A World Apart

This is a two chapter post. So, if you missed it, go back and read chapter 8 first! And we're getting closer to the slash! (aka Kitty boys in love) Thanks!

Chapter 9

Even the mornings were warm in Kingsdale. We weren't the only ones walking to school this morning. I noticed other groups of kids, siblings and friends, walking down the street together. The kids were mostly around our age, which was strange, because I didn't see any little kids going to school.

"Why aren't their any younger kids?" I finally asked my brothers.

Ren, who was on my right looked over, “We have school Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The middle aged kids go Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Yeah, that would so suck. Saturday school - like torture!"

"What about the really little ones?" Rhea asked," Like the elementary aged?"

"I think they go to a different school in the same district and only go half a days," Robin answered.

"That's weird," I said finally.

"I think it's nice that we only have to go three days a week, but I honestly don't know how they ever learn anything," Ren said and we turned the corner towards downtown.

Apparently my brothers had all known where the school was located. Sometimes I feel kind of lost in this new town. We passed the shops and courthouse downtown and turned onto a side street.

"See, that's it right there," Ren pointed towards a group of houses that looked like bed and breakfasts.

"Doesn't look like a school, Ren. Are we lost?" I said.

"I've been here before. That's it! I know it looks weird, but see how all the little houses are all bunched together like a campus. It's our school," He said, pushing his way forward on the sidewalk.

The houses were a variety of colors from yellow to blue and squared off about a block. They were what Robin would call "cute" because of the flowers perched out of the windows and all the trees that lined the area. It was nothing like the cold, prison-like atmosphere of Everton's high school.

As I looked around, I noticed we defiantly weren't the only ones around, either. It was 7:45 now, and school started in 15 minutes. My brothers and I walked onto the sidewalk that leads us past the houses and into a courtyard.

"Anybody know where the office is? That's where we're supposed to go, right?" Rhea asked, holding a small map of the school and then turning it over and upside down.

"What?" I asked, ripping the paper out of his hands," You've got the map right in front of you, Rhea. How come you can't find it?"

"Because it's impossible to read. All the buildings on this campus look so much alike - at least they do on the map!"

"Guys..." Robin said softly from next to us, frowning at the map," Why don't we just ask somebody? There are plenty of people around."

"Good idea," I heard Ren mumble and look around.

A small group of kids our age were sitting underneath a shade tree. A boy sat on the ground with one bare foot propped up on his other leg. He was laughing and looking at a girl next to him, who was obviously trying to read. Another girl sat on her side, giggling at the scene before her. All seemed relatively approachable, so I guess it was a good idea.

"Who's going to ask?" Rhea said, staring at me.

I just rolled my eyes and shook my head," Don't be immature."

"Rave," Ren whispered and I felt his hand on my back," You're the oldest."

He pushed me forward a bit and the group finally looked our way. He was right, I was the oldest and I should do it. I'd never felt shy around anybody - until now.

"Hi," I began, feeling quite inadequate.

"Hey, what's up?" The girl with the long blonde hair said.

"My brothers and I are new here and I was wondering if you could tell me where the office is?" I asked.

She smiled and nodded and then pointed to her right, “It's not too far from here, only about three buildings down. It'll be on the right side of the sidewalk in a tiny yellow building."

I nodded and thanked her, but she continued talking," Your new here then? Are you the family we've been hearing about? The one that had lived with the humans?"

My brothers must have figured I was taking too long, because Rhea showed up next to me, as did the twins on my other side.

"We're from Everton. It's strange, being here that is. We were told this place was a myth. We didn't know it really existed," Rhea said, leaning against the tree next to us.

The girl who had been reading the book looked up. I guess we had gained her attention.

"See, Brennan. They're just like us," She said, waving a hand in our direction," He thought you'd look different from the norm. I said 'what do you think they'd look like? Monkeys'? Now, he can see that you’re just the normal, yet handsome, litter of shorthaired orange tabbies!"

My brothers laughed, but I only frowned. The truth about our heritage was obvious, but I'd never heard it so bluntly said. I felt Rhea hit me with his elbow, so I smiled for the sake of things.

"I guess we should get going, then," I said, glancing at my watch.

"Well, we probably should. Thanks for the help, guys. We didn't catch your names, though," Rhea said brightly, displaying his sociable personality.

"My name's Brianna, Bri for short. And, these are my friends Caitlin and Brennan. They're nuts, but it's all good," The one with the long blonde hair sitting next to the guy said," What about you?"

"My name's Rhea. This is my older brother, Raven," He said, glancing at me and then over at the twins," These are my younger brothers, Ren and Robin. They're twins."

Caitlin put her book down finally and looked at Ren and Robin," That will be the eighth set of twins in this senior class."

