Entering the classroom, Derec could feel all eyes zero in on him and inspect him from head to toe. In that moment he knew every person judged his appearance and placed him in a finely described category. He had been inspected and labelled.
Approaching the large desk in the front left corner of the room he caught the attention of the teacher perched on the stool behind it.
“Ahh, you must be the new student. Well now Mr. Markson, I'm Mr. Spencer, or Mr. S. if you like. Lucky for you we are starting a new novel study today, so take a book from the pile there and you can take a seat in the far corner over there.”
Nodding silently, Derec grabbed on of the books sitting on the edge of the desk and took his seat. Many of the students stared at him as he moved across the room, while he tried to ignore them. He felt as though he was going to class in place of an older brother.
'Most other people probly see the same thing.'
Once he took his seat, Mr. S. began, and the other students quieted to face the front. “Okay, Class. Today we are starting Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, for those whose haven't thought to read the title yet. Last week we did a little review on Death of a Salesman and the themes obvious there, so now I'd like to talk about who the 'American Dream' is different dependant on the time period. Would anyone like to start us off?”
And like so the class went, they talked about each book, and compared them. Derec had made the assumption at the beginning that he wouldn't be able to help in the conversation so he zoned out. Near the end of the hour, his thoughts were interrupted.
“I haven't heard from you yet, Derec. What are your thoughts?”
“...I.....ummm.”
“Now don't be shy, I'm sure you have some insight.”
Sitting frozen Derec stared at Mr. S. who in turn just stared right back expectantly. He waited a minute or so, hope the teacher would give up. But really Mr. S. was an extremely stubborn man. Derec could stand the attention, he must come up with some kind of answer so that the discussion could continue on without him.
“Well......cars weren't around, so one story can't really have that as part of their dream right?”
“Quite true, can you think of anything else.”
Searching his brain, Derec looked in all the deep dark rooms of his mind. Finding a labyrinth too difficult to navigate very far and the few rooms of storage were pitch dark. He couldn't grasp any bit of information, and then from nowhere came a piece of knowledge.
“.......Willy's dream is highly unrealistic?”
“Why do you say that?” Mr. S. smiled incouragingly.
“Well, if you think about it. Lennie's dream is based off what he knows from George; who thinks if one were to work hard enough and save enough they could get the life they hope for. But Willy hopes to attain the 'American Dream' through being well liked. He thought he could have everything he wanted if people liked him. Which in the end is almost an irony, cause each story the characters are reversed in how to attain their wishes. Based on the development of culture at the time, for Lennie and George they would have been closer to getting what they wanted if they were given more opportunity through the relationships they had with their bosses. But their bosses thought of them as beneath them, less than human. Had they been well like that most likely wouldn't have been the case....”
“And for Willy?”
“Umm... Willy based his assumption on that of an elderly salesman, and the funeral the guy had. But since Willy was a child, things had changed. It was smarter to higher people that could do the work rather than people you could get along with. Stuck on the idea of being well liked, he forced this on his sons who then struggled to attain success. This also being a failure in the achievement of the 'American Dream' which included being a good father that raised successful sons.... and yeah, Willy didn't take the right approach.......and Lennie was stuck following George....who...who was doing it wrong as well.”
After that the class just stared. They had read both stories yet they hadn't managed such a succinct description of each stories 'American Dream', or their relation to one another. And this new student just happened to walk in a week after the beginning of school, and basically blow the rest of them out of the water.
“Well done Derec. That is the kind of comparison I'd like to see you guys making in the future. Thank you for that insight. Now does anyone else have some thoughts.”
The discussion was a little slow to start up again after that, the moment it got flowing again...
Di'Ding
At the ring of the bell the students hustled out of the room headed to the lockers to gather the items for their next class.
“Derec, can I talk to you?”
Glancing up to meet the teachers gaze, Derec gathered his things and shuffled toward the front of the class. “Yes?”
“Derec, I'm well aware of your situation at the moment, as are all your other teachers. I'm hoping there wasn't some confusion but I was under the impression that you didn't know anything about the last few years. Is that not true?”
“Yeah, I really don't. I swear it's not a lie!”
“No, no, no. I'm not accusing you of lying my dear boy. I just want to be sure I know what I can expect from you.”
