Chapter 6: First Day Back

Lucas stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the collar of his uniform. The navy-blue blazer felt stiff, unfamiliar. He barely recognized himself. His reflection stared back with tired eyes—eyes that had seen too much for someone his age.

A knock on his door pulled him out of his thoughts. "You ready?" Theo's voice came from the other side.

Lucas hesitated before opening the door. Theo grinned at him, already in his uniform, his backpack slung over one shoulder. "Looking sharp! Come on, if we don't leave now, we're gonna be late."

Lucas followed him downstairs, where Mrs. Carter handed them both packed lunches. "Have a great first day, you two," she said warmly. "And Lucas, if you need anything, just ask Theo, alright?"

Lucas nodded slightly, gripping the straps of his backpack. He wasn't sure if he could actually ask for anything, but it was nice of her to say.

The walk to school was filled with Theo's chatter. He talked about the teachers, the best lunch spots, and which subjects to avoid dozing off in. Lucas listened quietly, absorbing the information but not saying much.

When they reached the school gates, Lucas' chest tightened. Crowds of students filled the entrance, laughing, talking, moving in groups. He hadn't been in a place like this for a long time. It felt overwhelming.

Theo noticed him slow down and nudged him lightly. "Hey, don't overthink it. We'll stick together."

Lucas took a deep breath and stepped forward.

Their first class was English. Lucas sat by the window while Theo took the seat next to him. The teacher, a middle-aged man with glasses, gave him a welcoming nod. "Class, we have a new student joining us today. Lucas Carter."

Lucas stiffened at the name—Carter. It still felt foreign.

"Welcome, Lucas!" someone said. A few others murmured greetings, but most students quickly returned to their conversations. Lucas only managed a small nod in response.

As the lesson began, he tried to focus, but everything felt distant. The teacher's voice faded in and out. His mind drifted back to his old school, to a time when things were different. When his parents were still—

A tap on his arm snapped him back to reality. Theo leaned over, whispering, "Hey, you okay?"

Lucas blinked, then nodded, though he wasn't sure if it was true.

Lunchtime arrived faster than expected. Theo dragged him to the cafeteria, where the noise was overwhelming. He led Lucas to a table near the window, where a few students were already seated.

"This is Lucas," Theo introduced him casually. "He's my new brother."

Lucas' stomach twisted at the word. He wasn't sure how he felt about it yet.

One of the students, a girl with glasses, smiled. "Nice to meet you, Lucas. I'm Emily."

Another boy with messy hair gave a nod. "I'm Jake. You into video games?"

Lucas hesitated. He hadn't played in a long time, but… "A little."

Jake grinned. "Cool. Maybe we can play sometime."

The conversation flowed around him, but Lucas mostly listened. It felt strange—being included, being spoken to as if he belonged. He wasn't sure what to do with that feeling yet. But for the first time in a long while, it didn't feel bad.