That boy, the one sitting the office when I walked in... he was smoking. Literally. His arm was on fire and he was just casually sitting there. Yes, the hunk is who I'm talking about. And that hunk...

Wasn't a hunk at all. He was the ugliest kid I've ever seen in my life (clearly not true since he lives in Eternalia). And his name was Audric. That's right, the nice jerk from Dex and I's five a.m. stroll.

He looked embarrassed as I strolled past Zombina and sat down in the chair next to him, my head held high. Nothing could scare me. Not the idea of getting suspended, not Exillium. Not Zombina locking the doo-wait. Why is she locking the door?! Code red! Code red! I can practically hear the sirens going off.

"Miss Forest, so glad you could join Mr. Shoestring and me."

"Shuester." He muttered while crossing his arms against his chest. The zombie pretended not to hear him while turning around.

"Now, why don't you tell us why you're here?" Zombina sat on her desk and propped her chin on her hands.

"I blew up the alchemy experiment. Lady Galvin left her mouth open. I think you can put the rest together." Audric snickered. I could tell it wasn't at me, I've gotten good at knowing when people are laughing at me or not. He was laughing at the fact that I was able to 'prank' the teacher. Plus he was a pretty nice guy from what I could tell of the other morning

"Did you blow it up on purpose?"

"Nope, I suck at alchemy. And she didn't stop me from putting in the wrong chemicals so I blame bad teaching. I say you fire her. If she can't stop her students from making maybe fatal mistakes, what type of a teacher is she?"

The two stared at me wide-eyed. Audric smirked, obviously agreeing with my pitch. And so did Zombina.

"I'll be sure to fire her right away, thank you for your feedback. You're now my favorite student." I winced. Did she really think I wanted to be the principal's favorite student? That's more of a death sentence than stubbing my toe!

"Now, Mr. Shoestring, why don't you share with Miss Forest why you're here?" He sighed and sat up straighter. This has got to be a good story.

I gasped at every surprising detail, shook my head in disbelief, laughing at every funny moment. It definitely was a good story. I'm so glad that I blew up the experiment otherwise I wouldn't have heard the masterpiece that got Audric suspended.

By the time he finished his story, it was past seven, plus everything that went into suspending him after that., I got home at midnight. Yeah... turns out the school has this entire council and any eye witnesses of an event that could get someone suspended/expelled/in detention had to be there for the meeting. So, I was there even though I only heard the story. And this council, they can never agree on anything, hence the five extra hours.

When I finally made it home, I collapsed on my bed, not willing to get out of my uniform. Until the vest got itchy. Then I changed into a pair of Dex's My Little Pony pjs that I stole because I like oversized shirts.

Just as my dreams were about to be filled with sparkly Pegasi and Unicorn-i (that's definitely not how it's spelled but who cares? I'm famous, it's spelled how I spell it.),  I was yanked out of my bed and onto the soft, carpeted ground. A dark figure lurked over me and my self defense skills kicked in. 

I swiped my leg under his, successfully knocking him to the ground. I then grabbed an empty vintage Coke-Cola bottle (that appeared out of nowhere for the sake of plot) and hit it against my nightstand, breaking off part of the bottom. I held it over my head, ready to attack the attacker. Until I saw pjs that matched mine.

"Ugh, what do you want Dex?" I groaned as I stood up and sat back down on my bed, getting under the covers and stuffing my face in the pillow.

"I want my pjs back before you fart in them." I gave him a look of disbelief before turning around.

"Oh please, that would be you. Girls don't fart, remember that."

"Yes they do! You fart in your sleep all the time! I can hear you through the walls!!!" I blushed, my face hidden by the darkness of the room. I needed to think of a lie, and quick.

"That's Iggy."

"What's an Iggy?"

"My rat you doofus!"

"You don't have a rat!!!!"

"Yes I do!"

"No you don't!"

"Yes I do!"

"No you don't!"

"Yes I do!"

"Yes you do!"

"No I don't- wait. No! Oh my  lord you are so annoying!!!!"

I stood up out of bed and whistled softly. My little furry rat came tumbling out of my closet with a lot of makeup and sweaters on.

"Oh my cheese and crackers Iggy, how many times do I have to tell you that you're not going to be a makeup artist!" He squeaked and sat in front of me, waiting to be picked up. 

"Soph."

"Iggy, you talked! You can talk!" I laughed and spun him around. He squeaked again and lifted his head into the air like the little drama queen he is.

