Learning the American Way

The Arizona sun blazed outside the classroom window, casting a warm glow over the rows of desks. Aria, Jane, and Thorne sat among the other students, dressed in typical American attire—plain t-shirts, jeans, and sneakers that had been hastily purchased by Principal O'Gassery weeks ago. They blended in surprisingly well, though their silver hair and unique eye colors still turned heads now and then.

Jane tapped her pencil against her notebook, her gaze fixated on the board as Principal O'Gassery wrote out a series of English sentences for translation practice. His handwriting was neat but bold, each stroke commanding attention.

"All right, class," he said, his voice deep but warm. "Let's see how you handle these. Read the sentence aloud and then translate it into your own words."

The classroom murmured with activity as students bent over their notes. Thorne leaned over to whisper to Jane, his grammar still a bit off but improving. "I think… this make sense, yes? 'The cat sat on…'" He hesitated, squinting. "What is this… 'mat'?"

Jane stifled a laugh. "It's 'mat,' Thorne. Like the rug we sit on during training back home." Her voice was low, careful to avoid drawing too much attention.

Thorne grinned, clearly proud of himself. "I knew it! This language not so hard now."

Aria, seated on Jane's other side, was less amused. She rested her chin on her hand, staring blankly at the board. Her once-vivid determination seemed dulled by the monotony of the past two months. "We're supposed to be saving Changra," she muttered under her breath, her voice barely audible. "Not sitting here learning about cats and mats."

Jane shot her a look, her expression softening. "We'll get back to it, Aria. But we couldn't do anything if we didn't learn this first. We need to survive here."

Aria's lips tightened, but she didn't argue. Instead, she glanced out the window, her thoughts clearly elsewhere.

Principal O'Gassery clapped his hands, bringing the class's attention back to him. "Jane, would you like to read the next sentence?"

Jane blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. "Uh… sure." She cleared her throat, standing as was customary in his classroom. "The dog… ran… to the park."

"And your translation?"

She hesitated, piecing the sentence together in her mind. "Uh… The dog… goes to… uh, park for fun?"

O'Gassery chuckled. "Close enough, Jane. Sit down."

Jane sighed in relief, exchanging a small smile with Thorne as she sank back into her seat. It was a strange rhythm they had fallen into, but it was a rhythm nonetheless. For a moment, it felt like they weren't strangers in a foreign land. For a moment, it felt… normal.

As the lesson carried on, the classroom buzzed with quiet conversations and the occasional burst of laughter. Jane found herself glancing at the clock more often than not, the ticking seconds dragging as her thoughts drifted to the reason they were there in the first place. The faint hum of the fluorescent lights overhead only added to the surreal atmosphere.

Principal O'Gassery walked between the rows of desks, offering guidance and encouragement to each student. He stopped beside Thorne, who was struggling with his sentence.

"You're close, Thorne," O'Gassery said, leaning over to examine the page. "'The bird flew over the tree.' You've got most of it right, but let's work on that last word. 'Tree,' not 'three.'"

Thorne scratched his head, his silver hair catching the sunlight streaming through the window. "This language… much rules," he muttered, earning a chuckle from the teacher.

"Every language has its quirks," O'Gassery replied with a knowing smile. "You're doing fine. Just keep at it."

Across the room, Aria shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Her fingers drummed against the edge of her desk, her thoughts far from the English lesson. The faint buzz of the overhead lights grated on her nerves. She shot a sideways glance at Jane, who was dutifully taking notes, and whispered, "This is pointless. We should be out there searching."

Jane didn't look up. "We can't blend in if we don't understand what people are saying, Aria. You know that."

Aria huffed, crossing her arms. "Blending in isn't going to save him."

Jane turned to face her, her eyes sharp but not unkind. "And charging in without understanding this world would get us nowhere. Do you think he'd want us to fail because we didn't take the time to prepare?"

The words struck a chord with Aria, and she looked away, her expression softening. Before she could respond, Principal O'Gassery's voice boomed from the front of the room.

"All right, class! That's enough for today. You've all worked hard. Remember to review tonight, and we'll pick up where we left off tomorrow."

The students began packing up their books and papers, the scrape of chairs filling the air. Jane, Aria, and Thorne gathered their things in silence, their thoughts weighed down by the dual realities of their situation: the mundane lessons of this new world and the pressing urgency of their mission.

As the trio walked out of the classroom, Thorne tried to lighten the mood. "Maybe tomorrow, we learn something useful… like how to find good food. Not this… 'fast food' you two love."

Jane laughed softly, shaking her head. "You'll come around, Thorne. Trust me."

Aria remained quiet, her gaze fixed ahead. The bustling halls of the school were a far cry from the forests and guild halls of Elakia. But as strange as this world was, it was the only lead they had to find Changra—and they couldn't afford to lose focus.

