didn't need to run to the library any more because I had already checked out the books I needed. Tellka said she'd let me take a few reading brakes as we practiced, so basically I was learning two things at once. The bell rang and I headed off the math.

Then PE.

The day just seemed to fly by.

*SMACK*

"Ow...." I rubbed my brusied hands watched the volleyball fly off course. I sighed and my face turned red as a few people on my team shouted angrely about my hit.

"Guess they just can't appreciate it when someone does their best." Diane appeared next to me and looked at my hands. "Show me how you're hitting the ball."

I gave her a quick example of how I had hit the ball. She shook her head and put her hands out. "Hold them like this." She gave a quick demonstration of how I should put my hands. I nodded and we both turned our attention back to the game.

Turns out that Ryan and I shared PE class too. I spent much of my time watching others play the game to try and figure out what they were doing, and then try and copy that. It distracted me too much and a few times I just narrowly avioded being hit by the ball as it zipped towards me. I was glad when the final school bell rang and I could leave.

I met Tellka over at the Coloseum. She was busy arguing with the woman at the front desk. I waited as Tellka turned and directed me down the hall to the practice room.

"What was that about?"

"I was trying to get a booking for my next fight." Tellka sighed. "But I could't get one later then in a few hours, so we have to make this really short." I nodded and began thinking about watching the fight or not.

"Do you know who you're up against?"

Tellka shrugged. "Some guy named Xanthos. He's had some experience. You don't have to watch if you don't want to."

"I kinda want to head over to the park and read..."

Tellka shrugged again. "I don't mind. Just try and keep out of trouble." We got into the practice room and Tellka and I ran through a quick spar. By the time we were done, I was aching and ready to collapse, and Tellka was energized and ready to fight. I suppose it worked out for both of us. I thought as I headed out of the coloseum and over to the park. I was in my normal attire. I usually change out of the school uniform before practice. I felt Tellka snicker.

Good luck, Tellka.

'You'd better get your homework done while I'm gone, or next time I'm not going to go easy on you.'

I believed her.

e-mail author, talonr@hotmail.com