Chapter Three:

I combed out my recently blow dried hair, parting my hair properly and pushing it to the correct side. I smiled when my hair did a perfect neat swoop and I set my comb down.
"When are you gonna get rid of that hideous bowl cut?" Banjo said, walking into the bathroom. His hair was still damp from his shower and his eyes were droopier than normal.
"When you pass high school. So I'll probably have it forever," I retorted, beaming at my quick comeback.
Banjo didn't say anything. However to signify his anger he turned on the blow dryer and pointed it in my direction. The warm air automatically ruined my perfect hair and I groaned, picking up my comb again.
Once I fixed my hair for the second time, I went into my room and opened one of the drawers on my dresser. I smiled brightly when I saw the organized colors of my bow ties. I stood there for a while before I finally picked a green bow tie that matched my eyes. I stood in front of my mirror, expertly tying the bow and tightening it. I heard a knock and I looked up, seeing my Dad standing there.
"You look nice," He told me, smiling. I nodded and let him straighten out my bow tie.
"Breakfast is ready," He told me before leaving my room again.
I unplugged my phone and grabbed my backpack. As I was going down the stairs, I checked my phone seeing the messages from Cree telling me that he was gonna get a ride with Banjo and I.
When I was in the kitchen, I sat at the bar next to Banjo where my breakfast was set. I noticed that I didn't have any bacon like Banjo did and I glared at him.
"Did you take my bacon?" I asked, getting his attention.
"No," He said, shoving another piece of bacon into his mouth.
"Banjo, give him back his bacon," Dad said.
Banjo rolled his eyes and gave me a small piece of bacon. I rolled my eyes back and took another piece, watching him glare at me.
I heard the door open and close so I grabbed a cookie and waited for Cree to walk into the kitchen. However who walked in wasn't Cree.
"Hey Banjo," Kazooie said.
Okay, her name isn't Kazooie, but everyone started calling her that after she started dating Banjo. Her name was actually Kazzy, except very few people remembered that.
Anyway, Kazooie was a very beautiful girl. She had long softly curled strawberry blond hair that she always kept in her neat high ponytail. She rarely ever wore makeup, however she didn't need it. She had very prominent features and a little pointy nose. Her eyes were a light icy blue that made you cold to the bone if you looked her straight in her eyes.
Kazooie came up behind Banjo and took a piece of toast from off his plate, beginning to munch on it. Banjo tapped his cheek and Kazooie rolled her eyes and kissed it.
They really were a good couple. They had dated since the end of their freshman year, however they were friends a long time before then. Not to mention that their fate to end up together was basically sealed when Banjo was chosen to be the team captain to the boys basketball team the same week Kazooie was chosen to be team captain for the girls basketball team.
"Hi, Oliver! I didn't see you sitting there, you're so small. Are you excited for your first day of school?" Kazooie asked me.
I shrugged and shifted my food around again, feeling nausea churn inside me again. Kazooie got up and came over to me, patting my shoulder.
"It'll be okay. Freshman year is always the most difficult but it'll be okay soon," Kazooie reassured me.
"Yeah, that's easy for you to say. You knew everyone you were going to school with," I retorted. Kazooie shrugged and gave me a small hug before sitting next to Banjo again.
Once we finished breakfast and Cree finally showed up, we hopped into Banjo's car and began the drive to school. Banjo and Kazooie had a conversation about which teachers Banjo was going to torment today while Cree and I had a quiet conversation with each other in the back.
"Are you nervous for eighth grade?" I asked him. Cree shook his head and played with his phone again.
"It's just moving up a floor with different teachers, I know where the majority of my classes are," Cree told me.
"Lucky. I miss middle school. It was so much easier. I have a ton of different classes on all three floors," I told him.
"Oliver, you're gonna be fine. Stressing out about it isn't gonna help. Just take a deep breath and believe you'll be fine," Cree told me. I sighed and nodded, trying to do what he told me.
