***All right, first chapter! :) For all my "I Never Knew" readers, this occurs on the same day as the first day of that book. However, you get to see a totally different side of things :)

The above picture is from Pinterest. It's a lot like what I envision PIXAL as for this book.

Also, Jaya is still my OTP, but PIXane is just doggone cute! I have a feeling this book will have me cracking up in the campus library a little too much ;)***

https://youtu.be/0C58ttB2-Qg

***(Zane's POV)***

"Meeting after school today," Lloyd reminds me. "Master Wu made it sound important."

I smile. "I am aware. How are you this morning, Lloyd?"

He groans. "Exhausted. I was up late with those problems for chemistry."

"I could've helped you, if only you'd requested my aid. I have the top grade in the class."

Lloyd sighs. "That's not the issue. I had the problems finished before dinner. I was just so nervous that I got something wrong, I was up all night worrying."

I pat his back. "Do not fear, Lloyd. You are an excellent scholar, and I am confident you aced your homework. The teacher will most likely have you work a few of the solutions in front of the class again."

Lloyd raises a brow. "Wouldn't you be a more logical choice for that?"

I opt not to answer that question. The truth is, I am the better chemist, but because I know Lloyd struggles with anxiety about school, I pulled the instructor aside and asked her to call on him more often.

"Why are you even in chemistry?" Lloyd frowns. "You're already a master at whatever subject you put your mind to."

"Thank you, Lloyd. The reason I partake in the class is because I enjoy the work."

"I like it, too, but I really wish I wasn't graded on everything." He runs a hand through his blonde locks.

"Has Nya offered you breakfast yet?" I inquire.

"You know I get too nervous to eat before class. Besides, she's running late today."

I draw a granola bar out of my backpack. "If you do not eat now, you will be hungry during class, and I will not be able to slip you any food then. I'm guiding a new student on a tour this morning."

"Of course, you are." He takes the granola bar. "Thanks, buddy. I'll catch you later."

I nod. "I will be most pleased to see you again."

He chuckles. "You crack me up, Zane."

"What was amusing about my words?"

"Nothing." He shakes his head, smiling. "See ya." He waves and, hands in his pockets, strides away.

I look at the ground, lost in thought. I've never known why, but my friends find me strange. I suppose I don't understand their humor or antics, but I don't laugh at them for their seemingly meaningless conduct.

However, I am grateful for their companionship. The rest of my peers – especially those at this school – are the definition of 'bullies'.

I hear high-pitched laughter and know their queen is fast approaching.

I turn to see Harumi Jade. I press myself against the wall, stepping out of her way. Things are better if she doesn't notice me.

"Look who it is," smirks a purple-haired individual. I identify her as Chamille, the elemental master of form.

Harumi glances up, raising a brow. "What do you mean? There's no one here."

I bite my lip. I want to correct her so badly – I am standing right here – but I've learned from experience that it's better if I remain silent.

Chamille laughs at Harumi's comment. I would write this situation off as another odd attempt at humor, but I sense the intent here is malicious. When my team makes nonsense jokes, I do not feel offended. This...is different.

Chamille fades into my form, adopting my exact position. "Look, Harumi, I disappeared!"

The other girl's expression turns to one of shock. "Oh my gosh, Chamille, I didn't know you could turn invisible!"

I inhale a large breath, closing my eyes, and head off down the hall. If they will not leave me alone, I will leave them.

"Look, Rumi, a pair of sneakers walking down the hall all by themselves!"

That stops me.

I swivel. "Pardon me, but these are loafers, not sneakers. And I am not invisible."

"Where's that voice coming from?" Chamille wonders.

Someone steps around the corner. "Right here."

It's Skylor Chen, Kai's girlfriend who occasionally helps us on missions.

The tall girl plants a hand on her hip, glaring at Harumi and Chamille. "Don't you two underlings have somewhere to be?"

Chamille looks a little intimidated, but Rumi laughs.

"Of course. Important people like me always have somewhere to be. You? I'm sure you have all the time in the world to go wherever you want."

Skylor arches a perfectly styled brow. "Okay. If that's the case, I think I'll take your words and stick them right where they belong – since you're so important, I guess your words must have somewhere to be, too. And you know where they belong? Right up your – "

I clear my throat. "Friends, there is no need for more insults. The conflict is resolved, so I suggest we part ways."

Harumi smirks. "Right, the conflict is resolved. See you around."

As soon as they're gone, Skylor turns to me. "Be glad I was the one in close proximity. Nya or Cole would've punched their noses in. Gosh, what does Lloyd see in that girl?"

"I am not sure," I confess. "Thank you for your assistance, Skylor."

"No problem." She tosses me a wave as she heads back down the hall.

I walk the short route to Principal Mystaké's office. The new student should be awaiting his tour there.

I knock twice on the door to the office – others seem to respond better when I knock twice. That's when I hear Mystaké's awful secretary call, "Come in!"

I smile and greet the woman, as always. However, the secretary scowls back.

"What are you standing around for? Get back there!"

"As you wish." She is perpetually grumpy.

I rap on Mystaké's door to obtain permission for entry, then walk inside.

Standing before me is a girl with silver hair and pale green eyes. She's wearing a purple winter coat – for some reason, she must've failed to take it off when she arrived – and gray leggings trail down to a pair of purple snow boots.

I blink. Why did I notice her attire?

She smiles at me, and I feel us connect on some level. I can sense it.

