Chapter one: new beginnings

Monday (August 19,  2019)

It was so incredibly loud. But it was a nice kind of loud. And the lights! They were so bright they were almost blinding! I felt excitement slowly bubble in my chest as I entered the class room. It was my first day of public school. I wasn't allowed out of the hospital before so all my classes were online. But this! This was so incredibly exciting I could barely contain it! A smile crept across my face as more and more students poured into the class rooms and greeted each other like it had been years.

"And then that's when I-"

"Stop laughing you're ruining the story!"

A tall, lean boy and shorter, skinny girl walked into the classroom side by side laughing and smiling. I was shocked they could see where they were going they were laughing so incredibly hard.

"And that's when Ollie busted into my room almost naked screaming at me because I replaced his body wash with blue stain." The boy could barely breath as he laughed.

He was so tall and looked so cool! His hair was a rust brown color and it looked like it defied gravity! He had a big, wide smile that lit up the whole room. He had  sharp defined features but his face was soft and welcoming. As for the girl next to him, she looked like she was about to pass out from laughter. She had long straight rosy hair. And her face was soft and painted with blush. She had a cute small smile that made you feel all fuzzy.  She was really pretty.

"Are you telling that stupid story again? Let it go already!" Another boy walked in and hit his friend on the head. He wasn't as tall as the first boy but still taller than the girl. He had light orange hair that was messily brushed out of his face and  had big blue eyes that were hidden behind thin wire glasses and  a light red stain covering his left eye.

"It's funny!" It was like some sort of laughing demon had possessed the three of them.

" well, it seems you three remained inseparable." The teacher grumbled as he took a long swig of his coffee.

This was amazing! The classroom, the people, the noise, everything about this was amazing! The smell of chalk lingered in the musty air of the old school room and the  carpet was stained and spattered with gum and who knows what else. The desks were beat and battered and had profanities and phallic scribbles on them and Some even had carvings on them.

"Everyone please take a seat." His voice lost all life from it but everyone obeyed. The three from earlier sat in the front left corner of the class room and I was lucky enough to be seated right behind their leader.

"I know all of you probably know me but I see some new faces so I guess I have to Introduce  myself. My names is Mrs. Lancaster welcome to AP Human Geography."

He leaned against the front of his desk and shoved his hands in his pockets. He was a handsome man. He was worn with age but he wore it with pride and dignity. He had a full mustache and beard that was peppered with grey, white and black like his neatly combed hair. He looked old but at heart he was young and full life.

"If you could please stand up and say your name and one fact about  you. Starting with you." He pointed to the rusty haired boy.

He proudly stood and smiled. " my name is Ezra Moore and I'm on the boys soccer team and we went all the way to nationals baby!" His friends snickered as he bowed down.

It was my turn. My heart felt like it was racing at one hundred miles per hour. This was so amazing! I stood up and I tried to hide my smile but failed.

"I'm Micah leDoux. This is my first day of public school." My voice cracked and shook but I don't think it was from nerves. The boy with glasses turned and faced me.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well, I've never been to a real school. I've been home schooled."

"We don't need your life story please sit back down." Mr. Lancaster said as he fidgeted with his watch. The rest of my row repeated what I had done until it reached the front again.

"Hi I'm Parker Coores. And I volunteered in Venezuela over the summer." Her voice was soft and soothing like it belonged to an angel. She sat back down and shoved the guy behind her.

"I'm Oliver Bryans and I'm friends with two very insufferable people." He sounded annoyed but he was smiling the whole time. After the rest of the class made introductions, the teacher allowed us to talk and mingle in the cramped, crowded room. The buzz of chatter rang in my ears like a new song I'd recently discovered. Some people were louder than others and some even had such boisterous laughs.

"So, you're home schooled huh?" Ezra took me by surprise as he turned around in his seat.

"Not exactly. I mean yes. Well um." I felt flustered and embarrassed because It was like my brain and my mouth wouldn't connect.

"Then what do you mean?" Parker moved to the seat across from me.

"Well, see, I'm, er, um."

"Take your time." Her smile was calming like listening to the ocean waves at night.

" yes I was home schooled."

"That makes zero sense. How can you say your not home schooled but then say you are?" Ezra pulled a bag of beef jerky from his bag and passed it to his friends.

"It's complicated." I mumbled picking at the skin on my fingers.

"Okay then what grade are you in?" Oliver asked skeptical.

