“Does this happen often?”

“No... maybe... yes...” I admit. Raven sighs, massaging the area between his eyes. “So what if it does?” I snap.

“You cannot afford to loose your temper like that! We were lucky that those two actually did happen to be survivors, but next time... what about next time?”

“Why are you so obsessed with the stupid survival gamers?”

“Because they know this game! We don’t! If they find us, it’s over.”

“But you said--”

“Just don’t ever... ever do that again, alright?”

“What about--”

“Alright?!” Raven raises his voice.

“Ok, ok, alright!” For a short moment, we glare at each other, then turn back to the other two - Jack and his obnoxious Mirken friend - whom we had dragged with us back to the broom closet near the entrance to the school. Inwardly, however, I let out a long sigh. This is going to be a very long 30 days... I admit.

As luck would have it, the four of us have the same classes throughout the rest of the day. Of course, I guess it really isn’t luck at all. There were only a handful of aliens who had joined the school in freshman year, and the school had shoved us all in the same classes.

We discuss and plan throughout the entire hour of class after lunchtime, and we exchanged “puzzle pieces,” as Raven called them. Jack, it would seem had been told “a Survival Gamer’s strength is its weakness.” The Mirken, who introduced himself as Daxter, told us his piece was “When battling an evil being, always aim for the head.”

However, when it came to the last class of the day, American Literature, we did not get as much time to continue discussing as we’d hoped for. We were not greeted by the same teacher that had been teaching our class throughout this year. No, instead, we were greeted by a tall, thin teacher. She looked quite young. Had to be younger than 30 years old. She had jet black hair with streaks of blond, and a warm smile on her face as she greeted us.

“Afternoon, students! Unfortunately, your previous literature teacher will not be able to continue teaching you this year.” she says, her tone gentle and soothing. An outbreak of murmurs and whispers erupts among the class. The strange new teacher holds up her hand for silence. As the students stop chattering, she continues.

 “I will be teaching you for the rest of this year. My name is Veronica Quyll, but you may call me Ms. Veronica.” she introduces herself. There is a long silence, as Ms. Veronica scans the classroom, shaking her head in dismay.

“What is she looking for?” Raven whispers in my ear. I shrug.

“I don’t know any more than you do.” I whisper in reply.

“My, my,” Ms. Veronica mutters to herself, “this just won’t do.” Her voice is soft. Although gentle, it sends shivers up my spine every time she speaks. “Alright!” she addresses the class, her voice suddenly loud and authoritative. “Everyone stand up!” she says. Immediately, there is a loud rumble, as everyone pushes their chairs out and stands behind their desks.

“I’m sure you all know...” she begins, her voice softened once more, “that there has been a very,” she pauses, “strong racial disagreement between us and some new immigrants on this planet lately.” She glances at the cluster of aliens occupying the desks at the left side of the classroom, then at the cluster of humans occupying the desks at the right.

“However, let me make it very clear to all of you that there is to be no racial discrimination in my class.” she says in a warning tone. “In my class, you will learn to treat each other as equals. But I’m very aware that it is not enough to just give you a set of rules to follow,” She pauses, “I’m very aware that you’ll behave well here, but return to your old habits after class. And, aliens, I’m not just talking to the humans in here. I know that there is much discrimination from both sides.” She says, pacing back and forth slowly at the front of the classroom. Get to the point… I sigh inwardly.

“With all that in mind, we’re going to be doing something different today.” She continues. “I’m going to put you in a new seating order.” There is an outbreak of groans, and Ms. Veronica holds up her hands once more to quiet the class. “Everyone take your desk and pair it with another so that we have all the desks in pairs of twos.” She explains, then waves her hand dismissively, sending us off to set the desks up as instructed. Once we’ve finished moving all the desks into twos, she has all form a straight line across the back of the classroom.

“Alright,” she says, trailing off as she examines the line. I peek my head out, trying to see what it is she’s seeing that’s… “puzzling” to her, aside from the fact that all the aliens are lined up on one side, while all the humans on the other. As ber-freaking usual… I think to myself. Finally, seeming to have finished figuring things out, Ms. Veronica quietly walks back to her desk at the front of the classroom.

“Young man,” she addresses the human at the far end of the line, “what is your name?” The boy pauses before answering.

“Timothy.” He says casually.

“A pleasure to meet you, Timothy, would you please come sit here?” She asks, pointing at a desk near the front. Silently and obediently, Timothy walks over and sits.

“And you, young madame,” she says, turning to a Tailer at the other end of the line, “what is your name?”

“Penny, ma’am.” The Tailer answers.

