Chapter 5: An introduction

It was Monday morning. The clouds loomed above, pulling a dirty-yellow taint over the landscape. The bushes outside faintly picked up the wind, swaying here and there, unsettled - yet never moving.
Meddy let out a little sigh. She was taking the poop to school today, like Mother told her to. Just thinking about introducing him to Josie and Kate was enough to get her snuggling even tighter in her blanket. It had occurred to her she could just ignore him at school, but knowing those two they'd figure it out sooner or later anyway, so she didn't really have a choice.

"Meddy! You're going to be late if you sleep in anymore dear," Mother's muffled voice came from downstairs.

"Mm...m..." Meddy groaned. 'She didn't have a choice', huh?
-

Don't come here! Don't come any closer.

Meddy grimaced. She decided to put off the introduction after all, she even told poop only to leave home ten minutes after her. Even so... was it her imagination? People were shooting looks at him. What kind of a look she couldn't really tell, but, it wasn't like she could blame them. Poop really stood out, like a wolf in a cowardice of curs. She felt something akin with him at the mall, but this time their difference was more pronounced, gaping. He wasn't human after all. 

Eek! He's coming this way. Ignore him. 

"-Hmm? I don't know him. Meddy, do you recognise him?" Josie gestured towards the approaching one. 

"There's no way we've seen him before, so he's a transfer?" Kate replied. 

"Madeline, unfortunately I am unfamiliar with this institute called a 'school'. I hope I can count on you to show me around today,"

Huh.

"Ah, so you do know him!" Josie exclaimed. 

"It is nice to meet you. I am Gabriel, Madeline's brother. I just transferred to this school today."
Kate cocked her head to the side, giving him those glossy eyes of curiosity.

"A-ah, we're not even blood relatives. He's j-just freeloading at my place for a while," right?

"I'm Katherine."

"Josie. Meddy's really a nice girl on the inside, if you give her some patience," she smiled.

Meddy closed her eyes for a bit. As expected of Kate and Josie (they really handled news well). Maybe the day wouldn't be as difficult as she had thought it to be.

"I will be sure to keep that in mi-" poop stopped at the sound of the school bell. Funny, is he frightened by loud noises? No, probably my imagination. He doesn't look like the type. 
-

After class Meddy disconnected and waited in the project room. Extended studies was probably the only time schoolmates got to interact with one another, and was usually the highlight of the curriculum. After all usual class time was standard across the level (for most normal people anyway), but in extended studies every one's learning ability was different. Some of her classmates squeeze in every free hour on their projects and achievements, while others like Meddy just enjoyed the ride. Not just enjoyed, in fact Meddy quite looked forward to it. Usually anyway. But the class was just sharing reports that day so she didn't have high hopes for it. Time for a nap maybe?
...

"Meddy, are you up? Meddy?" Josie's voice penetrated through Meddy's waking dreams. "Gosh to actually sleep through the presentations like that. Just stay awake for our turn alright?" she continued giving Meddy a pat on the back. Meddy reluctantly pulled her head up from her arms and looked around. People around her were chattering while having their lunches. I'm hungry.

"If you would like, I have prepared lunch for you," he smiled, placing a lunchbox on her desk.

"...Thanks."

"Hey, are you the new transfer student? Want to have lunch with us?" someone spoke to him, a Brian or Liam.

"Gladly. I'm Gabriel, Madeline's brother, nice to meet you." I give up. 

"Heheh that's great! By the way where did you get that lunch from? Looks to-die-for," said Liam or Brian.

"Madeline's mother shared it with me. She also taught me how to use these utensils."

"... Haha you're a weird one. By the way, have you joined a group for ES?"

That's a fork and spoon. To just let it pass like that they're more of the weird ones. 

"Meddy, about our next plans for the project," Kate interrupted.

"Yeah?"

"Since we're researching pets, we were thinking of getting our personal ones. You know, purely for the research," Josie grinned and gave Meddy a playful nudge.

"Is that alright? We'll just be misappropriating the funds you know."

"Ahem," Kate made an effort, "I do, in fact, believe this a good spend on our budget. We'll be writing weekly reports. Our study of shared pets and only go so far, so getting personal ones would only be the obvious thing to do."

"Mmm... If you say so."

"Hey, don't go back to sleep!"

"... Even so, he seems to be getting along with our classmates," Meddy muttered, more to herself than anyone.

"You're don't seem to know him very well," said Kate.

"Mm. I only met him three days ago. It's not like I can get used to living or even talking to him to quickly."

"Well, I guess these things take time. He seems to take care of you anyway, so he can't be a bad guy right?" said Josie.

A bad guy? Of course he is! No, what am I even saying, why would I even want to talk to that guy.
"Don't let his demure fool you. That guy is a piece of poop. He punched me in the stomach the other day then acted as if nothing happened. How can you call that caring?" Yes, he should not be taken lightly. I still have to get back at him for the punch, and ask that shady guy all kinds of questions. But what could she do? He took her down so easily after all.

"Whoa."

"Ploop?" Kate came in.

"It's poop." Meddy corrected.

"Ploop."

Whatever. It's not important.

"Maybe he just doesn't really know much about society?' Josie asked. What. "For some reason he doesn't even know what forks and spoons are. He stood through the entire flag raising without singing a single word either. For all we know he had a good reason to punch you too."

"Excuse me!"

"Well you can be quick tempered at times. Maybe he was just trying to get some peace and quite for a bit," Kate said.

"Don't say it like that!"

"Ah, you admitted it," said Josie.

"I didn't," Meddy moaned. "But I guess you're right, he acts as if he's never been to planet Earth. He really has to do something about it."

"Well, if he spends more time interacting with humans, he should be able to assimilate sooner or later," suggested Kate, "maybe we can invite him to help out with our project?"

They're already assuming he isn't human. 

"But he's with Liam and Brian for their project right?" Did I even get their names right?

"Mm... It shouldn't matter. We're not limited to one project anyway," said Josie. Oh? I got it right. Well it couldn't hurt. I can trust Kate and Josie anyway.  

"If it's to put him on the right path, then I guess I don't really have a choice, huh? Alright. I'll tell him after class."

"'Ask' him," Kate corrected.

"Got it." Gosh, today's gonna be a long day. Meddy opened her lunch box and stuffed an egg roll into her mouth. She usually used chopsticks, but today was just a spoon and forked. Meddy stared at her lunch for a while, wondering why her mother took the trouble to swap out their usual utensils. For Gabriel, huh?