I've been at this school for one week and have already gotten seven rude nicknames, two wedgies, and been shoved into my locker. J-Dee and Remus assure me it's only bad for the first month or so, then people get bored and move on to new victims. 

I get shoved into my locker again before class starts. My locker is right in 'popular territory', where all the bullies hang out. Including the Light Sides.

Remus walks up to me, helping me out of my locker. This is the second time he's done this, and definitely not the last. I mumble a thank you.

"So which guy was that one?" I ask.

"Kam Collins, quarterback. Funnily enough, he is the smartest guy on the football team," He says.

"Great, let me know if he's gay for the linebacker," I say.

"You know, he probably is," Remus says, "I've seen the way they tackle,"

I snort.

"And here comes the Light Sides," I say, waving jazz hands sarcastically.

"They float above it all. I haven't seen Roman shoved in a locker since 4th grade," Remus says.

"You guys had lockers in 4th grade?" I ask.

"Yeah. Really sucky ones we never used,"

"Ah,"

"So did you bring the hair dye?" He asks.

I nod, pulling out three bottles.

"I figured I should touch up mine as well,"

"Cool!"

---

After I show J-Dee and Remus how to dye their hair, they leave as I pack up. I start to sweat nervously when the Light Sides enter.

"Don't be fooled by the grin~"

"He is not playing dolls~"

"He is stalking the halls, for the thrill of the kill~"

That song flashes through my head. Remus and J-Dee sang it earlier, describing Roman. 

"Good, no one's here," Patton says after a minute.

Uh, rude. Then I realize I'm around the corner by the sinks where they can't see me. I dive behind the trash bin so I can listen in on their conversation.

"So how about that new kid?" Patton asks.

Me. They're talking about me. Great, I've been noticed.

"Do either of you know him?" Roman asks.

"I do not. But I've gathered that he is an introvert, has anxiety, moved here 10 days ago, and sits with the Dark Sides," Logan says, "Although he doesn't talk with them. I think he moved here from Oregon, as he has that, as you put it, vibe,"

How does he know that already? I haven't told anyone, not even J-Dee and Remus. And I did move here from Oregon. That kid is freaky.

"Hm. Patton, what do you think of him?" Roman asks.

"He looks friendly enough. Good looks, too. Symmetrical face, decent hair, and a good complexion," Patton says.

Ok, I am getting pretty weirded out now. I wish I could make a run for it, but I can't. I just have to wait it out until they leave.

"Maybe we should let him sit with us. He might have some dirt on the Darks already," Roman says, "Logan, would that be wise?"

"I believe it would be good to gain his trust as soon as possible, however, that will be hard, as the Darks will have most definitely told him falsehoods about us,"

"But I think this is the right thing to do. That person has decent looks, probably a lot of potential. And I do kinda want to know what the Darks are saying about us," Patton says.

"So it's agreed," Roman says, "Alright let's head to class,"

They leave the bathroom and I let out a sigh of relief. I emerge from behind the garbage bin, grab my stuff, and speedwalk to my next class. Right before lunch, I had packed my afternoon class materials in my bag so I didn't have to stop at my locker. It's become a habit to do so, even when I need to stop at my locker.

I make it to my next class, math, just before the bell rings. I let out a small sigh of relief. 

I take a seat in the back of the class. Remus and J-Dee have assigned seats away from each other because the teachers here go nuts over talking. Not that it really affects me, I don't talk with anyone but them. I don't actually know if anyone else here has heard my voice. 

As I go to sit down, I feel everyone staring at me. It makes me uncomfortable. Was there something wrong with my hair? Was I walking too confidently? Did everyone see me get shoved into my locker earlier? There are way too many possibilities.

I slouch down a little more as I sit, chin resting on my arms. The teacher walks in and begins the lesson. I like math because it's predictable. You know what will happen when you put the numbers together. Science is the opposite, and Language Arts is all about being judged. So math wins as my favorite class, if only because it's not as bad as the others.

---

The next day, just as I'm about to go to sit down with Remus and J-Dee, the Lights Sides stop me. Patton approaches me.

"Hey! We never really do this, but how'd you like to have lunch with us this week?" He says in a sing-song voice.

Is it just like, a thing at this school to randomly sing parts of musicals? Or am I just going insane? Or is this just the Midwest?

"No, no need for you to thank us, there's no need to even speak!" He continues.

The Logan steps in.

"You're new and you don't know things, you need good friends who can tell you what to think. See you here same time tomorrow," He says, in a more monotone song way.

I shake my head.

"That wasn't a question," He says.

I gulp. I really have no choice. Patton grabs me by the wrist and pulls me over to their table.

My heart is pounding and I chew on my lip as they sit me down at their table. I shoot a nervous glance at Remus and J-Dee, who are both frowning a little bit. I really hope I didn't just lose my only friends.

"So you're the new kid," Roman says, "I'm Roman. This is Patton and Logan. Welcome to North Sky,"

He gives me what I think is supposed to be a charming smile. I immediately get gay vibes off him. I briefly wonder if he flirts with people like Remus does.

"So what is your name?" Logan asks.

I have no real choice but to speak. 

"Uh- Anx. My name is Anx," I say.

"That is a strange name. Where does it originate?" Logan asks.

I shrug. It originated at a lunch table. 

They all start talking, telling me about the school and the people there. I guess everyone agrees the kids on the football team are jerks because they tell me about how annoying Kam Collins is sometimes. It's a little pathetic, hearing about how 'rough' their lives are. As if they actually suffer. They're at the top here, this is just a play for sympathy.

"And those are the Dark Sides. You should avoid them," Roman says.

"They enjoy spreading misfortune around this school. They are some of, if not the, most popular kids here. They can convince anyone to do anything," Logan warns.

Yeah right. But I go along with what they're saying, pretending I'm not seeing through their lies. I force myself to talk with them, second-guessing every word I say.

After lunch, I feel my heart beating like I just ran a marathon. I never want to do that again. I open up my locker to put some things away and just sink to the floor. A million thoughts and doubts rushing through my head.

Hi. I don't know what to write here. So yeah, I hope you enjoyed reading, feel free to leave any thoughts or feedback in the comments, and have a great day/night you magnificent peep!