Culture Shock

Mors here again

This may still seem a bit rushed, if so sorry guys. :/

Leon awoke to the Marty Robins hit “Big Iron”, its western sounding guitar strums pulling him out of a deep sleep. He rolled over, tossing the blanket to the end of the couch. Leon deactivated the alarm on his phone, then went to his bedroom, treading quietly as not to awaken his mother. He opened the door of his bedroom and saw Rainbow Dash cuddling his pillow like a newborn cuddles a plushie. "It wasn't a dream. This is crazy." Leon mused, then he slightly smiled, unsure if he should wake her up. There was a smile on her lips that he hadn't seen yet. He observed her for a moment, then realized he had 40 minutes to be at school.
“I should shower, it'll help me think. My mom still doesn't know about her. How can I even explain this?” Leon thought. He quietly grabbed a new pair of boxers from his dresser and exited, closing the door as quietly as he had opened it. He showered, dried off and put on his boxers before reentering his room. Leon opened his closet, and of course one of his airsoft rifles fell, smashing one of his toes. He yelped and hobbled back ward, then fell on the floor, still clutching his toe. A sleepy Rainbow Dash's laughter filled the room, dying rather quickly. Dash pulled herself to the edge of the bed and looked down at Leon, biting her lip to keep from laughing more.
“You okay Leon? That was a pretty great way to wake up, even if it sucks for you.” She let out a few short giggles, rolling back over onto the bed, then sitting up.
“Yeah yeah, good morning to you too Dash.” Leon said, a bit agitated. “My mom will be up for sure now.” groaned Leon, picking himself up and walking back to his closet, putting the G36-K mock up back on its rack, next to various other airsoft rifles. He grabbed a random shirt and a pair of jeans, and then put them on. “I've got to go to school, you're going to have to stay here for the day. I'm going to talk to my mom.”
Leon stepped to the door, but Dash grabbed his arm, then let go quickly, blushing slightly.
Dash crossed her arms. “I'm stuck here all day? What am I supposed to do, stare at your posters of weird carriages and humans in weird clothes carrying things like what you dropped on your foot? Not my thing, sorry.”
“Those carriages are called cars and you have to stay here, where can you go? You don't even have pants!” Exclaimed Leon, pointing at her boxer clad legs for emphasis. Leon exited the room before she could object, and went to the kitchen to grab something for breakfast.
His mom was still in her PJs, the smell of the hickory smoked bacon wafting from the cast iron skillet. “What was with the commotion? Did I hear laughing?” Leon's mom stepped away from the pan for a moment, inspecting her son. “Did you even look at what you put on?”
Leon grabbed some bacon. “Oh, I just knocked over something on my foot. I was laughing at my stupidity.” Leon shrugged, munching on the small breakfast.
“That laughter was rather high pitched dear, are you su-” She dropped her spatula, then pointed at a aggravated looking Rainbow Dash “Who on God's green earth this girl Leon? Did you sleep with her?!” Mrs. Miller Exclaimed, shocked.
“Oh geez mom, I uh... No. That's Andrea... She's the Norwegian exchange student I told you about, remember?” Leon's face turned red and he locked his eyes at the floor.
“There was no such conversation Leonidas Dale Miller!” said Mrs. Miller, scornfully.
Dash walked up next to Leon, looking rather abashed.
“Andrea's flight was late, some sort of snowstorm in Norway. I had to pick her up late last night, and they lost all of her luggage.” Leon scratched the floor with his foot, still looking down.
“Yeah, crazy snow. Everywhere. Leon was nice enough to lend me some stuff to wear.” Dash chimed in.
“Well, Andrea. This is rather unexpected, as my son did not inform me you would be staying with us. I guess it'll have to make do. You need to get ready dear, I could lend you some clothes for today. We're about the same size, thank goodness.” Mrs. Miller said, picking up her spatula and rinsing it off before flipping her eggs. “Leon be a dear and show her my closet.” Mrs. Miller began to hum, obviously lost in tending her breakfast.
