The next day in gym we were put in “squads” as Coach Mel calls them. Four or more people would be out in lines in front of the stage. We would do our exercises together and usually stay together for games. The other half of the gym was taken over by the other coach's class, later learned her last name was Fletcher.

“Jog over to their side and back to your spot.” Coach Mel instructed as we stretched. “Now let's go!” she yelled before blowing her whistle and dropped her whistle with a bright smile.

“My class finished jogging so go sit near the stage but out of there way!” Coach Fletcher yelled walking to the stage and took a sip of her water before getting on the stage with Coach Mel.

I was the second person in my squad. I jogged behind the first person who lead us. This would be more comfortable if I was wearing appropriate clothes. Jogging in jeans is difficult.

“Starting tomorrow we are going to use the locker rooms to change out! Boys to the boys’ locker room and girls to the girls’ locker room!” Coach Mel yelled as we jogged back to our spot.

A pale fawn hand rose into the air. I was one of many that turned their head to look. Coach Mel and Fletcher looked straight ahead. They possibly could see the face the hand belonged to.

“What about those who verify as a female, male, neither, both, or more but it doesn't say so on their birth certificate?” a voice boomed.

“Well um...I'm sorry I don't think there’s anything I can do about that.” Coach Mel says as her face falls.

“Now everyone move! Go to the locker rooms you belong in!” Coach Fletcher ordered.

I looked around to find the face but the hand was already down and we were all moving towards the doors. Eventually, boys and girls split into different directions. We had to stand in a line to get locks from Coach Fletcher. As soon as I got mine I went inside the girl's locker room, looking around for a locker.

252A. 253A. 257A was a bit longer, therefore had more room than the other tiny boxes called lockers. I stared at 257A for a while as I walked to try to look at the other lockers but-

“Ow!” a familiar yelped and I turned around to see the neighbors’ daughter once again.

“Sor-Sorry, I just keep bumping into you it seems,” I mumbled getting a good look at her this time.

To continue from last time I stopped from her nose, that's like a button and flared. My eyes moved up to her eyebrows, one was raised but both were brown, unlike her hair.

“I feel like you're stalking me,” she said with her eyes narrowed. I swallowed fumbling with my words as she put the lock on the locker. “I'm joking,” she said and turned her head in my direction. Her lips parted and curved up, showing a crooked smile to reassure me.

“Ri-Right.” I mustered up to say.

“Bex, by the way,”  she said putting out her hand.

She was shorter, shorter than me. A rare occurrence. Her skin was clear, besides a few pimples. After taking every physical detail I could of her like a creep, I took her hand and she immediately started the handshake. I wanted to say I knew that already and knew who she was too. But that might have sounded rude and maybe three times creepier. No maybe about it.

"Karter," I replied shaking her hand back, it was soft and very cold on one side while the other was warm. “And I'm not stalking you, honest,” I said pulling my hand away quickly and put them both up in surrender. She laughed genuinely as she turned back to her locker while I glanced at her locker number.

261A. And there was room next to her on both sides, above her locker, under it, all around it. 257A isn't too far or too close. I did my password to get the lock to open and made my way to the locker but someone else got there before me.

The girl locking it on the locker glanced at me. Her dark blonde hair was tied back and she was a head taller than me. “Sorry, told Coach Mel first.” the girl said with a shrug.

I didn't respond and turned around to find other girls coming in the area putting locks on lockers too. The closest unused one was 250A. And so that's the one I chose.

After Gym I ran to my next class, which was Calculus and on the third floor. Diara, Caleb, and I shared the class. It was our second day of class and we got homework. But homework was normal in West Gravel High, buckets of it should be expected on your day back and any given holiday. We were lucky to not get homework yesterday from this class.

“Sup Kart.” Caleb nodded at me when I walked in and I waved walking over to the table in the back before sitting in the chair next to him. Diara who is usually earlier than Caleb and I wasn't here yet.

“Where is she?” I asked glancing around the classroom to see if she could have possibly sat somewhere else.

“No idea, but I'm sure the halls are just hectic,” Caleb suggested as he glanced at the board to read the Due Now of today.

I glanced at it also and groaned at the riddle. This was Calculus yet she was giving us patterns and riddles for do nows. No math wasn't my favorite subject but the practice would be helpful at the beginning of class. I muttered to myself as I unzipped my backpack and dug in it for some paper and something to write with.

“Unorganized as always.” I heard Diara's voice suddenly and I looked up to see her walking over. She sat in the chair next to me smiling.

“It's a shame.” Caleb agreed with her while shaking his head at me.

“Excuse me, you have no right to say that. You have everything in one binder, randomly placed too.” I huffed and Diara snickered as Caleb rolled his eyes.

“We're not talking about me right now, we're talking about you,” Caleb argued.

