Chapter 5: New Attitude

'It's not uncommon for many of the newly of age individuals to want to get married, so wedding preparations are often made before we even begin our journey to the neutral grounds. Weddings are also done in bulk at this time, again, for saving food resources and such.' Gray thought to himself as they saw the tribe on the horizon.

"We're almost home, Gray." Yina said. He nodded.

"Indeed." He responded. 'As such, I'll be getting married on my last day here, at least, this month.' Gray thought to himself.

A few hours later, they arrived back at the tribe and the next couple of weeks flew by with Gray handling civil disputes and a few other small problems here and there. Soon enough, the last day of his first month arrived and he got married.

"Congratulations!" The tribesmen said after each ceremony. After his own ceremony, Gray went back to his tent with Yina and he collapsed onto their sleeping furs.

(Authors note, they live in tents as they are partially nomadic, they go throughout their territories based on the seasons, so they have tents to easily transport themselves from one to the next, the reason they don't just leave buildings is to avoid them being damaged by other tribes or natural disasters.)

"Is something wrong?" She asked.

"Nah, just a bit tired. Interacting with people is... Tiresome..." Gray said.

"I see. Well, usually newlyweds would sleep with each other the night of, but we can do it in the morning." Yina said. Gray gave a thumbs up.

'Of course, that'll be a month for me...' He thought to himself. Yina laid next to him.

"Good night, dear." She said with a light smile as she closed her eyes and cuddled him.

"Night..." He said. 'This is more awkward than I'd imagined, but I'll get over it.' He thought to himself as he looked at Yina's face. He mentally sighed, then closed his eyes.

-Beep- -Beep- -Beep- an alarm clock sounded as Gray bolted awake and the recent events of his current body flooded his mind. 'Well, I guess I really am back...' He thought to himself as he looked around his room, which is still a bit messy.

He scratched his head as he sat up and turned off his alarm, then got up and got dressed. 'Now my usual life commences... I noticed I tend to stay quieter in this world more than the other. I wonder why...' He wondered to himself as he exited his room and went downstairs.

He glanced into the living room and saw his dad watching tv as he drank a beer, then glanced at the shoe rack and saw his mother's shoes were missing. 'I guess mom's at work...' He thought to himself as he made his way to the kitchen.

He made two eggs, put them on a plate, then gave them to his father and left for school. 'Distant as always. All of us.' He thought to himself as the school bus stopped in front of his home. He boarded and found a place to sit.

"Hey, look at Gray, he seems different than usual." A girl whispered to a boy.

"Hmm, I think you're right. There's a different look in his eyes." He whispered back.

'I hope they realize they aren't being quiet.' Grayson thought to himself.

"Right? Maybe he'll use that new look to not be such a dweeb." She said with a giggle.

'Well, considering it's by choice, probably not.' He thought to himself.

"I doubt it, you've seen him in class, he's always so monotone and never talks to anyone unless it's necessary." He responded.

"Oh, come on, do you really think people are happy if they don't have any friends?" She asked.

'Perfectly happy, in fact.' Gray thought.

"Hey, Gray!" The boy said from across the row. He glanced at the boy. "Whoa, scary, no need to glare!" He said. "Anyway, what's up with that look? It makes you look scary, determined even." He said. Gray tilted his head slightly.

"What look?" He asked.

"The one on your stupid face." The boy responded.

"I didn't realize I had a different look than usual." Gray responded.

"Yeah, a piercing glare that not even your mom can take!" He said with a laugh.

"I see. I'll fix it later." Gray said, then began to look out the window.

"See? He'll always be a dweeb." The boy said to the girl.

"Yeah, yeah, I guess you were right." The girl said as she glanced at Gray.

After a bit, they got to school and a few of his teachers seemed to avoid looking in his direction.

"Grayson, stay behind, I need to talk to you again." His literature teacher held him after class again.

"If it's the glare, I'm not sure why it's happening." Grayson said.

"It is, and I am worried that... Well, I don't think you are properly taking care of your emotions and I think that's manifesting in various ways, one of which being that glare. So, talk to me. What's going on?" She asked.

'Why does she feel the need to do this? I may not be expressive, but it doesn't mean I don't deal with my emotions... When I notice them...' Gray thought to himself.

"I'll take your silence as you thinking about how you should answer." She said as she leaned against her desk.

'Hm? Did she always wear such a short skirt? I can almost see her underwear when she leans like that... There's no way she doesn't know that.' Gray thought to himself. 'The socks as well, I thought she wore ankle socks, why is she wearing thigh-highs?' He wondered.

"Is something wrong?" She asked.

"No, Ms. Adler..." Gray said. 'Heels instead of tennis shoes... This isn't her style.' He thought.

"So, do you have an answer?" She asked.

"I mean, nothing is particularly going on, just the usual." He said.

"Nothing with your parents? They aren't doing anything bad or something?" She asked as she leaned a bit more.

'White... I see... White fabric...' Gray thought to himself as he blushed slightly. "Of course not. They wouldn't." He said as his heart began to beat a bit faster. She stopped leaning on the desk and got a little closer to Gray and put her hand on his cheek. 'Her shirt... When did that top button... Come undone?' He thought to himself.