“I really don't know anything about the past few years. I try and remember but nothing comes.”
“Then would you explain to me how you managed to produce such a well versed answer to my question earlier?”
“....I...was just trying to think about the books and their names. I looked and looked, and then it just came to me. It.... was just...... It was just like reading the words from a book I picked up at that moment. The answer was just there.”
“Thank you, for being honest Derec. I'm sure you know I'm going to be telling Miss. Mitchell about this. Okay?”
“Yeah......”
“But she probably won't make any changes yet, so we'll see how the week turns out.”
“Hey, Mr. S.”
Looking to the door Derec saw Cameron enter with a slow, confident gait.
“Hello, Cameron. What are you doing here? I don't have you 'til third period.”
“Oh, I totally lucked out. I'm Derec's guide, right man?”
“Yeah, he helped me find your class.”
“See, doing my patriotic duty to this fine establishment of an academy.”
“Yes, Cameron I can see that. Now take Derec off to his next class would you?”
“Yeah, yeah, on my way. C'mon D, we gotta get going.”
They left the classroom and made their way through the busy halls, stopping at a locker Cameron pointed out.
“This is your locker D. The combo is on your schedule, so you can put all the stuff from other classes in here.” Once the locker was open and Derec placed items inside, Cam leaned in close whispering. “Dude, what was with Mr. S.? When I came in the room was tense and your talk sounded gloomy.”
“Oh, that. It was nothing.”
“Can't be nothing, especially when Mr. S. gets all serious-like. You know I can keep a secret.”
Sighing he answered. “Fine, I just answered a question.”
“That doesn't explain the gloom.” He complained, staring at Derec.
“Ugh, whatever. It was about some theme stuff between two books I don't remember reading.”
Cameron didn't answer, and Derec glanced over to see his mouth hanging open.
“Dude, you remember?”
“No, not really.”
“What do you mean not really.”
“It was only the one time, only the one thing. And it was English....and themes. Who wants to remember that?”
“Yeah,.... you're right man sorry. But isn't it still great news. I mean you could start to remember things about your past.”
“Mmmm.”
At that the conversation ended. Derec went to all his classes, the people acted the same way with the staring. But there were no more answers coming out of the dark labyrinth in his mind, not matter how much he searched. Lunch was spent touring around the school. Cam telling Derec all the best places to hang without teachers bothering you. He told him about the other teachers he knew, and some of the crazy antics that had gone on in the school.
Though it was a prestigious academy, the student body acted much the same as any other high school. Cameron explained what cliques were, what types there were, and especially who to avoid. Cause Derec had a maze where it came to his memories of high school.
After lunch he had, VST. The classroom itself was impressive, the walls were lined with capsules, shiny and new, screens were mounted above the units which he could only guess displayed the persons game play. The center of the room was occupied with rows upon rows of desks which mounts slim computer screens, of the highest quality. At the front wall held the largest TV screen Derec had ever seen.
Following the actions of the other students, he took a eat in front of one of the various computers. A young looking adult strolled into the room and stood beside the enormous TV. He was about the same height as Derec and really was too young looking to be a teacher. He has ash blond hair and a strong lean build.
“Hey guys, I'm sure you've all met or heard of Derec Markson at some point today, so I won't get into the whole introduction thing. But hey Derec, I'm Mr. Striker. Last week we did the evolution of virtual simulation technologies and how they came into existence. Today I want to start you off on the beginner stages of Royal Road. And before you all decide to groan, and claim you know all about it cause you played the game, don't.”
As Mr. Striker talked about the differences in virtual reality and basic console gaming, Derec listened avidly. Though it was a class, Derec found this the most enjoyable thing next to actually playing the game. He knew quite a bit about the stuff Mr. Striker talked about, and noticed any of the other students not paying attention. But Derec was just happy to be talking about the game.
Often enough Mr. Striker would talk about things that Derec didn't have a knowledge about, such as the naming of characters. Derec hadn't realized that there might be a lot of other people out there with the same character name. He wondered how many other Clouds played. Derec enjoyed the class so much he groaned at the sound of the bell. He didn't want the class to be over.
But as his classmates bustled out the room, Derec walked up to Striker.
“Umm, Mr. Striker. I have a question.”
“Sure, have at it.”