It wasn't working.
My nerves peaked when I saw the school. I felt my heart begin to race and my hands get clammy. I felt like I was going to pass out and my breathing became labored.
I felt horrible.
Banjo parked the car and got out, followed by Kazooie. Cree jumped out as well and I followed slowly behind.
"Let's go, Oliver. I don't have all fucking day," Banjo growled, locking the car up and pocketing his keys.
"Whoa, Banjo be nice. Oliver, are you feeling okay?" Kazooie asked, coming over to me.
I gulped and nodded quickly forcing a smile. Kazooie didn't believe me and I suppose it was a good thing that she didn't because I ended up blacking out shortly after.

I woke up in the nurses office, Banjo and Kazooie both standing over me. The nurse was pressing an ice pack to my head and talking to Banjo and Kazooie.
"Do you know if he has anxiety or anything?" The nurse asked.
"I don't really know. If he did he hasn't told anyone," Banjo told the nurse.
"Well, I'm pretty sure he had a panic attack so it's very possible that he might have anxiety issues. Are you sure he's never said anything about it?" The nurse asked.
"Well, I mean... He's always been a pretty timid kid. Scared of his own shadow and stuff. Stresses out over little things and... Yeah. I guess those could've been signs," Banjo said.
I shifted slightly and the nurse looked back at me. She look the ice pack away and gently helped me sit up. I crossed my arms tightly over my torso and looked around at everyone.
"Hey, Oliver. Are you feeling any better?" The nurse asked. I nodded.
"Alright, you're free to head to your first class than. If you feel faint again though, please come back," The nurse told me. I nodded and stood up, following Banjo and Kazooie out of the room.
"Where's Cree?" I asked as we left the room.
"Right here. You okay? They wouldn't let me in cause I wasn't a high schooler," Cree said. I shrugged and looked at Banjo and Kazooie waiting for me.
"I'm fine. You should head to your first class. Don't want to be late on your first day, right?" I said.
"Nah, it's okay. The teachers can wait if my friend is passing out in the senior parking lot," Cree said, nudging me. I nudged him back and began following Banjo and Kazooie again.
We stopped at my locker and I grabbed my binder and all the stuff I needed for my first class, Earth Science. Banjo told Kazooie and Cree to head to their first classes. Banjo walked me to my first class however before I went in he pulled me aside.
"Look, I know that this is especially stressful for you since you know literally no one so if you're feeling nervous just text me and talk to me, okay? The teachers should treat you just fine if you let them know I'm your brother," Banjo told me.
"I thought all the teachers hated you," I muttered.
"Well... They had to say that so the other students didn't get any ideas," Banjo said, winking and patting my back.
"Wait... Why are you all the sudden being so nice to me?" I asked timidly. Banjo rolled his eyes and grabbed my shoulder.
"Because I care about you and I know what it's like to be a freshman. Also, Daddy said if I was, he'd give me money for gas. Good luck," Banjo said, walking away.
I gulped and walked into the class. Everyone was chatting amongst themselves and giggling about God knows what. Mostly everyone seemed to have a group of friends.
Except for me.
I sat down in the front row near the board. I know it was pretty stereotypical of me to take the front row seat but I liked to be near the board so I wouldn't have to strain too much to see what the teacher was writing.
About five minutes passed of me busying myself with straightening out everything on my desk to the point of symmetrical perfection when I watched a hand sweep out and knock everything off my desk. I instantly looked up seeing a boy with glasses and a t shirt glaring down at me with his stuff in his hands.
"You're sitting in my seat," He growled.
"It's the first day of school. How could it possibly be your seat already?" I asked him.
"I always sit in the front. Move back, twig," He growled.
Twig?
I looked at this boy, sizing him up. He was about twice my size, however he was still a bit scrawny. He didn't look that threatening but at the same time, my Dad's voice echoed in the back of my head. 'Don't draw attention to yourself like Banjo and Daddy do.'
