#baronyofthesilverwolf

The past few days have been a whirlwind. From her visit to the Lodge, to the news of the changes at the hold, and her upcoming saining, now only in a few days - but mortal life moves on, and even a Changeling - especially a Changeling - must attend to mundane affairs.

Gwen finds herself at school - classes haven't started yet, but registration is required, and those who snooze might lose out on the electives they wish to choose.

Orientation is brief and mostly for the new Freshmen - Gwen is now a sophomore and wonders if the incoming kids always looked so young.

She waits in line.

Watching those around her, she sees familiar faces in her class and above. Gwen is in line for... she picked the first one she saw that had a teacher she recognized, and is awaiting music course signup.

There's Pam in line for the Social Studies area, JB is hitting up the vending machine, apparently unconcerned.

A tall figure, that's Kristen, chatting with the Lacrosse coach.

Shuffling around a corner, Arty - who made a bit of a spectacle in arriving late and interrupting the principal's speech - stands in line for Sciences.

An eye-smarting shade of orange - not true Irish red, but something that must have come from a chemistry lab - Katrina is wandering a bit aimlessly.

There's Chuck! And.... Brett? Apparently the younger is a Freshman this year. He looks sullen about being attended by his older bro.

She waves to Pam, then to Katrina. For Chuck? A BIG Flash of a smile

Pam doesn't notice her right away... she's got her eye on JB. More correctly, she's rolling her eyes at JB, who is balancing a Coke bottle on his chin.

Katrina gives her a nod, before turning her wary glance back at the Visual Arts chair - a grumpy looking spot of cold energy there is pointing out a bulletin that says something about traditional arts.

Brett notices her before Chuck does, and SCOWLS her way... but in doing so, Chuck turns to see what his brother looks at, and HIS face lights up.

A smirk at Pam She's got it bad. , a worried look at Katrina Hang in there. I.. damn it. I need to find her ann outlet outside school then Brett's scowl has her heart sink just a bit Do not become your douchey father, you snotgoblin and then there's Chuck... light of her life.

Chuck moves through the crowds - actually, they part for him mostly, he's tall, muscular, and cute.

Meanwhile, Arty is nearly trampled by a group of giggling sophomore girls who have just signed up for home ec together.

"Gwen! Are you signing up for music again? Don't do marching band... you'll miss some of my games. I mean, I guess it would be like you were cheering me on, but I'd rather be able to see you in the stands?" Chuck says once he reaches her in line.

"FIne..." A laugh "I won't do marching band. Does this mean you'll cheer me on Lacrosse"

"Of course!" The fact that the girl's lacrosse uniforms have cute skirts isn't a part of that at ALL, is it?

"Are you going to go out for Captain this year? Looks like Kristin is already talking to the coach." Sucking up, probably...

She takes his hands at that "Thanks." Yes, a visible lean against him Back off, bitches, he's mine Mature? no. But damn it, she's a teenager too "I'm thinking of going for it. "

An arm slides around her for a quick squeeze. "You should. Remember, she's got tenure, not authority. Even if your coach chooses her again, shake her up a bit." Chuck grins to her.

Brett lingers back, hands shoved into his hooded sweatshirt pockets. "One of the teachers is going to yell at you for PDA." Chuck rolls his eyes. "Can't get detention before school starts, B."

Katrina had started to come by, but at the snuggling, she hesitates, and checks out the other lines again. Language Arts, maybe.

"I will... " A look at Brett, "Hey Brett. Wha are you hoping to get into?" She wishes she could split up into three folks some days as Katrina slips away

"What do YOU care?" The younger boy sulks at her, and Chuck frowns. "Watch it."

"Or what?" Brett challenges back.

"Or you're walking home." Chuck says, and Brett has no good response for that. He turns and stomps off a few steps away, glaring at the options available.

"Sorry, Brett, just ... curious" A sigh then a look to Chuckl and a whisper "Well, hopefully he resents me more than your mom"

"What do you mean? Mom likes you. She thinks you're sweet." Chuck grins. "She's right, you know."

Brett apparently isn't out of earshot as he rolls his eyes again.

"I mean I hope Brett doesn't resent his mom" That IS a whisper

Chuck frowns, and nods at the clarification. "He pretty much resents everyone these days. I hope I wasn't like that when I was fourteen." Chuck says, a voice of wisdom at Seventeen!

"Let's see... I have football after school a few days a week, but that left room in my schedule. I gotta take a foreign language course, and some sort of science. Are you going for a language? They group years in those classes if there's not a lot of takers, so we might have class together."

"What language would you like?" She smiles

"They're just offering French, Spanish, and ASL this year. I hadn't decided."

A sudden burst of laughter over to one side, but it's hard to see what the joke is.

