Broken wings

The moment I saw tears sliver down her cheeks, it was gut-wrenching.

I didn't know what to do. I've seen heartbreak before—but this? This was different. I wanted to comfort her with a hug, to tell her everything would be okay.

But something held me back.

Was I even someone she wanted comfort from?

She wasn't alone. Betty—the blonde girl Bear had been crushing on—and Theresa, a familiar face from the Island of Misfits, were both with her.

Theresa was the definition of a social butterfly. She was on student council and knew just about everyone on campus, whether personally or in passing. She wore her dark hair tied back in a neat ponytail, and her glasses framed her round face in a way that made her look kind and trustworthy.

I stood there frozen, backpack still slung over one shoulder, staring from a distance I didn't know how to cross.

Betty was rubbing slow, comforting circles on CC's back. Theresa crouched in front of her, speaking softly, though I couldn't hear a word.

I hadn't seen CC like this—ever.

Was this something Kenny did?

I left quietly and slipped into the library, but the image of her crying stayed with me.

I found the guys at a table tucked between the shelves, mid-discussion in their D&D campaign.

"Holy shit! I didn't expect to see you this early," Boss said, genuinely surprised.

James—the Dungeon Master and unofficial leader of the table—looked up from his scribble-filled notebook. He was a nerdy athlete who ran track and played basketball. His blonde hair was styled into a curtain-like part, and his red-framed glasses gave him a clever, sharp look. A true silver-tongued wizard—both in the game and in real life.

"So, what'd I miss?" I dropped into an open seat.

James smirked. "Let's see... Two of Victor's characters are dead, Bear's character has a flat, deformed head from a trap he barely survived, Boss is somehow still hanging on, and Nate got himself trapped again—for like, the billionth time."

I turned to Nate, who just shrugged with a blank look. "Damn, Nate. Get it together."

He chuckled. "Hey, if I see shiny or gold, I'm taking it."

I narrowed my eyes. "You're playing a goblin again, aren't you?"

The table groaned in unison. "Yup."

Nate grinned proudly.

"No, I mean... what did I miss out there?" I asked, my tone shifting. "I saw CC. She was crying her eyes out."

James glanced toward the library entrance. "Heard Kenny broke up with her over the break."

"What the fuck? Seriously?"

I leaned back in my chair, stunned. I always thought Kenny and CC were solid—the kind of couple that lasts.

What happened?

---

After the bell rang and everyone headed off to class, I made my way to the tennis courts.

A few familiar faces from the swim team had also been shuffled into this class. But tennis came with a requirement I hadn't planned for: you needed your own racquet.

And I didn't exactly have spare cash lying around.

Luckily, I met someone. Manny.

He was short, round, and surprisingly good at tennis.

He'd seen me sketching around the courtyard before and made me a deal: he'd sell me a racquet for five bucks... if I drew him a very busty and very lewd version of Misty from Pokémon.

Simple enough.

My first commissioned smut piece.

I can't say I was proud in doing it, but profit is profit.

(What have I become? A smut peddler?)

Practice wasn't much better. The coach had me start with basics—hitting the ball against a brick wall.

The wall won.

---

Math was its usual headache, and Chemistry—well, that turned out to be just more math in disguise.

(Why??)

By the time lunch rolled around, I was drained. I grabbed the usual: school pizza, fries, chocolate milk, and a zebra cake.

The pizza crust was like cardboard, the sauce bland, and the cheese waxy—but still better than the mystery meat option.

Instead of joining everyone in the cafeteria, I went outside to the Island for some air and peace of mind.

While eating, I shuffled through my Magic cards, rethinking my deck strategy based on our last few games.

Every now and then, I'd look up, scanning the courtyard.

That's when I saw Kenny, walking with a group of JROTC guys.

Last year, me, Kenny, and apparently CC were all in JROTC. It was a military cadet training class that doubled as a PE credit and looked good on college apps—especially for those planning a military career.

The guys Kenny was with now were higher-ranking cadets. They had their own clique, sharp uniforms, and serious ambition. It looked like Kenny had moved on—and into their circle.

But something still didn't sit right.

Why would Kenny just dump CC after everything? After a year?

She deserved better than that.

---

Later, during our usual lunch game of Magic: The Gathering, I was off my game.

The guys noticed. I wasn't vocal. Barely strategizing.

My mind was elsewhere—running simulations, trying to find the best way to ask the question I couldn't shake.

I wanted answers. But how do you ask someone why they broke up?

I couldn't ask CC—she was already hurting. Asking her would be like pouring salt on a fresh wound.

And Kenny… I needed to find a way in.

That thought lingered into my next class: French.

It wasn't until then that my name suddenly changed to Frédéric.

As I left the room, I saw Lilly heading right towards the classroom I was at.

"Salut! Je m'appelle Frédéric. Et toi?" I smiled and waved.

She smirked. "Ah. French this year?"

"It was either this or Spanish," I said, gesturing to myself. "I'm Mexican. I already know Spanish."

Lilly chuckled. "Could've been an easy A."

"Yeah but-"I paused. She was absolutely right.

"…You know what? Fuck you," I said with a laugh.

She shook her head. "Oh, goofball."

We shared a laugh, and for a moment, the heaviness of the day lifted.

"How are your classes so far?" I asked.

"I'm loving Tech in the mornings. Most laid back art class ever. You?"

"Could be better. I've got Sociology next door and—"

I stopped mid-sentence.

Kenny had just walked into my next class.

"Well… shit." My head tilted to the side curiously.

Lilly looked over to see where I was looking at. "What?"

"Nothing." My face shifted. "Things are just getting… interesting."

She raised a brow. "Hmm. O-kay"

I started walking off. "You're gonna love this teacher, though," I added quickly. "She's a trip."

"I'm sure. Talk to you later, Frédéric!" she called in a mockingly elegant tone.

I flipped her off without turning around, tracing a little circle in the air with my middle finger.

She laughed as she disappeared into class.

---

Was this fate? Some twisted coincidence?

I'd been looking for an opportunity to talk to Kenny-and there it appears.

Whatever it was, fate had handed me the chance and I wasn't about to waste it. 

Not this time.