Maria put her in-scents in the trunk and then got in the passenger side of the car. She then buckled up. "thanks in advance for trying not to snap" she smiled

Shadow nodded, content, and began to drive them back to the school. Once again, his driving was patient and skilled, and he was quiet most of the way there.

Maria closed her eyes as she did on the ride there. In a way she was nervous to go back to school. She had never skipped a class before after all.

Shadow pulled into the parking lot quietly, shutting the engine off and sighing, exiting the car. He stepped out, closed his door, and strolled over to her side of the car, opening the door for her politely.

Maria got out of the car and nodded her thanks. She then heard the bell for lunch to begin ring "I guess we made it in time" she laughed a bit, mostly she was trying to keep her mind off what she had just done. She then walked toward the front entrance of the school

Shadow walked with her, contently. "Don't worry about skipping class. You're allowed at least one in your school life," he assured her. "The administration won't be too uprooted about one class."

Maria laughed "I suppose so. It just feels weird doing something against school rules" She then walked into the caffiteria, easily spotting her friends sitting down at the usual table. She then looks at Shadow "You getting school lunch or going to your locker for your lunch? Or do you not eat lunch? Because if you're getting school lunch I would like if you stood in line with me" She smiled

Shadow mulled it over for a bit. "I am not all that hungry, but I will stand in line with you and buy something small. Perhaps an apple, or an orange."

Maria nodded and got in line. The line was about half way down already thanks to people always eating the same thing on the first day of school, which was pizza. "You nervous about sitting with my friends?" she could feel the eyes of her friends on her.

"I'm fine," he assured her, selecting a nice apple from the fruit section. "I am used to interacting with people. Group politics annoy me, but I am sure everything will be fine."

(Bed time for me D: )

Maria nodded and bought some pizza and chocolate milk like everyone else was doing. "it usually isn't too bad with the politics." She then walked over to the table and sat down Though the chatter at the table didn't stop, but it would once Shadow sat down at the table.

((D: Sleep tight.))

Reluctantly, Shadow sat down on her free side, keeping his eyes down and his posture relaxed. He took a slow bite of his apple.

Maria smiled at all of her friends when they started staring at the two of them. "I invited him to the table. Guys this is Shadow." She pointed each of her friends out, there was only five of them. The leader's name had been Lanina. Soon the girls all looked to her to see what was the vertic. Lanina simply shrugged "Welcome, I'm sure Maria has told you about us. I don't care if you sit her but you better commit to the group and that means anything said here doesn't leave here."

Immediately, Shadow had the urge to snap, but he held it in, instead making a lofty 'mm' sound and taking another chunk of out his apple. He didn't trust himself to speak. He thought he might verbally ream the girl out.

Maria smiled and then looked at the others, they seemed to have accepted that Shadow was there. Lanina had then started planing their yearly prank on the freshman the majority of the group hated when they scoped them out at the stairs. The usual prank of stealing from their locker would be preformed. Usually a five point assignment was stolen, but they always freaked out about it. Maria didn't even have to vote because always her other friends agreed with Lanina instantly, like mindless drones.

Shadow finished his apple after a moment and sat there, seeming content to just daydream and stare off into space. He didn't seem to want to take too much seriously.

((May have many typos today due to mountain do, cappuccino, and coffee))

A few of the girls were glancing at Shadow every now and again. Once everything was planned though, one of the girls smiled at him. "Hello, so you're name's Shadow" She smiled more. Clearly this girl was going to be the one trying to flirt with him. Maria just stayed quiet to see what would happen.

"That would be correct."

Shadow's voice was pointed and calm, like he was seriously avoiding snapping.

Maria could tell that Shadow was really putting in some effort in this. The girl then smiled more "So, what do you like to do?" Pretty soon the other girls at the table were talking amongst themselves but glancing at the flirting girl and Shadow every few seconds. Maria was of course quietly eating her food and observing the two.

It seemed like an innocent enough question. And at least this one wasn't...too forward. He'd had complete strangers pop up and sit in his lap, asking him if he thought he could handle them, before to flirt.

"Hm...play my piano...and my violin...among other things. I have many interests."

Maria had a bad feeling about how Shadow's answer was left off. The girl then smirked, "Many interests eh? Does some of them include 'special favors'?" Maria couldn't help but roll her eyes at her friends attempt to be secretive about things.

Shadow traced circles on the table, nose wrinkling a bit.

"I do not know what you mean by special favors, and therefore I cannot answer you," he retorted after some thought, still calm.

"Does that mean you're a virgin?! With an innocent mind?!" The girl was no longer being quieter, but she hadn't raised her voice enough for anyone not sitting at the table to notice. Maria frowned, she felt bad about her friends behavior and didn't think that she'd really talk about this stuff.

"My mind is far from innocent," Shadow replied shortly, eyes fixed on a spot on the far wall. He was attempting to brush her off without being mean. He didn't answer any of the questions this girl probably had in his response.

The girl went to ask some more questions, but noticed that Lanina had her hand up to be quiet and leave him alone. Basically also telling her that she was rejected by Shadow and to get over it, that anything else she was going to say wouldn't be amusing and maybe it wasn't even amusing to start with. The girl frowned and excused herself from the table to go to the bathroom before the bell rang. Maria looked at Lanina to notice her look at Shadow before going back to talking to one of the other girls. Maria had a bad feeling about what Lanina might be planning and glanced at Shadow. She then whispered to him "sorry...about my friend...I didn't think she'd be like that"