“Wonderful.” She says, giving Penny a warm smile. “Penny, would you come sit right over here next to Timothy?” There are a few gasps among the line of students as Penny, who is stunned all the same, makes her way over to join Timothy. Oh crap… I think, realizes what this new teacher’s intention was. She goes down the line, makes it to Jack, then Daxter, then Raven, then me…

“What is your name, dear?” She addresses the human at the other end of the line. I close my eyes, not daring to look at the face of whom I’m destined to be stuck with for the rest of this class… this week… maybe even this year! I hate humans… I hate them! I hate them all! I hate them! I hate them!

“Mary Kate.” I hear a feminine voice answer.

“What a lovely name! You have a nickname?”

“Well, most of my friends call me MK.” she answers. Ms. Veronica laughs.

“Yes, I figured, most girls with names such are nicknamed by their initials.” She comments, smiling light-heartedly. “Well, MK, will you come right over here?” She asks, pointing to a desk in the second row at the very far left of the room.

“And might I ask your name?” Ms. Veronica turns her gaze towards me, that creepy, warm smile still plastered on her ugly, human face. I swear, woman, your smile taunts me. Stop smiling! I think angrily.

“Klere.” I answer softly, trying to let my voice betray the bitterness that grows with every second that the woman keeps smiling!

“It is very nice to meet you, Claire, will you please join MK?” She says, nodding towards the empty desk next to the human girl. No. I think plainly, but I know that it’s no good arguing. Grumbling to myself, I pick up my bag and trudge over to the desk, plopping down in the chair with defeat. This goes on for another 25 years, but for some reason the classroom clock says 25 minutes.

“Alright, class,” she addresses us, rather cheerfully, once we’ve all been placed in our new seats, “we’re now going to do a little icebreaker exercise with your new partner!” She exclaims, her smile turning into a large grin. Oh, great, and just when I think she can’t smile no larger! I think, staring at her old, human teeth. Suddenly, I find myself studying her teeth. How does one chew food with such teeth…? That’s got to be the dullest teeth I’ve ever seen! It’s practically flat! I think to myself.

“Ok,” Ms. Veronica continues, “everyone turn to your partner and, taking turns, introduce yourself once more and tell your partner your favorite color, favorite food, and something you find interesting about the other person. Alright, go!” She says, and immediately, everyone takes a silent glance at their partner. No one dares to speak at first.

Of course, Daxter, the obnoxious Mirken idiot, just had to be the one to start a conversation. Soon after he begins, a few of the other groups start talking, until everyone is listing out the things the teacher told them too, like checking your chores off the to-do list. I look at MK. MK looks at me. She nods her head at me.

“You first.” She says.

“No, I think you should go first.” I insist, my tone grumpy and sharp.

“No, really, you first.” She urges.

“Fine.” I grumble, trying so hard to hold in my temper. “My name is Klere. My favorite color is invisible, my favorite food is oxygen, and something I find interesting about you is that I find your teeth to be extremely dull.” I finish, giving her a disinterested face. MK gives me a weird look, then, staring off into space, she slowly and hesitantly raises her fingers to touch her teeth.

“They’re not… that dull.” She mumbles to herself. I roll my eyes. Human insecurities! When are you pony-chasin’ teens going to grow up? I think sourly.

“Would you like to take your turn?” I ask with a sarcastically polite tone. She looks up.

“Right, sorry. My name is MK. My favorite color is green, my favorite food is pizza, and something I find really interesting about you is… your tails.”

“What’s wrong with my tails?”

“You have three of them.”

“Three times the stability! I could out...tightrope… walk you any day!” I stammer.

“Won’t the middle one imbalance you?”   

“Why would it?”

“Because it’s longer than the other two, and it’s got that ugly hair tuft at the end.”

“My hair tuft is not ugly!” I yell. “I’ll have you know that the middle-tail is considered the most beautiful among Catries!” I snap, smoothly stroking the tuft of hair with my hand.

“Most humans would not consider that something to be proud of.” MK says, half-jokingly.

“That’s because humans don’t know poop from applesauce!” I snap.

“You don’t even know what applesauce is!” MK retorts. I laugh.

“Well, better keep the whining to a minimum when you see applesauce and taste feces!”

“Well, I never!” MK crosses her arms at me, disgusted. I roll my eyes.

“Figures. You’re just about as fun as giggles over there.” I mutter, nodding towards Ms. Veronica. MK gives me a nasty, shocked look.

“Ms. Veronica is a fine teacher!”

“Ha ha ha!”

“That is a fake laugh.”

“It’s real!” I snarl, with a twisted pleasure. “That is the most genuine, real laugh that I have ever laughed in my entire school career here on your miserable planet!” I sneer.

“No, it’s not.” MK mutters under her breath, turning away from me. “Besides, I don’t see what’s so funny.”

