"Alright Koya boya, there she is. Now do what I said or suffer the wrath of Tuto."

Koya's eyes roamed the inner courtyard for a girl that he had never met to arrive, because his arch nemesis Tuto, had already pegged him as enemy number one.

Being the new guy in Kingsley Summit Preparatory Academy, Koya became instant clown bait for a loose group of mob clique wanna be's that hung on Tuto's every beck and call.

Koya played along.

He had already figured out that Tuto was a hot air buffoon, from the gang of overzealous, needy, bruh-tagalongs to the simpy girl with over cooked, straightened hair and ghoulish make-up that hung on his arm, smiling with eyes of lust and excitement.

Tuto's boys pressed in close to him. One of them grabbed his head and turned it the direction of a side parking lot where a thin girl with mousy brown hair fashioned into a bun at the back of her neck, walked. She was stiff and businesslike, dressed in a military uniform and to his dismay, she was heading straight for them.

"No, that ain't happening," Koya remarked, snatching the beefy hands that held his head away from him. He looked Tuto in the eyes. "No. Way. She's some kind of military officer or something. No."

Tuto smiled. "Oh, but you will Koya boya," he winked, but took on a dead serious expression. "Or I promise, I will never let you rest, newbie."

Tuto shrugged out of his girlfriend's strangle hold and grabbed Koya by the shirt collar, pulling him out of the group. "Here, I'll give you a head start," he whispered threateningly, pushing him forward so hard that Koya stumbled forward and fell, right at the feet of the girl as she walked up.

The crowd of students that had gathered to watch laughed nervously, not one of them wanting to be on the receiving end of Tuto's harassment.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Belicia Brooks started her day just like any other. She was up at five o'clock am, had a good breakfast, kissed her mom and jumped in the car so her dad could drop her off at ROTC training.

She was excited though, because this Friday she would be getting her driver's license. Nothing could ruin her good mood today.

She really believed that too, but as she strolled onto campus from the field house where she trained, an usual sight greeted her amber hued eyes.

A large crowd was gathered at the side door to the hall where she usually entered for her first period class. As she walked up, someone came flying out of the crowd and landed in a heap right in front of her. Belicia stopped short with an irritated glare.

"Hey! Watch where you're going, ass wipe! You almost got dirt on my uniform," she hollered moving around him to meet Ava who had just run up.

"What's even going on today?" Belicia complained.

"I can't tell you Bel." Ava shrugged. "It was already happening when I walked up."

Bel squinted her eyes at her best friend. "Really? Well I don't have time for this," she huffed. "I have a class to get to. Move, idiot," she snarled, pushing against the people in front of her.

They moved to let her through and she shouldered her way all the way to the front of the group and burst through to find herself in a tightly closed circle of guys, one of which she should have expected to see. Tuto.

When he saw her he grinned. "Well look who we have here! Speaking of good timing," he taunted.

"What Tuto?" Belicia snapped. "Get out of here! The bell is going to catch me," she curled her lip in disdain.

Tuto laughed, barely even noticing her contempt. "So Bel, before you rush off, someone here needs to ask you something," he indicated with a lift of his brow.

Belicia frowned. What was he up to now? She crossed her arms over her chest and stood looking at him with her head bent to the side. Her expression was sarcastic. "Yeah, who?"

Tuto nodded looking over her head at someone behind her. "The new guy. Koya. He has a question for you."

Belicia turned and all rational thought left her. It was the guy who had fallen at her feet. She blinked. He was actually tall, and almost dark, if not for the light hazel of his eyes and the long blonde hair that flowed down to his shoulders. She slowly looked him up and down, closing her gaping mouth, and turned back to Tuto.

"Tuto, are you insane? Can't you just leave people alone?"

Belicia turned back and this time when their eyes met and held she shivered. Something about him was unnerving.

"Well, Koya ask her," Tuto snickered, receiving nods of approval from his gang of no goods.

Motivated by their leader, they started to chant. "Ask her, ask her, ask her!"

"Shut up!" She yelled pushing her way out of their group.

She grabbed the door and rushed through reaching class just as the bell rang and plopped into her seat, receiving a thin lipped look from Mr. Fellowes, her history teacher.

Her heart was beating like mad and she told herself it was just because she wasn't used to being late. Of course it wasn't those mysterious eyes attached to the head of a guy she didn't even know. No. That was impossible.

"Miss. Brooks? I've asked you a question."

Belicia jerked her head up. The entire class snickered.

She felt the heat of a blush tinge her cheeks and then, the classroom door opened and the Principal came in, interrupting the most embarrassing moment of her life.

She sighed with relief but just as her racing heart began to slow it's thumping, Mr. Fellowes left and returned a few seconds later and with him, was the hazel eyed guy.

Belicia wanted to sink into the floor. He looked right at her and gave her a crooked smile and her class mates 'ooooooohed.' With narrowed eyes she shook her head. They just didn't know when to quit.

When Mr. Fellowes made Cayde get up and move so he could place the new guy right behind her, Belicia thought she was going to throw up. What was even wrong with her, she thought as she felt him back there staring a hole through her back.

