"Bye Mom!" I shouted over my shoulder as I ran down the wooden stairs and out into the street.

Ugh. Monday.

I was running late, as usual. Hopefully BJ's driving today.. I don't think I can deal with another douche that can't drive a damn bus.

Weston was waiting by the Telluride West sign like every other day. Mountain Dew in hand and blasting whatever horrid music he was into that week. I threw my backpack up on the sign and climbed up to my established perch and shoved my headphones in my ears before Weston started singing.

"Aye Wes!" I yelled, "We had any homework?"

"Yeah, that y=-16x^2+bx=c and x=-b/2a sheet for Rizzo, remember?" He replied, "Hate that bitch."

"Shit." I mumbled, I left my math binder in my locker. Oh well, it's not like I was going to do it anyway. I thought to myself, shrugging and turning up the Black Flag that made my mornings bearable.

It wasn't long before the sickly yellow school bus pulled up to the stop and the doors swung open. With an inevitable groan, I pushed off the ledge, grabbed my bag and rushed up the steps and into my familiar seat in the back. Blocking out the world and focusing on the music filling my ears.

Fifteen minutes, three stops, and twenty kids later, we pulled up to the curb on the side of the school. I stood up and trudged down the isle to the grey sidewalk until I reached the back cafeteria doors. Everything was routine by now. It got to the point where I was never fully there.. I just did what I always did. Nothing was new.

Ever. Because high school sucks.

I'd have to say this continued until I walked into my language arts' classroom, only to see thirty or so kids scattered around the room or crowded around a desk in the front. Looks like we're getting new seats. Yay (I really hope you noted the ever-present sarcasm).

After pushing my way through the people surrounding the clipboard, I grabbed it off the desk and roamed over to an empty corner by my old seat. Glancing over the grid, I found my picture in the space of a desk towards the back. ThankyouJesusChristourlordamen.

I didn't bother to check who sits around me. It's not like I'm going to talk to them anyway.

All too soon, the sound of a shrill bell spilled from the speaker attached to the wall above the chalkboard. Ms Botkin, the 40-something blonde bounded to the front of the room and started her mindless chatter to the front row. No one bothered to pay attention. Hell, no one was even in their seats.

About halfway through the class period, a girl slips through the door unnoticed and takes the empty seat behind mine. I've seen her around before, her aura just screams loner. She only talks to her friend KiAnna. Weird.

She's kinda heavy-set, wavy brown hair and small hazel eyes. Always dressed in black or grey jeans and a black and white baja hoodie. Everyone's scared of her.. Makes me wonder why, she doesn't seem very threatening.

Her eyes darted around the room and her breathing picked up. Her fingers curled into fists before being stretched flat. I heard her sigh as she watched her hands shake for a few moments before retracting them in her sleeves. I looked back down at the worksheet I was working on and continued to work in question 9. Completely forgetting about the loner behind me.

Four questions later, I got bored and glanced at the clock to my right.
8:40; 41 more minutes left.

The chick behind me must have had the same idea as me because not a second later I heard the clipped thump of something hitting the desk. Whipping around in my seat, I saw her head repeatedly hitting the table.

"Stop," I commanded for her sake. "You're going to hurt yourself."

She lifted her head slowly, . "I'll do what I want, thank you. It's none of your damn business anyway." I raised my hands up in a mock surrender.

"Okay, okay. Do as you wish. What's your name, anyways?" I mind as well try to talk to her. Anything is better than writing constructed responses about what I learned from Nothing But The Truth.

"Mikki. Or Mikayla if you want to go all formal on me." She spoke softly before laying her head in her hands and looking at me from between her chubby fingers.

"Nice name. I'm Frank-"

"Iero, I know. Mr popular, hyperactive, attractive, smart, badass, fucking spaz. It's so nice of you to grace me with your god-like presence." She laughed.

"Heh, yeah." I mumbled after she put her earbuds in. That shit was so loud, I could hear every word the singer was saying.

Wait, it sounds really fucking familiar.... without thinking I turned around, ripped one of the earbuds out her ears and put in mine.

"Hey!" She screeched and slapped my arm to try to get me to let go. I just shushed her and tried to decipher what I was listening to.

"This... what?! You.... This is Pencey Prep." I stuttered, astonished that anyone listened to this album, let alone anyone I knew.

"Yeah, so?" She questioned with a 'no shit' look etched in her features.

"Thi- Woah. This is me." I sat with my jaw slack and eyes wide in shock.

"Yes, I am aware. Now, if you would please give me my headphones back, that would be greatly appreciated." I did nothing but gawk at her words for a few moments before she reached over her book and yanked them out of my grasp.

"Turn around. She's looking." She whispered before skimming her eyes over the words on the page below.

I quickly turned around and picked up my pencil before putting on the best concentration face I could muster at the moment. Which must've made me look like a complete idiot because I could hear Mikki's faint giggles behind my head.

I sighed, today is going to be a long day.

Notes

I know, I know.. I started a new story. I couldn't help it. I promise I'll keep up with this one. If I don't, feel free to yell at me xD

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~EA