Multiple texts fill my phone, sending a bunch of notification sounds. Looking through, I realize they're from Arden and Easton, Luka's older brother. Frog, Luka's in trouble, ze came out to our parents and is now being hunted by our dad. Easton sent, I begin to panic. I knew zer parents were fucking assholes but this? I switch to Arden's text, reading it through in my mind. FROGGIE NUCLEAR IS IN TROUBLE!!!! Replying, I start typing. I know. Easton told me. Have you talked to Luka? While I wait for a reply, I switch contacts to Luka. Texting this: Luka, are you hurt, or anything? I wanted to add more, but my mind was spiraling, if Luka was hurt, if anything happened to zem.

Dizziness began, making it worse. Arden replied, I texted zem but he hasn't gotten back to me! Dropping the phone in front of me, my head spirals. It can't be. Luka's fine. Luka's fine. LUKA'S FINE. But what if e's not. What if he's hurt? Fuck. Fuck. Fuck! After a while my phone binks again, I snatch it up. It's from Luka! I'm fine.

Taking a few deep breaths, as I let the feeling of relief wash over me. Afterwards, I turn to our group chat, as all of us discuss what to do. In the end we decided to go to Arden's for a few. So I packed my things and walked up the stairs to confront my mom.

" Mom, I'm going to stay at Arden's for a few."

"What?! Where did this come from? And no you are not! You have school tomorrow."

" Mom, my friends need me! And I don't plan on skipping school. But I am going, whether you want me to or not. I'm going to be there for Luka."

" Why do you need to go?" She asks a lot calmer this time.

"Luka came out to zer parents and it didn't go well, so we're all gonna go to Ardens to support them. Since e probably can't go back to his home"

"Fine, get in the car." She sighs.

"Wait. What? You're gonna let me go?"

"On a few conditions." She states, and I nod in reply. "One, you message me in the morning and at night to tell me how it's going. Two, no skipping school. And three," she pauses. "Make sure Luka's ok."

"Of course mom." I reply, giving her a big hug. Hopping in the car, we drive to Arden's, me telling her the directions, like her own personal Google Maps. Once we get there. She gets out of the car and gives me one last goodbye.

"How did I get such an amazing kid?" She states, as she hugs me one last time. Usually, I would make some silly or sarcastic comment, but this time I stayed silent. Walking up the stairs to Ardens door, I knock. The door swings open, and I find my friend standing there smiling at me, and I smile back.

"Froggy! You're the first one!" He replies. They are one of the nicest person I know, though her clothing seemed to say otherwise.

" Ello." I reply, walking in. Leading me down stairs, Arden takes me to a room that I'm really familiar with, a basement living room with a large TV. Me and my friends have spent a great many days in this room. Plopping down on a couch, me and Arden talk for a while, till someone rings the doorbell, and Arden sprints upstairs. The fuck. Why are you sprinting? I think to myself as he comes back down with Feary. Sitting up, I walk to hir. It was nice to see em.

"It's nice to see you." I state giving em a hug.

"Same here." Sie replies, giving me a quick kiss on the cheek. Instantly, my face warms, as a red blush spreads across my face.

"Ok, get a room you two love birds."

"Oh fuck you Arden." I state in a sarcastic tone, and they snicker. We all sit down and continue talking. Me and Feary cuddling on the couch and Arden propped on the floor, sitting on a pillow. We're just chilling when a loud sound interrupts our talking.

"HEYOO. I'M HOME." Luka cries from up stairs.

"LUKA!" I shout.

"Nuclear's here!" Arden adds.

"SIBLING!!!" Feary states. We continue talking again, waiting for Luka to come down stairs. We get interrupted again though by Dylan who we didn't even hear come in.

"Nuclear? Why does it look like You jumped in a lake?" Dylan asked, appearing behind Luka. He took off his backpack, throwing a hoodie and pj pants at Luka. "You're gonna catch a cold." He states as Luka does some major shivering. Taking the clothing, Luka walks to the bathroom to get changed.

Dylan plopped down his backpack and sat down on the floor. After a minute, without any democracy, Arden turned on single all the way. A movie they liked, and so did we. Devil comes down last, we all give it a silent wave.

"Hey does anyone know how to treat cuts?" Luka asks, returning to the living room. Turning to face him. Some of us begin to ask what happened, but before we do, Luka states. " It's a long story. I don't really want to relive it in my mind right now. I can explain it tomorrow, but for now, I kinda just want to have a normal night, well, normal for our friend group." We all smile, of course we won't pry, even though all of us were worried for them. Once me and Dylan treated the cuts, and bandaged Luka all up, we headed back downstairs.

