Foreword: This is a side story to *Notes* Special Edition: The First Day of Grade 7. Here we are introduced to another Grade 7 class at TJHS on Orientation Day. Some of the students we meet in this side story *Note* eventually play bigger roles in That Alternate Reality, one way or another. Read to start their journeys!

*morning, inside TJHS - all freshmen students are sitting in the cafetorium*
Nyran: *sitting by himself, humming quietly and lightly tapping his foot*
Nikki: *sitting and talking with a crowd of Parkside Elementary Alumni*
Leroi: *sitting and talking with some Elmrod Street Elementary Alumni*
Mrs. Spayce (The Principal): *makes her welcoming speech*
Mr. Broos (The Vice-Principal): *makes his rather “interesting” welcoming speech, then begins reading off the Grade 6 and 7 class lists…* … And for the last Grade 7 class, we have Mr Storrk’s class 7-4! Please make sure you hear your name read from the list. If you don't, come see us afterwards. AHEM! *reads* Janna Ambur, Barkon Black, Lupin Bonnet, Leroi Chayce…
Leroi: ~Finally.~ *glances around at the remaining folks from Elmrod Street* ~None of my friends are in my class and those two bitches are still here… Greenith and Kandis… ugh.~ *gives them a dirty look*
Mr. Broos: … Jewel Diamond, Mole Dirtdigger, Nyran Firestar…
Nyran: *nods to himself*
Mr. Broos: … Mairk Graille, Ronaldo Gretio, Greenith Greystone…
Leroi: *rolls his eyes*
Greenith: At least I ain't with Bolt! *to Kandis*
Mr. Broos: … Sliim Hiss, Haven Horseheal, Jezzmyn Hill, Lionard Jaylo…
Jezzmyn: *to her best friend Meija* This is the last Grade 7 class - we'll be together! *excitedly*
Mr. Broos: … Nikole Kaison, Nielly LaForte, Simown Langbrae…
Nikki: ~Thank God I ain't with Aerdna or Semaj… but I'm with Nielly.~ *sighs*
Simown: ~Class without that loser, Xinders… fine by me.~ *smirking to herself*
Mr. Broos: … Garbaj McGoat, Kandis McKenzy…
Kandis: *grins at Greenith - her braces glinting*
Leroi: *shakes his head with a sigh*
Mr. Broos: … Kati Meerk, Frog Ribboty, Kallen Sapphire, Griffyn Shrawk, River Spryng, Meija Sunbeam…
Meija & Jezzmyn: Yay!! *grin at each other*
Mr. Broos: … Jord Thomsun, Harri Westleton, and Oda Zedero. *finishes reading with a smile* Okay, that’s EVERYONE! Everyone who’s on the lists, at least. Y'all line up, now! WHOOP-WHOOP! *cheers*

*class 7-4 gathers to the front of the stage... their homeroom teacher, Mr. Storrk, helps them get organized by lining up single file - in alphabetical order by last name*
Mairk: *taps Nyran's shoulder*
Nyran: Huh? *turns around*
Mairk: Hey, mate! *waves* My name's Mairk.
Nyran: Oh, hello! *nods and waves as well* I'm Nyran.
Mairk: What school are you from?
Nyran: Ironton Elementary. I just moved here. Little over a week ago.
Mairk: Really? Cool! I'm from Astral Street!
Nyran: Astral Street? Off Starwalk Street, near the bottom of the hill?
Mairk: Yeah! You know the area? *surprised*
Nyran: I would've gone there too if I had've moved sooner! I live on Starwalk Street. Closer to the top.
Mairk: Oh, I see! I know some people who live around there as well. I live on Brightbeam Street. Know where that is?
Nyran: Yup! *looking at him… suddenly senses recognition* Hey, I think I saw you at my bus stop this morning!
Mairk: You probably did! I'm pretty sure I saw YOU. Figured I'd talk to you and see what your deal was! If you ever wanna stand with someone while waiting for the bus, my best friend Geff and I would be glad to have you.
Nyran: *smiles, grateful* Ah, well, that's very nice of you! Maybe I shall, then. I don't plan to go to the bus stop EVERY day, but I'll try to every now and then!
Mairk: Oh yeah? Your parents gonna drive you sometimes? Mine both work so they can't.
Nyran: Oh, well… let's just say I have alternate modes of transport!
