It was time for the first class of the year and Summers first class in general. Summer knew she could do good but she also knew it would be hard to do good or have fun without a friend. But friends were not Summers strong suit. Sure she was an avid learner but friends? Ever since she left her best friend Ellie when she left England about seven years ago when she was five friends had been hard since she never wanted to loose someone like that again.

Ellie entered one of Ilvermorny's many halls and tucked her head down not wanting to have to talk or make eye contact with anyone which could lead to her talking. The talking of everyone around her made her think that maybe, just maybe, she should put her her head up. No! I should not risk it... But maybe she is being to... No! Laughter caught her attention and she looked up for two seconds, quickly putting her head down again.

She only looked up to make sure she was going the right direction and tucked her head back in. She was close to her first class, charms. Ilvermorny was so peaceful compared to the hustle and bustle of where she lived in New York City. Not paying attention’s and realizing she was almost to class, Summer crashed into someone.

Summer blushed, Well that’s a way to start a day! “Sorry are you ok!” She asked looking up.

Interacting with: @Summer Lancaster Mentioning: N/A Date: Early September 2024

Word Count: 248

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Dylan was almost excited. Today marked the first day of classes for him at Ilvermony. Honestly, he didn't really know what to expect. He had grown up far away from America in a place where he was pretty much destined to attend Hogwarts. Until plans changed. Now here he was in America. Instead of Hogwarts, he was at Ilvermony. A fresh thunderbird ready to take flight and face what was coming. Though, nothing could have prepared him for what came that morning. Dylan walked down the halls towards his first class of the day. He wasn't completely sure about where all the classrooms were yet, but he had a rough idea in his head as to where at least some of his classes were. He was about to make his way into the class when suddenly someone crashed into him. Well, actually, he probably crashed into the person. He hadn't exactly been great at paying attention lately. Not with the constant thoughts of how he was going to survive school in America plagued him constantly. A girl. He had surprisingly crashed into a girl. She asked if he was okay, and before he responded he realized something. She wasn't American. He recognized that accent. He had heard it the few times he had visited other countries in Europe when he was little. Though he couldn't quite place it. It had been too long since he had last visited his home. "Yeah. I'm okay. Are you?" He asked her.

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Well, that was a way to start her first day of Ilvermorny, crashing into someone, a boy none the less.

"Yeah. I'm okay. Are you?" He responded.

"Yeah, sorry about that... I should be looking where I am going..." Summer laughs and scratched the back of her head.

He had an accent that was unfamiliar to America, it sounded almost... like it was from her home, England, but slightly different. That made her think back to Ellie, at Hogwarts, were she was supposed to be, before he dad had chosen to move.

"Are you um... heading to this class, charms?" She asked, as not to sound rude. Her voice was shaky. Yes, she wanted friends, but it was so so so hard to talk without sounding awkward.

If she was right and he was from a county in Europe, then they might get along. The Americans she had met had been... slightly rube, she was sure there were some nice ones. America was just so different from England and even if she had moved a long time ago, she was still getting used to America.

Summer looked at the boy, he had brown hair, and bright blue eyes, with an Ilvermorny robe that had the Thunderbird crest sewn on. Same has me! She smiled. Should I start walking... or would that be rude? Summer decided against it and stood there, waiting for his answer.

Interacting with: @Summer Lancaster Mentioning: N/A Date: Early September 2024

Word Count: 210

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Dylan smiled a little before saying, "Me too. I've been so distracted with trying to wrap my mind about which classes are where that I didn't even see you there." He let out a little laugh to lighten the mood. "Yeah. Are you going there too?" Dylan asked the girl. What a coincidence that they were going to the same class. Maybe he could figure out where she was from in Europe if she was even from there. If she was, Dylan would be glad. So far he didn't know anyone from Europe. Everyone that he had met was either American or from a different country not in Europe. He guessed everyone from Europe either went to Hogwarts or the other schools. Dylan just realized that the girl was also a Thunderbird. Wow. Things were just falling into place. They seemed to have a little in common so far. Maybe they could be friends? Dylan didn't have very many friends from America yet. He had always been more quiet and less eager to start conversations. A complete opposite to his cousin who was outgoing and always seemed to make a friend out of anyone and everyone. That was something Dylan wished he could do. If only he wasn't so shy.

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Backdated to September when classes First start
@Dylan Astor
Word Count: 235
OOC notes: N/A

The boy said yes that he was going to charms class too. Oh good! If we need partners, I might have someone to partner with! She won’t be the lonely kid in the back.

Summer started walking, “I’m Summer by the way.” She almost told him she was from England, not America, if he couldn’t tell by her accent, but than decided against it. Her accent was the one piece of Summer that she never wanted to loose. It was the one thing that still felt right, the one thing that really reminded her of England. She sighed, she had left that place so long ago but it still had a strong hold on her heart, the one thing she couldn't forget.

Summer fingered with the Thunderbird crest on her chest. She looked at the boy next to her, he seemed so confident, so unlike Summer! Maybe this crash could turn into a friendship. My first friend in years! I need to try harder...

Summer decided to say something, "Your... accent, it sounds... almost familiar. Foreign to America I mean." She blushed, that was awkward! What if she had mistaken his accent or something!

"Uh, sorry! I don't know why I said that!" Summer scratched her next, again. Dang, this was awkward, maybe I am better off not talking. No, this year had to be different, she had to make friends, she had promised herself.

