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My life sucks. I don't have a friend in the world, and my family had all but abandoned me so many long, sad years ago. I'm all alone. The only thing I can claim for my own is my school-bag. Sure I have a room to sleep in, but when that room is only a small apartment-style space in an old, run-down orphanage, I don't really consider my housing all that great. It's only been five long, crappy years since I was sent here, and I have regretted every day of it. My parents just had to be the only casualties in a car wreck between the Mustang they just bought and a semi, but I didn't expect that they would've lived through it when I was told what actually happened... just two years ago. The only thing I was told at the time was that my parents were gone and weren't coming back for 'a long time.' Those idiots who kept telling me that must not have realized that I was twelve years old, and fully capable of understanding the concept of death.

Like I said, that was then. Now I'm seventeen and only have one more year of school to go through before I can safely say that I am my own man. Plus I only have a few months left before I turn eighteen and can legally leave this hell-hole of a place. Then I can get an apartment with the money I've been saving. Until then though, I have to spend my off-time away from school here, alone with my school bag.

I've never been the "socially active" kind of person, so I've never had too many friends. There were always those people who tried to feel sorry for me, but I kept telling them that I was over it, that it was no big deal... they never listened. All that I ever wanted to do was live a normal life, but I don't think that was ever a possibility. I could only think to myself "If my life were half as normal as I would like, then I would be set!" Of course with what has happened, I doubt that I could ever be normal... Sorry, sometimes I repeat things. I'll get back to what I was originally talking about.

My first day back at school since winter break and I'd already managed to lose one of the few friends I have. He just had to bring up the fact that I was probably the biggest loser in school, so I just had to make my fist meet his face. He didn't take that too lightly, but he knew that I was about five times stronger than him and, instead of starting something, only hobbled away.

I was starting off on the wrong foot yet again, that is, until I noticed a face that didn't seem right. I could tell that the face belonged to a girl, but not the kind if girl you would expect to see. The girl, while retaining her upright stature, had the qualities of something that would normally have walked on all fours... Like a dog or something. That was the first time I had ever seen someone like her. Sure I'd heard about anthromorphs, but I'd never in my lifetime expected to see one in person. Yet there she was, walking down the hall in all of her anthromorphic glory. She must have just transferred in because she looked completely lost. It also looked like she wasn't going get any help from these jerks. The only things the people here cared about were their images and keeping up with other people's lives. If they weren't going to try and corrupt her with their ways, then I thought that I could take a chance to be nice. When she started walking by me, I started to introduce myself.

"Hi! You must be new here. My name's Aaron. Do you need any help?"

"Huh-wha? Oh, I'm sorry. You're the first person to actually talk to me. My name's Jennifer, but you can just call me Jenn."

"Okay... Uh, Jenn. You look sorta lost. Do you need some help finding your way around here?" I said, trying my best to help.

"Yea I do actually. The lady at the head office just handed me this schedule and sent me on my way. I don't understand it all too much."

I put my hand out and asked, "Could I see it? It takes some practice to figure out how to decipher these things." She slowly extended her... paw and gave me the paper she was holding. After a few seconds of reading, I spoke, "Wow, it looks like you have some tough classes. Seems we even have some of the same classes together."

"Really? How can you even read that? It just looks like a bunch of mixed numbers and symbols." she tilted her head cutely as she spoke.

"Yeah, let me show you." Right as I was about to turn so I was beside her, the bell rang. "Oh, crap! It's a good thing we have first block together. Hurry, we need to get to class!"

Without her approval, I grabbed her paw and quickly pulled her towards our first class. It was a good thing that the room wasn't far away, because we stepped into the doorway just as the final bell rang. Two seconds too late I realized that my hand was still tightly grasping hers, and the entire class, including the teacher, were staring. I was just glad that there wasn't a mirror in the room so I wouldn't have to see just how red my face must have been. As fast as I could, I let go of her paw and directed her by pointing to two empty seats in the back of the room. When we were seated, the teacher began his lesson. Of course, first block had to be History, so while the teacher went about his ramblings, I tried my best to give Jenn a brief description of how things went about here.