"I'm a freshmen." Parker handed me the bag but I just stared at it. They laughed as I looked at it dumbfounded.

"Well, do all freshmen not understand what sharing is?" Ezra chuckled as he looked at me with his warm eyes and smile.

"I just assumed-" Parker  took a piece and shoved it in my mouth, i was shocked but I gladly ate it. What the hell was happening? Was this how you make friends?

"Anyways, Ollie and I are both juniors and Park Bark is a senior."

"Don't call me Park Bark! You know I hate that!" He gave a goofy grin as Parker threw a piece of jerky at him. It bounced off his forehead and landed on his lap.

" I saw you staring at us like we're presents on Christmas. So I just thought it was polite to introduce ourselves. Also your introduction was pretty interesting." Ezra was now sitting backwards in his seat.

"I'm kinda glad you said something to me. Cause this is a lot less awkward than it would've been." I chuckled nervously and scratched my neck. Now that I was finally talking to people my nerves began to wire up. It was still exciting but, now I wanted to throw up.

"The only person that would bite is Ollie. He's got a bit of an attitude at times."

"Oh says you! God forbid we don't realize you're on your period or when you want food!" Ollie constantly bounced his leg or fidget with his phone case or something else.

"It's okay Park Bark, you still have me on your side. So let's see that schedule of yours."

"Don't call me that!" She punched Ezra in the shoulder as I pulled out my schedule. I put it on the desk and all three of them crowded around it. My heart began to race as it felt like the walls were slowly closing in on me.

"We have this class, home room and lunch together!" Parker squealed cheerfully as she flopped back in her seat. Ezra smiled as he took the bag from Ollie.

"So what was it like being home schooled? Did your parents teach you or did you take online courses?" Ollie asked laying his head down on his desk.

"Well, it was pretty boring. And no. I used a computer. The nurse- anytime I had all 'A' on a report card I was allowed to go to the ice cream parlor."

The three looked at each other and didn't say anything. Ezra had a look of regret and unease on his face while Ollie and Parker both looked a bit uncomfortable.

"Did I say something wrong?" I asked realizing something wasn't right.

"No. Nothings wrong. But what do you mean by nurse."

"Nothing. It's nothing."I smiled nervously as I picked at the skin on my nails more.

"Okay then. If you say so. How about you come with us to get Ice cream Thursday!" Ezra managed to break the awkward tension that grew between us.

"Uh oh. After your first ice  cream Thursday, you officially become part of the crew." Parker shook my shoulder.

"Not worth it man. Cause at least you can dip out if these two get too much."

"I'll ask my nurse and get back with you on an answer!"

"Well in that case I think this calls for a number swap." He pulled out his phone and handed it to me. I typed in my number and name and passed it back.

"I'll put us all in a group chat so that you two can just save his number from there."

The bell rang  for the next class and all the students began to shuffle out the door. Ezra and Oliver both went in the opposite direction while Parker and I walked together. The hallways we're just as cramped and crowded as the musty class rooms. Everything about this building was musty, dingy and crusty. The walls were an slight off white and the carpet was this dark dank garbage bag green. Even the lights seemed dull and old.

To my surprise my next classroom was completely different from my first period. It was a big spacious room with wooden chairs lined up in long rows. There were two walk ways dividing the chairs and lead to the stage. Beside the door was an old, black lady sitting at a desk. I couldn't tell if she was asleep or if her wrinkles covered her eyes.  She had several moles on her folds of skin and she didn't really have much hair.

"Welcome to study hall. Sign your name and go take a seat." Her voice sounded feeble and weak. She kind of reminded me of Nurse Judy. Sadly she retired last month.

"I remember when we had a theater class here. Unfortunately the teacher left and he was never replaced." Parker signed her name and we both took a seat near the middle of the stage.

"What's this class for?" I asked looking around at the high ceiling and the stage. It was a lot bigger up close. The class was a lot quieter than my first one and it had a lot less people. 

"It's mostly used to do work or study. However, people mostly use it to hang out and chill."

"So there's not anything to be taught?"

"Nope. Oh, don't let  Mr. Lancaster fool you. For the first week he's all about letting people get comfortable and relaxed but after that he's all business."

"Have you had him before?"

"Yea. He's taught me three years in a row. That's how I met Ollie my freshmen year.  And Ezra I met through association."