“You know how you said all people can change the appearance of their characters before starting the game?”
“Yes, every person beginning to play has the option to alter the appearance of their character or keep what they look like.”
“Yeah, that. Well, I wasn't able to when I started and I was wondering if you knew why.”
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
“What do you mean you weren't able to?”
“When I started the game, it went through all the normal stuff, like a name and gender. But when it came to the part about altering appearances the voice said there were 'restrictions on the console'. And then I started playing and I was stuck in the body of a kid. And I'm not a kid.”
Pausing, Mr. Striker thought about it with a look of utter confusion on his face. Within moments his eyes brightened and he grinned as if a light went off in his head.
“Oh, Derec. It's because of your memory loss. In game you have the same body that you did when you were ten. My guess is as you recover memories, your avatar will most likely grow older.”
“......Well thanks Mr. Striker.”
Spinning on his heel, Derec noticed Cameron at the door and hurried over and down the hall before Mr. Striker could say anything more.
“'Kay D, This is the last class you have today, Health and Fitness.”
Looking at the door Cameron made a very comical shiver then jogged off.
“Have fun!”
Turning back to the doorway, Derec found himself—not looking in at a gym, where they would play games, as he had thought but—in a weight room. All typed of equipment were placed against the walls, with an empty space in the center as well as shelving of equipment next to the door, and weights stacked neatly against the far wall.
The other students gathered in at the empty space, as the came from a back room dressed in shorts and t-shirts with the school emblem on them. Standing at the fringes, Derec observed the other students as he did the same to him. In their clothes they looked like a part of a unit, staring him down and assessing his weaknesses.
“Markson! Why aren't you changed yet?” A voice bellowed from behind him.
Whipping around Derec found himself facing a mountain of a man. He was easily the largest person in the room with pounds upon pounds of muscle on his frame. He was clearly jacked.
“Cause I don't have one?”
“You do or you don't have one, Markson? It's not a hard question.”
“I don't.”
“Why?”
“.....I wasn't given one.”
Sighing, the mountain mover through a doorway Derec hadn't noticed before. It sat on the other side of a cabinet from the door back to the hallway, in the adjacent wall. When the mountain returned he flung a t-shirt and pair of shorts identical to what the other students wore.
“There, the shoes you have are good, so go change into that. And come change straight away when you get here tomorrow.”
As soon as he left the room for the smaller changing room he could hear the voices of the other students rising. Having caused enough of a delay, Derec quickly changed. He stuffed his own clothes in his bag, which he placed in a far corner, not knowing what else to do with it.
Upon returning to the main room, the clamour caused by quickly exchanged words instantly died. Derec stood stock still or a moment to realize the students were staring at him, his arm to be exact. Without following their gaze, he knew what had caught their attention.
On Derec's right arm running from wrist to elbow was an extremely visible scar. When wearing his own clothes it had been covered by the sleeve of his shirt, but in this moment it was quite visible and almost commanded attention.
“Alright everyone. We're doing none of the fancy pants showing off today, so tear your eyes away from the weights Simmons!”
At this, a shaggy haired boy turned deep red and cast his gaze back to the teacher.
“Outside!”
Following the lead of the teacher, the students man their way out side and stood in yet another mass of bodies. Although they positioned themselves so that they could steal glances at Derec's scar while still appearing to be looking at the teacher—who still hadn't introduced himself.
“Okay, kids! I know you're not all Olympic athletes like Simmons, so today won't be too difficult. I want you to jog around the track that runs the edge of the school property.”
The students groaned at this. Running had not been what they thought this class was about. One student opened their mouth but before he could ask a question he was interrupted by the teacher.
“Before you can ask Kelly, you will be going the entire class.”
“What?”
“Damn.”
“That's ridiculous!”
The students protested instantly.
“But what if we're caught at the far edge of the property when the bell rings?”
“Then you better book it, if you want to make it in time for your ride today boys. And Milton, if I hear another word like that out of you today, you're spending the hour running not jogging. Got it?”
“Yes sir!”
“Then get moving!”
The students jumped and headed out to the track, following suit Derec jogged behind the main pack. Rather than be the center of attention like before, now he could observe the other students. He just had to avoid standing out and he'd be fine.