"Sophie, rats can't talk. Or put on makeup. I said your name. And your rat didn't get into your makeup."

"Yes he did. He can talk, just like leprechauns, and he can do makeup, just like James Charles."

"Sophie. Leprechauns and James Charles don't exist, just like how rats can't talk or do makeup."

"God, just go. Leave." He climbed out the window and jumped to his own. "AND DON'T YOU DARE TRY AND CRUSH MY BABY'S DREAMS AGAIN!"

As soon as my window was closed and locked, I walked over to where the Igg-master was laying on my bed.

"It's okay my fur baby, he's gone now. You can tell me all about your awesome day." As he talked to me and told me, I listened like the good rat mom I am.

The next day was exactly the same. Seeing Wylie in two of my classes, Jensi in all of them. In History, we got this stupid project where we have to make eight comic frames for some moment in history. This is history class, not art. Oh, how I will miss my dear 100%. Oh well, it was bound to drop soon.

At lunch, I walked past Dex who was going back to class. He was hanging out a laughing with a big group of people. I couldn't help but feel jealous. He was always more popular than me when people didn't see him as a nerd, better at making friends than me. While I only made two friends, he already had an entire fan club claiming he needs more page time. He does. He really does.

As I walked past, he didn't even notice me. I knew it was only a matter of time. Everyone eventually gets sick of me. I just thought...

Enough of this depresso espresso stuff! I saw Wylie waiting at our lunch table and ran over to him.

"Hey, what's up?"

"Nothing much, you?"

"Nothing. English is so boring I swear." He laughed in agreement.

"Hey, today's all school PE day. I get to be in you and Jensi's class."

"But... didn't we have PE yesterday?"

"We did, yes. The thing with this school, we have our schedules with PE and Health, but we don't really stick to them. Every last Tuesday of the month, we just skip all classes after lunch and have all school PE." Yeah no. That is so confusing. Kind of. But at least I'd get to see Dex! Maybe he could even introduce me to his friends. Or I'd be a third wheel again... nope! Not going down that path. I'm sure Dexy would include me in everything. He loves me. Or at least he used to... No joke, he wanted to kiss me when we first met. Imagine kissing your cousin... haha, couldn't be me...

Lunch passed in a blur and I laughed and ate with my two new friends. Jensi wasn't that popular, hanging out with this group called the "Drooly Boys." They tried to hit on me, which who wouldn't? Yeah, I'm definitely not cocky.

Jensi ditched them because we were much cooler. And Wylie's father was arrested for illegal drug selling, leading his mom to... pass away not so long after. He didn't have many friends after that, plus the fact that he was adopted by the strictest teacher at Foxfire. Sir Tiergan, which I hope I never have to meet him. Even though he's Wylie's dad, he sounds like he acts like the king and queen.

The three of us became our own little group. Two Level Fives and a Level Seven. Foxfire has levels instead of grades. But the school has a built in college that you don't have to pay for if you attended in levels one through eight. Foxfire also starts later than the average school but they have this daycare system for ages three through twelve. Then level eight ends at age twenty-one. Yeah, this school really kinda sucks. If you can do math, Wylie is nineteen. He's old enough to drink in this country!

Wait... I'm gonna be old enough to drink before the new year! I'd also be old enough to go clubbing... I have so many plans!

For all school PE, we had to play this really weird game. It involved pickleball rackets, basketballs, jump ropes, and the ball pit of gaydom. They called it the ultimate splotching championship or whatever. 

I found Dex quickly on the sidelines, him and some of his new friends were on my team. I walked over and greeted the ugly guy.

"What's up skunk breath?"

"Nothing much fart face." 

"Any idea what's going on, pee drinker?"

"Not a clue you oversized clown nose." His friends looked back and forth between us like it was a tennis game as we hurled insult after strange insult at each other. The idiot seemed to realize this and quickly turned to his friends.

"Guys, this is my cousin, Sophie. Sophie, these are my new friends." Wow, not even telling me their names? That's low.

Just as I was about to reply, the coach blew the whistle. The game was starting.

Boom! Another chapter! And it's a long one, too! Hope you guys enjoyed it, be sure to comment and vote and I'm gonna go now. Bye!

Edit: edited as well. Also I changed Carter to Audric because I want Sophie and Carter to have a little feud thing and not be friends.

Avery, out —>

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