As they exited the building, the Arizona sun bore down on them, and Jane shielded her eyes with her hand. "We'll get him back," she said, almost to herself.

Aria glanced at her, her resolve hardening. "We better."

Thorne walked a few steps ahead, his usual grin plastered across his face as he gestured toward a colorful sign on the opposite side of the road. Lucky Lanes Bowling Alley, it read in bright, flashing letters.

"Bowling. We do this," Thorne declared, his words slightly stilted, though his enthusiasm was impossible to miss.

Jane raised an eyebrow, catching up to him. "Bowling? Why do you think that's a good idea? We need a plan, not… distractions."

Thorne spun around, gesturing grandly at the sign like it was the answer to all their problems. "People there. People talk. We listen. Maybe… we hear something… about him."

Aria, lagging behind, crossed her arms and frowned. "This is ridiculous. Bowling isn't going to help us find Changra."

Thorne's grin widened, clearly undeterred. "Better than… doing nothing. And… I win. Always."

Jane sighed, but the corner of her mouth twitched upward despite herself. She glanced back at Aria. "It's not a terrible idea. Places like that are noisy, casual. People might mention things without realizing we're listening."

Aria's gaze flicked between them before she exhaled sharply. "Fine. But if this ends up being a waste of time, you're both going to hear about it."

Thorne pumped his fist triumphantly. "I get… strike. You'll see."

Jane shook her head. "Let's just get this over with."

The bowling alley was dimly lit, its neon signs casting colorful glows over the rows of lanes. The crash of pins and the hum of arcade machines created a lively, chaotic atmosphere. Thorne strode confidently to the counter, his silver hair catching the fluorescent lights as he leaned on the desk.

"Hello. We… play bowling," he said, pointing back at Jane and Aria. "Three people. Shoes."

The attendant, a young man with a bored expression, popped his gum and stared at Thorne. "You got money?"

Thorne froze, his confidence wavering as he looked back at Jane. "Money?" he whispered, suddenly unsure.

Jane stepped forward smoothly, pulling out a crumpled wad of bills they'd scraped together earlier. "We have enough. Here."

The attendant shrugged, took the money, and handed them three pairs of shoes. "Pick a lane. Any open one's fine."

As they walked to an open lane, Jane glanced sideways at Thorne. "You could've just let me handle that."

Thorne shrugged. "I try. Was fine."

Aria snorted. "Barely."

Thorne ignored her, grabbing a bright orange bowling ball and examining it like it was a weapon of war. "I go first," he declared, hefting the ball with both hands.

Jane rolled her eyes but didn't protest as Thorne marched up to the lane. His first attempt sent the ball wobbling down the lane before it veered straight into the gutter. He stood there for a moment, staring at the empty lane, before turning back to them.

"Practice shot," he announced confidently.

Aria let out a sharp laugh, a rare sound from her lately. "Sure, Thorne. Whatever helps you sleep at night."

Jane smirked, shaking her head. "Just try not to break the floor this time."

Thorne narrowed his eyes but picked up another ball, clearly determined. Jane turned her attention to Aria. "Keep an eye on the other groups. Listen for anything unusual."

Aria nodded, her tone quieter now. "Do you really think anyone here knows something? About him?"

Jane hesitated, glancing around the bowling alley. Families and groups of teenagers filled the space, laughing and talking as they played. It was so different from the world they'd left behind, yet it carried a strange familiarity. "Maybe not directly. But we can't ignore any possibilities. People talk, even when they don't mean to. We just have to listen."

Aria sighed but didn't argue. "Fine. But he better be worth all this."

"He is," Jane said firmly, her gaze hardening. "And we'll find him."

Thorne returned to them then, grinning from ear to ear. "I get one pin this time. Not bad, yes?"

Aria rolled her eyes. "Amazing progress."

Jane chuckled, nudging Thorne toward the ball return. "Keep practicing, champ. We'll figure this out."

The trio settled into a strange rhythm as the bowling game continued. Thorne, determined to improve, took each turn with dramatic flair, his attempts growing slightly better—though his enthusiasm far outpaced his skill. Aria had finally joined in, rolling her eyes but stepping up to the lane with a natural precision that put both Jane and Thorne to shame. Jane, meanwhile, balanced her focus between the game and the scattered conversations around them, her sharp ears catching snippets of mundane chatter.

"You see that?" Thorne exclaimed after knocking down three pins on his latest attempt. "Better now! Soon… I am master."

Aria smirked as she picked up a ball. "Master of the gutter, maybe."

"Gutter bad. Pins good," Thorne muttered, crossing his arms as he watched her line up her shot.

Jane chuckled softly. "She's teasing you, Thorne. Relax."