Just when I was about to make a breakthrough in showing her how to decipher the schedule, the bell rang, indicating that it was time for the next block. Since Jenn had no clue of where to go, I put myself in charge of helping her. I was lucky that we had the next block together too, which would give me ample time to finish where I left off.

This time, as I was about to grab her paw to direct her to the next class, I was shocked to find her reach out and grab my hand out of mid-air. When I looked over to her, she only smiled and waited for me to lead. After a moment of contemplation, I started to led her to our next destination: English.

This time when we got to the room, we remembered to let go our each other's hand. The room was only half filled, so we took two seats in the back like last time. When the bell rang, the teacher started her lesson. To say the least, it was nothing but review; the perfect time to finish teaching Jenn how this school operates. After I told her everything I could about life here, so I asked her about herself.

"Umm... Jenn? Just sorta asking, but where did you transfer from? I don't think I've ever seen you around here before." I asked, hoping not to offend her.

"Well, actually I've lived here all my life. I've just been home-schooled instead of going to public school. My parents told me that people wouldn't understand or something like that." she said with a sad look in her eye.

I noticed how sad she looked and asked, "Did I say something wrong? I'm sorry if I did."

"No, it's nothing you said... just the way you've treated me. I didn't expect anyone to even look at me, but here you are talking to me and helping me out and everything." Her eye seemed to glisten from tears forming around the corners of her eyes.

I looked at her and couldn't help but start to feel like my life was making a change for the better. It seemed to unreal to be happening. The first day back to my second most hated place and I had made a new friend. Sure, I lost a friend, but he was just another sympathizer. Jenn however, didn't even know of the predicament I was in, yet she still was nice to me. Then it hit me; she had been home-schooled all her life! She'd probably never even had a 'real' friend, and seeing how I was the first person to actually introduce myself and talk to her, she must've thought the world of me. Of course, that was just a thought.

"Hey, don't go all teary-eyed on me so soon, I've still got an entire semester left to do that." I grinned, hoping she caught my joking tone. "I'm talking to you and helping you because you're new, and because nobody else here would even think about caring for anyone other than themselves." I couldn't believe what I was about to say. "And... Well, because I'd like to be your friend."

Upon hearing that, her ears perked up rather cutely. "You... you want to be friends... with me?"

"Well... Yeah, I would. You seem to be a really nice person, and I'd really like to be your friend."

"I... I don't know what to say. I-I'd love to be your friend. It's just so unexpected. From what my parents said..."

I cut her off, "I know your parents probably said something to the idea that people were going to be jerks, but a few people actually know what it's like to be an outcast."

She waited a few seconds before she responded, "You're one of those outcasts... Aren't you?"

"Heh, yeah I guess I am. But I have my own reasons for being an outcast... Reasons that I'll save for another time if you'll allow me to hold my tongue." I put my head down as I said it.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you. Please don't be mad." she pleaded lightly, hanging her head and lowering her ears.

"No, I'm not mad. You don't know anything about me. I'm just sort of overprotective when it comes to people knowing stuff about me."

I felt her paw land on my shoulder as she spoke, "Aaron, it's not your fault that you're overprotective. It's those people that you told me about that only think of themselves. Don't blame yourself for what others have done to you."

I was just about to thank her for her kind words when another voice came in over mine, "Aaron Pierce! Would you and your friend there please refrain from interrupting my class with your belligerent chit-chat?!"

"Well Miss Raymond, it would all depend on if you could take your statement and 'dumb it down' a bit. Because some of us here don't know what all them thar' big, fancy words mean." I said as I looked over towards a group of boys near the front of the room.

Realizing my attempt at making fun of the group, Ms. Raymond winked at me before restating her question, "Okay, Mister Pierce, would you please stop talking while I'm teaching my class?"

I smiled as I said, "Sure. No problem Miss Raymond."

As she started back towards the dry-erase board at the front of the class, I turned towards Jenn and whispered, "Don't worry, I'm friends with the teacher." Jenn gave a wide grin trying to hold back her laughter.

