Abroad

Monday was the first day of classes for the Americans. The two different classes, Class 1 and Class 2, were in rooms right next to each other as well as the classes that the Chinese and Korean students were taking. Each class had different subjects in each day. Much like in grade school, instead of the students going to the teacher, the teacher came to the students. Each day had a different schedule, and today they started off with Grammar, followed by Vocabulary and History. Classes weren’t long, only lasting about an hour and a half so when they started in the morning at eight they were out in time for lunch and then done for the day.

Also, unlike college back in the states, there was a chime that would ring when periods were over. It was a pleasant chime, much like a doorbell, and when the American students heard it chime for their last class to be over, they packed their things and bolted from the room as quickly as their American legs could.

“Arrgh,” Duo articulately said rubbing furiously at his eyes.

Hilde groaned pinching the bridge of her nose.

Quatre let out a sigh rubbing small circles on his temples.

Trowa quietly rubbed the back of his neck.

“That was something wasn’t it,” Duo said walking along side his equally worn friends. “I haven’t heard that much Japanese in a long time. My head is pounding!”

“I know,” Hilde said, exhaustion apparent in her voice. “I was concentrating so hard on every word they said that I was tense the whole class.”

“Exactly,” Duo said shaking an agreeing finger in Hilde’s direction. “Exactly the same thing I was doing.” Duo let out a sigh. “Let blow this joint and get some lunch.”

Outside it was a perfectly beautiful day. A perfect blue sky with just a few clouds here and there and the temperature was perfect. The suns rays were warm and just the slightest breeze played with everyone’s hair. Hilde threw her arms out and stretched her face up towards the sky soaking up the sunlight and the warmth of its rays. “Ooh, I could stay out here forever. Let’s get lunch and eat it outside,” she said with her face still heavenwards.

Grabbing one of Hilde’s outstretched arms and tugging on it slightly Duo turned towards Quatre and Trowa. “Well go grab one of those tables over there,” he said pointing a couple yards away. “You guys go ahead and start getting lunch. We’ll be there in a minute.” With a nod both boys took off in the direction of the cafeteria and Duo took off in the direction of the table.

“Hey Duo,” Hilde said running a little bit so she could walk along side of him looping her left arm into the crook of his arm. “We need to do something about Tro and Quat.”

“I don’t know what you mean,” he said looking straight at her with a wicked gleam in his eyes and a smile that was pure trouble.

“Ooh, someone is sworn to secrecy,” Hilde said with an equally devilish smile on her face.

“Eh, not so much secrecy but more like discretion,” Duo said putting his bag down on one of the seats of their outdoor table.

“Yes, well I can work with discretion,” Hilde said grabbing her wallet out of her bag. “So how long,” she asked again trotting up along side of him and taking his arm again.

“Since they met,” he replied shoving his wallet into his back pocket. “So that was winter quarter of last year. Long enough. I'm still not really sure they know the chemistry they have,” he finished with a huff.

“And I am pretty sure it’s Quatre’s discretion meter you’re under. Anything from Trowa’s side?”

“Nada. But Trowa likes to be pretty certain about things before he makes a move,” Duo said as they walked into the noisy cafeteria. "Quatre hasn't even talked to me about it. I'm using discretion because their my friends." Most of the campus was having lunch break and the lines were becoming increasingly longer. Smiling and waving at Quatre and Trowa standing in line, Duo continued without worry of being overheard. “Tro knows I back him up one hundred percent on this. Actually we got into a pretty big fight about it last year.”

“Really,” Hilde sounded curious but continued her examination of the plastic food displays to deciding on lunch. “I can’t picture him in a fight. Well in a verbal fight. I could see him taking on a couple of rugby players though.”

“Yeah it was a lot of me yelling and a lot of him speaking in short clipped sentences. It was intense though. We’re all sorted out now.”

“What he thought you had designs on Quat,” she asked as they made their way over to the ticket machine to buy their lunch ticket.

“Basically. Quat’s like my brother. I love him to pieces. You know me, I would hug, pat, touch, wrestle with him all the time and Tro just mistook it for the wrong kinda love.”

Finally standing, they got their food rather quickly and took it outside to their table where Trowa and Quatre were already waiting for them. Everyone examined each other’s food and gave little comments on how it was. It was important survival information for them for the rest of the trip. It is bad enough to order something once and hate it, but twice and it’s unbearable.

Lunch was peppered with little conversation and was more focused on relaxation. Taking in her surroundings Hilde noticed that one of the Japanese students, who was sitting with a group of his friends up against one of the building, had his cell phone pointing at them.

“Hey, is that kid taking a picture of us,” Hilde asked totally amazed.

The three boys turned around in their seats to look over at the kid. Sure enough he was snapping pictures of them with his cell phone.

“That’s just weird,” Duo said shaking his head.

“No, gay republicans are weird,” Trowa said still looking over that the Japanese guy. The three others let out a short burst of laughter. “I just think he doesn’t know any better. How often do they get to see real life foreigners. They don’t know they are being rude by staring and taking pictures.”

Duo began to wave at the kid. “Hi yeah we see you too. You’re not invisible. We see you taking our picture,” he said in a conversational tone in English, one that was not going to reach the kid’s ears. Duo watched satisfied as the kid lower his cell phone and looked a little sheepish. “Ya know, everyday something strange happens here. I hope it never stops amazing me,” he said with a huge grin.