She glances over that way anyway

A short figure - Arty - clutches his papers to his chest as he leans in to discuss something with a teacher at the Sciences booth, but he was already overheard, and a group of kids are laughing.

"Oh-Em-Gee, can you believe it? He's practically CRYING because he can't get the class he wants?" One voice giggles.
"What is he, a kindergartner? Boo hooo hooo." Another in the crowd laughs.

Brett, observing, is snickering along, when a flash of orange hair blocks their view.

"You know what? Fuck you, Stacey. I saw you faking tears in front of Chemistry lab last semester trying to get your grade changed. And Evan, you're just an asshole." Katrina speaks up, scowling at the crowd!

Relief ... and a touch of guilt I need to be three people, able to be in three lines

Brett is snickering, and talking to another freshman, a kid with frosted tips and a designer jacket.

Chuck is saying, "ASL seems cool, it's like a secret language - but not sure it's useful. Spanish might help with jobs or something, maybe French if you're gonna go to like, Canada? I mean, they're all just filler classes, you just show up and listen a little and it's a free elective."

A teacher heads over and takes Katrina by the arm, marching her off. "No fighting! School hasn't even started yet and already causing trouble, Ms. Smyth?"

"She was just trying to stop bullying, Miss Coleman..." She calls out. Why do I do that? Why do I always try to fix things?

Katrina gives Gwen a bit of a shrug as she's led off - apparently used to this routine!

The other sniggering kids have scattered lest they be targeted as well.

A look to Chuck "Sorry, Chuck. Mmm are you wanting me to pick Then we both try the same?"

"I couldn't decide." He admits. "I figured I'd see what was left at the end, unless you had a preference." As the crowds thin, the signup sheets are starting to fill, and some signs coming down.

"You know, whatever is left, we'll take together" A nod Got to be two spots left right? I'm sorry, I got to et going don't want cut out of music"

French filled up already, Spanish got cut down to 1 class because of low interest, and... looks like they scored two of the last spots for ASL.

The Teacher winks and gives them a thumbs up when their names are on the sheet!

"With my big fingers I'm gonna be a LOUD talker" She observes

At the front of the signup lines, they can hear better the argument at the science table.

"But you can't cut astronomy! It's the only class I LIKE!" Arty pleads.

The teacher shakes her head. "I'm sorry, but we can't keep a class just for one request. There's still Meteorology..."

"That's weather! Who CARES about weather?"

"Then it's Bio-chem or Physics. I'm sorry, Arthur. You'll have to pick one."

The kid looks like he might bust into tears... but instead he storms off in a huff instead.

A sigh from Science Teacher. "Can't please them all." She remarks to one of her aides.

Okay. She's got her music course, she's got ASL and... there's Arty Crap

Brett is talking to Chuck. "Flynn is going to give me a ride home."

"Sure, whatever. Mom says dinner is at 7 so don't be late." Chuck advises, and his little bro heads off with his new freshman friend.

"Gwen, you wanna hang out when we're done here?"

"yeah" She nods to him, "I'm sometimes not as attentive girlfriend as I should be, and I LIKE your company so yeah. Hope Flynn's not a dick. Hope Arty is okay. But I also want to be with you and WE Deserve that" a bit blunt "Thank you"

"Brett's going on about how he's not a little kid any more, so fine, he's on his own." An easy shrug.

"...Arty?" A blank look... apparently Chuck is not as observant as she is. On the football field he'll notice the slightest muscle twitch to dodge out of the way before a tackle, but here, he is a bit socially blind to nuance.

"Yeah" She nods "Scrawny guy, gets bullied a lot"

"Yeah, it happens." Chuck rubs at his neck a bit. "Pecking order, and all that. Who knows, when we graduate he might be one of those nerds who makes it big in bitcoin or something and everyone will be working for him?"

"That would be Karma" She nods and takes his hands "Off with you. I've got to make a pitch for Captain and I love that you support me, but it'll look wimpy if I act like they should do it because the best football player wants them too. See you after annd we'll hang out?"

He glances around to see if any teachers are watching, then sneaks a kiss onto her cheek. "Catch you later then."

"Later , Tiger" She is pleased adn blushes Why did I call him Tiger? Who am I? Mary Jane from Spider-Man? What if he hates that nick name?

A bit of a surprised look, but he grins! "Catch ya later." He just barely stops himself from calling her 'Kitten' in response. I bet she'd hate that... but she IS cute, and has claws...

As he heads over to talk to the Literary booth. Not his favorite, but he has to take SOMETHING in that department...

She approaches the Coach, her walk steady, confident

Coach Tamara Weaver - Coach Tammy, that is - is a no-nonsense lady - average height, but sturdy, strong, and steady. Her hair is pulled back under a 'Carthage Comets' cap, and she stands by, half-listening to Kristen, and half watching the crowd.

"Coach, this a bad time?" She inquires but isn't timid about it