"Class, I'd like you to welcome our newest student, Koya, uh I hate to try and say your last name," he grimaced apologetically, "but I'm afraid I'll slice it to shreds, if you don't mind,"

"Not at all Mr. Fellowes. It's Kenchasi Pronounced Kin-cha-See."

The class laughed and Mr. Fellowes gave them a weak smile.

"Alright, alright now, let's turn in our books to Chapter Two, The History of the Byzantine era. Read the first part and then we'll answer the questions together."

Belicia grabbed her book and hurried to bury herself in reading but no matter how hard she tried to concentrate, the words blurred on the page as her mind drifted to the person sitting behind her. She could hear him rustle through the pages in his book, and his breathing, did he have to breathe so loud?

Ugh, what was wrong with her today? Concentration was lost to her. Kenchasi was an unusual name. She wondered where he was from. Apparently, stupid, he's Asian, her thoughts scolded her. But what is he doing here? In Washington State? What does it matter, she argued with herself. He's just a guy.

But a guy with gorgeous eyes.

And a cool last name.

And that hair!

How was he allowed to have such amazing hair when her own hair hung in limp waves down her back like a wet rag.

It was too much for her mind to take in, and then Mr. Fellowes was talking and she tried to snap to attention.

She looked around to see every eye on her and she stifled a groan. He must have asked her a question. Of course, she wouldn't have the answer anyway because she hadn't read a single word in the chapter unit. She chanced a look up from beneath her lashes and saw Mr. Fellowes pointing behind her.

"Go ahead Mr. Kin-cha-See," he articulated carefully.

"Yes sir. The answer to that is, the term 'Byzantine Empire' was only adopted following the empire's demise; its citizens referred to the polity as the 'Roman Empire' and to themselves as 'Romans,' due to the imperial seat's move from Rome to Byzantium, the adoption of state Christianity, and the predominance of Greek instead of Latin."

Mr. Fellowes nodded thoughtfully. "Great answer Mr. Kenchasi," he smiled.

'Great answer Mr. Kenchasi,' Belicia mumbled sarcastically under her breath.

She was never so glad to hear the bell ring and she was the first out of her chair and heading for the door, until that is, Mr. Fellowes stopped her mid-run.

"Miss. Brooks! Can you wait a moment before fleeing class?"

Belicia stopped in her tracks and turned around. "Yes sir?" She asked hesitantly.

He waved her over with two fingers in the air."

"You'll be escorting Mr. Kenchasi today. Make him feel welcome and show him around. At Kingsley Summit we treat our new pupils with red carpet treatment."

They both looked at Koya Kenchasi at the same time and they both smiled at him.

Mr. Fellowes was giving Koya that prized student smile but Belicia's smile was more like someone who swallowed a fly.

Koya gave her a sheepish grin and shrugged. "Sorry," he said following her out the door. "Am I keeping you from something, Miss Brooks?"

Belicia looked at him weakly. "You're just a barrel of laughs aren't you," she grumbled. "And while we're here why don't you tell me what Tuto's problem was this morning."

"Did I hear my name?"

Belicia groaned out loud. "Of course you did Tuto," she turned to see him smiling arrogantly at them but the girl on his arm wasn't smiling. Desiree Dunn never smiled anyway, so her rude demeanor didn't bother Belicia.

"What's going on Bel?"

This question came from Ava, who also walked up just then.

"Oh, Ava! Thank God. I've got to get to my study hall could you take Koya here to his next class, pleeeeeese," she begged sweetly. "He's new here and Fellowes has nominated me to show him around, but if you'll just take him now, I will love you forever!" She said walking away as quickly as she could leaving Koya to stare after her.

Tuto died laughing, and Desiree actually smiled. "What's a' matter Koya boya, did your date with destiny walk out on ya," he chuckled.

"Oh bug off Tuto," Ava exclaimed. "No one asked for your two cents. Come on Koya, what's your next class?"

She walked away and he followed her leaving Tuto and his smirky girlfriend behind. "Where are you from Koya," she asked making light conversation.

"Asia," he replied noncommittally.

"Oh? Where in Asia? My family lived in the Philippines for two years!"

"Really?" Koya asked. His interest sparked by her admission and it had him wondering if Ava was possibly the one he was searching for."

"Yeah, my dad was in the Navy. While he was stationed there we got to go live on base. It's so beautiful there," Ava gushed.

"My family is from the Yari Mountains. We have lived there for ages," he admitted cryptically.

"Ohhh, that's crazy," Ava gawked.

"Yeah" he nodded, deciding not to say any more. "Anyway, I should find my class I guess."

"Oh, yeah, Let me see your schedule."

He handed her his schedule and she squeaked. "Your next class is with me, come on!" She took off down the carpeted hall and he followed her.

My thoughts were mixed as I entered the classroom behind her. It was going to be much harder than I had realized, to find my fated. I had imagined that I would know as soon as our eyes met or some other gooey, girly thing. Like maybe she would see me, and run in slow motion like a movie and fall into my arms.

I know Tuto had immediately recognized me for who I was, but he wouldn't reveal it, unless he discovered the truth.

Wait though? Tuto had a girl on his arm just now. Could it be her? Gods, I hope not!