Peter walked sluggishly to his department. He didn't fancy anything about his school; maybe just not yet, but he was never happy to be there. He wondered if he would have been bullied if he had scored an acceptance at a school in the U.S. He hadn't any friends just yet; the highs of the moment was when there was gym class, and he had to play basket ball, if not, nothing really interested him. School work was a work over, he was intelligent; Art was his thing. His first class was in an hour, he wondered around alone, listening to music from his phone, totally minding his business, when someone tapped him. He wondered who that could be? he didn't have any friends yet, so who could that be. He thought all this and turned to look at the person tapping him.

'Hello, you're always alone I noticed'; It was a guy. A fresher like Peter. He was a loner too, and had noticed Peter for a while, always by himself. 'I'm Colin' the guy said, stretching his palm for a hand shake. Peter didn't return the gesture. He didn't trust anybody there, he didn't want any friends. He looked at the boy ridiculously. Who does that? Peter wondered. A guy like him walks up to be friends, he's a sissy?.

'Can I help you?' Peter finally asked the stranger after assessing him for a while.

'No you can't, i'm just trying to be friendly fam, you're always by yourself; plus i'm a fresher too'; Peter walked away. He didn't want any drama, he didn't know whom to trust. Besides, this boy was huge, bigger than him by all means, maybe he's a bully too. They always saw him as prey, no one ever made a kind gesture at him. Colin left Peter to himself, although he too wondered why he was so anti-social. It was time for Peter's first class; it was an elective in theater and props. Peter walked into the venue, hoodie on, covering his face, he sat behind the class, hoping nobody noticed him and his freckles. The class was a double of fifty minutes each; boring Peter thought. He sat, enduring the whole class, his earphones hiding under his hoodie, full blast. The class suddenly turned to look at Peter at the same time, obviously the leacturer had noticed he wasn't paying attention and asked Peter a question. Peter quickly turned off the music and looked at the lecturer, hoping she would repeat herself and ask the question again, he would try and wing it.

'What's your name mister?' The lecturer asked Peter;

'Peter' he replied inaudibly.

'I can't hear you, care to come to the front of the class?' It was a female lecturer; her voice also was not loud enough, so she had to repeat herself severally, and she didn't like it. Peter was shy. He hoped she was joking, or at least asking him if he wanted to come to the front of the class. Peter sat still, acting like he didn't hear her. The rest of the class kept staring at Peter, acting uncomfortably at his effrontery.

'Mister Peter please come on this way' the lady lecturer said again, this time beckoning on him with a motion of her hand. Peter reluctanly stood up. His phone and head set fell noisily on the floor, it was a total mess; Peter was frustrated at the drama. He finally managed to make his way clumsily to the front of the class.

'Care to take off your hoodie so I can see your face sir?' the lecturer asked him politely. Peter took it off slowly, exposing his freckles. They were so much, it was impossible to not give a reaction. The lecturer, noticing he was uncomfortable, motioned for him to put it back on.

'You were not paying attention I noticed, this is a three unit course, trust me you need it, and it's easy to pass, you only have to pay attention, okay?' she told Peter. Peter nodded, grateful that she wasn't angry and asking him to do anything outrageous, like answer the question she asked; Did she even ask any question? he wasn't listening the whole time. The lecturer asked him to sit in front of her, where she could monitor him closely. He sat at the first row, next to a guy he thought he recognised. He looked closer at his seat mate, it was Colin, the lad from earlier who tried to be his friend. Colin gave him a friendly look; Peter kept a straight face. They both paid attention to the lecturer.

'Here you are, stuck with me' Colin wrote in a piece of paper and secretly passed it to Peter. Peter read the note and shook his head frantically;

'This dude doesn't give up' he murmured.

'Say something mister Peter?' the leacturer asked him. Peter shook his head.

'No ma'am' he said, shoving the piece of note back to Colin. Colin wasn't going to let him be, he wanted to be friends with Peter. He had seen him play during basket ball practice, and knew he was a force to reckon with. Colin was interested in joining the football team, he wasn't on any scholarship, and had to earn a spot by working hard; Peter could help him; if he worked closely with Peter's influence, he could acquire Peter's discipline and rub off on his stardom. If only Peter would agree to be his friend.

'I see you play basket ball, i'm a fan' Colin wrote back at Peter. It was the only opportunity he had at getting Peter's attention. After the class, he knew Peter would storm out of his presence and wouldn't listen to him, he had to tell him why he wanted to be his friend so desperately; maybe Peter will see reason and give him a chance. When Peter saw the next note, he grew softer at Colin. He finally looked at him in a friendly way. Bingo! Colin thought. Finally.