So, instead of confronting him, I simply stood up, gathered all my things, and moved back a seat. I didn't feel completely satisfied with my choice, especially since I'll have to stand up to see over his head and to the board, but I did avoid a conflict.
"That was a good choice you made, Twig. But you and I, I can already tell we aren't gonna get along. So don't even try to be buddy-buddy with me," The boy growled. I blinked at his rude tone and began to wonder if I had truly avoided the conflict.
However I wasn't able to think long about it because the teacher walked in, setting his coffee down at his desk and sitting down. He did an introduction and began going around the room, trying to learn our names.
About ten minutes into the class the door opened and closed again and I watched a boy that was taller than me walk in. He was wearing a t shirt and cargo shorts, reminding me of my Dad's old style. He was holding an iced coffee from Starbucks and he tried to sneakily get into class without the teacher noticing.
"Crete, fashionably late, even on the first day, I see," The teacher said, turning around and watching the boy sneak to a desk.
"Well, the line at Starbucks was long. And you and I both know that an uncaffeinated Crete, isn't a Crete at all," Crete said.
I finally got a good look at him, standing up at the front of the room confronting the teacher. He had bright wavy blonde hair that resembled a bowl cut. His eyes were a bright blue, just as bright as Banjo's. And he had a very defined jawline and cheekbones.
He was literally the definition of handsome.
And, despite my attempts to, I wasn't able to look away. Not because he was bantering with the teacher in a joking manner that I could only imagine Banjo doing, but because he was so unbelievably handsome that I couldn't just bring myself to look away.
"Crete, why don't you take your seat so you can stop interrupting my class," The teacher said, smiling despite the fact that Crete just disrupted the class.
I watched a number of girls instantly point out desks and seats around them where Crete could sit. Crete looked around and I watched his gaze rest on me, making my heart instantly beat faster. I quickly looked down, playing with my pencil and trying to calm my racing heart.
"I think I'll sit right behind Mr. Fancy there," Crete said, walking towards me and sitting in the empty desk behind me. I watched the many girls glare at me and shoot me hateful looks but I simply ignored them, feeling on top of the world since the most handsome boy I'd ever seen just chose me to sit behind.
Throughout the class, I tried to work up the courage to turn around and talk to him. It wasn't that hard, right? Just turn around, say hi, and introduce yourself. I could do that in my sleep.
However, the every thought scared me half to death. What if I slipped up? What if I mumbled? What if I stuttered? All those thoughts raced through my head and it almost stopped me from introducing myself.
Almost.
Near the end of class when the teacher was done teaching early, I finally got the nerve to turn around and introduce myself. So I did and I gazed into his bright blue eyes.
"Hi, I'm Oliver," I said, hearing my voice waver in the most embarrassingly way.
"Oh... Um... I'm Crete," Crete said, throwing his phone from hand to hand.
"So... Are you a freshman or...?" I asked, trying to make conversation.
"No... Sophomore," Crete said awkwardly.
"Oh... I'm a freshman," I said, feeling really awkward all of a sudden.
Crete didn't acknowledge that information like I had hoped. He just nodded a little disinterestedly and turned on his phone. I turned back around, feeling embarrassment course through me. That was honestly the most awkward conversation I've ever had.
When the bell rang, I instantly stood up and left. I couldn't be there any longer. The embarrassment I felt was enough to make me almost burst into tears.
I had eleven more classes before the end of the day and I already wanted to cry.
I hated this school.

I laid in my bed, listening to Banjo and Kazooie talk in Banjo's room. It just sounded like mumbles but sometimes I could pick out actual words.
I was supposed to go to Home Slice with Cree after school but I hadn't been in the mood after my horrible first day. My first, horrible first day.
Apparently the nickname 'twig' had stuck and mostly everyone was calling me it. I got picked on because I wore nice clothes to school instead of the usual t shirt and shorts all the boys wore. I even got picked on for having the name Oliver.