"Oliver seems kind of –"

"Like a jerk? Yea we know. He doesn't really mean to come across that way. He has a hard time delivering his words. He doesn't mean any harm when he asks blunt questions or says things in a rude manner. It's just he has a hard time with tone and emotions."

"I figured he wasn't purposely like that."

"What about you? What are you like?"

"Um." The bell rang and both of our phones vibrated. I opened the group chat and there was a picture of a girl with long wavy red hair and green eyes staring back at me. She looked bulky and really aggressive and had multiple piercings.

"Of all the people I could have been stuck with, why did it have to be her?"

"Do I need to send in back up?"

"Good luck my man." That was the only thing Ezra said before going offline.

" what's wrong with her?" I asked putting my phone away.

"She was a bully to Ollie all throughout middle school and we later found out she had the worlds biggest crush on him. But now she's just a total bitch and wants to ruin everyone's lives." Parker plugged in her headphones and handed me a bud. I didn't really listen to much music because it felt like a sensory overload at times but this was nice and different.

"What is this?" She swayed and bobbed her foot to the music as she pulled out a sketch book and pencil.

"It's Electric love by Borns. It's my go to."

We both fell silent as she began the start of a drawing and I laid my head down on the small desk. I watched as her pencil danced around effortlessly on the paper. She glanced at me occasionally but I don't really know why.

"So is this a first too?"

"Yea. I didn't really have any friends before high school." I sighed as I propped myself up.

"Go back to how you were sitting before please. How come you didn't make any friends?"

"I wasn't allowed to leave and I didn't like going out of my room much." I laid my head back down and focused on the pencil.

"You're a real mystery Micah. But, I like mysteries." I think she said something else but, I fell asleep before I could hear what she had said. It didn't feel like I slept for very long before a loud booming song woke me up. My body jerked as I sat up right.

"I'm so sorry!" She tried stifling her laugh but it was ultimately a fail.

"I didn't realize that song was coming up or else I would've changed it."

"It's okay. I didn't mean to fall asleep. It was just really relaxing to watch you draw." I rubbed my eyes and stretched as she began to pack up.

"We have five minutes left of class anyways."

"Did you finish your drawing?"

"Not quite but I have a picture for reference. I'll post it in the chat tonight when I'm done."

"I hope Oliver made it through his class okay."

"Word for the wise, don't call him Oliver. He doesn't like it. And I'm sure he managed. He knows when to keep his mouth shut."

The bell rang and I walked to my next class alone. I didn't meet anyone new during my third or fourth classes. I barely even remember what we talked about. I thought all my classes would be the same as my first period but I was very wrong. It was so boring without those three. I was glad when the bell finally rang for lunch. Everyone scurried to the door before the teacher could even finish what she was saying.

Entering the cafeteria was like entering a jungle. There were so many people packed into such a small space and trying to find familiar faces  was nauseating. Kids didn't care if you were bumped into or pushed, all they cared about was getting the best seat. And the noise was defining. I was fine with my classrooms and the hallways but this made me feel overwhelmed.

I stood at the edge of the cafeteria trying to find Ezra or Ollie but it felt like my head was spinning. The noise and the huge amount of people made it hard to focus. I felt a hand grab my shoulder snapping me out of my trance. I yelped as I accidentally spilled my tray.

"Sorry dude. I didn't think you would get that startled." Ezra smiled anxiously as I turned around.

"I told you not to do it. He looked freaked out already. Now you made him drop his lunch." Ollie helped me clean up my mess while I dumped my tray in the garbage bin.

"You can have some of my food. I didn't mean to startle you. I was trying to get your attention. I said your name like three times."

"It's okay. I was just a bit overwhelmed."

"I say we sit outside. There's less people and it's a nice day!" Parker took the lead and we made our way through the maze of people. Outside was really nice, there were still

people and less seating.

"So how was your class with miss hot head?" Ezra asked as we all sat down. He pulled out his lunch and shared it with me.

"She wanted to pretend I didn't exist. Which is better than being harassed."

"That's good I suppose. Micah and I have the same study hall."

" oh yea? How was it?" I waited for Ezra to take the first bite before I ate.

"It was pretty good. I started a new project and we listened to music."

" I fell asleep and was startled by her music at one point."

"So you scare easily. Note taken."

There's wasn't a lot of conversation at lunch but we also didn't have much time to eat either. It was still fun to just hang out with friends though. The rest of the day went by quickly and soon we went home.