Mr. Storrk: Follow me, everyone! *leads the class out of the cafetorium*

*in class 7-4*
Mr. Storrk: *opens the door to the classroom* Have a seat! Any seat!
Class 7-4: *file into the classroom*
Nyran: *sits at a random desk*
Leroi: *sits in front of Nyran*
Janna & River: *sit behind Nyran*
Janna: Hey, Nikki! Sit in front of us! *points to the seat in front of her (next to Nyran)*
Nikki: *heads over to them* Okerdokers! *sits in the seat next to Nyran*
Mairk: *missed his chance to sit next to Nyran - decides to sit across the aisle from him instead*
Nyran: *glancing around at everyone* … You know, it’s hard to feel so alone when I'm surrounded by people! *to Mairk*
Mairk: Definitely. *looks over at Janna and River, then settles his eyes on Nikki* … Lot of nice looking girls in this class, eh? *quietly to Nyran*
Nyran: Say what? *does another once over of the class* … I dunno… maybe? I'm ill-equipped to make a call on that, actually! Right now, music is my one and only love! *lightly taps his desk a few times, as if playing a drum*
Mairk: *laughs* There were nice looking girls at my old school, but… wow, were most of them ever… unique… yeah, let's just say “unique”.
Nyran: “Unique” doesn't sound like a bad thing to me! *stops tapping* Then again, like I said - I'd rather study music right now than the ladies. I often had to tell the bandies at my old school this very same thing. Lost count how many times! They just kept telling me one day something inside me will “awaken” and I'll change my mind - whatever that means. *shrugs*
Mairk: *laughs* You're a… unique dude yourself!
Nyran: I prefer the term "random"! But thanks! *quirky grin on his face* That's a fine compliment as well and I officially feel special!
Mairk: *chuckles, amused by Nyran*
River: *from behind Nyran and Nikki* Heh, I bet you're really happy that you're not in Aerdna or Semaj's class, huh Nikki?
Nikki: *turns around* Am I EVER! *raises her hands in praise* I pity poor Sky, though. Having to put up with them for ANOTHER year. Junior high ain't giving him a BREAK!
Janna: SO right!
Nyran: *turns around suddenly* Who's Sky?
Nikki & Janna & River: *look at him - surprised*
Nyran: … Am I interrupting? I'm sorry, I'll shut up. *good-naturedly - he faces front*
Nikki: Oh, that's okay, you don't need to shut up! *chuckling* I'm not an advocate for that. “Shutting up”, that is.
Janna & River: *laugh*
Janna: Yeah, we don't mind if you wanna talk to us!
Nyran: *turns himself again so he’s facing Nikki, Janna, and River* Thanks. Sometimes I randomly decide to talk to random people. At random times.
Nikki: I certainly appreciate THAT! *grins* So, what's your name-o?
Nyran: Nyran Firestar.
Nikki: Cool beans! I'm Nikki Kaison!
Janna: Janna Ambur.
River: River Spryng.
Nyran: Hello, hello! Nice to meet you all. Oh, and this here is Mairk! *signals at Mairk across the aisle* I forget his last name, but I guess he likes girls!
Mairk: *looks their way* Wha'? *wasn't paying attention*
Janna & River: *giggle*
Nikki: The three of us all went to Parkside! *signals to herself and the other two girls* What about you? What school you from?
Nyran: Ironton Elementary. Which is NOT in Tidevale.
Nikki: Oh, so you're NEW new! *eyes full of interest* Neat!
Nyran: Yeah! *nods, then pauses* … So, who IS Sky?
Janna: He was like, the COOLEST guy in our class growing up!
River: Coolest guy in the whole SCHOOL!
Nikki: And we don’t talk about his butthead friend who WISHED he was as cool - Draik Kyriia. *in a hushed tone*
Janna & River: *nod vigorously*
Nyran: I see! *nodding along with them* And who are Aerdna and Semaj? I heard you mention them too.
Nikki: Oh my God, they're SO annoying. *looks up at the ceiling and rolls her eyes* All they do is giggle and gossip about everyone. And bother Sky. I DESPISE them!
Janna: And they despise Nikki.
Nikki: That's okay, there are more people who like me than them anyway. *smirks* If ANYONE needs to shut up, it's THOSE two!
River: *looks around* There are a lot of other people from Parkside in this class.
Janna: Yeah! *looks around too* There's Lupin, and LM… and, uh-oh. Nielly.
