The week has passed by all too quickly. Now I'm at the train station, guards posted around every pillar, looking bored with their fancy getup and sickening guns.

I'd kill to be bored. I'd kill to have a nice uniform like that, but all I can do is grit my teeth and angrily push through the crowd. A train is chugging to a stop in the distance, brakes squealing and the smoke cloud puffing out. Men and women stare at me as I lug my bags to the door, and I feel hot under their burning eyes.

"All aboard!" the conductor shouted.

My mom crushed me into a hug, her curls tickling my face and making me want to sneeze. "Oh, I'll miss you, November," she murmured, giving me a good-bye kiss before stepping back and looking embarrassed.

She hates showing affection in front of the guards. I love to, since it is a reminder that we are human beings and we have human emotions. I kissed a boy I didn't even like in front of one, just to see the disgusted look on his face.

Ah, good times.

My dad grinned and held up his hand. I gave him a high-five before hugging him. My body felt so empty, so devoid of anything it was like I wasn't even in the situation. I still felt like crying up a river, though.

Zack next. He bent down on one knee and ruffled my hair like he used to, when we were kids. I felt a wave of nostalgia barrel over me, and I almost cried, right then and there.

"Be strong for me," he ordered. "Don't let them break you down or discourage you. Foodies have something to fight for, and you can start it by being brave."

Wow. Not even a joke. He's never usually so serious. I smiled and gave him a salute, and he saluted back.

Ty hugged me and told me he loved me, which I returned.

"I'll miss you," he told me.

"I'll miss you, too."

"Create a ruckus for the royalty, all right?"

I beamed and nodded before looking at my family as a whole.

"I love you all," I stated.

I-love-you-toos chorused up from them.

"I'll see you in five days. Goodbye!" I waved before running up to the train and hopped in.

The conductor gave me a friendly nod. "Third-class is in the very back," he directed, and I thanked him as I made my way between the seats, heavy luggage having nothing on me.

A beautiful girl with golden curls and cherry-red lips glared at me as I shoved past her seat. "Excuse me," she drawled, but I rolled my eyes and kept going.

The girl huffed. "Um, I said excuse me! Do you disgusting piglets have no manners?"

She obviously was a Royal. Smooth skin, glossy hair, makeup. Not to mention her fancy white gown with golden runes on the edges. Royalty, she was, a court lady who's only dream is to ogle at the prince.

"I don't know, do spoiled brats have any?" I snapped before trotting away.

"Chelsea, the piglet talked back at me!" I heard her complain to the other Royal.

"She's not a piglet. She's a Foodie, and I don't care." I smirked at the other girl's words. Go, her!

Next were the Entertainers. They didn't say anything to me, but cut me a glance before going back to what they were doing. One was sketching, and the other was reading.

I finally made it to my class. Ratty seats, dirty carpet. We probably won't have service. The other Foodie wasn't here yet, so I pushed my bags under my seat and sat, swinging my legs.

I glanced out the window to see my family waving at me. My throat constricted, but I refused to look away.

"Last call for passengers! Only one minute left!" I heard the conductor call out.

The girl better hurry. I don't wanna be bullied all by myself.

The train whistled, and I sighed. The girl probably refused and got killed, and no one remembered to choose another to take her place. Maybe she made a last-ditch effort to not go. If only I thought of that, huh?

Suddenly, someone screamed, "WAIT! I'M COMING!"

A girl threw herself into the train, panting and rushing to her seat beside me. Everyone stared at her as she slammed her luggage down and pushed herself in after it. I could feel her erratic energy pulsing through the air as she shrank down in her seat, heaving in big breaths.

"Hi, love!" she greeted me, her voice now soft. I had to strain a little bit to hear.

"Hi," I muttered.

"My name's Kaelin."

"November. Nice to meet you."

It was kind of nice. I think I found myself liking this girl.

I gasped, a realization hitting me like a rock in the head. I swerved to my window and began waving to my family just as we started moving. I wanted to capture their faces, and keep them locked inside me.

Thankfully they saw me, and smiled and waved back before we pulled out and I couldn't see them anymore.

I turned back to Kaelin. "How come you were late?"

She dragged a hand through her dirty-blonde hair, the tangles snagging at her fingers. "I was talking to my boyfriend too long," she admitted.

Really? I almost guffawed, but I kept my mouth shut, thank God. No one really has a boyfriend until they're adults. Love is dumb, anyway.

"Aren't boys, like...?" I jokingly swirled my finger around the side of my head.

"Some are. But not Kaz." She turned her gaze to the ground, picking at the holes in her shoes. "He's wonderful, and I love him."

Dang. She said the L-word. About a boy she wasn't related to. Gasp.

I chuckled and looked away, but Kaelin snapped, "What? Teenagers could have boyfriends, too, you know!"

"I have two brothers and a dad, Kaelin," I snickered. "I have plenty of boys in my life."

She tipped her head, not unlike a bird, and narrowed her eyes. I met her stare head-on, but then we both burst out laughing.

"We should be friends, November," she giggled, brown eyes bright.

"Yep," I replied. "I think we should be."

Remember when I said I didn't want to make friends?

I didn't even last five minutes.