After finishing single all the way, we continued with another movie. Checking my phone, it's about nine. I should message mom. Clicking on the text bubble, I type a simple overview of what we've done. Then I go back to cuddling with Feary. We watched movies, had fun all night, and didn't sleep. At around sevenish, I think. Picking up my phone again, I message my mom, wishing her a good morning and to let her know i'm heading to school.

"Guys, I got to go to school."

" I probably should head to school too." Dylan adds standing up.

"Me too." Feary states, rubbing hir eyes.

" You guys suck. I'm just gonna skip." Arden replies. "And hang out with the fun people of our friend group."

"Might as well skip." Devil adds.

"Yeah, I'm not going to school." Luka replies. Grabbing my school bag, I wait for Dylan and Feary. The three of us wave goodbye to our friends and head out. Talking all the way there, not about what happened to Luka, but about fun moments and ideas.

Arriving at school, me, Dylan and Feary split up, head to our lockers each on completely different sides of the school. Walking in through the front doors, I confront the beast that is high school.
So far everything's normal, drama, gossip, plans, and lessons, fill the halls. These crowded halls. Just to get to class you need to duck, dodge, and weave. Watching out for classroom doors, bullies, and just people in general.

Walking close to the center of the hall is out of the option due to gossip kids, and of course, the apex predictor of high schools, bullies.

So I stick to the sides, avoiding locker doors, couples who can't seem to get a room, and the occasional kid pinned against a locker. Using this method I've somehow survived this far.Walking my usual route, I weave my way through the halls. Avoiding eye contact at all costs. Finally, I reach the art classroom. Grasping the door handle I pull it open. Greeted by the smile of the art teacher, Mrs. Hammon.

"Hello Frog." She states, she's a rather odd, though don't complain. She's rather short and round with giant circular glasses, her dark brown hair loosely resting on her shoulders.

Smiling, I wave back at her, then continue walking to my desk, well our desks right beside each other touching, so I just choose my stool. A few more students enter the classroom, including Feary and Dylan who sit next to me. Walking up to the white board Mrs. Hammon (personally my favorite teacher) explains what we're working on today. " Welcome everyone! Today you'll continue working on your group projects, last time you picked your groups and came up with your projects, now today we're going to execute your plans!"

Turning to face my friend and partner, last time we decided on doing a mural for the school. I was the one who asked the principal, who seemed overjoyed about the idea. So we picked a wall and came up with a design. Today's job was to start the sketch on the wall of choice. Getting up we each grab the resources we need to make our parts of the mural.

"You guys got your stuff?" I ask, to which they both nodd in response. My arms are holding pencils, erasers and masking tape. We walk towards the mural wall, which was surprisingly difficult due to the fact that we kept forgetting where it was. Once we finally found our canvas, it was finally time for us to start the masterpiece. Beginning to sketch out the forest in our town, it's a quiet place though a few people disappear in it here or there. I go there alone sometimes, though it's not advised by authorities.

Rumors spread around town that groups of murderers lived in there, though no one had ever seen them and lived to tell the tale. I always took a great deal of joy from reading those stories they wrote. Obviously they were all false though, especially the ones of murderous monsters. Like that of a tall figure with no face in a suit. That's a load of bullshit. I mean, he doesn't have a face and is like nine to ten feet tall? That is a fucking bowl of lies.

"Froggie!" Faerie shouts, messing up my short hair.

"Gah!" I reply, shooting to attention. Apparently I somehow left reality, in the process of drawing.

"God! Took you long enough!" Sie replies in a false angery tone. "Me and Dylan finished our sketches, well you went into your little drawing trance." Walking up to my part of the mural. 

"You're doing the woods?"

"Why did you pick the woods? You could've done something so much cooler." Dylan chimes in.

"These aren't just any woods, it's the woods in town. You know, the ones with the stories I read so much?"

"The ones where you and Luka go and disappear too often, though you guys shouldn't." Fearie states.

"Can we please change the top-" I'm cut off by the ringing of the bell. "I gotta go. I have P.E. and Mr. Anderson doesn't like it when people are late."

"Why do you actually care what that fuck wit thinks?" Dylan asks, A disgusted look on his face.

"Cause. Picking up all the materials. " I've managed to stay on his good side so far. And I'm hoping for an A."

"It's just one class."

"Yeah, yeah." Taking a deep breath. "Welp. Bye guys."

"Bye Froggie!"

"Bye Frog, try not to let that Shit head kill ya."

