nari put her hood up and shoved her hands into her pockets as she walked back to class. lunch time was beginning so she went in to grab her books.

she opened the door to the classroom, grabbing the attention of her teacher who had been typing away at his computer. she avoided eye contact but he watched as she walked to her desk and picked up her books. he didn't have to say it, but it was obvious she was his least favorite student. that can go for all of her teachers as well.

the girl fought the urge to roll her eyes at him staring her down annoyingly as she walked out of the classroom, not caring that the door behind her completely slammed shut.

nari did not have friends at this school. she believed everyone was exactly the same. snobby attitudes and rich parents. she could hear the whispers and the looks from people as she walked down the hall, as every single day consisted of.

the girl kept her head down as she went to her locker, opening it.

"hey, you," a voice said. once she finished placing her books inside, she slammed the door shut and became face to face with the boy she'd just met.

"may i help you?" she asked as a smirk spread across his face.

"it's fate that we meet again," he joked, crossing his arms and leaning his body against the locker next to hers.

nari furrowed her eyebrows, "we coincidentally have the same lunch, weirdo."

"coincidence is just another word for fate. you're eating with me and my friends, come on."

nari had no time to protest when he grabbed onto her wrist and pulled her down the halls. now people were really staring. one of the popular boys dragging around a random outcast, quite the sight to see.

nari pulled her dark hair from behind her ears at a lame attempt to cover up her face from the attention, and the boy was quick to notice.

"you can all turn your asses around, and mind your business! for once in your lives!" he announced. the halls went silent, and everyone slowly went back to walking to class or having their own conversations.

nari wanted to crawl up in a hole forever.

"what?" he asked, seeing her annoyed expression, "i took care of it."

the girl glared at him and continued walking to the lunchroom.

"so," the boy started, "how come i've never heard of you before? you got a dark past, or what? oh! i just realized i never introduced myself, i'm na jaemin, by the way."

nari stayed silent for a few seconds before letting out a snicker, "no shit. everyone knows who you are. don't be so humble." she picked up a tray and handed it to jaemin, then picking up one for herself.

"wrong, everyone knows my name. not me. two different things."

she hummed in response and picked up food for herself, placing it on her tray.

"do you usually sit with anyone at lunch?"

"you ask so many questions."

"can you blame me? i've literally never heard of you up until just minutes ago."

"haven't you heard the expression, 'curiosity killed the cat'?"

jaemin dropped his tray at the table with utensils, licking his lips and staring the girl down. "stop trying to be mysterious. answer the question."

nari rolled her eyes playfully, "i don't sit with anyone. i have no friends." the girls voice went low as jaemin lowered his head, regretting asking such a question.

"you do now. four more." he grinned.

"what makes you think i want to be your friend?" nari asked, turning her body fully towards him with her arms crossed.

"if you didn't, why are you still talking to me?" jaemin leaned in to her a bit as he spoke, a cocky little grin plastered onto his pretty face before he picked up both of their trays and began walking the other way.

"hey boys! hyuck, release renjun, we have a guest." he had strutted right up to a table of three boys. two of them, which nari assumed was hyuck and renjun, one had his arm wrapped around the others in a headlock, and the third boy sitting there peacefully on his phone.

at the sound of his voice, all three of them turned to him and upon seeing the girl trailing behind, they stopped what they were doing.

"i'm so hot, they're speechless," nari joked, desperately trying to lift the awkwardness floating throughout their small circle of a friend group.

jaemin smiled at her attempt, "guys, this is nari. she's apart of us now whether you like it or not."

one of the boys leaned his arms on the table and looked at the girl, "i didn't know we were inviting random people to chill with us. i'm donghyuck, nice to meet you nari."

"sit down, don't stand there like a weirdo." jaemin insisted as he tugged on her sleeve to invite her to sit.

"this is renjun and jeno, by the way."

"cool." nari replied, not knowing what else to say.

"so, what class are you in? how come we've never met before?" donghyuck asked as he leaned his cheek into the palm of his hand, focusing his attention on her.

"201. i'm just a loner, i don't know. plus you guys are pretty popular and known for only hanging out with each other, so it's no surprise we haven't met before."

"that's because everyone here sucks," jeno mumbled while his face was still stuck in his phone.

nari nodded, "i second that."

"on that note, lets go to the mall after school." donghyuck suggested.

"sure, after nari and i finish our detention."

"shit, thats what you got called to the principals office for?" renjun groaned.

"yep! its gonna be a fun two hours sitting in silence in an empty classroom," jaemin scoffed, shoving his spoon into the pile of rice on his tray.

"hey, that rice did nothing to you," nari said, nudging his shoulder. jaemin chuckled and decided he wasn't hungry enough to eat school.

"nari, how'd you end up in detention?" renjun asked the girl.

"a girl was being annoying so i punched her." she replied nonchalantly, as if it was no big deal, because to her, it wasn't. she found it unfair that her school thought she'd allow people to bully her and not stand up for herself.

jeno let out a snort at her lax tone, "why do you sound so calm? do you just go around punching people?"

nari shrugged. "if deserved... yes."

"and thats exactly why she fits in perfectly with us," jaemin beamed, placing his hand on her shoulder and lightly shaking her.

"pretty badass if you ask me." donghyuck joined, renjun nodding in agreement.

"i'm glad you think so, but i'm really not proud of it. it's annoying having to constantly defend myself when i literally do nothing wrong."

"don't worry, because now that you're hanging out with us, no one will bother you."

nari nodded and hummed, looking around at the girls staring and whispering. there was no doubt they were gossiping about her. these boys were popular for being good looking, but known for it only being the four of them, so of course gossip was bound to be spread when they start hanging out with a nobody.

the five of them kept talking amongst themselves until the bell rang, signaling it was time to go back to class. they all went their seperate ways and nari didn't see them until the end of the day because she didn't have any classes with them.

"ready for detention?" the sound of a voice startled her as she closed her locker and saw jaemin standing there, the same way he'd greeted her before lunch.

the girl hurled her backpack straps over her shoulder, "stop doing that."

"no thanks. lets go." the boy slung his arm over her shoulder comfortably as they walked to the room for detention. at the intense stares, even pointing, nari shrugged his arm off to avoid unwanted rumors floating around.

the pair found their principle standing outside the classroom door, arms crossed waiting for them to arrive.

"would you look at that? you two actually came? who knew the biggest trouble makers could influence each other to show up to detention," the man laughed to himself but the two students stayed silent, unimpressed with the jokes.

he opened the door and allowed the two to enter before walking in himself.

"okay, so i don't expect you to sit here in complete silence for two straight hours, but do not leave your seats. i don't care if you have to use the bathroom. you sit here until i come back to let you leave. got it?" the principle said sternly, pointing a finger at them.

they both nodded and he left the room, shutting and locking the door behind him.

"why the fuck did he say, "don't leave the room," if he was just gonna lock it himself?" nari argued, letting her hands fall to her sides.

jaemin snickered, "thats why." nari looked over at him, confused, but to her surprise seeing three of the boys she sat at lunch with standing at the window, happily waving.

"oh fuck no," nari laughed, covering her mouth in shock.

jaemin took one look at the door to make sure their principle was gone completely, before grabbing his bag and heading to the window. a couple locks and clicks were heard and then the window was wide open.

just as he was about to hop outside, he turned to nari, "you coming?"