Ms. Raymond finished her lesson about five minutes before class was over, giving Jenn and I time to talk. Just as I turned to her, a hand grabbed my shoulder and turned me back around. "So Aaron, who's this little beauty that you've been talking with?" came the voice of Ms. Raymond.

"Oh, this is Jennifer... umm..." I stuttered at not knowing her last name.

"Jennifer Strippe ma'am, but I prefer Jenn over anything else. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Ms. Raymond and I looked towards the source of the voice to see Jenn holding out a paw in expectation. Ms. Raymond extended her own hand to meet Jenn's in a firm handshake.

"Well, it's truly a pleasure to meet you, Jenn. If you couldn't already tell, I'm Miss Raymond; the English teacher." she said, finishing her handshake as she finished her introduction.

"Thank you Miss Raymond. I look forward to attending your class." Jenn said with a bright smile.

I laughed briefly before saying between muffled coughs "Suck-up!" only to get a curious look from Ms. Raymond and a scornful one from Jenn.

"Aaron, you might want to get that cough checked out. It doesn't sound too good." Ms. Raymond said, concern bordering falsity in her voice.

"Yeah, Aaron, it sounds like you might be coming down with something." Jenn added, her scornful look fading in a smile.

"Oh, don't worry about me. I'll be just fine." I reassured them. "I just had a tickle in the back of my throat... But back on topic. Jenn here just transferred in and was in need of some help. When I saw that nobody was even trying to help, I stepped in to assist. It's no big deal."

The look Ms. Raymond gave me when I said that both perplexed and disturbed me. She looked like she had just seen the climax of a soap opera and had just learned Antonio and Maria were getting married or something. "Oh but Aaron, it is a big deal. You helped out someone in need when no one else would, and that merits contribution."

"Yea Aaron, you've been so nice to me and you deserve something in return. Hmm... I got it! Why don't you come over to my house tonight for dinner?" Jenn said, smiling brighter than she had before.

"Oh Jenn, that's a wonderful idea! What do ya say Aaron, would dinner be okay?" Ms. Raymond added.

"Hey, what's with double-teaming me? Don't I at least get a say in this?" I questioned.

"I am giving you a choice Aaron. You can come and eat with me or you can say no and not eat with me. But if you don't, be warned that I won't be very happy." Jenn made a very convincing pouty face almost like something only an animal could do.

"That doesn't even give me a choice now does it?" I started. Though the thought of having Jenn find out about his past was swimming through his mind, he couldn't pass up an offer for a real meal with a real friend. "Of course I'll eat at your place."

That was the answer they were looking for. I was now surrounded by two giddy girls, creepy enough how one was my teacher and the other was... different; trapped in a surround-sound experience that was seriously killing my 'toughguy' image. "Oh Aaron, this is so great! I'll make sure that everything's ready when you get there--" Jenn started, but then cut herself off. She tilted her head to the side, making it obvious she was thinking. "That reminds me... Where do you live so I can pick you up?"

Here it came. The point I was hoping never to get to. If I didn't tell her where I lived, I could only imagine that she wouldn't take that too well. "I uh... I live..." I managed to stutter out. I was positive that I was about to tell her, but that oh-so wonderful schoolbell rang. For once I was happy to hear it's off-key note. "I uh.... Guess we'd better get to the next class!" I proclaimed, grabbing Jenn's arm and starting to head out the congested doorway.

"Aaron wait..." she protested, struggling to try and escape the grasp I had on her. It wasn't until we were out the door and down the hall a ways before she tugged roughly and pulled away from me. Taken off-guard slightly, I stumbled and almost fell, but managed to stay up as I looked back at Jenn.

"Jenn, we need to go. If we don't hurry you'll be late for your next class!" I resounded, trying to regain contact with her.

She just pulled herself away and gave me a cold glare. "Aaron, stop it. Why in the world are you acting like this?" Her voice was stern and full, easily showing that she was serious.