Leon turned around, poking Rainbow Dash. He lead her to his mother's closet, then spun to face Rainbow Dash. “You're lucky that went as well as it did, you nearly got me killed Dash! Hurry up and get dressed, I guess you're going to school.” Leon took a step back, out of the closet's doorway.
“Don't get snippy with me. You didn't really expect me to stay in the room all day. And Andrea? Honestly? That isn't even a cool name. Why didn't you just tell her my real name?” Asked Dash as she looked through his mother's closet for something suitable to her tastes.
“Well, it was what came to mind. People generally have names like Andrea or John, not Apple Bloom or Twilight Sparkle. It's just how we do things.” Leon said, observing Rainbow tearing through the clothing.
“You guys are weird... Your mom needs a better wardrobe. Nothing cool in here.” Rainbow Dash said, dropping her hands down.
“You need to hurry, I’ve got class in 20 minutes.” Leon tapped his foot impatiently, looking at his phone. Dash grabbed a cyan top and a pair of jeans, along with a pair of tennis shoes. She put them on, awkwardly as pants were a new thing to her and the boxers bunched up. Leon grabbed his backpack, and then he and Rainbow Dash went through the kitchen to the garage.
Before they made it through Mrs. Miller asked “Aren't you going to eat Andrea?” Leon nudged an unaware Dash, whom nodded and then replied
“Got any carrots?” Suddenly realizing she was, in fact, very hungry.
“Sure, in the fridge. Help yourself.” Mrs. Miller exited with her plate.
“This thing.” Leon grabbed a bag of baby carrots from the vegetable drawer of his refrigerator and handing it to Rainbow. “We've got to go Dash.” Leon opened the garage door and walked under it to his flat black truck with RD in tow, crunching through carrots.
“That's cool. Is this a car too?” Dash mumbled through a mouthful of orange mush
“It's a truck, but same concept. Get in.” Leon said, opening her door. She climbed in and swallowed her food.
“I could’ve got my own door ya know. I'm not Rarity.” Dash said with mild distaste, popping a few more carrots in her mouth. Leon closed her door, then got in on the other side and started the truck, the old Ford rumbling through modified pipes.
“Yeah, I know. I'm old fashioned, get over it.” Leon said jokingly, turning on the radio. Metallica's “For Whom the Bell Tolls” filled the cab of the truck, and Rainbow Dash nodded her head as it played.
“I like this, whatever it is.” enthused Rainbow, closing the nearly empty bag of carrots.
“It's called Metal. I listen to it sometimes, it's pretty good. This is Metallica, they're old but some of the best out there.” Leon tapped his steering wheel in accordance with the lead guitar, humming with the lyrics. “You're lucky school just started, teachers won't ask too many questions. Just remember you are Andrea, and you're from Norway. The capital, Oslo I think. You don't have an an accent because your mom was American.” The truck came to a stop at a red light and Leon looked over at Rainbow, making eye contact. “Got it?”
“Yeah, I guess. I'm Andrea, and I’m from Norway. My mom is from America, wherever that is.” Dash broke eye contact, looking forward. “The light thing turned green.” Dash pointed at the traffic light.
Leon looked back at the road, resuming his drive. “This is America. We speak English. We're in the state Oklahoma.” Leon explained, pulling into a parking space at the school. He killed the engine and hopped out, taking his keys. Dash came around the other side of the truck, and then stood rather close to Leon, whom was waiting for her.
“Trucks are cool, I like the sound. This place is huge! What's it called?” Asked an awed Dash
“Ronald Reagan High School, it's an, eh... educational area. We usually call it RRHS, because that's less of a mouth full.” Replied Leon, who began walking toward the front door where other students were funneling in. “It's not that large. Dash, if I were you I’d ignore the other people, and only speak to them if they ask a question. They're going to make fun of your hair most likely.” Leon informed her, with a bit of anger at the end. “They poke fun at anything not what they deem normal.”
“Who are they? Why would they make fun of my hair, it's cool!” Rainbow grabbed her hair and inspected it, as if something had changed.