“You wanna know what’s funny? What’s funny is that you think Ms. Veronica is fine. She is not fine. This is not fine! I don’t think either of us want to be stuck here doing ‘happy-go-lucky-bonding-time’ with a woman who literally looks like she escaped a mental hospital somewhere on Azkaban.”

“If you paid a speck of attention to your history teacher, you’d know that Azkaban was closed years ago!”

“If you’d stop trying so hard, you’d know I was being sarcastic.” I say, giving her an ungenuine smile. MK frowns, looking rattled.

“Fine!” She snaps.

“Fine!” I snarl back.

Ms. Veronica looks up from her desk.

“Everyone finished?” She asks gleefully.

“Yeah, thanks for the one-way ticket to death.” I mutter under my breath.

“Good! Good, so now we can get on with our literature class.” Oh thank goodness… I think, this should be.. fairly easy. I can just ignore her. Unless she touches me. Then I punch her in the gut. No, head. Gut. Head. Gut! Final decision! No back-outs! I tell myself, then pause. Nope. Head is better.

“Alright, I want to test your essay writing skills. I’m going to put a prompt up on the board, and I expect you to be talking the entire time.” She adds. I prick an ear up.

 “Did she say she wants us to be talking?” I mutter.

“Shh!” MK snaps at me. I growl at her.

“Go point your goodie-goodie-tushu shushes that way!” I retort.

“Will you be quiet?” MK groans at me. I roll my eyes. Those poor, poor parents… they just wasted a decade of their life on this bag of sour candy. I think, growling lowly. Turning my attention back to the teacher, I realize some other kid had asked the same question I did.

“That is an excellent question! Yes, I did say I want you to be talking, because I don’t want you and your partner to just ignore each other all year!” Ms. Veronica exclaims, laughing at her own comment.

I throw my hands up, mouthing the words “Why not! Why not!” Gripping the fur on the top of my head, I silently bang my head against my desk dramatically.

“Oh, get over it!” MK whispers sharply. I stop, allowing my face to sit plastered against the desk for a moment, then slowly turning my head to face MK with an uninterested look.

“You wanna run that one by me again, shark tooth?” I challenge her.

“Is there anything that comes out of your mouth that isn’t sarcasm?”

“What do you think?” I ask, raising an eyebrow at her.

“So, for this assignment,” Ms. Veronica continues after a mouthful of off-topic babbling, all of which I ignored, “you will be working together with your partner to create the essay.” Immediately, the class erupts in loud protests.

“What?!” A student yells.

“That is totally unfair!” Another protests.

“What if I don’t agree with my partner?”

“This is outrageous! I shouldn’t have to work with this freak!”

“This is just wrong!” I sigh, tapping my fingers, listening with satisfaction to the chaos of humans and aliens protesting rightly against their instructions.

“Silence!” Ms. Veronica’s voice booms across the room, causing the students to fall quiet. “It does not matter how much you do not like it, it is important that you all learn to respect one another. And part of that means getting to know each other. I will assign you an opinion, to avoid any arguments between you and your partner about which side you’ll support.” she explains.

“Well, this couldn’t get much worse.” I mutter.

“The prompt is...” Ms. Veronica trails off, taking a marker and beginning to write on the whiteboard. Finishing in silence, she steps aside allowing us to read it.

Do you think the Alien Immigration was overall worth it?

“I stand corrected...” I murmur, letting my shoulders sag.

“Now, the reason I’m giving you this topic is because I know you each have all the facts for your own side. I know you aliens know all the positives of emigrating from your own planet, and I know that you humans know the negatives of having a large number of them immigrating here from nowhere.

“So, depending on what side of the argument I assign you, one of you will be gathering all the facts into a nice brainstorm while the other will write the essay. You will turn in your brainstorming along with your essay next class.”

I silently roll my eyes as the class groans in unison. This is preposterous, I think, if you think you’re doing us a favor I’ll show you just what you’re doing! Silent as ever, Ms. Veronica begins strolling around the classroom, assigning “yes” or “no” to each set of partners. I watch with utter discontent.

“This is ridiculous,” I mumble aloud, “we should be given the right to express our own opinion. Not be given one.”

“Well, you’d just say yes, when the answer is clearly no.” MK retorts, shooting me a side glance. I snap my head in her direction, giving her a hot glare.

“How dare you--”

“Klere, MK, you will be against Alien Immigration.” Ms. Veronica speaks, her voice monotonous, but her irritating smile as wide as ever. How dare she smile at me! Why I outta-- My thoughts are cut off by yet another smile. A smile all the more ugly. MK gives me a smug look. The ugliest, most flat-faced smug smile I’ve ever seen in my entire nine lives!

Please note: Catries do not actually have nine lives, I am just saying this as an exaggeration.

“Are you looking at me?” I snap. MK’s smile disappears, and she rolls her eyes.

“Let’s just get to work.” She grumbles.