I stuttered. Then I stuttered again. There was just a mental wall that was keeping me from telling her the truth. So, with my hesitation growing long, I started making my excuse, "Well... I just... I have trouble with... telling people about myself." I let my head drop down and just waited to hear what she was going to say.

"What do you mean?" she questioned. "What's so hard about telling people where you live? Last I checked it was somewhat easy to say, 'I live here' or 'I live there.'"

She had me stumped even before she started. I honestly didn't think I could tell her all my secrets, because what if she started to treat me like the rest of those jerks I had to go to school with? It was just a risk I wasn't willing to take this soon after meeting someone new. "I just..." Then, as if by some miracle, an idea struck me. "Why don't I just come over myself? I mean, I do have a car of my own."

Jenn looked disappointed, like her goal in life was to be able to drive me to her house. "But, I just got my license a few days ago and I wanted to drive some more."

Peachy, just peachy. Now left with no other option, I would be forced to tell her my sappy little life story. That is, unless I could think of another one of my brilliant ideas. But so far I was drawing a complete blank. "Wait, you're only sixteen? Why are you taking such hard classes?" At least I was good at stalling.

I think that Jenn knew that I was only stalling, but made a quick answer anyway. "That's easy. I'm just really smart. Now quit trying to stall for time and give me a yes or no."

It was a stare-down between Jenn and I, and I was losing. "I guess I could let you pick me--"

I was cut off by a high squeal sound made by Jenn. "Oh, thank you! You won't be disappointed, I promise!" she happily proclaimed, grabbing my hands and jumping up and down. "Now where do you want me to pick you up? Here at school or at your house?"

I grinned and let out a quiet chuckle. It ended up being Jenn that had the brilliant idea. "That sounds like a plan! Well... picking me up here at school that is. I'll wait in the library for you after school for wen you're ready to pick me up."

"Where's the library at?" she asked, tilting her head to the side.

"I'll show you after school. But for now, we need to get you to class, okay?" I proposed, offering out my hand to lead her.

Jenn gave a funny sounding whining noise, yet still reluctantly took my hand. "Alright, but you'd best show me around more afterwards. I don't know if I'll be able to find my way around."

I smiled and nodded my head. "Sure thing, just as long as you remember to pick me up afterwards. I don't think I know how to get to your house just yet." I started walking down the now nearly empty hall, remembering what would, hopefully, be the correct class.

"That's a done deal Aaron." she chirped. "So where are you leading your little pet now?"

Looking back with a perplexed expression, I couldn't help but wonder why in the world she would say something like that. But, instead of worrying about it, I just shrugged it off and tried to remember Jenn's schedule. "If I do recall, your next two classes are Physiology and Psychology... Two very hard classes if I do say so myself. And then after that we both have Chorus last."

"Good! At least we get the last class together... And hey, what's so bad about taking classes that offer a challenge?"

"Nothing's wrong with a challenge, it's just that these classes might offer a different kind of challenge." Jenn tried to cut in and, from my guess, ask further about that, but we arrived at the door and I didn't give her the chance. "All right, here we are. Now, be good and try to get along with everyone. If you get confused about where to go, just try to remember how to decipher the schedule you have. Have fun." That was all I let her hear before I walked her into the room. I went up to the teacher, Mr. Fiernen, and told him about his newest student. With a confirming nod I left the room and started making my way to my class... all the way at the other end of the building.

I was five minutes late to class, or at least would have been if our teacher were there. He always had a tendency to show up late, never even bothering to make excuses for his absences. But when he did finally arrive, he didn't even have anything planned for today, so it was practically a day off from the class. The entire time though all I did was wonder about Jenn, which was strange for me, worrying about someone else instead of myself. I looked up at the clock, only fifty minutes left until this block was over... great.