Now it was my turn to roll my eyes. Diara shook her head with a smile as I finally found a notebook. I reached my hand back in my backpack to find a writing utensil but Diaries grabbed my wrist, stopping me. She pulled my hand out and handed me a pen.

“Thanks,” I mumbled as she gave me a knowing smile and pat on the back as the bell rung.

“Anything interesting happen today?” Diara whispered so only Caleb and I could hear.

“Well, we got partners in Physics,” Caleb muttered.

“Is your partner horrible?” Diara asked as we wrote down the answer to the do now.

“No, I just rather choose my own partner or work alone,” he answered and I nodded.

“I get ya,” Diara and I said at the same time making Caleb roll his eyes as he bit back a smile.

My next class was Physics. Caleb already had Physics and Diara took Chemistry. I was completely alone on this one in class. But it didn't bother me. Caleb said we were probably going to get partners too. I looked around to see if there were any faces I recognized, even if it was just someone I've seen once. My partner ended up being some chick with long, dark, red hair, obviously it wasn't natural.

“Mackenzie, but you can call me Mack,” she muttered scrolling through her phone.

“Karter,” I replied back with a sigh.

Partners weren't my thing unless it was someone I was close to. And even then if they don't do work I don't want them as a partner. After class, I asked the teacher if I could work alone. She said no, shocker. Mack also seemed to have heard our conversation because she walked quickly away from me muttering curse words.

Thankfully the next class, that was English I shared with Diara and my last class which was German, I shared with Caleb. Diara had eight classes while Caleb had seven. I so happened took some high school classes in middle school so I had most of my credits already and didn't need to take many classes. Next year I would only take two or three classes.

“We're going to read In Cold Blood.” Coach- Ms. Mel said.

I didn't know if I should say Coach or Ms. Yesterday was such a surprise for me to see Coach Mel also teaching English. She seemed to be very happy to see me, like always.

“Wasn't she at our middle school?” Diara whispered to me as Ms. Mel went on and on about this book we would be reading and writing an essay on.

“Yeah, I have a theory. She's following us.” I replied quietly and Diara rolled her eyes laughing a bit.

“She could be, I wouldn't be surprised. It's always the coaches you seem to see when you're grown.” Diara pointed and I blinked.

“Really?” I asked glancing at Ms. Mel to see her looking at me while shaking her head.

“I don't know.” Diara shrugged grinning. “I'm just spitballin’ things to your theory.”

“May I have everyone's attention please!” Ms. Mel yelled gaining our full attention. “You all will write an essay on this book. So make sure to read, no SparkNotes!”

“I hope this book isn't boring then.” I heard some students grumble as Ms. Mel passed out books.

“The cover is interesting,” Diara said opening the book and skimming a page.

“Looks plain to me,” I replied and she sent me a playful glare.

“Don't judge a book based off its cover,” she said before looking back down at the book.

“Well, how can I not? I mean most covers can tell you if a book is old or good sometimes.” I argued opening the book myself and the first page made me swallow.

“Good, right?” I heard Diara ask.

“Perfect, people are already dying,” I said with sarcasm leaking into my voice causing her to roll her eyes. “Not a fan of death of characters.”

Diara and I both loved reading. Though Diara loved almost every genre. I had certain tastes and death was not one of them. Happy tears are okay, but sad tears? No thank you, I didn't want to cry at school. I slipped the book in my backpack as Ms. Mel started to read. I followed along looking over Diara's shoulder until the bell rang for second lunch.

During lunch, Diara teased me about how I was definitely going to cry at the end of the book. It's like she already read the whole book or looked at the last page! Knowing her she probably did and I would too. It's a habit we both need to break. And Caleb is supposed to help us with that but he doesn't see it as a problem. He's not much of a reader.

“So Homecoming will be coming next month, are you two going?” Caleb asked taking a bite out of his spicy chicken nugget.

“Didn’t go last year, not going this year,” I replied causing him to roll his eyes.

“I have to disagree with Karter this time,” Diara said making my eyes probably pop out of my head.

We haven't gone to a dance since the first one in eighth grade. Caleb is the one who goes then calls to tell us it sucks and he wants to hang out. That's happened for everything dance since the last time Diara and I went to one. And by Caleb's past ratings I'm probably not going to change my mind about any dances held at our high school.

“Why do you want to go this year?” I asked still staring at her with my mouth gaped open.

“Sweetie, close your mouth,” Diara said closing it for me. “And I want to see how the dances are at high school.”

“Terrible,” I replied and she rolled her eyes smiling.

“Do we really know that?” she asked as Caleb drank his chocolate milk, staying out of this.

“We do, why would things be better in high school? The quality of our lunches are worse. The quality of people are worse. Must I go on?” I asked raising an eyebrow, my mother's signature look took over my features.

“Good point..” Diara surrendered and I smiled in triumph as I opened my small carton of tangerine juice, to find it completely frozen.