First period has already started. History, humans history, and Ryesen was ecstatic. She picked the seat beside the window and took out her books. The exciting buzz of going to a human school was still running through her body. The word of a new girl in school was getting around fast. A few girls and boys from her class introduced themselves, all nice and friendly. Ovia and Jarle had no reason to worry. On the thought of those two she peeked out the window to make sure they weren't standing outside at the moment.

Ryesen had a long talk with her two fairtheoir last night setting some ground rules. If she had any shot of playing normal, without the complications of being the Light Princess and without  the hand twining to the Dark Prince thing, she needed to set some rules. Having some space was the first thing, including going back and to and from school without having them shadowing her. If she didn't set that one down, Ovia and Jarle would be on the seats behind her during all her classes by now. 

Mr. James, the history teacher, slid his glasses up the bridge of his nose over his bugged out eyes with a bony pale finger. His white shirt with blue strips was tucked in his loose brown pants that were held by a black belt. The man was too thin that Jarle noted when they came to register her: If he stood in direct sunlight, you would be able to see his skeleton. That caused Ovia to snort.

Ryesen guessed that he might be in his forties, but humans age was tricky for her since they didn't age as slow as faeries. Plus, the way that Mr. James moved was like he was in no rush at all made him look older. Everything he did seemed in slow motion. When he walks, talks, even when he moved his eyes. Yet she didn't mind. She was out, and that what mattered.

The class was mostly silent except for a few whispers and phone clicks that Ryesen was sure Mr. James could hear and chose to ignore. They all jumped in their seats when someone yanked the door open roughly all of a sudden. A hand slapped flat on the smooth surface keeping it from swinging back shut and right away words started to pour of his mouth mixed with rushed breathing like he was running, "So sorry that I'm late, Mr James. My truck wouldn't start and I missed the bus. I couldn't catch a ride either. I had to run all the way here. It won't happen again. I know I said...".

A few students chuckled while he was still on the apologizing roll. His eyes traveled across the room. The threatening glare he gave his classmates didn't match his apology as he continued., "that many times before, but I promise you this...", and that was when he saw her, and the words trailed off like his batteries just died. He stood there with his mouth open lost in her. 

At first Ryesen lifted her head in surprise to see who was entering with such a blast. Then her look turned to confusion when he didn't take his eyes off of her. He is kind of cute. She thought. But staring at her openly like that and in front of everyone was making her restless. That was when she averted her gaze. Maybe no one noticed, she told herself. As the silence stretched with his unfinished sentence, she shifted in her seat. Ryesen noticed curious teen eyes were moving back and forth between them. Ooh, they noticed alright.

"Ahem!", Mr. James cleared his throat, bring him back to earth.

Good thing that he snapped out of his daydream and refocused on the teacher again, "I... I promise you it won't happen again".

Mr. James twisted his lips showing his disapproval, "Take your seat, Travis".

Travis shuffled to his chair on the far end of the room. His eyes would lift on their own record in her direction every couple of steps.

A guy at the back scoffed, "Really smooth, man!".

"Shut up!", Travis bit back, before dropping to his chair. For some reason he couldn't take his eyes off of her. No matter how many times Mr. James cleared his throat of called his attention. He had the concentration expansion of a fish. It weavers as soon as Mr. James turned his back. Other students started to notice and it threw history class out of the window.

"Mr. Watkins", the teacher snapped all of the sudden shutting up all the whispers and getting Travis's full attention, "Would you tell me what did I just say?".

Travis had absolutely no idea, "Um...", he looked at the board behind the pale skinny frame, still clueless. The idiots who are supposed to be his friends were enjoying this too much to bail him out. He made a mental note to himself. Get new friends!  "To tell the truth, I wasn't paying attention, but I bet it's about something that happened long time ago and it's super important for us to know about". That is technically right!

Laughter erupted through the room. He looked at her. He might not be able to see her face from where he sat, but he knew she was smiling. That's good. That is very good. She thought he was funny. 

Mr. James was knocking on the table using the whiteboard marker he was holding until the laughs died. "Not the right answer", he pushed his glasses up, "Is there anything you want to say to Ryesen before I send you off with the detention note that you've earned on the first day".

At the call of her name, Ryesen's head jerked in the teacher's direction then his. 

"What?...", Travis wasn't listening.

"Ryesen, the new student that you've been staring at". Mr. James said.

Little did Mr. Jame know about trying to embarrass him like that and in front of a girl. Sadly, for Mr. James, Travis didn't get embarrassed easily. Instead he seized the opportunity and fully turn in his seat facing her. She was looking at him. The whole class went silent, looking at him. Waiting. 

A wide grin stretched Travis's lips, "I wanted to say, hi!".

Ryesen tilted her head in confusion like he was speaking a foreign language she couldn't comprehend, "Um... hi?".

Even her voice is beautiful, Travis sighed inwardly. That wide grin didn't leave his face as he stood up. Shuffled to Mr. James desk and said politely, "I'll be taking that detention note now, please".

Mr. James didn't show any signs of being pissed at the move Travis pulled, but the heavy press of the pen he was using to sign the note left an impression on the paper underneath. Travis bet that the five students that were getting detention after him would be able to see the trace of his name on their detention notes.

