Hunk eyed me as I walked into my English class. I headed straight up to the desk where my teacher was sitting, marking some work. "I'm really sorry for being late," I muttered, earning a thin eyed glare from him. "I was speaking to my geography teacher."

"Take a worksheet and sit down." I nodded, taking a piece of paper from his desk and turning around to face the class. I sat down at my desk near the back and beside Hunk but I knew I wasn't going to get much work done. My mind was elsewhere, in a whole different world. I got as far as writing my name before I turned to stare at the wall.

I could feel Hunk's gaze burning into the side of my head but I ignored it. My right hand was drumming a tiny beat against the table whilst my head was whirring. I couldn't stop trying to imagine the things my parents were going to say to me when they realised I was even more fucked up than they first thought.

-

RedLion2000: Hey, you alright?

Sharpshooter01: I've been better, you?

RedLion2000: I'm okay. What are you up to?

Sharpshooter01: Looking after my siblings

RedLion2000: Sounds like fun... I'm just watching TV and doing my physics homework

Sharpshooter01: Nice

Sharpshooter01: fhrhrohfnaesiye

RedLion2000: ??

Sharpshooter01: Sorry my sister took my phone -.-

RedLion2000: Hi Sharpshooter's sister!! What's your name?

Sharpshooter01: Her name is Veronica and she's the most annoying person on the planet

Sharpshooter01: Ugh and my brother keeps asking me if I'm texting my girlfriend

RedLion2000: Aw... you have a girlfriend?

Sharpshooter01: No and he knows that :/

RedLion2000: What's your brother's name?

Sharpshooter01: Marco. Do you have any siblings?

RedLion2000: No... I don't have any family really

Sharpshooter01: You don't? What are your parents like?

RedLion2000: My mum walked out on me when I was seven and my dad died

Sharpshooter01: Gosh... I'm so sorry

Sharpshooter01: I can't imagine not having parents. Even if mine are the worst

RedLion2000: It's okay. That was a long time ago. I'm living with a foster family now and they're pretty cool. I guess that technically means I have a brother

Sharpshooter01: What's his name?

RedLion2000: Shiro

Sharpshooter01: That's a cool name

RedLion2000: I guess haha

Sharpshooter01: I just realised I don't know your name?

RedLion2000: You can call me Red

Sharpshooter01: I'm Lance :D

Sharpshooter01: I should probably go cook dinner before me and my siblings starve to death so talk later?

RedLion2000: Of course ^-^ Enjoy!

-

I glanced at the envelope sitting on the table with my school logo in the top corner and felt like I was going to puke. It had been torn open by presumably one of my parents but the paper was still inside. I pulled it out with quivering hands and knew I was going to get in a lot of trouble.

I was below my target in every single one of my subjects and my highest grade was an F. I turned around and my parents were standing in the doorway, doing the typical 'angry parent' stance: folded arms, stern expression. "Lance, how is it even possible to fail everything? What do you do? Sit in class for no reason?" My dad said. I knew the only reason he wasn't raising his voice and screaming at the top of his lungs was because Luis, Veronica and Marco were upstairs.

"I do try. I just- I struggle to concentrate..." I admitted in a small whisper.

My dad let out a loud laugh with his head thrown back. It was very clearly forced and harsh. I felt as tiny as an ant as he stood as tall as a skyscraper above me. "You're such a failure. Why do you even bother?"

'Just you wait,' I wanted to say. 'It gets even worse. I might have ADHD too.' I kept my anger at bay and, instead, murmured, "Just shut up..."

"What did you just say to me?"

"I said shut up," There was no holding back once the floodgates had opened up. "I know I'm a failure; you don't need to remind me! I try so hard but my results are always terrible. I'm your stupidest kid and Veronica's five. I get it. You hate me!"

"Honey, we don't hate you. We just want what's best for you." My mum stepped forward and placed a hand on my shoulder. I shook it off, ignoring her furrowed eyebrows. I definitely received the message from them: good grades held more importance than anything else.

"I need to be alone." I didn't care if I was being rude and overreacting because I really did need to be alone. I needed to think.

-

Sharpshooter01: Fuck school. Let's drop out and move to Antarctica and live with the penguins

RedLion2000: You alright?

Sharpshooter01: I got my report

Sharpshooter01: I failed EVERYTHING

RedLion2000: Oof... everything?

Sharpshooter01: I'm a failure haha. Anyways, how are you?

RedLion2000: I'm good. I got my report card too

Sharpshooter01: Let me guess... As across the board?

RedLion2000: ...maybe

Sharpshooter01: I can see you being a goodie two shoes

RedLion2000: I mean... I study a lot and don't talk in class

Sharpshooter01: Goodie two shoes

RedLion2000: Are you quiet?

Sharpshooter01: Hell no

Sharpshooter01: In no situation am I quiet ;)

RedLion2000: Why did you use a winky face

RedLion2000: Oh

RedLion2000: You disgusting boi

Sharpshooter01: I'm sure you love it really

RedLion2000: I'm a quiet person...

Sharpshooter01: I bet I could make you loud ;)

RedLion2000: SHARPSHOOTER NO

Sharpshooter01: SHARPSHOOTER YES

RedLion2000: Bye

Sharpshooter01: Oh you love it really

RedLion2000: Maybe I do...

I don't know how but that boy just made me smile.

I dropped my phone down beside me and laid my head against my pillow. I closed my eyes and could almost forget about the conversation I had had with my parents.