Sam

The path winds around a corner, twice, before leading up some stairs - also with a ramp for the disabled students - which finally leads to the area in which the humans sit. The area is a larger platform that appears to be hanging off the right wall. From here, we can clearly both hear and see the stage without any enormen in the way. I find a vacant seat in the first row and occupy it myself. Sitting to my left is a girl with an asian complexion who is wearing the school dress. The dress is the same black as my pants, but full length from shoulder to knee. Taking a quick glance around, I notice that everyone is talking to a friend, everyone but the girl and I.

"Hi there." I start, the girl looks startled as she turns to me, but immediately changes her expression back to normal.

"Hey." Is all she replies with.

"Um, I don't have any friends in this part so I was hoping I could talk with you?"

"Sure, my name is Sakiya Tran."

"Sam, Sam Perez." There's a silence, it reminds me of the one that happened when I first met Maya. "So, you have meet any enormen yet?" I ask, desperately trying to start up a conversation.

She shakes her head in response. "How about you?" She questions in return to mine.

"Yeah, I've met one." I answer. "She was . . . interesting. She even held me."

The look that flashes across Sakiya's face is of pure surprise, like the thought of even being touched by an enorman never crossed her mind before. She's about to reply when an announcement through a speaker stops her.

"Hello, boys and girls, and welcome to Arindale High School." The chatter from the students, both enorman and human, dies down quickly. "Thank you students, my name is Mrs Giana and I am the enorman principal." From my seat, I can easily see the speaker as they're standing on a sort of platform to be in sight of everyone.

The speaker themselves is a middle-aged woman standing at a podium. She has dark hair cut to shoulder-length and has a tanned complexion. She is wearing a white dress that resembles a daisy, and Mr Rith stands upon a taller podium so he is chin level with Mrs Giana.

"And I am Mr Rith, I am the human principal. We are looking forward to having the first school of human and enorman mix." Mr Rith says into a microphone, projecting his voice around the gymnasium.

"We are aware that it is your first day," Mrs Giana continues. "but we would like to start the program as soon as possible."

A murmur passes through the crowd of students - both human and enorman - about this 'program'. Both the principals wait for silence before continuing.

"I'm sure most humans are unaware, but the enorman all own apartments within proximity of the school." Mr Rith explains. "So rather then a boarding school at school, each human will partner up with an enorman. The two are then partners in the program."

There's a collective gasp from the humans, although kept quiet as not to offend the enormen.

"As partners, the two of you will live together, eat together and have classes together. Again, we apologise as it is the first day, however it's all necessary."

* * * * * * * * * *

After the assembly of teacher introductions, building locations and school rules, the humans walk back down the stairs to where we will be partnered with enormen.

"Any humans and enormen that already know each other and wish to be partnered, may do so now." An enorman teacher announces as she stands behind the crowd. My eyes look through the crowd until they find Maya.

She stares back, and I can tell what she's thinking.

In response to being her partner, I nod. 

I step forward so she can approach, but before she can, another enorman steps forward. The enorman stands as close as possible to me so that I have to crain my neck back just to see his face.

It's the enorman from the corridor with the rat tail.

"Come on, human, let's be partners." He says, smirking. My eyes glance sideways to his bulging breast-pocket, and there's no doubt that the cleaner still occupies that very pocket.

I try to speak, however nothing comes out.

Something this tall should not stand this close.

Not at this angle.

And not with that face.

A small sadistic smile, enjoying the helplessness of the cleaner, and knowing at what angle to stand to appear most threatening.

My heart pounds against my chest. A shiver runs up my spine, and, I've yet to reply.

Thankfully, Maya grabs the other enorman's shoulder and pulls him back slightly to make room. Holding her hand out, level with me, and replies.

"Let's be partners, Sam." She says as she smiles gently. I step forward onto the warm palm and she raises it how she did before. A second hand for support and curled fingers for safety. Warmth radiates from her hand and my heart rate slows. I lower myself into a sitting position, knees out in front of me as Maya walks out of the gym.

"What a shitty end to the first assembly." I think, sighing. Maya removes her left hand from support to check the watch she wears on her wrist. The hands on the clock are about as long as my arms, leading me to kick myself for not noticing it before.

"It's nearly 10:30." Maya announces, angling her watch so I could read it.

"What are we supposed to be doing?" I ask, hoping she knew what I didn't.

"Getting to know each other - I think. You got no idea?"

I shake my head in response, inwardly sighing at our hopelessness. We both think for a while as Maya walks. Neither of us end up coming with any ideas as we - well she - walk though the corridors. I spy the human corridor to the side on the wall but decide not to say anything because then I'd have to walk.

We enter a cafeteria - damn, we're just going everywhere today - and find a few enormen sitting at the silver tables. Some alone, some in groups or pairs. One thing that they all share in common is that a human sits with, next to or on them.

Walking over to a vacant table, Maya lowers her hand so I can stand on the table before she sits down herself. I touch the floor-table and pull back sharply. "Cold." I mutter under my breath. "Maya's hand was pretty warm . . . Shit, did I just say that?"

Maya settles herself before gazing at me.

"So, tell me about yourself."