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Kaya's head plopped on the desk that they had to sit at. Detention. They had detention.

The very idea sent a shiver down their spine. What were they supposed to do in their seat with no lecture? With only silence? That was boring. They lifted their pen to their math homework and looked at the various numbers that they had to add together.

Math was tedious and boring too. The hybrid's pen dropped in finality.

Just what was there to do?

They let out a sigh, before their eye roamed. And caught something...shiny? Blue eyes blinked.

They liked shiny things. What was it?

Stars.

Their eyes lit up and they got up, moving towards the poster board filled with gold and yellow metallic stickers and started plucking each one. The teacher wasn't here. No one except the kids were.

They could do whatever they wanted. Kaya turned their head towards the rest of the class. "There's no teacher." Their grin widened and they threw their arm out wide. "We can do anything!"

Kaya stared at Billie, awestruck. "T-They're going to come back?!" It never occurred to them that they would. They had just left. No excuse, no little note on the board stating where the teacher went. Nothing.

"How do you know?" The started slowly putting the stickers on their shirt but didn't take their eyes off of the other freshling. Their small little claws accidentally swiped the air and grabbed at nothing. Kaya didn't even realize that they didn't have a star in their hand even when they're claw went back to their person to place the sticker next to the others. "Is this your second time here? It's my first." Although. Maybe they'd do bad things more often. This place didn't seem that bad.

"I do!" They stared at the stars on their shirt and quickly started pulling them up and on their hair, fully believing it. "Thank you, my name's Kaya. What's yours?" The hybrid gave Billie a warm smile in an attempt to be wlecoming. "Do you want one of the stars?" Parting with one didn't seem like such a bad idea...

"Coffee..." Kaya's eyes lit up. If it were a math equation; it would have been an exponential change. "Do you think they'll get us some coffee too?!" They never had the stuff but it seemed tasty. And exciting. Adult things always fascinated them. A taste of the adult life fascinated them. They'd give anything to be an adult.

Kaya flinched back instinctual, their thought derailed. Owlishly, they blinked back at the other freshling before loud uncontrollable laughter bubbled out of them. "You didn't have to give me a star!" The hybrid brushed their bangs over it. They weren't going to give it back easily either though. It was too shiny and too expensive to give away.

"Whoa. You must be a pro," Their jaw popped open, amazed. "What...do you do in detention?" They cocked their head curiously. It was supposed to be just for work. But right now, they were having fun. Maybe detention wasn't like what they were told. It wasn't like this would be the first time that they expected a scenario to go one way and were completely wrong. They hoped that their expectations were wrong. Right now they were.

But if the teacher came back...would they really have to do work? Their shoulders slumped. They hoped not.

"Okay. finders keepers then!" They giggled to themselves, looking at the board and making a calculated strike for another star...and making it fold over in the process. Their gaze narrowed as they tried to make the sticker flat again. "I..." their frills lowered, cheeks turning pink. "I forgot to return the bathroom pass." How embarrassing.

"Awww." Their nixie frills drooped once more, brows drawn in as they stared at the floor. Adults always made it seem like it was necessary for them to do homework. And talk to them. Kaya didn't understand. If it was necessary, and if it was a daily thing, it had to be good. Their eyes slowly went back up to Billie, tilting their head to the side **"What does it taste like?" Maybe it just wasn't to Billie's tastes, who knew.

The hybrid lips pulled downwards and let out a long groan. "It is boring." They let out another whine, shoulder's slumping in defeat. "Since the teacher isn't here....we could leave? Have some fun?" Technically they did attend detention and wrote their name on the sheet. They can just write their name on the sign out sheet. No problem. Participating counted even if they didn't stay right?

Kaya shrugged half heartedly. "Yeah, the teacher's mean." They blew up air in one of their cheeks in a pout. "Not fair. I could have gone out and gotten it back." If they remembered where they put it. They let out a minor whisper of victory as they were finally able to separate the star from itself and smacked it in her hair before reaching for the last star on the board. "What did you do to wind up in here?"