Aria rolled her ball smoothly down the lane, knocking over seven pins. She turned back with a smug smile. "That's how it's done."

Thorne's jaw dropped. "You… cheating?"

Jane shook her head, suppressing a laugh. "No, Thorne. She's just better than you."

As they bantered, Jane's eyes wandered across the bowling alley. A group of teenagers had entered, laughing loudly as they claimed a lane a few rows down. Among them, one boy stood out—a wiry figure with unruly black hair and sharp, angular features. Jane squinted, her stomach twisting as recognition dawned.

"Wait," she murmured, nudging Aria with her elbow. "That kid. I've seen him before."

Aria followed her gaze, her brow furrowing. "Stephen Currigula," she said, her voice low but steady. "He's from Lee Williams. The school."

Thorne, picking up on the shift in tone, straightened up. "Who this?"

"Just a student," Jane replied, her eyes narrowing. "But if he's here… he might know something."

Aria nodded, her gaze fixed on Stephen. "We should talk to him."

Jane hesitated for a moment before setting down her ball. "Let's go."

The trio stepped away from their lane, weaving through the crowded space toward the group of teenagers. Stephen stood near the ball return, laughing at something one of his friends had said. As Jane, Aria, and Thorne approached, his laughter faltered, his expression shifting to one of surprise—and something else they couldn't quite place.

They stopped a few feet away, the faint hum of the bowling alley filling the silence as Stephen turned to face them fully. Jane met his gaze, her voice steady but careful.

"Stephen."

Stephen's laughter faded as his sharp eyes landed on Jane, Aria, and Thorne. His brow furrowed slightly, and he glanced back at his group of friends. Without a word, he raised a hand and motioned for them to go ahead.

"You guys keep going," he said, his tone casual but firm. "I'll catch up."

The others hesitated for a moment, exchanging curious looks, but eventually shrugged and moved on to their lane. Stephen turned back to the trio, his gaze sweeping over them with a mix of curiosity and mild suspicion. His eyes lingered on their silver hair and distinct features before settling on Jane.

"You're the Russian exchange students, right? O'Gassery's big project?" He crossed his arms, his voice sharp but not unfriendly. "What do you want with me?"

Jane stepped forward, her expression calm but her eyes sharp. "We wanted to ask you something. Have you ever met someone named Changra?"

Stephen's reaction was immediate. He let out a sharp laugh, a mix of amusement and disbelief. "Changra? Changra Leville?" He shook his head, a crooked grin spreading across his face. "Yeah, I've met him. Known him for a long time, actually."

Jane exchanged a quick glance with Aria, whose expression had tightened, while Thorne remained still, his eyes fixed on Stephen.

Stephen crossed his arms, leaning back slightly as he continued. "Quiet guy. Always kept to himself. Never talked much, which was fine by me. Honestly, I never liked him. There were always these… rumors about him. Not the kind of stuff that makes you want to be his buddy, you know?" He smirked, his tone casual but laced with something sharper. "Why are you asking about him, anyway?"

Jane quickly composed herself, her tone casual. "We've just heard about him here and there. People talk, you know? We were curious."

Stephen raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued but not entirely convinced. "Curious, huh?" He let the word hang in the air for a moment before shrugging. "Well, yeah, I've seen him. Actually, I see him every day. He's in my class."

Aria's posture stiffened slightly, though her voice was steady when she spoke. "Really? He's here?"

Stephen nodded, his smirk returning. "Yeah, he's here. Same old Changra Leville, sitting in the back, quiet as ever. Kind of hard to miss him, though. That guy's got a look, you know what I mean?"

Thorne, his usual grin faded into a serious expression, finally spoke, his words simple but clear. "Where is he?"

Stephen tilted his head, his gaze narrowing slightly. "Why are you guys so interested in him? You don't even know him, right?"

Jane smiled politely, trying to keep her tone light. "We just want to meet him. We're trying to make friends with everyone at the school. You know, settle in better."

Stephen let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head. "Yeah, I wouldn't count on that working out. Making friends with him? Not exactly easy."

Aria frowned, her voice calm but firm. "Why not? Everyone deserves a chance."

Stephen leaned against the counter, his smirk taking on a more skeptical edge. "Look, I'm not saying you shouldn't try, but Changra's… not like most people. He keeps to himself, always has. Quiet, moody, and not the kind of guy who opens up to strangers. Trust me, I've seen people try."

Thorne crossed his arms, his silver hair catching the faint neon glow of the bowling alley. "Maybe… we try anyway. Good idea."

Stephen gave him a look, half amused, half exasperated. "Sure, go ahead. But don't say I didn't warn you. He'll probably just ignore you, if he even bothers talking at all." He straightened up, gesturing toward the lanes. "Anyway, good luck with that. You're gonna need it."