I waited and waited. Then, after taking some time to go to the bathroom, I waited some more. It seemed like the clock was never going to move faster than the speed of a racing mollusk. As my napping eyes opened to the sound of the bell, it took a few seconds to get my mind to catch up with what was going on around me. I remembered Jenn and was off like a rocket toward her next class. The Psychology classroom was about halfway between where I was and where her last class was. Within two minutes I was at the door, looking in to see if she was there. I told myself that it would be okay if she weren't in yet, having just gotten out of class recently. Scanning the room, I saw that she wasn't there. So, I moved out of the doorway and peered around to see if she was in the hallway. I didn't think that it would be hard to pick her out amongst the mass of "normal" people, but I was quite wrong. I had almost missed seeing her entirely if it weren't for her tail swiping the side of my thigh.

"Jenn!" I called out, hoping to get her attention. She turned quickly and waved. "I'm glad to see you made it. That means you're learning how to use your schedule." I said as I walked closer.

"Aaron... I don't think that my Physiology teacher likes me." Jenn started, sounding sad. "But you're right about learning. I figured out how to get here all by myself!"

"Hey, what happened with Mister Fiernen?" I asked.

"Well..." she started, "I sorta kinda proved him wrong on a point..."

"Aha, that would explain why you say he might not like you. He's really a nice guy, but he can get somewhat self-conscious. So whenever someone proves him wrong, he starts to freak out a bit and tries to 'rebuild his reputation' as he sometimes says. Don't worry though, he'll be fine by tomorrow. Just try to go easy on showing off so early in your career here, 'kay?"

She and I both smiled. For the first time, I actually noticed a few more detailed things about her. She was wearing specially made clothes to fit her unique features like her tail and her slightly different body shape. The smell of a fragrant perfume that didn't completely cover up a light smell of dust, it must have been because of the fur. Though, now that I started thinking about it, she really wasn't all that different from anyone else around. She was just a girl who was trying to get through high school like the rest of us. It made me sick to think that, just because of a different physical appearance, people would treat her like she was a lesser being.

"Okay, I'll try."

And so she was introduced to her teacher and I was off sprinting to my class. Thankfully I made it almost a minute before the bell rang. And this time I had to actually focus on my work, so I didn't have time to think about how Jenn was doing. Though I did continue to wonder why I kept thinking about how she was doing. It was so unlike me to think so much about one person, especially since I just met her and all.

I shook my head to try and remove the though from my mind entirely. It wasn't the time to be thinking about anything but my work, which I had slight trouble figuring out. That's what I got for taking Advanced Calculus.

The time flew by as I slowly figured out how to figure the difference between hyperbolas and parabolas, and soon enough the bell rang. With my books messily put into my bag I was out the door. Jenn was waiting next to the wall opposite the Psychology room door when I arrived, slightly disoriented from a locker opening coincidentally in my face. Let's just say that locker might have some trouble opening again with the large dent blocking the latch.

Nonetheless, I made it and, from the looks of it, she found Psyche to be an amazing class to take. "Aaron! Oh, I had so much fun in that class! It was amazing!" she screamed in a half giggle, half overbearing voice.

Exactly the response I was waiting to hear. I had taken Psyche the previous year and it had been one of my favorite classes. "Good to hear Jenn. So, shall we procee-"

Cut off before I could finish, I had to compensate for an arm that came swinging toward my throat. But, I had to halt my first incentive to block the swing and let it happen. Jenn's arm wrapped itself around my neck and shoulder quicker than I would have liked. As I stood awestruck, she simply jumped up and down, lifting my shoulders with her.

When Jenn released me, she expected that I was ready to go, but my brain was still trying to piece together all the parts to the puzzle it had created. With a tap on my temple I snapped out of my stupor and looked her squarely in the eyes. "Hmm... Did I break him, I wonder?" she said aloud. "Aaron, you okay in there?"

She tapped on my head again before I could respond. I blinked then said, "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little taken aback, that's all." I tried to grin, hoping that I didn't sound as pathetic as I thought I had.

She did exactly as I hoped she would and just smiled back, waiting for me to take the both of us to the final block of the day. We weren't dreadfully far from the room, but still far enough to arrive after the bell rang.