It was utterly horrible.
And to think I was expected to go back tomorrow. And the next day. And all the other days of the year. The very thought made me what to curl up and cry some more.
I knew I was acting like a drama queen. Banjo had made sure to remind me in the rudest possible way. But he never had to deal with rejection or being the new kid. Everyone loved him from the start.
I heard a knock on my door, even though it was already opened. I looked back and saw Cree standing there. He smiled and waved, coming it and sitting on the floor in front of my bed.
"Cree, I really don't want to hang out," I said timidly.
"I know that. I came over to see if you were, ya know, still alive. I've been texting you for a half hour and you haven't answered. What's wrong?" Cree asked.
"It's nothing," I muttered.
"Oliver, I've been your best friend for too long to fall for any of your lies. What's wrong," Cree repeated, standing up and sitting on the edge of my bed.
"I had a horrible day," I confessed.
"Okay. How come?" Cree asked.
"Everyone made fun of me. I've dubbed a new nickname; Twig. I don't even think they know my real name," I muttered.
"Oliver, that's just how teenagers act. They all need someone to pick on and bash. Eventually they'll quiet down and everything will be okay," Cree told me.
Eventually isn't soon enough.
"Thanks Cree but I'd really like to be alone," I told him. Cree nodded and patted my shoulder. However before he left, I remembered my question.
"Hey Cree? Do you know someone named Crete?" I asked him.
"Crete? Yeah. He's a sophomore this year, I think. Why do you ask?" Cree informed me.
"What's he like?" I asked timidly.
"Um... Really loud. He loves to be the center of attention. And um... Funny. Really, really funny," Cree told me.
"Do you think he's awkward?" I asked him.
"Um... I don't know about that. As I said, he's a pretty sociable person. Why do you ask?" Cree asked me.
"I talked to him today... He was very... Awkward towards me," I told him. Cree nodded and seemed to think for a moment.
"Maybe he likes you? Well, I don't know, maybe he doesn't and he just genuinely doesn't like you. Crete doesn't really date as far as I know," Cree told me.
Cree was about to walk out of the room when he stopped and turned around. He gave me a strange look before taking a few steps closer.
"Oliver... Wait a second... Are you... Like... Gay? Or bisexual?" Cree asked me.
The question took me by surprise. Gay? Bisexual? Those were both words that I was closely associated with, but not in my own orientation. Dad was gay and Daddy was bisexual. Otherwise, I didn't really identify with either word.
I had always thought myself to be straight. However, at the same time, I never really put much thought into it. Could I truly say I was straight if I never had a girlfriend? Or thought about girls like every boy in my grade did. I had always been associated with books and schoolwork so girls were the last thing on my mind.
"Oliver?" Cree asked, inching closer to me.
"I-I don't know..." I said, almost fearfully.
"What do you mean, you don't know?" Cree asked, sitting down next to me.
"I... I never really thought about it. I mean... I always thought I was straight. But... Now I'm not so sure anymore," I muttered.
"Oh... Well don't put too much thought into it. I don't even want to know how an idea like that would stand against the other thoughts in your mind," Cree told me, trying to start a joke but failing when he realized I was too far gone to listen to anything he was saying.
"Get some rest, Oliver," Cree told me, patting my shoulder and actually leaving this time.
I again curled up on my bed, letting myself fall into the constant plethora of my thoughts. Words, images, ideas raced through my mind, all depicting some sort of romantic relationship I could have with either gender. Just that made me even more confused.
Eventually, I pulled my blanket over my skinny body and closed my eyes, trying to quiet the inner mechanisms of my mind.
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I just realized this entire chapter is over 3000 words. And now I'm wondering how long all the other chapters are cause I think they're about as long as this one. Be proud of me.
So, please let me know what you think of this chapter. I love to see your comments and feedback.
Thanks for reading!