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Now it was Kaleb's turn to answer questions, and he nervously shuffled forward the half pace the line allowed him.

"First, I would have liked the summer's head start though." He nudged the glasses up on his nose once again. His decision to attend school here had been about as last minute as possible, his parents had been gunning for somewhere more prestigious... or at the very least, somewhere closer to home.

"I haven't even found where all my classes will be held yet..." the youth muttered, almost wryly. Perhaps he should have spent more time wandering and less time browsing the book store.

Kaleb nodded, in a slow way that wasn't exactly confidence-inspiring. "I do, it's got important places and stuff marked on it I think. That's how I got here at least."

He frowned. "I suppose I should find the library next, and print out a better campus map at least. I haven't even checked to see what sort of resources they have online."

Shuffling the large stack of books to balance against one hip, he rummaged through the worn messenger bag at his side and pulled out a slightly less ruffled brochure. With a couple short flaps he had it unfolded and peered inquisitively at the small map on the inside. While being intended to show off facilities and resources to potential applicants, it was hardly a thorough reference to work from.

"After living in the city, it's not too hard to navigate out here. Roads are a bit more winding though," Kaleb replied shyly. Having a second year student tell tales of mishaps was reassurance enough that social embarrassments wouldn't be the end of the world.

"I guess if you are going to accidentally walk into the wrong room, it's best to get it over with before the final exam..." The freckled youth trailed off and fell silent as the taller student took a look at the small map, and began pointing out important locations. The counselling centre didn't even register as a blip on his radar before all his interest fixated on the library.

"Several floors?" He asked, eyes wide. "Wow..." He wanted to go see it, right now. Except... there was still this long lineup. The cashier was beginning to look resigned to her fate, so they might still be awhile.

Suddenly it occurred to him that he hadn't even gotten the older student's name. His cheeks went pink at this accidental breach of etiquette and he scrambled to make up for it. "Ah, I'm sorry, all this time and I haven't even gotten your name, I'm Kaleb," he blurted out, and tried to hold up a hand for the customary handshake.

It was holding the map. Whoops.

"Ah, I don't drive either." Kaleb insisted quickly, not wanting to give the impression he was capable of things he was not. That was a straight path to disappointment even when he was not remotely involved in making the assumption. "Buses and sidewalks though, they tend to follow the roads as well..."

Thankfully the introduction had gone just as an introduction should. Although it was a bit late there was smiling and hand-shaking, and the proper pleasantries that seemed genuine enough. Kaleb visibly relaxed.

"Nice to meet you too," he replied with heartfelt honesty. Even if this was a random encounter and he never crossed paths with Nathaniel again, he would at least come away from the experience with the reminder that some people were still nice after all. If he had more confidence, he might have even jumped on the opportunity to make a new friend.

Alas, instead he just smiled that shy, lopsided smile. "Thank you, for pointing things out for me," he said, nodding towards the map.

"That's odd, in the city it seems like there's barely any green at all, just sidewalk," Kaleb mused. Where did people in the suburbs walk then, if not on the sidewalks? He would feel pretty awkward walking either on the road or on people's lawns.

At the question, a hopeful spark lit up in the younger student's expression. "Really?" He asked in return, already a slight insecurity creeping into his voice. What were the odds of actually finding a friend in the first person he met at the new school, and would those odds be anything but dismal if Nathaniel knew how much of a scared nerd he was? In a fit of reckless abandon he decided his odds would be worse if he turned down the offer.

"If it wouldn't be too far out of your way or anything, that would be really nice..." Kaleb added meekly, struggling to express his willingness to accept while still leaving the option open for Nathaniel to take back his words.

In an area that was less dense than a city, perhaps the lack of sidewalks wasn't as big a deal. When everything was a bit farther away from your home than the abundant stores and facilities he had grown up with, walking became less practical. In one way that made him sad, getting farther away from the craziness of the city only to have a heavier reliance on modes of transportation other than his own two feet.

Kaleb set that woe aside for another. He sheepishly looked at his feet. "I don't have a computer yet," he admitted, shoving the map back into the depths of his bag. "I'm not sure how to check e-mail on my phone yet either."

In his case, the reservations had nothing to do with affordability, but rather his own lack of initiative. There were many things that needed doing upon moving to a new place, and when he could just as easily visit a library as an electronics store, a home computer was not on his priority list. Even his phone, as new and shiny as it was, showed it's lack of use with it's default wallpaper and only two entries in it's address book. The number of the phone itself, and the number of his parents, who had been the ones insisting on the phone in the first place.

Kaleb shyly accepted the slip of paper, like a young girl accepting a flower. Nobody had ever given him their number before and he wasn't sure what to do with it, or what he was expected to do with it. The kid looked at the handwriting there for a couple seconds, easily committing name and number to memory, and then likewise placed the paper on top of his more significant stack of books.

Pulling out a pen and scratching his own name and phone number on the reverse side was slightly more challenging, he had to reach up and peer over the top of the book stack to accomplish the task. His own writing was a lilting scrawl that was surprisingly easy to read.

He passed the page back, just as bashfully as he had accepted it.

Kaleb nodded quickly, still not making so much as a peep. The information exchange was easier than the youth had anticipated, Nathaniel had accepted the paper back with a smile even, so he must have done something right. The result was favourable as well. He never would have had the courage to call the other student's number, when it came to taking the first step his thoughts just ran in frantic circles until the time for action was long past and the opportunity lost.

Finally he found his voice.

"Yes, please," Kaleb replied timidly. "This week is good."