"I am PIXAL," she greets me. "And what do you call yourself?"

"Z-Zane." I clear my throat. It seems to have closed for some odd reason.

Her eyes light up. "And what does 'Zane' stand for?"

"I-I...stand for...um, I'm afraid I don't understand your words' intentions."

"Oh. I...I apologize for the interruption, but I had assumed..." She shakes off whatever confusion has fallen over her. "Shall we begin our tour?"

"I...yes." My legs automatically walk to the door, and I open it for her. "Shall I...er...fetch you anything? Would you like a glass of water?"

She smiles and giggles, just slightly. "No, thank you."

"I...I apologize. I seem to be having trouble formulating words." I shake my head. "The tour. May I start by showing you the library?"

***(PIXAL's POV)***

It surprised me at first.

My scanners told me at first sight that we're unusually similar: We're both robots. But he seems...he seems not to know.

Another quick scan showed me his memory banks have been, to an extent, wiped. His last recollections date to six years ago.

It makes sense now. He's never figured out he's an android.

"The library is one of my favorite locations at the school," he converses. "Do you enjoy reading?"

"Largely. What's your favorite book?"

"Oh, I love murder mysteries. I find anything in that genre quite intriguing. And...you? What is your favorite?"

"I tend to read nonfiction – biographies and whatnot." I trace a shelf with my hand, loving the feel.

Though I know what all of these objects and places are – shelves, libraries, offices – this is my first time interacting with them in a public setting. My creator, Cyrus Borg, has kept me separate from the world until now, testing me to see how I'll interact with the world with no previous experience.

It's exhilarating.

"And there are vending machines right outside, should you ever need sustenance," Zane goes on. "Do you like to cook?"

"I confess that I'm better at baking than cooking. Cooking isn't precise enough for my taste."

***Music Cue***

Zane chuckles a little, then full-out laughs. "You said 'taste'...and we were discussing the topic of food...and..." He continues to chortle.

I begin to laugh, too. "I had not realized the connection, but you're right!"

"Shh," a sour-faced librarian at the front scolds us.

We immediately stop.

Zane's cheeks redden. "I...I apologize, ma'am. I will not offend you in such a way again."

Observing his repentant manner, I follow suit. "I also apologize for my part in disquieting this facility."

Zane speaks up again. "It was only...we have just stumbled upon the most hilarious joke. This is PIXAL, a new student here at Ninjago City High. She said that cooking is not precise enough for her taste."

The librarian blinks.

"Do you not understand?" Zane frowns. "She applied a common phrase about the favor of the human tongue – "

"I get it." The woman gives us a weird look, then shrugs and begins scrolling through her phone.

Zane leans down. "Because you're new here, I suppose you should know that her indifference indicates we're free to leave."

"Thank you," I whisper back. "I was quite concerned that she suffered from the condition of short-term memory loss." How can she so easily forget our wrongdoing?

I do a quick scan of her mental capabilities, just in case, but it comes up clean.

"Allow me to show you the nurse's office next," Zane goes on.

He leads me around the school, showing me different rooms and indicating the purpose for each. I file everything he tells me into my memory database, and I also keep a running audiovisual recording of everything he says. I want to fit in as best I can in this place.

So far, I seem to be fitting in just fine. Zane is kind and quite easy to relate to. However, that's probably given his robotic nature. I have no idea how I'd interact with a real human being. Well, besides Cyrus Borg, that is. However, as my creator, I'm sure he treats me differently than others would.

A girl with a dark ponytail comes racing down the hall, backpack swinging behind her. Zane smiles upon seeing her.

"Nya," he greets. "May I introduce you to – "

"Sorry, Zane, but I'm super late for a test! Stupid Kai!" She keeps running, never giving me a second look.

I frown. "Why is she late?" I am never late. Then again, this is only my first day.

"It is probably due to her brother's tardy nature," Zane explains. "He owns a blacksmith's shop – he recently purchased a new one, given that his old one was burnt down by an arsonist. However, he is quite lazy – the shop makes very little in profits – and he does not choose to spend his nights sleeping. I'm ninety-four percent sure he woke up late. Thus, because he drives Nya to school, she was here late."

"I see." I finger the strap of my backpack. "How easy is it to make friends at this institution?"

A troubled look crosses Zane's face. "Oftentimes, it is quite difficult. I have a very supporting group of companions – six in total. However, most everyone else here is either neutral in their interactions with me, or...harsh. I will show you which individuals to stay away from."

"Why would someone be harsh with you?" I inquire.

"I confess that I do not know. I try to stand out of their way and not respond to their offensive comments, but they profaned my attire earlier." He looks down at his shoes and shakes his head. "They called my loafers 'tennis shoes'."

I nod in awe. To my understanding, the outside world must be very judgmental. And one's clothing choice must be a sacred value.

"I apologize for their indiscretion," I say reverently. "Your loafers are very obviously not gym shoes. And...we are friends, are we not?"

He beams at me. "Yes, we are. Thank you. Just ensure you stay away from Chamille. Nya says Harumi is the meanest, but Chamille is the one with whom I've experienced the most trouble. Now, I believe our tour has come to an end. Shall I show you to your class? It is the same as mine."

I smile. "That would be most pleasing."

***So, any thoughts? I think PIXAL is just hilarious, given that she's so naive. She kind of reminds me of Nya in another piece I'm working on (to be posted after I finish "Under the Lights").***