When the bell rang, a nasal buzzing sound, a gangly boy with skin problems and hair black as an oil slick leaned across the aisle to talk to me.

"You're Isabella Swan, aren't you?" He looked like the overly helpful, chess club type.

　　"Bella," I corrected. Everyone within a three-seat radius turned to look at me.

　　"Where's your next class?" he asked.

　　I had to check in my bag. "Um, Government, with Jefferson, in building six."

　　There was nowhere to look without meeting curious eyes.

　　"I'm headed toward building four, I could show you the way…" Definitely over-helpful. "I'm Eric," he added.

　　I smiled tentatively. "Thanks."

　　We got our jackets and headed out into the rain, which had picked up. I could have sworn several people behind us were walking close enough to eavesdrop. I hoped I wasn't getting paranoid.

　　"So, this is a lot different than Phoenix, huh?" he asked.

　　"Very."

　　"It doesn't rain much there, does it?"

　　"Three or four times a year."

　　"Wow, what must that be like?" he wondered.

　　"Sunny," I told him.

　　"You don't look very tan."

　　"My mother is part albino."

　　He studied my face apprehensively, and I sighed. It looked like clouds and a sense of humor didn't mix. A few months of this and I'd forget how to use sarcasm.

　　We walked back around the cafeteria, to the south buildings by the gym. Eric walked me right to the door, though it was clearly marked.

　　"Well, good luck," he said as I touched the handle. "Maybe we'll have some other classes together." He sounded hopeful.

　　I smiled at him vaguely and went inside.