Chapter 10; Transfers

A Home for Scales

Written By : SecretSerpent22

Warning: some content may be disturbing or upsetting to some viewers, discretion of/for the viewer is advised. Ok here we go!

Chapter 10; Transfers

Another week passed after the talk with everyone. September was now coming to a close quickly as our first month at Hollowtree college took off. Looking at everyone around the diner's table, I saw how much we had all grown. Hudson, the shy and nervous wreck is now sociable, friendly, and welcoming to just about everyone. They don't even fear my appearance that much either which is good. Jagal still tries to bring out the best in everyone around him and can make just about everyone around him laugh. Raymond would barely look at me, for whatever his reasons he hated my guts. Now he's more sociable around me. Sure he doesn't speak or talk to me directly too often, but he at least wants to give it a shot. Whether for himself, the others, or maybe me. I don't know. And me, who was doubtful starting out. My appearance, my past, it all haunted me to the point where I thought no one would care about or for me. Yet here I am laughing with these new friends and enjoying myself. "You know what Hudson, Jagal?" I said, still laughing at Jagal's impression of their older calculus teacher, "I've told you all this a hundred times but if you really need anything, anything at all-'' before I could finish, Hudson stopped me.

"Then we can count on you," he said finishing my statement. "We know man you've said this two and a half dozen times already."

"What, do I just get left out?" Raymond teased in a more friendly and playful manner. I smiled a little knowing he was trying his best to get closer.

"You, get a special accommodation to those rules since you helped me be open about my past. Even though it hurt pretty bad at the moment... thanks." I replied

"All I wanted to hear" he smirked looking away.

We all joked around the table for a while, Sunday was a big day since we were all free and got dinner together. It was nice seeing everyone so friendly. I was happy to see the new friends I had made. The one's I could be more open with. They accepted my past and who I was. They wanted to help me, and I wanted to help them. I would do anything for them.

As Monday rolled in, my second period of the day came. My calculus professor Mr. Reignborn, a rhinoceros, was about to begin our first lesson of the day when he paused. "Oh yes," he said. He had a rather deep voice, "We are pleased to welcome our new transfer student to our class, so everyone be nice now. Ms. Areachel would you like to introduce yourself?" A female stepped forward out from behind the classroom doors and scanned the room of us. She was an arachnid with four, spider-like-legs and abdomen behind her. She had four human-like arms that sprouted from her shoulders and waist, covered in a black-gray shell that resembled her more spidery features. She also had short light blonde hair that covered a fair bit of her face.

"Um, hi there," she was a little quiet and seemed nervous. It was her first day here and I could understand that. "I'm Areachel, pleased to meet you all." She ducked her head and wandered up and to the back where I was. "Is this one taken?" she whispered to me. She was pointing to the seat in front of me.

"Nope, you're all good." I tried to smile nicely, though it's not easy to tell with this snout how "friendly" it looks... She pulled the seat out and folded her legs, resting back on her abdomen.

Part way through the class as Mr. Reignborn was going over more notes, and theories, and solutions (this class is hard), I noticed Areachel writing furiously with her pen. Does she understand all this? I questioned. No no she definitely already knows how to do this, geez. She finished most of this graph, and the equations without Reignborn's help. He was barely halfway done explaining everything for everyone to understand. She was certainly something else when it came to calculus. I wonder if she tutors? I might be able to get some extra help if she does? It shouldn't hurt to ask, right?

When class finally ended I stopped her before she finished packing up all her stuff. "Um, hey, Areachel." I said, I felt weird having to ask someone for help. Normally I'd just have to ask Jon...

She jumped at my voice, "Oh hi.... Um what's up, uhh, what was your.... name again?" she said, startled and quiet.

"Oh sorry, I'm Nikalandra," I introduced myself, "I saw you really understood what Mr. Reignborn was saying and well, I need a bit of help in this class... so I was wondering if-"

"Tutoring?" she asked. "Uhm, I...sure I don't have a problem with that." She ducked her head avoiding my gaze. I got concerned, was I still intimidating?

"Sorry, I don't mean to be rude or scare you, I was just generally wondering." Now I felt bad, I thought for a second I had scared her or made a frightening expression earlier.

She paused, "No I'm sorry, I wasn't expecting to meet someone else like me. And the last time someone asked me to help them, it turned out they were only trying to hit on me..." she explained nervously.

"Oh no I'd never," I said, startled now. "My mistake for possibly making it seem that way... Wait, like me?" I said confused.

