"I," huff, "am," puff, "so," pant, "late," wheeze.

August Pine was running behind on his very first day. Literally. The lanky young man was sprinting through the halls, bag swinging wildly from one shoulder, a small pink Pokémon held protectively in his arms. He had gotten absorbed in studying his latest collection of eggs when Sunny, his Chansey, had quietly tapped him on the shoulder and pointed towards the clock. He had hollered a few incoherent words around, gathering up all his things in a whirlwind of action, and scooped up Nugget and run out the door. He thought he had heard one of his Pokémon calling out after him, but he'd have to worry about that later. Ecology 101 needed him pronto.

Weaving around the other people still out in the hallway, miraculously avoiding hitting anyone with his bag and apologizing to anyone he startled, August slowed his steps only long enough to avoid full body collision with the door of his destination. Opening it and slipping inside, he clutched at a stitch in his side and try to catch his breath as quietly as he could. A few heads still turned in his direction, one person sniggered.

August simply beamed at them.

When they had finally all looked away, he quietly slid into an empty chair at the back of the room and glanced at the clock. Five minutes late. Not as bad as he had been bracing for. His mad Dash had done something good for him in the end.

"Cutting it close, don't you think Pinecone?"

August looked towards the whisper, meeting a pair of violet eyes with his own green ones.

"Only a little," he whispered back to his fellow first year, Megan. "It'll be fine. I shouldn't do it again." He paused. "Much."

Megan rolled her eyes, brushing back a wisp of purple curls that had fallen across her face. "You're going to get in trouble if you keep running through the halls all the time," she then said in a sing song voice before gesturing to her laptop. "Syllabus has been sent. TA today. Professor Birch is out of town." Succinct, quiet, and delivered with a heaping helping of sass.

"Thanks Meg," he whispered back, smiling again. He'd have to come up with a better nickname for her at one point.

Settling Nugget onto the table where the miniature Slowpoke contentedly settled her chin on her front feet and stared off into space, August slid his laptop out of his bag and opened it, waking it up and scrolling around to find the syllabus. As he retrieved a pen and notebook, he gathered that the TA, a man in a lab coat that had seen better days, was answering questions that students were asking. He paused, focusing on the ladder end of an answer.

[i]'[]'Not the most exciting? I'd say this all is very exciting,'[/i] August thought to himself, though he would never point out that his very thesis foundation was being poked fun at.

He managed to keep from sighing. Always the optimist, he smiled to himself as he began taking detailed notes to himself, using his computer when his hand wasn't fast enough. Even if other people weren't excited about environments and their effects on Pokémon, he was, and that's what mattered to him.

By the time class ended, August had an appreciable amount of notes written out over several pages of his notebook and a sizable list on his laptop screen. He scrawled a few side notes to himself before turning his attention back to his laptop and saving his document before putting the device to sleep.

"Catch you later Piney, i've got to jet to make a stop before my next class," Megan said in a friendly sort of way, having already packed up most of her things and standing from her chair. She gave August a nudge on the arm with her elbow before she retrieved her water bottle and began walking away.

"See you later lavender queen," he called after her, hearing her laugh lightly.

"Dork," she chuckled, casting him a quick amused look over her shoulder before she was gone.

"Mom was right Nugget," August commented to his Pokémon as he started to pack away his computer, "trying to go to the same school as your cousin will [i]definitely[/i] make life interesting."

The Slowpoke simply blinked at him, but otherwise chose not to comment. August smiled fondly at her, giving her a rub on the top of her head before fishing a piece of dried pineapple out of his pocket and putting it in her mouth. She looked rather pleased with herself.

Quickly writing down one last thought that came to mind, August put the cap back on his pen and slipped both it and his notebook back in his bag before latching the flap back  into place. He glanced around, gaze sweeping over those who were still left. He spotted movement low to the floor and leaned down to get a better look. A Growlithe was standing near one of the other students, looking as if she had just recently deposited a notebook on the floor. He smiled again and automatically fished a small treat out of one of his other pockets. He clicked his tongue to get the fire types attention before holding it out in offering.