“They are the preps. Popular people. Generally jerks, but some are alright.” Leon said, grabbing the door for Dash again as they entered the crowded main hall, then coming in behind her. Leon continued “Stick close, you'll go to your classes with me. Luckily I have cool teachers, they'll accept your story pretty quick.” Leon took the lead, weaving through the crowd. Dash followed close behind, ignoring snickers that came from various girls in the hallway. Dash accidentally bumped into about the worst possible girl she could have, whom dropped her books.
“Watch it Skittles! Who dyes their hair rainbow anyways?” The prep exclaimed, bending to pick up her books.
Leon stepped forward, separating Dash and the prep before Dash gave her a piece of her mind. He grabbed her shoulders and whispered “Remember what I said RD. Stay cool, stick to your story.”
“Skittles? I don't even know what those are! Is that some sort of insult? She must be a snob, I see what you mean.” angrily replied Rainbow Dash. Leon turned around and helped the flustered prep pick up the books.
“Sorry, Andrea here is a Foreign exchange student, she was just trying to get her bearings.” Leon handed her the last book and grabbed Dash's hand, leading her away before the prep said something she'd regret.
“Let go Leon, I’m not that much a hothead.” Dash pulled her hand back and Leon released it, blushing.
“Sorry, I just didn't want there to be a fight on your first day here at RRHS. She's Mary, captain of the cheer team. Really full of herself.” Leon continued walking, shifting his backpack on his shoulder.
“Yeah yeah, whatever Leon. What's our first class?” Rainbow said, moderately blushing as well, turning her head to conceal it.
“Uhh... Math. Right here, room 203.” Leon gestured to the doorway. Dash walked in after Leon and took a seat in the desk next to him, near the back of the class. Leon handed her a pencil and some paper. A man wearing a sports jersey entered the room, Leon stood up.
“Hey Leon, who's the new girl? Nice hair!” said the man, walking to Leon and looking at Rainbow Dash.
“Thanks.” Rainbow Dash said with a smile, turning to face the two men.
“Jack, this is Rainb- Andrea, she's an exchange student from Norway. I was chosen to be her host, so she's crashing at my place for a while.” Leon said, grabbing a book out of his backpack.
“Oh, you lucky bastard. I didn't hear about an exchange student.” Jack said, extending a hand to Rainbow Dash.
Dash took it and shook it rather strongly, Jack did his best to mask a flinch and gave a weak smile.
The teacher walked in as the bell rang, and everyone took their seats.
“What do I do Leon?” whispered Rainbow Dash, looking uncertain.
“Just do what he says and don't stand out.” Leon whispered back, pointing at the teacher.
The teacher walked to the front of the class, coming to a stop behind a podium to left of a projector screen. “Today we have a new student, whom isn't on the roster. Rainbow Hair, will you please give me your schedule? I don't think you're in the correct class.”
“Schedule? I uhh... I'm an exchange student... from Norway. My name is Andrea.” Dash awkwardly stated, looking at Leon for help.
“Yeah, you didn't hear about the exchange student?” Leon said casually, as if it were already done.
“I suppose they forgot to put you on my roster then, sorry Andrea. Today we will be taking a pretest, I want to see what you remember of Algebra II.” The teacher began handing stacks of papers to the first person in each row. “Don't be nervous, anything you aren't sure of will be gone over. Just because this isn’t a grade does not mean you shouldn't do your best. I expect 80s out of all of you, at the least. You may begin.”
The teacher sat down at his desk once more, beginning to type on his keyboard. Soon the sound of pencil scratches was heard throughout the room, with an occasional cough or rustle of paper being turned over and folded. 50 minutes later the teacher stood back up and went to the front of the first row. “Alright, it's four minutes to the bell. Pass up your tests and get ready to leave.” Everyone did so.
“That wasn't that bad. Reminds me of those horrible aerodynamics tests at flight school.” Rainbow said, a slight hint of remembrance in her voice.
“Yeah, math isn't that bad. Glad it's easy for you.” Leon agreed, passing up his paper.
The bell rang and the students left the room, Leon and Rainbow being among the first out.
“School isn't that bad, except it's so boring. What next?” Asked Rainbow Dash, walking next to Leon.
“We've got... Science. Anatomy.” Leon put his schedule back in his backpack, and they began walking.