The 'Chorus Nazi' as he was referred to by students raised his head with a scowl at his late-comers. "So, it seems that we have people who don't think that this class should be taken as serious as others, yet again. What is your excuse for tardiness this time Aaron? Were you 'helping out' another lost student or some rubbish as that?"

His accent was unmistakably British, and his temper was one to match. The glare that he gave only seemed to accent his already heavy brow-line to make him look only more sinister. A cold and heartless expression for a cold and heartless man, if you ask me. "Yes sir, I was. This lost student to be precise," I started, waving toward Jenn in a kindly fashion, "but I take no excuse for being late other than a lack of concern for your class."

I bowed slightly and moved to take my place. Jenn didn't move, but only looked toward me for what to do next. It wasn't as though I wanted to leave her hanging out to dry, but the situation I was in with Mr. Alexander was somewhat of a complicated one.

"You," he pointed at Jenn, "are you going to dilly-dally in my doorway all day, or are you going to explain why the hell you are here?"

Jenn's face immediately sank, and her ears went flat down onto her head. "Well... sir... I'm new here-"

Mr. Alexander cut her short, "I bloody figured that out by the fact I've never seen you before. Now give reason as to your presence here, or bugger off!"

"I'm here because I want to sing in the choir." she stated flatly

His expression changed only slightly, if only for the worse, as he repositioned his stature to appear even more menacing. "All right then, if you're so intent on becoming a member of my class, then you'd best be able to prove yourself."

Over the next hour Mr. Alexander made Jenn sing through from simple notes and rhythms to more complicated phrases through key and time changes. He even went so far as to ask questions about composers from different eras. "Very good, very good Miss. Strippe. Quite exceptional voice, fluent tone, respectful intonation, and a fine knowledge of classic arts. Welcome to my class."

The final bell rang out softly in the acoustically dampened room, yet no one made a move for the door. We all just stood, waiting. Jenn, who was still recovering her breath from a lengthy surprise test, didn't know what to do, so she did the only thing I expected she knew what to do; she walked straight to me.

Mr. Alexander's expression was solemn. I almost thought that I saw a smile on his pursed lips, but my eyes had to be deceiving me. "Alright, class is dismissed."

* * * * *

After numerous questions and rebuttals, as well as a few unintentionally strong hits, Jenn and I parted ways. I showed her were the library was, plus a few other places that might come in handy. It was easier than originally thought to explain to her my lack of action in Mr. Alexander's class. Basically, it came down to the fact that, while he was an outstanding teacher, he expected no less than perfection from anyone who came to him.

Jenn, to be put simply, was an amazing singer. I never expected that she would be both brilliant in mind as well as in voice, but just hearing her was enough to prove that she was, indeed, perfect.

And then, my mind ran face-forward into a brick wall. I just thought that a girl was perfect? Me? I had never thought of anyone more than mediocre or okay, but perfect? Just what all drugs had I been exposed to?

"So Matt, I'll pick you up in an hour, is that okay?"

"Huh-wha? Oh... umm, yeah... sure. That'll work." I replied.

"Are you okay? You look a little flushed."

"I'm fine. Just thinking about... one of my classes. Nothing to worry about."

I grinned as realistically as I could manage. She must have bought it, because she didn't question further. And, after she started walking away, I was confronted with numerous people, all asking about 'the new girl' or 'that thing' as some referred. To put bluntly, I wasn't too happy about their question delivery, so let's just say that I ended up having to walk away while others hobbled, not that I was violent with anyone, but more so blunt that they were being very rude and discriminative to a kind girl who didn't deserve to be treated as such.

Then, as I was finally left alone to contemplate, my mind drifted off to think about just what all had happened in only a few hours' time. It had only been a day, and already I felt that a girl was perfect? Didn't people have to be around others a little longer before they starting thinking things like that? 'Love at first sight' couldn't really happen, could it? Wait... Love? Okay, that was it. I finally snapped. I finally went insane.

"Perfect?"

Here ends part one of the "In Retrospect" two-parter. Part two, Jenn's Story, will be up soon, so be sure to be looking out for it! Just what twists and turns will the story take? Only time will tell!