"Thank you!", Travis said cheerfully and sauntered out of class with a bit of a bounce in his steps.

Ryesen stared after him for a moment. Here, she wasn't a Princess. Here, she was a regular teen girl. Humans will act openly with her without formalities. Her royalties meant nothing here. Unlike faeries, there was no interaction limitation. But the way he acted baffled her. 

He must be crazy! That was the only explanation she could come up with. Focus on class. She told herself. Forget what happened. He was just fooling around.

That was easier said then done. The moment she was by her locker, he peeked from behind her locker door. 

"Hi", he said with the same wide grin.

"We already said that", Ryesen cut him short. She dropped the history books and picked others. 

Travis went around her and leaned his back on the lockers on the other side of hers. "What's your next class?".

"Geometry". 

His face beamed, "Really! Me too!", then he suggested, "How about we walk to class together?".

"No, thank you", as soon as she collected her books, they were snatched out of her hand.

"Hey!", she growled reaching for her books, but he lifted his arm over his head and out of her reach. His tall figure gave him the extra leverage, "Give me back my books". 

Travis started walking back words, "I'll give them back when we get to class".

Ryesen crossed her arms refusing to be part of such a childish game, but the longer she stood the farther he got. There was always the choice of elbowing him in the ribs, kicking his feet from under him. Ovia would be so proud of her if she did. On the other hand, Jarle would undoubtedly lecture her if she did. 

"Class will start soon", Travis cooed waving her books.

Ryesen growled. Apparently, she'll be walking with smiley face to class.

Travis placed her books on an empty desk, pulled out her chair and waited all smiles and happy. He was giving her no choice than to do what he wanted and under everyone's eyes.

Challenge accepted! There was nothing she hated more than being cornered. Ryesen slowly advanced to where he stood still grasping her chair. She smiled sweetly at him and saw him visibly swallow as his eyes never left her. She stopped just a couple of feet far and heard him take a shaky breath. That's when she made her move. She placed her hand on her books. His eyes dropped to see her slowly sliding them across the desk until held them in her hand. Ryesen watched his grin turn into confusion.

She then turned to the boy with braces and glasses who sat on a desk to her right startling him and asked sweetly , "Do you mind switching places with me?".

"Um... ah...", the boy stuttered, "Y... yeah, of course!". He stumbled to his feet, collecting his stuff.

She was grateful that the boy played along. Otherwise, she would have died of embarrassment. Ryesen watched as he slid down the chair Travis was still holding and was upset with the turn of events.

 Adding to her victory, when he didn't move, the boy twisted in his new seat, batted his lashes at him and said jokingly, "Well thank you, sweet-pea". Travis hands jerked away and he frowned.

Witnesses guffawed around them. Ryesen turned around to hide her smile.

"Oh, shut up!", Travis barked. He turned and flopped on the desk in the back with his arms crossed, sulking in silence.

In the middle of geometry class, Ryesen had a folded piece of paper delivered to her. Unfolding it, she read:

I apologize for the way I acted. I swear to you that my intentions are good.

I'm not giving up though! 

Then there was an arrow with a note: Look in the back.

Would you like to go out with me sometime?

Then signed: T.

What in the name on the Ancient One was this boy trying to do? Who asks someone, that they've literally just met, to go out? Ryesen rumbled silently. She might not have went out on many dates, or any at all, but she sure knew that that wasn't the way to do it. 

Travis was watching as she got his note. He has no idea why on earth he was acting like that. All he knew was that he never was struck by anyone like that before and he will do everything to have her attention. Embarrassing, stupid, childish, whatever it took. 

Now that she was scribbling furiously, he knew that wasn't the miracle he hoped for. He got the paper back with a, 'You should!', answer to his, 'I'm not giving up though!', and a harsh, 'NO!', to the, 'Would you like to go out with me sometime?'. He pouted. And she didn't even sign it. 

At some point during class she glanced at him over her shoulder. He wasn't paying any attention to geometry and busied himself with his notebook. Completely focused on the thing he was doing with his brow knitted and lips pressed. 

Being cruel or embarrassing him wasn't her intention. Ryesen felt horrible for doing that, but he wouldn't take a hint. 

"Humans react to us differently", Jarle told her the first time she visited the Land on Man, "Even though we have similarities, but they get attracted to us easily. Everything we are attracts them, our appearances, the sound of our voices, even our postures. Humans can sense that we are different enough for them to fall for us, but not enough to tell what exactly are we. In comparison to what humans are, we are superior beings".

She sunk in her seat feeling even worse.

During her sixteen years, she met many male faeries, but that never advanced to anything. Even if they liked her or she liked them. It would never change the fact that she'll end up with the Dark Prince. For her, that was enough to put a stop on any sort of feelings she might had towards anyone of her kind. She most definitely won't go now and fall for a human boy who has an unrealistic teen crush on her. Faeries and humans don't mix. At least, not in her case.

For the rest of the day Travis didn't bother her. They had a few more classes together, but he didn't attempt to talk to her again. However, she could feel his eyes on her all the time.