[code]ERROR CHECKING (ChK2 (A:))[/code]
[indent][code]We found errors on this drive.  To prevent data loss, repair this drive, now.[/code][/indent]


[indent][sub][color=85afd1][h3]r y a n   m a y e z[/h3][/color][/sub][/indent]
	Black bristles ran through Ryan’s dark hair, combing her hair smoothly and quickly taming her bangs, brushed over her pale forehead. With a twist of her wrist, the handle of the brush turned, and the bristles gently moved her hair upwards against her spare hand. Thin fingers fanned open and clasped her straight, thick strands, and in a sudden and habitual movement, her long hair was tied into a neat ponytail. Her hazel eyes skimmed her reflection in the mirror for errors. However, before she moved her fingers to straighten the white collar on her school uniform and run a swift, smoothing hand over her hair, a complacent attitude of annoyance smugly tugged her lip downwards. 

	The first day of school was always the worst day of a new school year, and if she did not already feel like a fish out of water with her own appearance, the newly acquired knowledge of the Digital World was not going to provide her anymore comfort. [i]Whatever.[/i]. A small huff puffed from her chest. [i]What time was it?[/i] Her wrist propped upwards, and her eyes scanned the face of her watch. She was running late, and as much as she wanted to grunt and complain, her mind forced something more collective than the pout her reflection gave her just moments earlier.

	“Arianna, Sweetheart, your sister is waiting for you!” 

	Ryan relaxed her wrist, whipping her head to face the door of her bedroom. A discerning face filtered through her features before a faux politeness replied in a hollow but carrying manner to her mother’s voice, [color=85afd1]“Coming!”[/color] She closed her eyes and drew in a breath of frustration. [i]Arianna? What the fuck, mom?[/i] Her eyes opened, and white socked feet pressed several steps towards her brown leather messenger bag. Ryan picked up the satchel and tucked her body underneath the buckled strap. Her hands fanned her maroon plaid skirt and and tugged her blazer. Another one of her breaths of frustration pushed from her mouth, and with the same quickness, she headed from her room, down the hall, and down the stairs – where her mother refused to miss the beat of telling her to use softer feet because her younger sisters were still asleep – as if they both had not been hollering at each other a minute or two earlier.

	Forcing a smile, toned in teenage angst, Ryan apologized as she tried to move away from her mother’s coddling hands, adjusting her tie, [color=85afd1]“[i]Mom,[/i] I have to go,”[/color] her tone testier than her apology.

	“It's the first day of school, Arianna. You don't want to look like something the cat dragged in,” a sweet smile spread on her mother’s lips like she was hiding something, which was obvious by the way she was refusing to call Ryan by her nickname, self-proclaimed or not.  It was not so unusual for her mother to call Ryan by her birth name, but this morning out of all days, it was irritating. 

	[color=85afd1]“Bye, Mom,”[/color] Ryan quickly stepped to the front door and slipped on her black Mary Jane shoes, and by the time her hands had finished buckling them, her mother was already by her side again, ready to offer her second daughter a smothering kiss on Ryan’s maturing cheek.

	“I love you. Have a good day.”

	The words sounded more like a command than anything, and Ryan could not have been bothered to return the sentiment. Although, there was a slight hint of guilt in thinking she had been so scared of never seeing her mother and father and sisters again when she was in the Digital World just months earlier. Her hand grabbed the golden doorknob, and the door pulled open. She tossed on her ego and walked towards her sister’s car.  It was a white Volkswagen and not very large.  Her sister loved it, and Ryan was a little embarrassed by it.  She preferred the days when her father drove them to school in his sleek BMW. The engine rumbled so much more nicely.  Plus, she actually got to hang-out with him before school and rub the essence of her mother away.  Now, she had to sit patiently in her sister’s car, listening to some indie folk music that reminded her more and more of elevator music each and every morning and afternoon. 

	Her sister’s hair was dark and long like hers, but instead of pulled into a ponytail, Violet had her hair braided and twirled into a ballerina bun. A small golden butterfly clip with a pink glass emerald was clipped modestly on the bun.  Ryan's mother had bought them matching butterfly clips. Ryan’s had a blue glass emerald instead of a pink.  The sentiment, buying her a hair clip with a more gender neutral stone was nice, she supposed, but Ryan had no desire to be like her sister – who reminded her awfully like her mother.  To much dismay, the two girls looked quite similar in features, which only meant something similar about how much Ryan looked like her mother.

	Closing the car door behind her, Ryan fanned out her skirt, again, tucking her knees together. Her sister made some maternal sounding comment about Ryan running late, but Ryan did not bother to reply. Her eyes decidedly glued themselves to the window. She was not too thrilled about going to school. She never had been, but there was something more annoying about it.  Seeing her friends with the full knowledge that she couldn't tell them about what had happened over the summer. Yeah, she kept secrets and whatever, but this was totally different. She still did not feel the same as before she had visited the Digital World.  Everything was [i]different.[/i]

	It was also weird keeping someone like Zhuqiaomon hidden from everyone.  He meant so much to her, and she missed him… [i]alot.[/i] It was different than hiding an embarrassing crush or missing a good friend, and suddenly, Ryan felt herself getting absorbed into her sister’s slow, melancholy music.  Ryan’s initial reaction was to complain about it, but something came over her.  She let it slide and road with the moment that lasted well over fifteen minutes but felt like just seconds. However, as lost in the poetry of the moment as Ryan was, her attitude automatically shifted gears at the sight of the Saints College Preparatory School sign. Zhuqiaomon was pushed from her mind. He had never existed. They would call her crazy and have her locked up if she ever admitted it aloud.  God, her school reputation was already on rocks, especially after that fight she had with the class president. It wasn't her fault – 

	Her eyes landed on Brandon, all six feet of him. He looked so sharp and casual about it.  [i]God, speaking of crushes.[/i]  She had had a crush on him since the second day of school last year. She had mostly ignored it.  It was not like she had time for such girlish things, but his sturdy build and confidence walking inside the porte-cochere was making her wish she had done something better with her hair. Her lower lip tucked underneath her front teeth as she bashfully looked away. He had light brown hair, always combed nicely, and even if it wasn’t – it would be handsomely sweaty from Rugby practice. He was smart, too. 

	The Volkswagen parked, and Violet conservatively primped herself, [color=9174af]“Well, here’s to my last first day of high school,”[/color] she tilted her head and smiled at Ryan, [color=9174af]“What will you do without me next year?”[/color] There was a teasing in her voice as she removed her keys from the car and eloquently shuffled them into her purse.

	Ryan frowned at Violet, [color=85afd1]“Not go to school, I guess,”[/color] her hand reached for her bag between her ankles.  In one motion she left the car.  Stupid Violet. She made her feel more awkward on top of how awkward Brandon made her feel.  Stupid Brandon. Stupid, stupid, cute littl--… not so little Brandon. Her frown shifted thinking about it.  At least, her mind was off of the Digital World, right?  She hurried her pace, unconsciously trying to get rid of Violet, catch up to Brandon, and not be the last one to class.  She was only really aware of the latter reason until Violet called after her to have a good first day.  Ryan’s pace quickened, yet, again. However, upon entering the cool, air conditioned building, Ryan relaxed and molded into the SCPS mindset.