And so it begins again. Casper followed the crowd walking off the boat, moving some bangs from his eyes as he slipped his white beanie atop his head. The boy’s pink bangs were still clearly visible, but now they kept themselves at the left side of his face instead of covering his vision. The first order of business was to locate Mason but it was futile. That young man had vanished in the crowed and if Casper would even attempt to stop moving, he’d be trampled. ‘[i]Damn…well, I might see him around, later. Last year all the students ate dinner together, I might find him there.’[/i] It was a thought that kept an optimistic aura around the boy but he tried not to put too much weight on it, lest it break. 

As he felt his feet step onto the island’s soil, an immediate feeling of absolution washed over him. There was no turning back now. He had managed one year there without breaking, he could manage another. With his fingers tightly wrapped around the strap of his bag, Casper tried to keep every limb as closer to his torso as he could. It felt safer that way. 

The grass beneath his feet reminded him of the countless times he had walked from one class to the other, keeping his eyes down as to not meet anyone along the way. Maybe this year was going to be different. Maybe this year he’d be able to look up as he walked and not fear every single step he took. Maybe-…

“Well, look, it's The Friendly Little Ghost!” A familiar voice tore Casper from his thoughts just before he entered the auditorium. It was an old ‘friend’, Philip. “Changed your colours this time around, did’ja?” Philip wasn’t a large guy, neither was his friend Greg who stood besides him. They were of average size but towered above Casper all the same. “What…?” He continued, not getting an answer from the boy. “Cat got your tongue?” 

“You’ll have time to talk later.” A teacher interrupted the group of three. “Now get into the auditorium.” If this woman had been at the academy last year or not, Casper was unsure. She did however save him. Without another word, the boy hurried into the auditorium and took a seat next to whoever, hoping that it wasn’t either Greg or Philip that would sit besides him. Luck was with him so far, and another student sat down besides him.

Damn, where was Mason? [i]‘Why am I clinging to him? Mason won’t be my knight in shining armour. He doesn’t even know me…besides…I don’t want anyone to stand up for me. I can take care of myself…’ [/i]It wasn’t true, of course. He couldn’t stand up for himself to save his life but it was something he liked telling himself. One could call it ‘living a lie’ because that was all it was, but it was better than accepting his weakness. 

The Head Mistress began talking but Casper’s thoughts were way too distracted to record her words. She was talking about something concerning rules and punishment, he registered that much, but Casper already knew the rules. Too bad none of them actually [i]helped him[/i]. He wasn’t the only student that was bullied, others were as well, but as long as no one threw a fire ball his way, no one would get punished for it. That’s what it is though, isn’t it? Just like high school back home, everyday’s a battle. 

The Head Mistress kept talking and Casper occasionally glanced up at her from where he was sitting but his eyes would much rather just remain at his hands as they laid together, his fingers anxiously fiddling with each other. How could he have missed Greg and Philip on the boat? Perhaps they were here all along, yeah that was probably it. They were already there, waiting for him. Once the Head Mistress was done talking, the students were herded out of the auditorium and he’d soon find himself in the cafeteria. Again, Mason was nowhere to be seen. Well, the only thing that could be done now was to just take a random seat and hope for the best. Perhaps no one would talk to him at all, and this would all go by harmlessly. As soon as his dorm number would be revealed, Casper could finally hide out in his room. It was the safest place on the island, after all. 

No matter the worried thoughts of dread that were washing over him, he couldn’t deny that his stomach had been very empty since he stepped onto the boat. With a soft sigh, the boy grabbed hold of a fork in his left hand a knife in his right, cutting into the food that was on his plate.