Nikki & Janna & River: *groan*
Nyran: Who's Nielly?
Nikki: See the freak with the messy red hair and the overload of blush and mascara? Looks like a bitch? *jerks her thumb behind her*
Nyran: *sees* Oh, yeah.
Nikki: THAT'S Nielly. She's pretty mean. She had, like, NO friends at Parkside but somehow thought she was better than everyone else. Probably 'cause she hung out with older people. Older guys. A skank. BLECH! *sticks her tongue out*
Nyran: *his eyebrows pop up* Oh, dear God. Skanks are a “no, thank you” from me too.
Nikki: Despising Nielly, Aerdna, and Semaj makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! *cackles*
Janna & River: *laugh*
Leroi: *turns around - he leans on his chair toward Nyran* Yo! *taps Nyran*
Nyran: *turns towards Leroi* Yes? Can I help you, good sir?
Leroi: Hopefully! You got a pen or pencil I could borrow? I came, uh… extremely underprepared, it would seem.
Nyran: Oh! Yeah, here you go. *opens his pencil case and hands Leroi an extra pen*
Leroi: *leans further forward to grab the pen, but his chair tips too far - he falls to the floor with a shout*
Class 7-4: *look in Leroi's direction - some laugh, some are legitimately worried for him*
Nikki: WHOA! *eyes wide*
Nyran: You okay?? *looking down at him, concerned*
Leroi: … *bursts out laughing* You bet! *scrambles up, straightens out his chair and sits back down, still chuckling* ~It's fine - Shelei wasn't here to see that happen!~
Nyran: Good! Also, who are YOU? *to Leroi* I'm learning ALL the people's names!
Leroi: *turns back around* 'Sup? I'm Leroi. From Elmrod.
Nyran: Where's Elmrod?
Leroi: Oh, uh, I guess I'd call it the most western area of town.
Nyran: Ah! *nods* Apparently I live on the eastern side of town.
Leroi: Oh, did you go to Astral?
Nyran: *shakes his head* I did not. I just moved here from Ironton.
Leroi: Where's that?
Nyran: Outside of Glenforte.
Leroi: Ohhh! *realizes now where Ironton is located* My bad. I should know where that is.
Nyran: Nah, you shouldn't. *waves his hand* It's a barely existent little community. Sure, we might have one of the biggest factories in Nova Scotia, but that's hardly exciting, wouldn't you agree? We also have a train station and an airport. But trust me - no one REALLY comes to Ironton of their own free will.
Nikki: *snickers* Anything else of note in your hometown??
Nyran: Well… *thinks for a moment* … we got a small park, one convenience store, one pharmacy, one post office, a fire hall, and a Tim Horton's. That's basically it!
Leroi: Tim's is certainly a necessity.
Nyran: Although, quite randomly, we DO have a kickboxing club as well. *thoughtfully*
Nikki: *laughs* I wanna visit there someday, just to say I was there! By the way, *to Leroi* I'm Nikki and I'm from Parkside!
Leroi: Honored to make your acquaintance. *bows in his seat*
Nikki: *giggles* Oh, I like him! *to Nyran*
Nyran: You like me too though, right? *innocently*
Nikki: *laughs* Heck yeah I do! Glad to meetcha. *grins at him*
Mr. Storrk: *now standing at the front of the class* Good morning, everyone!
Class 7-4: *falls silent*
Mr. Storrk: I'm Mr. Storrk, and I'll be your homeroom teacher this year! Hope you're excited! CAW!! *flaps his wings*
Class 7-4: *laughs*
Mr. Storrk: *talks for a bit, then walks around the classroom to hands out forms*
Class 7-4: *begin filling out their forms*
Nyran: … *leans over* Pst… Nikki!
Nikki: Yes, Nyran?
Nyran: … CAW! *stage whispers*
Nikki: *snickers… she stage whispers back* TWEET, TWEET!
Nyran: *whispers* HONK!
Nikki: *whispers* CHIRP!
Leroi: *turns around - also stage whispers* Buc-buc-buc… BUCACK!
Nyran & Nikki: *laugh as quietly as they can*
Nyran: The Random Game of Random - Bird Edition!
Nikki: *laughs again* Aww yeah! SQUAWK!
Nyran: CUCKOO!
Leroi: “Cuckoo”? Yup, sounds like Mr. Storrk, alright!
Nyran & Nikki & Leroi: *laugh together*

END?
END!