[centre][B][U]And so the school year began...[/centre][/B][/U]

The days were filled with classes, homework, and club meetings. Sasha and James found that, though they had little time to do anything after school, they could hang out on the weekends. They shared classes in Math, Science, and Art spread throughout the day, but they were separated for their other periods as well as for lunch. After school, however, James had found more clubs than he thought he would want to join. First was robotics, where he learned that mechanics were a bit more interesting than he gave them credit for only weeks ago; and he was good at it too. True to their word, he and Sasha joined a gaming club, which was a bit more active than he had thought a club for [i]video games[/i] could be. The heat of summer turned into a cool, breezy Fall and more indoor activities. The sun started rising later and setting sooner as the leaves began to change into beautiful yellows and oranges. James grew out of nearly every thread of clothing he'd had before the start of summer. While he wasn't a painter or performer, he delved deeper into his love for words by pouring everything into his essays for English class and became something of an artist. He had become a creator; devices and worlds filled his head and a spare notebook he kept in his single-strap bookbag at all times. Somehow, he found time to work in his own study of coding and programs, bolstering the robotics club which, until recently, had been dying and even rather pathetic. Of course, his father helped wherever he could.

"You're sure that you guys don't need a ride? It's getting awfully cold outside, I don't want you two to get sick," James' mother stated worriedly as he stuffed the remainder of breakfast into his mouth.

"Ye' ohm, I'm 'ur," He said agitatedly with a roll of his eyes as he spoke through a piece of toasted bread in his mouth as he pushed his arm through the sleeve of his coat.

"Don't talk with food in your mouth," The woman chastised, crossing her arms.

He pulled the bread from his mouth and swallowed the bite, "I said, yes mom, I'm sure. It's going to be way too cold soon, so I wanna enjoy it," He stated. He began to fasten the buttons on the double-breasted military-style coat before slinging his pack over one shoulder and putting the food back in his mouth, "'ye, mum," He said, heading for the doors.

"Hey, hey, wait a second," She said and he froze at the door. "Goodbye, love you, see you tonight," She said, kissing his cheek as he rolled his eyes and mumbled an appropriate response, pushing out of the house.

The wind kicked up the leaves and gave the air a nip as he shrugged his shoulders and popped his collar, trying to keep warm. As he moved for Sasha's, he could feel his heartbeat picking up. How many of his friends had asked him if they were a couple? It had to be all of them so far... He wasn't just tired of having to explain they were just friends, he really had wanted to be more since a few days into the school year. When she came out, he gave her a smile, [i]I'll ask after Gamers' Club tonight, don't want to make the whole day awkward if she says no right now, right?[/I] he resolved to himself, [I]Plus, if she says no, then at least we'll be able to have enjoyed today.[/I] "Hey, how's your art project going?" He asked, his hands keeping warm in his pockets as the wind softly whipped the little bit of slack on his scarf about. "I thought my sketch turned out well enough, but now that we have to colour it, it's turning into utter shite," He joked, shaking his head pathetically.