This commuting thing is a huge pain in the ass. Hopefully, one day soon, I’ll be able to afford something better to get myself to class on time. You know, like a car. Imagine what the rules are for dragons to have a car, compared to a phone or computer. I’ll probably have to wait until I’m sixty.

I made sure to put Jac in my bag. It’s not like being a dragon is a secret, it’s just… I’m sure seeing a talking lizard on your first day of class would be a little disconcerting. I promise that I wouldn’t crush Jac on accident, and Jac climbs into the bag without much of a fuss. All that is in the bag is the new computer anyway.

I run up to the building that has my first class of the day in it. Running by people would definitely make them look in my direction… but the stares went beyond that. I wasn’t wearing anything weird, or doing anything strange, was I? Running to get to class on time was normal, right?

“They seem to be staring at you,” Jac told me from the crack of the backpack zipper as we enter the heated building. Fall was chilly here, and I was grateful for the heat tingling over my freezing body.

“I noticed. Maybe it’s just a first day kind of thing.” I try my best to justify it. But even as I walk into the classroom, people quiet down to stare at me. It wasn’t even a subtle kind of stare. They weren’t even trying to hide the fact that they were staring.

I think for a moment. What would make them stare like this? I made it very clear that no one was supposed to know who or what I was. I even made sure to wear a coat to cover the long winding dragon that spiraled down my arm. So why?

“This is really weird.” I mumble to Jac as I sit at a desk near the back corner. He hums agreement.

I used to think that colleges were huge, and had big lecture halls for all of their classes, but that really wasn’t the case. This was my first english class, and the room was tiny. The desks were old and creaking, and the chairs were uncomfortable. Where did all the college money go, exactly?

“Excuse me?” A voice asks from my left. I spun in my seat to face a blond girl who was sitting at the desk beside mine. “Are you really a dragon?” She asks. My cheeks flare. I look her up and down. How did she possibly know? My wide eyes seemed to be enough of an answer for her.

“It got out last night. Someone dropped the ball. Anyway, I’m Carla. What’s your name?” She asks brightly. Someone already spilled the beans? Only three staff members even knew about my situation! Okay, try and think of the upside. She asked for your name. That means she doesn’t know you’re a Zodiac. At least some things can be kept secret.

“Uh, it’s Sam. Sam Reid.” I held out my hand as nicely as I could. She brushed her curly blonde hair out of her eyes and shook my hand.

“Huh. I thought Dragons had weirder names.” She says. I don’t think she meant it to be mean, or rude, but it came off that way.

“Wait, no. I didn’t mean it like that. I’m sorry-”

“It’s fine. I don’t mind.” I told her. I smiled to try and seem more convincing. This is my first human friend in over three months. She didn’t even mind that I was a dragon! This is going to be great. I try to contain the mental fist pump I was doing.

“You should tell her that you aren’t interested.” Jac said from my backpack. He climbs up out of the bag and scurries onto the desk. I rub the back of my neck nervously and laugh. If I just play it off as a joke, she wouldn’t take offense.

“Are you okay?” She takes me off guard. I feel like someone just swiped my feet with a hockey stick and I was flat on my face in the middle of an ice rink. Did she not hear Jac’s input?

“Kid, she can’t hear me. She’s a human.” Jac whisper-told me. Of course. So I just looked like a crazy person laughing nervously at something she couldn’t even hear. Jac sits criss-cross-applesauce on the desk and stares right at the girl.

“So… I guess humans can’t hear the lizards.” I chuckle nervously. If he was going to make me look like a crazy person without a warning, then I was going to stab some knives of my own. Jac stands up and narrows his eyes at me. His arms are angrily folded over his chest.

“You can understand him?” Carla points at Jac. I wonder why she is still talking to me. Wasn’t she afraid, like the rest? I look around. The rest of the students had a five foot bubble between me and themselves. Might as well. I could turn into a ferocious fire-breathing, people-eating dragon at any given moment.

“He’s not really a lizard. He’s my- uh, he’s my grandfather. It’s a long story, but basically when a dragon passes on before their mate, they turn out like this.” I tell her. Why was I so nervous explaining dragon things to a human who would probably pretend I didn’t exist the next day? She is really brave compared to the other humans though, I would give her that.

“That’s so cool. Do you have a mate? Is she pretty? What color are your scales? Does the color of your scales determine your powers?” She fired off questions like there was no tomorrow. But before I could answer, the professor slammed his hand down on the podium to get the class' attention.

“Settle down, please.” The professor says rather aggressively. “I’ll take roll and then we’ll begin.” Oh no. I just told this girl that my name was Sam Reid still but because of the family registry… She’ll never talk to me again, for sure now.

The teacher began going down the list of people in the class. The humans would raise their hands and say “here” when their names are called. At the very bottom of the list is my name.

“Samuel Wei?” The professor asks. I can’t breathe. The professor repeats the name. If I didn’t respond, I’d get dropped for missing the first day. I raise my hand slowly.

“Here.” I say. Maybe I was overthinking this. I look over and Carla’s face tells me that I was not overthinking it. First person to talk to me and I’d blown it. Why couldn’t I just accept the new name and introduce myself that way? Was it because Colin really hadn’t even asked me? I mean, you were only supposed to take someone’s name when you got married so-

“It’s alright. I’m sure even dragons are put off by paranormals.” Carla says as she packs up her things. She is about to move when I start to stutter out an answer.

“Wait- it’s not like that. I just-” The professor slams his hand on the podium again, effectively silencing us. I stop talking, and Carla moves three seats up.

Two minutes in class and everything is already spiraling out of control.