Zoe was very curious to what others in her class would look like. She noticed their teacher. She was a centaur! The slime girl actually smiled at that. The horse part of her was a dark black, matching the same black hair she had. Her human side was a Caucasian appearance, blending seamlessly as the two parts met.
"Welcome to the new class. My name is Miss Summers, and I'll be your teacher. I regret your previous teachers condition has made him... unable to continue teaching."
There were some looks of concern. One girl, who had blue skin all over, asked what they were all wondering. "Miss? Is Mr Hayes Okay?" He was a good teacher to them. It was obvious to them he enjoyed it, so whatever happened to him must have been very bad.
"Andrew would... rather not talk about it. He is alive and coping as all of us are given the circumstances. He asks that you continue to work hard. I'll do my best to continue his work" the centaur promised them. "To start things of, I'd like you to get to know each other." She can tell they were all hoping to do so. It seemed a good way to break the ice as well, given everyone strange new appearances. It would also give her a chance to look up the work and test results of the previous day.
Zoe wondered where- and who her other Goth friends were. She couldn't see anyone she recognised... but then her age group seems to have suffered quite a bit of redistribution given the higher influx of students. Still this was a good way to make some new friends.
"Hi" One girl spoke to Zoe. It was the one with the blue skin.
"Hello" She said back. "Um... who are you?"
"I'm Dora. I er... the sun got me while I was cycling. I think I got off easy though" Despite the blue skin, she did look quite a normal human being. Although Zoe was curious as even her clothes were of a blue-ish shade. "Um... what are you?" The question was one that was going to be asked often. Zoe's transformation was certainly an exotic one.
"Slime mould," She answered.
"Eww-" Dora initially said then blushed a shade of deeper blue and bit her lip. "I- I mean..."
"Its okay, I'm used to that reaction by now," Sighed Zoe.
"Aw... Its not that bad..." Dora tried to explain.
An oriental girl then joined them. Freakishly she had an extra eye on her forehead. Somehow though it all blended in to her features, making her look quite cute. "H-hello" She said.
They stared at the girl a bit.
"What's your name?" Dora asked with the same curiosity.
The girl seemed unsure if to say it. As if making a decision she reluctantly spoke it almost as a whisper. "H-harry..." the young girl said.
They both stared at her again wide eyed.
"You used to be a boy?!" Dora stared at her. "I didn't know the sun did that!"
Zoe knowing what happened to her two brothers though was not uncomfortable at all about it. She offered a slimy hand to the girl. "I'm Zoe," she said with a little smile.
The girl very nervously shook Zoe's hand, marvelling at the feel and texture of the appendage. "I- I wasn't even Chinese to start with.. I don't know why the sun did that to me. I was just watching TV and the light came through my window" She seemed a little distressed about it still.
Dora felt very sorry for the girl. It looks like she had a lot of things to get used to. "How about you Zoe? How did the light get you?"
Zoe bit her lip. Should she tell them? "I... I went out on purpose" She said.
"WHAT?!" Both Harry and Dora looked in complete shock. The entire class stopped their chatter to stare at them.
"What do you mean you did it on purpose!" Dora asked. The whole class heard the question, and from that point on they all knew... they knew Zoe did not try to hide from the sun. Given the choice, she actually embraced the forces that willed her transformation. Even the teacher looked a bit curiously at her.
"I- I don't think any of you would understand it..." She replied eventually.
Harry looked very uncomfortable now, and even Dora didn't know what to say. The awkward silence kept up for a little longer.
A late arrival then came into the class, breaking the silence
It was a boy, who appeared to be a merman. He was on a wheelchair, and looked quite unhappy about things. Miss Summers smiled to the boy. "Hello Jane... I was expecting you. Please your desk is over there. Everyone is just getting to know everyone else."
There were a few whispers, though Harry looked to the merman with a lot of sympathy.
"Seems your not the only one," Dora said elbowing Harry a bit.
Zoe was actually having quite an enjoyable time. This was just... amazing! She wanted to talk to them all. She knew a lot of people hated their transformations, but it was just so much more... she didn't know how to explain it... it was just so exciting. Was it wrong to feel this way? What about people who were upset about what they had become?
Two boys were talking quietly forming a little trick up their sleeves.
"I dare you to fire it on that slime girl... I want to see what happens."
"Dude, that would be awesome..." the other laughed.
Suddenly Zoe felt something strike her back. It went inside her slime mould body. Someone had fired a spit-ball, made from paper. It was blown with sufficient force to penetrate her outer membrane. Zoe felt a bit sickened as she turned to look at who did it.
Whoever did it was hiding.
Zoe felt disgust well inside her as the spit-ball was 'digested' inside her. She was going to find out who it was.
"You okay?" Harry asked concerned, her three eyes blinking.
"Oh just peachy." she replied annoyed.
