August 30th, 2017

Grant and "Takei," the girl who was late to Mr. Whitman's class, laxly walked in, one after the other. Grant wore a brown bushy beard and was carrying the bag loaded with board games. The girl threw the bag of condoms on the closest empty table, and jumped onto Ms. Parker's seat, while smacking her bubblegum all the while.

Grant took his spot at the head of the class as girls and boys glanced appreciatively at the shiny foil packets strewn all over the desk.

He started in a deeper voice than usual, "It has come to my attention that a substitute is required for this class, due to an unfortunate incident Ms. Parker had earlier today," he snickered. "As your new substitute, you will address me as Mr. Blackwell, and, since this is a free period, I've brought games and other," he smirked, "catalysts, for a pleasurable time. Please see to it that all of you are quiet since I don't like being disturbed, and don't worry - all cameras have been deactivated, Scout's honor," he said while placing his right hand over his heart and raising three fingers on his left hand high enough for everyone to see.

Grant was the first one to go by the "condom desk," and swipe a few for himself. He started towards Jayden's desk but backtracked to grab the board game Mancala from the game bag he brought with him. Soon, people started to follow his lead. While most people brought out their phones and earplugs, a few pairs got a couple of condoms, wrote themselves bathroom passes, forged signatures on them and left. Others got up to get board games, and a few people put down their phones to join them.

Meanwhile, a hushed conversation had started up between Grant and Jayden.

"What do you mean she fainted? She walked in again!" exclaimed Jayden.

"By the time we got down to the field, I went ahead of her and back heeled a soccer ball straight to her forehead, enough for her to be knocked unconscious for a while. Kiko hosed her down in the meantime, and dude, legit, I thought we were dead for sure when she started hosing her down."

"Obviously, were you high? Water is the best way to wake an unconscious person, dumbass," berated Jayden as he shook his head.

"Yeah, well we were lucky, Kiko shooed me away in the nick of time, she started getting up right as Kiko stopped with the water and I was behind the bleachers."

"You know, faculty will catch up with us one day."

"Isn't your mom the front desk lady? Can't we just ask her to cover for us?"

Jayden sighed and put his head in his hands. "Do you want her to kill me and become unemployed?"

"Worth a shot," Grant muttered under his breath.

Jayden gave him a sideways look. Then two things happened at once: Grant caught Anna staring at him, while the girl with the red eyeshadow materialized behind Jayden and Grant. Grant was about to say something, but the girl stopped him by putting a hand on his shoulder.

Both boys jumped in their seats, and the girl started to guffaw, and wiped a fake tear after they recovered.

"If only people knew what wimps you two are," she jested, lightly punching the back of Grant and Jayden's shoulders.

"You know what Kiko, screw you," muttered Grant.

Kiko also caught Anna observing their exchange, and she placed her palm in front of her face, spit the pink wad of gum into her hand, and held it out for Anna to shake. Anna visibly recoiled, her mouth twisted in disgust, while Jayden and Grant broke out into laughter, occasionally gasping for breath.

Kiko grinned, and in one swift motion tossed it back into her mouth.

"I was just messing with you, don't worry," she grinned. "What's your name?" She inquired curiously.

"Umm, Anna."

"Anna...?"

"–Varghese."

"Nice, I'm Kiko Takei, and these idiots are Jayden Hakeem and Grant Blackwell."

"We've already met," spoke up Jayden.

Anna nodded her head in agreement, and Kiko's smile got wider.

"Oh, ho, ho, how did this happen, did you meet him in bed or...?"

Jayden was as horrified as Anna was confused.

"Umm excu–," said Anna.

"What she meant to say was did you meet me at a party and no, you know I don't do parties," he said vehemently, glaring at a giggling Kiko.

"Don't get you panties in a twist," snorted Kiko in response, wiping a fake tear.

"There's condoms on the desk over there you know, me and... Anna, was it? can't breathe over the sexual tension between you two," Grant joked.

Jayden and Kiko moved to punch him, and Grant let out an "oomph" in response, dramatically massaging the places he got hit. Kiko then shoved Grant out of his seat and took his place while sliding the wooden mancala board out of its worn cardboard cover. She shoved her hand into the box and retrieved a velvet pouch filled with marble pebbles that she dumped onto the glossy playing board.