"You know, uhm crossbreeds," she said, interlacing her almost claw-like fingers. Chuckling to herself nervously, "wait are you, oh god I'm so so sorry! I just assumed because of the different scales. Is it like an albino-" she was growing hysteric, getting more and more worried she just mixed my race with something others see as "inferior." Goodness I hate putting it that way.

"Oh no no I am a crossbreed. I-wait, are you also?"

"Yes, heh I was curious but I didn't want to say anything right away. I was nervous how you might have reacted so I was just going to wait a while. But yeah, it's pretty hard to tell that I'm also part human, it's more of a eighty to twenty ratio" she spoke, calming down.

I noticed the time, "Next class is going to start soon, sorry to cut this short. Do you want my number? Do you think we can meet up once the day is done? I was thinking about checking out a couple clubs right after."

"Yeah sure, Nika-landra." she had to break it up to say.

After our first chat we parted ways and I would meet up with her later. I didn't expect to find another crossbreed here after all. I could barely even tell to be honest, I suppose 80-20 is a fair way to put it. I'm definitely a 50-50... yay mutations.

POV change; Hudson

Third period was starting and Jagal met up with me to go to graphic design. Mr Gregson announced after everyone had taken their seats and quieted down that we had a new transfer student. "Areachel would you like to introduce yourself?" She entered from the doorway. She was definitely some breed of spider. She had short light blonde hair that covered most of her face, and had a large spider-like abdomen behind her. She had four skinny legs, and two sets of arms.

"Hi all, I'm Areachel. I'm uh, well new here. Hope to have some fun this year..." she said, she seemed nervous but managed to hold a smile. She took a seat a bit behind Jagal and I as we continued our lab plans.

As the period was wrapping up Jagal and I were joking around when someone walked up behind us. "Um, hi there." a familiar voice spoke. I looked around to see Areachel standing there looking at us, she was around five foot eight, and taller than me but her sudden appearance made me jump. "Oh, oh no sorry. I didn't... mean to scare you," she looked away ashamed.

"What? Oh no you did nothing wrong," Jagal said. "Hudson's just jumpy when it comes to meeting new people." He started whispering something to her, I could barely hear him. "He grew up in a secluded town so he's never seen a lot of species before, don't mind him hehe." he ended with a chuckle.

"Hey, no I'm alright." I said, straightening myself, embarrassed. "What was up anyway?"

"Oh right," she said, "at my old school they were using a different processor and system, do you... have some time later maybe to help me switch over?" Now she grew embarrassed.

"Oh of course, once classes get out I don't have any plans. Ooh but I did hear some clubs were doing tryouts though, I might check those out." Jagal said.

"Right I forgot those were today, damn do you think it could wait until after?" I said.

"I got another thing after... maybe it won't take too long, do you think I could, well get your numbers?" she asked.

As classes finished up and we had Areachel's number, Jagal and I met up with Nikalandra, and Raymond in the park. "Alright gang today's the day for Hollowtree's greatest pitcher to step forward.'' Raymond said, smiling brightly. "Baseball will be a blast this year."

"Oh so you're into baseball huh?" Nikalandra teased. "I never knew that."

"Yeah, he never really brought it up but he was the star pitcher for our highschool's team." Jagal said, clinging to his arm. Jagal smiled up at him as Raymond tried to push him off. Jagal likes to tease Raymond around more often, not sure if it's because of what he said or not though?

"Oh you know I was, I didn't let anyone get on base for a whole 5 innings once." He was proud. "I still need to unpack all my posters though."

"What're you thinking of doing Jagal?" I asked.

"I was thinking since I'm minoring in screenwriting that I'd join the drama program." he wrapped his arms around his jacket, and swayed back and forth. "I can already hear the applauses of the audience shouting 'encore, encore!'" We all laughed with him at his swooning over the stage.

"What about you Hudson?" Nikalandra asked me.

"I don't really know yet. I might have to poke around for that one. I'm not too into sports and I definitely can't be on stage... What about you Nikalandra?"

"I only had one thing in mind, the swim team," he said. Figures.

"You know what, I can see that." Raymond said... encouragingly. He really is trying, he's doing great!

"Well don't want to be late so I'll see you all around." Raymond said, putting up two fingers for a peace sign. He began walking off with his duffle bag of gear.

"I'll catch you around, gonna be busy for a bit tonight." Nikalandra said, also walking a different direction towards the pool.

"See ya Huds," Jagal said walking toward the theater, "Don't be too shy now without us!" he teased.

Now this leaves me with the question, what do I want to do? Didn't they have some art or painting stress free club? That might be a fun idea? I'm not that good at art but maybe I can give it a shot? Or maybe some study club?