The next day, with Professor Yogi's advice in mind, Caramel promised herself to make this day better. No insult would shake her confidence this time. Besides, she had special classes with her to look forward to.

Freshening up, she made her way down the hallway. At first, it seemed everything had blown over. Then, when she passed a set of students, she caught some of their words.

"Is that the freshman student everyone's been buzzing about?"

"That's her! Caramel Charlatte! The freshmen keep saying she botched the entrance exam so SHE would be the only one who got in,"

"Really?"

"Well, it won't be worth it. Little thing like her? I give her a month,"

"I give her a week >:)"

Caramel shut her eyes and tried to recall what Nitroz had said: Focusing on social interaction won't get you anywhere here. Just do your best. Taking a deep breath, she rose her head high and kept walking. If the entire school thought they could break her spirit, they'd have to try harder from now on.

***

"So, can anyone tell me why camera angles are so important?" asked Professor Red Sheep. Caramel raised her hand from her seat in the back, her answer in mind. "Yes, Caramel?"

"Camera angles are a form of cinematography, which is crucial to the appeal in the story you are telling," she explained. "It's one of the most important assets to capturing your audience's attention."

"Phooey!" huffed Connie from the front row. "Why all the obsession on shaking a camera? It's an animation, not a damn movie trailer."

"As a matter of fact, Miss Parewell, Caramel is leagues above correct," Professor Red said with a warning stare. "Cinematography is a very important skill set to making your animation interesting to look at. The watchers will want to see the animation in a very particular point of view. Very well said, Caramel."

Caramel beamed at the teacher's praise, happy to be appreciated by the people who had power over her GPA. From her right side, Nitroz patted her shoulder in encouragement, also smiling.

Further into the class, they were given practice by making renders of a set of characters of their choice, and to be shot at a "cinematographic angle." Caramel took up a few of her characters that she had used in previous animatons, worked hard, and at the end, Professor Red showed the class how much hers had stood out. A few of the upper classmen admired her work, but a majority of the freshmen students wrinkled their noses in jealousy.

After class was dismissed, Caramel and Nitroz headed to the cafe to enjoy some lunch. The cafe was the main area for school meals, but you could also go off-campus to the fast food restaurants in the area.

"So, what animations are you majoring in?" Caramel asked Nitroz, carrying a lunch bag. She wanted to get to know her friend more so that she could take this friendship home with her.

"Mostly fight animations, and little adventure shorts to go with it," he replied. "You?"

"I'm majoring in adventure animations, and anime-esque openings. I'm planning to open commissions for animated series if I don't make it to BPS,"

"Hey, are you kidding? I overheard from Professor Red after class that you were at the top! You're SURE to get that internship!"

"You really think so?"

"I KNOW so. Now, c'mon, let's go get some chow!"

However, as they made their way to the nearest table, an all-too familiar girl blocked their way. She didn't look pleased.

"I suppose you expected us to kneel down and BOW to you for humiliating the entire freshman class again?" she sniffed.

"I was just answering the question," Caramel answered simply. "You didn't have to try and call me out."

"And let you get away with trying to FLUNK them before the year even started? The teachers may think you're clever, but you're clearly too dumb to know your place: at the bottom!"

"Knock it off!" Nitroz barked, stepping up next to Caramel. "It was an honest misunderstanding! Can't you just let it go?"

The argument was drawing a crowd; several students had stopped eating and talking and were now gazing in their direction. This made Caramel feel nervous. She didn't like having all this attention on her. "Uh, Nitroz--"

"Listen, Horseface," Connie snapped, prodding a finger of Caramel's chest. "I don't care what you do or where you go. But if you don't want me to turn the entire class on you, you'll pack up and go back crying to that ratty temple!"

Caramel opened her mouth to repeat what she had already told Connie, but she didn't get a chance, for in one swing, Connie had slapped her so hard, the room went fuzzy. As she fell hard on the floor, everything went black.

***

"Nnnnngh..." Caramel's eyes fluttered open. She sat up shakily. She was no longer in the school cafe, but out on the street. Her lunch was gone, and her uniform messed up. It was clear to see that she had been kicked out while she was unconscious.

Biting her lip, she closed her fist, trying to fight tears of embarrassment and despair, when she felt something. Confused, she rose her hand to find a note and a $20 bill. Who could've given her this? Unfolding the note, she read:

"For lunch. Couldn't get past Connie's ugly gang, but I'll see you next class, okay? *hugs* ^^ -Nitroz"

The corners of Caramel's mouth turned up gratefully. What a good friend she had made in the academy.

She turned around to see that she had been dumped near a Taco Bell. Not her ideal fast-food choice, but better than nothing. Brushing off the dirt on her uniform, she entered the restaurant and let the AC cool her sweaty and stinging face.

She went up to the counter and waited in line for her order. As she did, a man with black hair and brown eyes walked up behind her. He looked like an older version of Nitroz. She didn't think anything of it at first. But then, he began to speak in a low, yet familiar, voice.

"How did my love for Taco Bell begin?" he asked to no one in particular. "It was all back in highschool, when we were allowed to walk out to the fast-food restaurants off-campus. Taco Bell was one of the nearest restaurants. And so we went to Taco Bell."

"Odd..." Caramel thought to herself. "This story sounds out of the blue, but...I feel like I've heard it before."

"I observed the menu with fierce observation," the man went on. "I looked upon the quick meals, and there I saw: Meal Deal 1, Meal Deal 2, Meal Deal 3, and Meal Deal 4. And so I decided, on that day that I would purchase Meal Deal 4: the Beefy 5-Layer Burrito, with Mountain Dew and a bag of Doritos."

Caramel had now completely turned around, finding herself inexplicably engrossed in the customer's story.

"I sat down at the table with my friends," the man kept going. "I unwrapped that burrito...and then I took a bite. It was from that point on that I realized...that I was destined to eat at Taco Bell."

The man let out a sigh after he had finished his story. He then turned his gaze down to Caramel. "What is YOUR story towards destiny, my small friend?"

A bit surprised at the question, Caramel answered nonetheless. "I...I don't know. I was just dumped outside the restaurant, so I came inside...?"

The man gave a simple nod. "A little less consent and choice than I was given, I see." He then stared off into the distance, but still seemed to be talking to her. "A little advice, fellow Taco Bell lover: you'll never know what your destiny tastes like unless you take the first bite."

Caramel tilted her head, wondering what the man could mean. Was he talking figuratively? What did he know?

"Next!" the cashier called from the counter. Giving a nod of farewell to the man, Caramel turned back to the counter and walked up front. "What'll it be, Miss?" Caramel slid the $20 bill towards him and answered:

"Meal Deal 4, please."