Interacting with: @Summer Lancaster Mentioning: N/A Date: Early September 2024

Word Count: 222

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Nice to meet you, Summer. I'm Dylan." Dylan smiled as they walked into the class. He glanced over and saw her fidgeting with the crest that marked her as a Thunderbird. She seemed nervous. "You okay?" He asked her. Worried that he had said or done something to upset her. Though he didn't know what he'd done. Was it something else, then? "Don't be sorry for asking about my accent. You're right. I'm not American, nor do I have an American accent even though I've lived here since I was eight. I'm actually Welsh. Hence the Welsh accent." He smiled her way. Glad that someone had recognized his accent wasn't from America. Most other Americans thought he was just from another state or somewhere else other than his home country. "What about you? Your accent is definitely European. Though, if you're not comfortable saying where you're really from, I'm fine with that too." Dylan walked into the doorway of the classroom and chose a seat more towards the back. He didn't want to be the center of attention. He had always preferred more darker areas where he didn't have to worry about the professor constantly calling on him. Even though he usually knew almost every answer. Courtesy to growing up in a family where magic was a huge part of his life.

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Backdated to September when classes First start
@Dylan Astor
Word Count: 275 words.
OOC notes: N/A

Dylan, that was the boy's name. The boy, no Dylan asked her if she was OK. She nodded, Just nervous she thought. She almost missed his next answer to her question.

"Don't be sorry for asking about my accent. You're right. I'm not American, nor do I have an American accent even though I've lived here since I was eight. I'm actually Welsh. Hence the Welsh accent." He said, smiling.

There was someone here who wasn't born in America! She wasn't the weird one, like she always had been in play group that her mother had tried to put her in as a little girl. All the kids had teased her for her accent, and the teacher did nothing.

"Me too," She said, "Well, I'm English, not Welsh. I moved here when I was five years old but somehow, I haven't lost my accent."

Summer smiled. She had been here for so long and yet her accent still lingered, it was surprising, she hadn't even been back to the UK since she had left and had been here in the US for more than half her life. She still missed the UK and thinking about it always made her sad, even if she left years ago, it was the best part of her life. But, she had promised herself, she was not going to think about it at Ilvermorny! At least not... to much. She was going to try to be more talkative and confident, like she was at home. Maybe she was changing, she had shared the thing in her life that had changed her the most already with someone she had just met.

Interacting with: @Summer Lancaster Mentioning: N/A Date: Early September 2024

Word Count: 202

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"I'm glad I'm not the only one from Europe here. It's been awkward always hanging around the American students. They always know I have an accent, but they never actually know where I'm from." Dylan laughed. It was fun being probably the only student from Wales taking classes America. Dylan's humorous demeanor calmed down a bit when he noticed a hint on sadness in her. He knew what it was like to leave his home, but to leave it at her age? Torture. He wouldn't be able to bear it. He barely remembered things that happened when he was five, so he couldn't imagine what it was like for her. But, like him. Neither of them had lost the one piece they could still hold of their homes. Their accents and their memories. Though their memories were probably limited since they left at a young age, they still had at least some. That's what mattered. "If you ever need or want someone to talk to about where we came from, I'm here. It's nice to talk about it sometimes. Even though it still hurts not being there anymore. Talking helps ease the pain. If only just for a little while." Dylan said.

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Backdated to September when classes First start
@Dylan Astor
Word Count: 277 words.
OOC notes: Sorry for late response I haven't been as active as Summer

Now that she had someone walking beside her, the walk to class didn't seem as scary and daunting, even the hallways seemed, more... peaceful, like the world was happy she had finally talked to someone.

"I'm glad I'm not the only one from Europe here. It's been awkward always hanging around the American students. They always know I have an accent, but they never actually know where I'm from." Dylan told her.

This was something Summer could relate to. Her playgroup as a little kid had been... something. It was funny, some people liked her accent but didn't want to hang out with her since she was the one kid from Europe, and some people made fun of her accent and didn't want to hang out with her because she wasn't American. People are weird.

"I feel that, the kids in my play group as a young kid... they were rude about it." Summer trailed off. It felt good to meet someone who she could relate to and had a similar experience.

Dylan told her that if she needs someone to talk to about where they come from, she can talk to him. Summer nodded in response. That sounded good to her, it was comforting to know someone would listen to her, and not think her weird. Yes, she had her parents but, for some things, it was better to go to someone her age who gets it.

It was funny how she had been here so long yet somehow, the only part of her life that she felt really mattered was the five years in England.

Interacting with: @Summer Lancaster Mentioning: N/A Date: Early September 2024

Word Count: 216

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"I get that. Americans can be. . . not as accepting as other people. Especially when the get into their certain friend groups. That's why I usually spend most of my time alone. I'm an only child anyway, so it's been pretty easy to do. Though, it's nice to have friends and people to talk to. I would much rather hang out with friends than be alone." Dylan smiled. As they walked towards their class, Dylan finally felt at peace. He was no longer the outsider in a sea of people that had all grown up in America. For the first time since he had moved to America, he didn't feel alone. Now he had a friend that understood what it was like to leave your home and not return. He was glad that he had bumped into Summer. She reminded him so much of his own cousin, Avery. Both girls had a strength within that he could feel. A strength that said they would be able to face anything. Even if it meant they lost their old lives and had to start over somewhere completely different. Just like both he and Summer had done. It was amazing to see how much someone could bloom in a situation not chosen willingly. It just showed their willingness to survive.

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