"Bitter, blech." Kaya made a face at the idea of coffee, their lips twisting in dislike as they made a retching noise, tongue dangling out. "Why do adults like to drink it?" It didn't make any sense. If it tasted bad---like broccoli, then why put yourself through so much pain? Water was easier to make. Or juice. It was straight from the faucet or bottle. There was no need to wait for the liquid to heat up. Water and juice were best served cold.

"Maybe if there's enough sugar it gets rid of the bitter taste?" They placed a clawed hand up to their lips in thought. Sugar did make everything better... Wait-wait. Where was Billie going?!

Kaya patted down their hair, now filled with stars and started walking in their direction before stopping awkwardly. Oh. Their seat. That makes sense. "If it's boring then why are you here again?" They sat at a nearby desk, folding their arms across the chair.

The hybrid couldn't help the laughter that came out of their mouth. "Cold soup?!" They wiped at their now watery eyes, their other hand moving to clutch at their stomach. Too funny. "Why did you have cold soup?"

Kaya's mouth popped open again, suddenly confused. "They are...But don't we become adults when we grow up?" Doesn't that mean that they were going to get weird too? The thought made them purse their lips together. They didn't want to get weird! That might mean liking broccoli! Never did they ever want that to happen. Talk about blech.

Curiously, they peered over at Billie's homework. W--Were they in the same class? Looked like it. "I know the answers to all of those, if you want them!" The beamed at the freshling, pleased with themselves for actually getting their homework done before the last minute. It was a rare occasion.

A cookie? Kaya's train of thought completely derailed as they sucked in a surprised gasp. "Yes, I'd love a cookie!" Their small body wiggled in glee, eyes nearly shut. And patiently waited.

They didn't expect the can of bubbly goodness that happened to come out next. The hybrid's eyes widened as they peered closely. "I've never had that flavor before." They mused. Then again, they had only had the carbonated fizzy drink once. It had made them burp, but the taste was worth it. "You sure you want to share it?"

Their lips tugged into a frown. "That's weird." Cold soup normally didn't just happen out of the blue. The nixie hybrid stared at Billie, perplexed. "Maybe they ran out of the hot stuff..."

"A mind set." Kaya stared, amazed and wide eyed. Woah. "How can I get that sort of mind set?" Bilie seemed like they knew a lot of things. They tasted coffee, at least. How did one get to have a mind set? Did they have a mindset? The hybrid placed their head on their arms, cocking their head to the side. "What's yours? Are you...an adult?" An adult in school....

That didn't seem right. Their lips pursed together, deep in thought. Wasn't there only the academy and finding a job?

Kaya, content, nibbled on their cookie with a hum. More sugar meant more energy to work on homework. Right? Of course. They wouldn't get distracted at all...their eyes trailed towards a shiny coin on the ground and they bent down to pick it up, twirling it in their hand. Totally not distracted!

"Wouldn't you feel it cool down though?" They pondered, before shrugging. It wasn't important. At least the soup was cold! Their jaw dropped open. "Wow, you really are an adult." they took in a breath of air, in awe. Actually doing homework. To pass the time. "You could always sleep!" They grinned, pleased with themselves. Sleeping made time pass by super quick!

So they had to reach adulthood by getting a job. Kaya frowned, to themselves. "I never want to get a job." They didn't want to taste coffee. Not if it was bitter. Maybe..maybe they'd stay as a senior in the academy forever. Their stomach turned. It didn't sound like a good thing. But why sacrifice enjoying foods and drinks for work?! Blech.

They cocked their head to the side. Billie wanted to graduate? "What...are you going to do once you graduate? Get a job?" They frowned, concentrating. "Isn't that scary?" It sounded scary. Sure, Kaya wanted to grow up. But now that they had learn things about getting a job...they couldn't help but be scared.