"Really? That many?" Robin said, looking quite amazed.

"Yeah. Lots of twins," Brennan said.

"What do you mean by senior class?" Rhea asked.

"All the kids our age that are between ages 18 and 25 are the 'senior' class. The kids that go to school on the opposite days are the 'junior' class. They range from 12 to 17. The little kids are the elementary class. They're about 4 to 11 and go to a smaller school across town," Bri said, while straightening her hair.

"Nice talking with you, but we'd better seriously get going or we'll be late for our first ever classes!" Rhea said with a grin.

The group waved as we began walking towards the office. We found it easily; a tiny yellow building nestled in between two house looking structures.

"That must be it," Ren said, “Let's go."

It was my turn to relax, so I let my brothers lead me into the building. When we first walked in, I noticed a pair of dark black ears staring down at a paper. She looked up when she saw us enter.

"Hi. Can I help you boys with something?"

"Hi. Umm...we're the Bakers. We're supposed to pick up our schedules and stuff this morning. It's our first day," Robin said softly.

I realized the girl had been looking at a computer, not a paper behind her desk. She typed something in and looked up," Ah, I see it now. Yes, I'll give you a copy of your schedules and you'll go through a brief tour of campus, missing your first hour classes. If you want to, you can sit on that couch behind you. I'm going to call one of the student ambassadors down to the office. He'll take you through the tour of the school."

I backed up a few steps and sat down on a dark leather couch. I noticed Ren seemed a little timid, and I was surprised to see him sit down next to me, instead of Robin. He began playing with the flap on his messenger bag. He moved a little bit closer to me and I glanced over at Robin, who only shrugged at his twin's strange behavior.

I leaned close to his ear and whispered," What's wrong?"

The dark room had made his blue eyes wider, instead of the two usual slants, “What if we're not in the same classes? I mean, this would be different if we were all together, but nobody knows anyone. And, what if I can't find my class and what are we supposed to do about lunch? Meet somewhere? Mom packed us lunch. That's what's in my bag, but I don't want to eat alone!"

He was turning frantic on me.

"Ren....Ren!"

Robin was leaning over Rhea," I'm nervous too, but we'll be fine! While we're on the tour, we'll ask about what everybody does for lunch. I want to see if they have a school library or an art center. I wonder if they have PE. I hope not...I like running, but I don't want to play games and stuff."

I watched as the lady of the desk went to her printer and game back with four pieces of paper.

"Robin? This one's yours," She said, glancing at our names on the top of the paper.

"That's me. Thanks," He said, accepting his paper and quickly scanning over its contents.

She passed out the other papers to my brothers and I finally had the chance to look over it. Ren, who was still curled up next to me, looked at my schedule over my shoulder.

"We don't have any classes together," He said quietly.

"Check Rhea and Robin's then," I offered.

I was still looking at my classes. They were interesting to say the least. I hadn't been in school for a good four years. Why would they put me in an advanced math class? Didn't they know I was horrible in math? Psychology. That was a strange choice. I wonder why they put me in psychology. I remember Robin telling me that a history, math and English class were mandatory. So, I guess my psychology class was a history class and my electives were Environment 101 and Feline Anatomy.

My electives sounded so boring. I mean...Environment 101? What could possibly be interesting in that class? My old school offered anatomy classes, which I never took. I remember Rhea was required to take anatomy in high school because he wanted to be a doctor. Everton high's anatomy classes did one thing that squicked out my entire family - cat dissection. So, my brother was excused from the dissections, but still had to do the worksheets and tests. I wonder if we had to dissect cats here. That would be so gross and inhuman!

After a while of comparing schedules, I found I had a few classes with my other two brothers. I had Psychology with Rhea and that Environment 101 class with Robin. They were all pretty happy with the classes they had gotten. Ren finally perked up, when he realized he had two classes with his twin.

"Do you have any questions before you leave for the tour?" The girl at the desk asked.

"What do the numbers with the letters at the end mean? The ones by the class?" Rhea asked.

"Those are what rooms your classes are in," She said and took my paper for me," His says he has Psychology Today in room 12H. The 12 is the room number and the H is the building. It is the history building. There are a few other classes in that building too, such as Feline History, World Civilizations, and an assortment of other classes. Your other classes have E's for English, L for Elective, S for science, M for math, and so on."

"Oh, okay. I get it now. So, when does our tour start?"

She paused, glanced out the window, and then at her watch," As soon as Logan gets here. I hope he didn't forget. I may have to call down to his classroom. Let me check and see what he has first hour."

Just as she sat down at her desk, I noticed a guy hurriedly walking towards the door," Is that him?" I asked.

She adjusted her glasses," Yes, that would be Mr. Hamilton."