Hazel giggled. It takes a little getting used to. The adults trust us to behave, to follow our schedules and do our work. We get a lot of freedom.

As long as we follow the rules, Ralph added.

The only grown-ups youll see here are your teachers, Hazel added, chewing on her popcorn. Oh, and the occasional hologram chat check-in with your guide.

At the mention of his guide, Oliver dropped his eyes to his plate. That pit of pain that always accompanied his thoughts about Armando opened up again.

Ralph shot Hazel a warning look across the table.

Did I say something wrong? Hazel asked with a concerned yet quizzical air.

Oliver shook his head. No. Its just that my guide passed away.

All the kids around the table exchanged glances.

Im so sorry, Hazel said gently.

Terrible luck, chum, Simon said, shaking his head sadly.

Totally bogus, Walter added.

Oliver paused. He tried to swallow the hard lump in his throat.

Ralph came to the rescue. Olivers guide died before he could tell him what he really is or why he was supposed to come here. We have to be extra sensitive, okay? Try not to overwhelm him. We dont want his head to explode.

Oliver felt grateful to have Ralph looking out for him, even if the closest his head had come to exploding since hed gotten here had been because of Ralphs explanation of time.

Hazel reached over and patted his hand. Losing your guide must have been very hard. But youre going to have a lot of fun here, I promise you. You couldnt be in a better place.

Walter grinned then. Youve seen the S hall, right? Isnt it amazing?

Sure, Oliver said, shrugging morosely.

We should play a game of switchit after weve eaten, Walter suggested.

Its such a vulgar game, Simon scoffed. I much prefer cricket. Its far more refined.

But switchit is awesome! Walter exclaimed. Im obsessed. Its like basketball but with lots of hoops. And you fly on ostreagles.

Whats an ostreagle? Oliver asked.

Theyre an animal from the year three thousand, Hazel explained. A genetic splicing between an ostrich and an eagle.

Right. Got it, Oliver said, feeling exceptionally out of his depth.

Ralph spoke in his paternal way again. Walter, theres no time for switchit before bed for us first-years, you know that.

Walter rolled his eyes and went back to eating.

Overwhelmed by everything, Oliver turned his gaze back down to his plate, picking at the pepperoni. As he did so, he realized someone below him was looking up.

She was a very pretty girl, with emerald green eyes and straight black hair. She smiled at him shyly and then looked back down at her own food.

Thats Esther, Hazel said. All the boys love her. She said it very theatrically, letting out a little scoff from the back of her throat.