Within five minutes the pack of boys were breathing heavily, in ten the were out of breath. When any of them began to fall behind there would be an out burst of yelling from the teacher to get going, move it like their lie depended on it, or their life would depend on it.
“God he's a slave driver.”
“This isn't military school.”
“Why did we have to take this class, really man?”
“Yeah, Cody? You got me into this one.”
“Dude. I've told you guys like a million times, any physical experience in the real world translates to Royal Road.”
“I don't see how I can't just do it in Royal Road and not have to do it right now, if I wanted to raise agility or stamina.”
“It's not about this class specifically, you now the Tae Kwon Do club we have?”
“Yeah, so?”
“If we can learn to fight in real life then we can use that in the game, it's what Weed did.”
“Really? Awesome.”
“Yeah...but what does that have to do with us being in this class.”
“The club is like super strict, and they require all members to do some sort of gym course. Apparently they'd rather spend their time training the students the actual moves than trying to get in shape to be able to do the moves.”
“Man that's awesome. Like an exclusive club.”
For a while the boys fell silent, watching the path before of them disappear into the tree line, along with the boys ahead. By now the group of students had spread out to resemble a long line rather than a group. There being at least 50 yards between Derec and the boys in front of him. Throughout their conversation the lead boy—Cody—had been glancing back at Derec every once in a while, where he pretended not to notice.
“Guys, what do you think of the new guy?”
“Cody! He can probably hear you.” one of the others whispered angrily.
“Calm down he's like a mile away. There's no way he could hear, we'd have to shout.”
“Whatever.”
“But seriously guys, what do you think?”
“I think that scar is damn wicked.”
“Yeah, totally bad ass.”
“Do you know how he got it?”
“All I heard is he got into some accident, and that there's something different about him.”
“Dude, he has a bad ass scar, that's pretty different.”
“No....it's something else. Like he has other injuries but I heard the teachers saying there's something they shouldn't mention.”
“What, like this something will make him go into a murderous rampage and kill the whole school.”
“Nah, Something else.”
Again there was a period of silence. As they ran, now all boys took glances at Derec. He thought about what the other boys had said and decided to check out this 'Weed' when he got home. And when he thought about it, he didn't think there was some word that would send him into a murderous rampage. At least not one that he could remember.
Cody began to stare at Derec in earnest now.
“What?!”
“What is it Cody?”
“He's not even breathing hard.”
“Who?”
“The new guy you idiot!”
This caused all of them to stare at Derec as the jogged forward. It was a miracle they didn't trip and land face first in the gravel.
“That's just not fair!”
“I'm like dieing here!”
“That's not even possible, the class is almost over and he's not even winded.”
Staring in envy the boys grumbled to themselves. Derec hadn't really thought this exercise all that difficult. But it seemed to be for the other boys, The only thing that bothered him was with each step he jarred his rib cage causing pain to radiate through his chest. If the other boys were to look closely they would notice the hard set of Derec's jaw or the light sheen of sweat that had little to do with physical exertion. A couple moments later and the bell rung.
“Oh God, why us?”
One of the boys whined, at the ring of the bell the group of four were at the farthest possible location from the school.
“Life just hates me.”
The trio picked up the pace, running down the path on the way back to the school. Slowing his jog Derec watched the boys disappear around a bend and the at the forest in the direction of the school.
'Why not?'
Derec bounded into the under brush. It was like a game as if he was fleeing from pursuit. In his flight he made every step light, heavy footsteps caused pain. Breaking through the trees after a while of running he slowed to a jog then a walk as he followed a different group of boys into the building.
Well aware of the stares aimed at his naked back, Derec changed quickly. Turning around he caught sight of the trio from earlier as they entered the changing room completely out of breath. When they noticed him they all froze as if someone had pushed the pause button on their life. When they resumed they bowed their heads together speaking in fervent whispers that Derec couldn't make out over the sound of the other boys' chatter.
It was the end of the day, quick as he could he made his way out of the crowded changing room. Through the weight room he emerged into the even more crowded and hurried hallway, only to bump into Cameron.
“Good, I caught you. I have to head out quickly today, but I'm told you get driven by your dad or something. So they should be waiting in the parking lot to the right of the main entrance, that's the pick up and drop off point. See ya.”
Cameron dashed down the hall not even waiting for a reply.