The sun shined through the window, filling the classroom with buttery warmth. The birds were chirping outside and the soft bean bag chair I was sitting on was very comfortable...

"Holly! Pay attention!"

My head, which had been dangerously sagging into my chest, snapped up and I instantly began to look for the source of the sound that had woke me. My eyes finally fell upon Teacher Nomad at the front of the room, a squat little man with a belly that was taller than he himself was. He had greasy hair that fell in is face when he spoke and his voice reminded me of a squirrel'. And he was not happy. His hands were one his hips and he was tapping his shoes. He was glaring at me so hard I silently wondered if he was trying to make lasers shoot out of his eyes to fry me, but I didn't get the chance to ask.

"Miss Holly, this is the third time this week that you have nearly fallen asleep in my class! Does a two-hour class on the subject of World History bore you?" he squeaked.

Of course, this was exactly the reason why I had fallen asleep. But I couldn't tell him that. So instead I said, "Of course not, sir. I am so sorry. I've been up all night reading and I'm a little tired."

This excuse worked for every teacher. They were all delighted to hear that a pupil of theirs had been increasing their knowledge outside of their classroom, whether it was true or not.

Teacher Nomad appeared to be shocked. It was well known throughout the Learning Place that I didn't much study or have much of a knack for learning.

"Oh," Teacher Nomad said. "Holly, you should know better than to disrupt your sleeping patterns, young lady. I believe Teacher Brooks is teaching you the importance of eight hours of sleep in her Neurology class?"

"Yes, sir," I said quickly. On the inside I was thinking, Is that what we've been doing all week? " But you see, sir, I couldn't sleep, and I don't believe we've covered how to overcome sleep-block."

"Alright, Miss Holly, I will let it slide this time. But I expect you be up and ready to learn tomorrow morning."

"Yes, sir," I said gratefully.

"And no more late-night reading."

"Yes, sir."

The rest of the class went on uninterrupted and I managed not only to stay awake, but feign a look of interest as well. It's an acquired skill.

Finally, the bell rang, releasing the class go to breakfast. It was also a very supported theory that learning before breakfast let the mind wake up. We may not remember everything we had been taught, but the Lore Masters hoped that our brains would begin to take in what we had learned over a delicious, healthy meal.

I raced out of the room to the mess hall before anyone could even start to get themselves out of their bean bags.

Practically running, I rushed to the mess hall and threw book bag down at one of the many small tables set up around the room to save my seat.

The mess hall wasn't anything special. There were large double doors at the entrance and two smaller doors in the far corners where the cooks and kitchen hands came in and out of when needed. Against the far wall was a long serving counter, behind which a few woman were prepared to dish out breakfast.

I ran to them as fast as I could and accepted a large bowl of steaming oatmeal with banana slices, a slice of toast, and a large, cool glass of apple juice.

I sat down with my bag and began to shovel food into my mouth. I hated the class-before-food thing. I mean, I guess learning's not that bad, but I like food too much to wait until ten o'clock, especially since all students were expected to be in their first classes by six.

I was just starting on my toast when a body sat down next to me. "Sanibonani," the person said.

I looked over to see a fifteen-year-old girl with long, fiery red hair and a smile just as bright. Her eyes were like the sea- not exactly blue, but not exactly green, either.

"What the heck does that mean?" I asked Athena as she sat down.

"It means 'greetings' in Zulu," she said happily as she started to scoop oatmeal into her mouth.

"Zulu?" I asked. "Let me guess, something you learned in World Languages?"

She nodded. "Yep. Teacher Bones reckons I'll be able to speak the language fluently in a month if I keep at the pace I'm going."

"Well, at least one of us is doing alright in our studies," I muttered as I wiped bread crumbs off my chin.

"Oh, c'mon, Holly. It's not that hard."

"For you maybe. I'm not like you."

"Good," Athena said happily. "Because no one would be very interesting if they were all like me."

"You're interesting!" I protested.

Athena laughed. "That's not what I meant. If everyone were like me, everyone would be the same, which would mean that no one was very interesting. There would be nothing different about anyone."

I didn't understand her, but I just smiled and nodded, something I had gotten very good at over the years.

We were soon joined by a teenage boy. He was tall, muscular, and always seemed to have a smirk on his lips. His hair was sandy blonde and his eyes were a pale green.

"Hey, Thoth," Athena said as he set his tray down and began to eat.

Thoth smiled. "Hey, Athena. What's up, Holly?"

Athena smiled. "Holly was just doing it again."

"Doing what again?" I demanded.

Athena's smiled got bigger, and Thoth even let out a small chuckle.

"What?!"

"That thing you do when you don't understand what anyone's saying," she explained.

"What thing?"

"It kinda looks like this," Thoth said. He made his eyes go way wide and his eyebrows shot up to the top of his head like they were trying to detach from his face. He smiled showing all his teeth and threw his head up, and then forced it down until his chin touched his chest. He repeated this process of few times before he lost it and started to laugh.

"I do not look like that!" I protested.

"Actually, that's pretty good," Athena said. I smacked her arm. "Ow! What? Just saying."

"You two are jerks," I muttered to my apple juice.

They both broke out into a laugh while I glared at them, which just made them laugh more.

"Man, you look like Quetzalcoatl did this morning. He was so busy studying for today's Modern Technology test when he was getting ready for class that he forgot his pants. He wasn't happy."

"I wonder why," I snarled sarcastically.

"Beats me," Athena giggled.

Thoth looked down at his wristwatch. "It's almost time to go. Who's ready for World Cultures?"

Groaning, I rose, Athena at my side. Thoth stood as well and together we made our way over to the tray return.

"Can't we skip World Cultures just once?" I pleaded with my friends as we headed towards the very classroom I was dreading to enter.

They both halted their stroll and looked at me as though I suggested they rub pickles on their feet. "Are you insane?" Thoth asked.

"No."

"Are you sure?" Athena wondered.

"Yes, I'm sure. Don't you think they've tested me for insanity? Ever since they found me on their doorstep fifteen years ago the Lore Masters have kept a close eye on me."

"If they're watching you so closely," Athena began, "did it ever occur to you that they would know if you didn't attend your daily classes?"

"Fine," I snapped. "No ditching, I get it. Don't you guys ever get tired of learning day-in and day-out twenty-four seven?"

"Not really," Athena said as we resumed our walk.

"And you think I'm the insane one," I muttered angrily.