"Gyps, what's up?" Lily asked me, making me my head up from the ground.

Disgust bloomed in my stomach when I realised I had tainted Lily's good mood and made her worry instead. Disgust at myself. And for the fact that I had almost thrown a pity-party in the middle of the day.

"Nothing's up! Just – you're a bit young to have a boyfriend," I muttered, scuffling my shoes on the ground as we walked.

Gracie snorted. "Jess had a girlfriend when she was twelve," she reminded in a hushed singsong voice. She looked at me in a knowing way, and I swallowed. 

"I'm fifteen, Gyps. I'll be fine, I promise," Lily smiled at me. I returned it, trying to calm down.

"We're almost there," Casey announced, leading the way to our Geo class.

"Greaaatt! We get to learn what the world's landmass looks like! Woohooooo!" I cheered as unenthusiastically as possible.

Skye used my shoulders as an arm rest (despite us being level height). "Lighten up, G! We've got recess awaiting us next!"

I smiled. "Alright."

We lined up behind our classmates (who's names I never bothered remembering since they were all kind of snobby and rude, which I guess is what to expect from a high-rep private school) and chatted quietly while the teacher came. 

When she did, we chose our seats at the back (as usual) and got our books out.

I found myself drawing on the corner of my page (as usual,) while pretending to listen to the teacher (also as usual).

"Water systems in third world countries, like Africa, are very poorly in condition," Ms Raring was saying. 

I exhaled, staring out the window next to me. Without windows to remind them there is an outside, a place of fresh air, I was sure every student would go mad. 

"The answer's 'Mississippi'," Casey hissed at us, and we quickly jotted it down.

I had a question myself: was I going to die of boredom?

"The answer to that is yes, Gyps," Casey whispered, making me smile.

A few moments later, Casey casually tossed a note on my lap, then ferociously gestured at it with her eyes.

I rolled my eyes at her then gave her a smile, slowly crinkling open the note.

I'm thinking of telling Lily you like girls. Is that okay? 

My eyes widened and I shook my head, somewhat sadly. 

Casey sighed, taking the note back. "You're no fun," she whispered. "Answer's 'eighteen percent'."

We wrote down that answer in our books.

"Thank you," I whispered, and Casey returned my smile from earlier.

"No talking," Ms Raring reminded in a very tired voice.

<⚙︎>

Lily's boy waved to us shyly, and I glanced at the ground.

The bustling students were enjoying their recess all around us, laughing and chatting and singing. The bell had gone five minutes ago for start of break and the GangGang were nestled in the same place we had gone for recess three days ago.

"Guys, this is Connor. I like to call him Connor-Chaos though," Lily chirped, making me return my attention to the newcomer.

"Hi, Connor!" Skye greeted with her trademark enthusiasm. Casey waved him over and offered him some of her snacks, and I stared at him. "Hey," I smiled half-heartedly, then busied myself with my chips.

Lyn shot a surprised glance at me, no doubt wondering why I was so moody. "Hi there," she greeted, shaking his hand.

"Lily told me about you guys during Art," Connor explained as he took a seat next Lily, the latter gesturing to Casey's biscuits expectantly.

Casey rolled her eyes. "You're worse than Jessie," she giggled as she passed them to Lily.

"Despite that, I don't really know your names..." the new boy continued, "so forgive me if I get them mixed up."

"Oh, alright!" Skye perked up. "I'm Skye, howdeleedoo?" She shook his hand, completely botching the "how do you do?" to make it even more Skye-esque.

"This right here is Gracie, my P– my NameTwin."

The second she slipped up our shock rose, but when Skye saved herself we relaxed a little.

"NameTwin?" Connor echoed.

"Oh! Yeah, my real name is actually Grace as well, but I prefer Skye," the blonde chattered, reaching behind Connor and grabbing at least eight chips with only two fingers.

"Well then, hello, Gracie," Connor smiled, and the white-haired girl did something I've never seen from her: she stuttered.

"H-hi," she muttered and looked away.

I raised my eyebrows in surprise.

Skye gestured next to her with her chips. "This is Casey, or Case," she informed.

Reached across the table to point to Lyn. "That there is Evelyn, or Lynnie."

Shifted her hand slightly to the left of Lyn so I was the target staring down the barrel of her gun made of chips. "The moody ginger is Gypsy, or Gyps. Why so moody? We may never know."

Glare from me.

Giggle from Skye.

Sigh and smile from me.

"I have to ask, is everything okay Gypsy?" Connor asked.

Part of me wanted to growl at him. I decided to go logically.

I scraped together whatever joy I found inside myself and formed it into a smile. "Yeah, everything's fine."

Not really.

"I promise," I nodded.

Cross your fingers.

"Alright then," Connor said uneasily, and I felt Gracie kick my shin under the table.

"Ouch," I hissed quietly, shooting her a confused glare. She gave me a puzzling look.

I sighed frustratedly and stared at the table, focusing on my recess. 

All of a sudden a hand slapped down in front of me, jarring the whole table. My eyebrows shot up in surprise at the sudden sound and movements, then I realised the hand was connected to an arm next to me.

I first glanced at all my friends to see their reactions and get an idea of what was going on before facing the problem directly. 

They were all staring above me.

I exhaled loudly, pivoting my head.

A tall blonde was standing next to me. It was her hand on the table.

Gold-rimmed sunglasses nestled above her blue eyes amidst her corn-coloured hair, expensive earrings dangling.

"What are you doing with my boyfriend?" She demanded in a low, threatening voice dripping with envy.

I mindlessly (and somewhat un-ideally) followed my instincts, and burst into laughter.

The stereotypical prissy girl glared at me in surprise. 

"Connor? He was just sitting with us," Gracie flared from behind me, standing up.

I turned around, still giggling, and saw Connor getting to his feet. 

"Brie, calm down. I met these girls in Art," the boy sighed, running a hand through his black hair.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw both Grace and Lily staring at him as if hypnotised. Cheers, I can relate to that, brothers. 

"Brie? Like the cheese?" Skye immediately chirruped, bringing my laughter back.

The girl in question glowered fiercely at the hypertalker, making the latter join in my laughter.

Connor shrugged at us and grabbed his bag from the ground.

"Later Lily, bye Gracie, cya everyone!" He waved to us and walked off with his annoyed girlfriend.

I turned back to my friends, open-mouthed. 

"Wow."

They nodded in agreement, needing no further elaboration.

<⚙︎>

"So, is that clear with everyone?" Mr Tari asked, pointing to the whiteboard.

Everyone droned back with a "yes" even though undoubtedly about fifty percent of the class wasn't clear with it.

I sighed, tapping my pencil against the page. Maths was a drag. Boring classes. Boring, boring, boring.

Gracie leant toward me. "Casey says the answer is forty-five divided by two, which is twenty-two point five," she whispered, and I gave both friends a grateful nod.

I was staring out the window. You could see the playground from up here, and to another window in the building across, though still part of the school.

A few people were walking through that other building, and I recognised one of them as Brie.

She was talking to a friend who hadn't seen me yet. 

But Brie had.
Maintaining direct eye contact, she lifted her hand and slid her index finger across her throat.

Just how far can jealousy take someone?