Grant slid into the seat next to Anna, and said a quick "howdy, partner" when Anna glanced over at him. She looked back at the board, blushing as she did, while the tips of her ears vibrated in embarrassment.

Are you serious, Anna mentally rebuked herself.

Kiko started explaining the game, as everyone listened intently.

"–and you move the marbles into the larger hole on the side. The person with the most marbles wins," finished Kiko triumphantly.

After her explanation, Jayden and Kiko ganged up on Grant and Anna, two experts versus two novices, although Anna found herself enjoying and relaxing with her newfound friends.

Soon the bell rang, and it was time for her to leave her client, and Informant #2.

Informant #1, Jayden, was walking beside her, texting someone on his phone.

Once he was done, he looked up and bestowed upon her a brilliant smile.

"So how do you like my friends?"

Eccentric. Handsome. Anna, PLEASE calm your raging hormones.

– XOXO Your Brain's Frontal Lobe

(A/N: For those of you who don't get it, the frontal lobe of your brain is where most of your planning and decision-making take place;)

"They seem nice."

"That sounded very... strained," Jayden said with a raised eyebrow.

"No, I'm serious. I mean aside from the gum incident with Kiko," Jayden started chuckling, "and Grant's, I don't know, he just seems weird, you know? Like..."

Jayden was, undoubtedly, head-over-heels, laughing at Anna.

"You know, I saw you blushing every time you looked at him, you realize? You're such an easy blusher," Jayden said, catching his breath.

Anna frowned at him, blushed, and proceeded to give him the silent treatment until they got to their respective locker rooms (separated by gender).

Once they were there, Anna was greeted by the stench of sweat pervading her nose, and a view of half-naked female bodies rushing to change into their bland gray tops and blue bottoms that every student was required to purchase beforehand.

Anna looked for her name on the post-it notes stuck on the blue, chipped paint of every locker. The lockers were arranged by last name, and as she slid into the T-, U-, and V- aisle, Anna heard a very, very familiar voice.

"Fuck off Malia, no one asked for your damn opinion."

Anna had that voice ingrained her brain.

The one and only Kiko Takei was locker neighbors with her. Along with someone named Malia.

"Does lover boy know you chew nicotine gum? Isn't that awkward, like, has he ever asked you for gum, and you were all like," a high-pitched falsetto voice seared through Anna's ears, "I'm sorry, I smoke and I can't seem to get rid of the habit," she mocked, breaking into laughter by the end of her statement.

Kiko was clenching and unclenching her fists, and Anna knew she had to step in before things got physical.

"I don't know who you are, but the fact that you're teasing someone about trying to quit a bad habit reflects terrible on you, not Kiko."

Malia, a girl of average height with curly, mouse-brown hair slit her eyes and looked back and forth between Kiko and Anna. Anna took a quick peek at Kiko to see how she was doing, only to see her looking right back at her with shock written all over her face.

Malia cleared her throat, and was about to say something, until she was cut off by a hijabi girl, "You heard her, now back off. I would never cast you in a movie, like forreal. Clearly you don't understand the themes surrounding certain scenes, like right now. You're in a high school setting with two girls ganging up on you. Most people would, understandably, retreat from the scene, but you're doing the exact opposite. You should've-"

"Tamrazi, shut up and let me hug you. I swear to God, you're the most amazing and annoying person I know."

The girl shot Kiko a goofy grin and instead turned around saying, "I'm sorry, Bollywood calls," and she walked off with one last glance, a side of her lips turned upwards.

Kiko turned back towards Malia, shot her the middle finger, and turned to Anna and hugged her.

"I'm so glad you're in this period," Kiko whispered. Grasping Anna's shoulders, she continued in a louder voice, "I have to introduce you to Simran, you know, the dramatic girl who shut this one," she nodded to Malia, "down? You'll love her, I promise," Kiko ended with a happy squeal.

Anna just gave her a fake smile and continued to listen to Kiko yap away about people Anna had yet to meet at their school.

But Anna doubted she would stay long enough to meet them.

Remember, just get Grant and GO. That's all you're here for.