ʚĭɞ

DAD HASN'T SPOKEN TO ME AT ALL, not even a glance. Primrose was the one who noticed everything and helped me get through it and those boys didn't seem to mind him not talking or looking at me, no actually they enjoyed it. I get it now, they hate me and I hate them, so it's best if we just stayed away from each other, yes, I know that we won't be able to do that inside of the house, but we'll do it outside.

Right now, I was sitting with Primrose staring outside of the car window towards the school. There was so many people outside it made me nervous, I'm not exactly a people person, but I'm happy I'll get the chance to study again. I will admit that I didn't think this was a good idea since what happened at my last school, but then I knew that this could be different, it could be good.

"Okay, sweetie, you just have to go to the office to get your schedule and I'm sure someone will be there to show you around." She explains to me as I get out the car, she passed me my bag and smiles, "have a good day, remember if you need anything just phone or find one of your brothers."

"I will, thanks, Prim." Giving a tight-lipped smile to the woman and watched her drive away to her work.

Could that have been more awkward, she was acting like my mum when I first started school.

I take in my new surroundings and watched as people talked and laughed, or either hugging each other and walking inside, the school didn't feel intimidating, but I couldn't let my guard down just yet. I walked forward as I heard the ring of the bell, and went inside with the crowd. I walked to the office and stood outside at the window, an elderly woman walked over and smiles. "Good morning, you must be the new student Jayden Lynch."

"Yeah, I am." This was so awkward, my last school's teachers were horrible, they didn't act all nice like this...maybe I was overthinking everything.

"Well, dearie, this is your schedule and this here is Marlene." She hands me the sheets and then motions her hand over to a red-haired girl who had a boyish cut, she didn't dress like a girl. Wait, no, that sounds so wrong, what I meant was all the girls I've seen wore preppy skirts that are far too short for themselves, to try seek attention from the boys. But this girl was different and I loved her style.

"She'll take you where you need to go." The elder said walking back over to her desk.

"Actually, I'm they/them not she/her." Marlene mumbles sourly. "C'mon then, kid."

I walk besides them as they shows me the locker room, "so, what's your name?" They asks me.

"Jayden." Marlene smiles.

"Pronouns?"

"I'm he/him/they." I say, "you can call me anything, I don't mind, I like to dress feminine, but then I don't, so, anything's fine."

I always feel the need to explain myself. It's a habit I guess.

"Cool, Marlene, Marlene Maxwell." They offer their hand, I shook it.

"Jayden Lynch."

"Welcome to the group, I'll introduce you and Arlo at break." Marlene says while grabbing their phone, they must be texting the guy, they mentioned.

"C'mon then, let's get you to class, you have double English with me." The bell for homeroom echoed through the school and soon the halls became mobbed. I held onto Marlene who's grip tightened on my sleeve, they brought me to a classroom on the first floor and introduced me to the teacher.

"Mrs. K!" The woman looked over, "this is the new kid, Jayden Lynch."

"Ah, welcome Jayden, I'm Mrs. Kavinsky, I'll be your teacher for the rest of the semester." She's kind, she handed me some things I was going to need for this class along with an empty folder, I thanked her and sat next to Marlene who was practically slapping the seat next to them.

I chuckle lightly and sat down next to them placing my bag down under the table next to my chair, I watched as people filed in and stares at the both of us, but the look of confusion crossed their faces as the looked at me.

"Ignore them," Marlene whispers, "they're not a fan of me and are probably wondering why you're sitting next to me." They explain, how could no one like them? They are literally a great person. Oh god, I'm trusting to easily again...I can't let my guard down, we've only just met.

"Today we have a new student, everyone meet Jayden Lynch, remember to be kind and welcoming him, if he needs anything you help him, okay." Mrs. Kavinsky says loud and clear, the class nods.

Everyone in the class was different, they had their own style, but to the right corner at the back of the room seemed to be some rugby players with some of their girls, can you guess what they wore? I'll tell you, their small preppy skirts, they could be cheerleaders, but hey, they were not my people. Some bad memories come to me when I stare at them, I shook my head and took out my jotters and put some of the stuff into the folder.

Mrs. Kavinsky had us doing a poem that we had to write conclusions for. Marlene practically copied my answers onto their own book and had tried to make me laugh throughout the whole class, they almost got me a few times, but I'd glare at them and they'd stare back as if they had not done anything.

my step-brothers don't do love

After the double English class break came around the corner, Marlene waited on me to pack my things. They led me away from the classroom and outside, the cold breeze hit my face as they led me further away from the school to a wooded area that had fallen trees. That is when we both met face - to - face with a boy who was smoking a cigarette.

"Arlo, this is Jayden." They called out to the boy who turned around.

"Oh, you're the boy we saw the other day at the park." Ah, now I remember where I had seen these two, they were so familiar, but I couldn't place my finger on it.

"I'm Arlo, Arlo Greene." He offers his hand to me, I took the hand and gave it a shake, "Jayden Lynch."

"Well, Jay, come sit with us." He says offering a log to sit on as they both smoked.

"Would you like a smoke?" Marlene offers, I shook my head, declining, I'd probably have one later on, just not today on my first day here, I have to be aware and not let my walls down.

"Anything new, Arlo?" Asked Marlene, Arlo gripped his cigarette and growled.

"I'm really starting to hate the Mills brothers, especially Weasley, they think they're everything, honestly." The boy next to be said tsking.

"Oh, that's right, Jayden, you don't know." Marlene said sitting up straight, "Wesley and Carson Mills are the popular guys of the school, Carson's on the rugby team while Wesley is more into art." I froze at the names.

"You already know them don't you? Have they said anything nasty, do we need to fight them?" Arlo says chucking his cigarette.

"It's more complicated than that..." I trail off, this is it, I'm going to loose the two people who have offered me nothing but kindness. Though it's better to do it now that waiting later on.

"They're my step-brothers."

• • •
Edited.
Make a stupid nickname up
for the brothers!

Also, I'm new to making characters with pronouns so this is basically my first book!
I wanted to honour my friends in real life, so
If there's any pronouns mistakes I'll definitely fix!

Thanks for reading <3
Vote, comment & follow!