"I won't." I state, weaving through students. Making it back to the art room I drop off the supplies then dash to my locker. Making it there much faster than getting to the canvas. 9682. I recite in my head, unlocking it. Grabbing my gym clothes, I begin walking to P.E.

"Pl-please. I'll get your homework done, I swear!" Looking towards the voice, I notice a boy sitting on the ground, tears filling his eyes. Two larger boys standing over him.

"It's due tomorrow ya fuck'in ibassile!" Leaning over him. A menacing look on their face. Leave it alone Froggie, it's not your problem. " I gave you that work a week ago, Fion." Fuck it.

" What's your problem? Can't pass your classes on your own dick wad?" Stepping behind the kid. Helping him up to his feet. "Need to get someone who's actually smart to help your caveman brain pass high school?" Pulling Fion behind me.

" Stay out of it, gay bitch."

"Ouch, maybe next time you insult me, get it right. Cause A. I'm not gay I'm pan, and B. really I'm only half a bitch."

"I SAID STAY OUT OF IT BITCH." Threateningly, he stepped closer to me, so did his buddy but didn't say anything. Just stares at me greedily. Fucking perv.

"How about no." People were starting to gather, Fion, the kid being picked on, went to hide in the crowd.

"You want to get a fist to the fucking face?" Bursting out laughing, I lean over. "What so funny?"

"Your such a stereotype high school bully. I mean, forcing a kid to do your homework, then threatening me with a punch to the face. You even got the silent helper." Managing to get out words, laughing in between. "Did you go to the bully store, and they were like 'Hey yeah sorry we only got gacha or stereotype bullies left.' Oh well, no one wants to be a gacha bully." Laughing, some people in the crowd join me.

"That's it." He taller than me, not by much though. "I'm gonna break that pussy sucking mouth of-"

"Actually, I'm asexual so... ew." Not talking, he throws a left hook straight at my face.

Ducking, I use my momentum to throw one back, though I actually hit him. Getting angrier, he throws another round of punches at my head. Using a technique I learned in kungfu, I block, not taking any hits. Staring straight into his eyes, not breaking eye contact, I try to look as intimidating as possible. Every blocked punch he gets even angrier.

"What? You thought I'd be an easy target?" Stopping, he gestures for his buddy to help. "Two on one? Now that's not fair." The crowd's thoroughly engaged. Some disgusted, some intrigued, others actually encouraging us to fight.

I get into fights often. Though I usually get of easy, cause I'm defending the little guys. Keeping both of them in sight, they move in opposite directions. Trying to get at least one person behind me. Looking around I notice my P.E. clothes on the ground. Slowly I circle towards them maintaining our stalemate. Crouching down , I pick them up. Fuck I'm late to P.E. Where are the fucking teachers!?

"Well this has been fun but, I have class to get to."

"Nah, nah, nah, that's not how it works bitch. Your gonna stay and have some fun with us." The second bully states.

"So you can talk! I never knew." Both of them have given up on getting behind me and start walking towards me. Throwing, at each a putrid article of P.E. clothing. "Eat stink, shit bags!" Dashing in between them, and through the crowd. I'd rather stink all day then have to explain this to mom. Sprinting through the crowd, I run to P.E.

Appearing to have forgotten about Fion, they pull the stinky P.E. clothes of their faces, disgusted, they start sprinting after me. Taking a sharp turn I take a detour, turning up the stairs, them following close behind.

"Jesus, you guys just wont quit will ya?" Running around another corner, I listen, hearing them stomp my way I stick my foot out. Tripping the first bully. I keep running, up to the third floor, where Dylan's currently in a class. Only one bully's following me. There's only one way down, and it's at the end of the hall way.

Sprinting to it. -Thud- Falling down on my back, I look up. The bully's buddy standing in front of me. Standing up I notice bully number one caught up to me, nose bleeding.

"Look at that! You two do have some brain cells." Standing up I turn to go back down the hall. Somthing grasping my wrist pulling me back, wrapping his arms around my stomach, my arms pinned to my sides. Before I can say or do anything a punch smashes into my gut. Causing me to bend over, grunting.

"Not so cocky now are ya?" He stands over me, smirking.

"Never was. Ain't got one of those." Another punch comes, at my eye this time. The area around it goes red. "Fuck." I groan reacting to the pain.

"I could do this all day." The guy holding me states. One of his hands heading down to my ass.

"Oh that's it!" Swinging my leg foward and shooting it straight back, kicking him in the dick. He doubles over in pain dropping me. His friend staring in shock. "YOU FUCKING PERVERT!" I state kicking the doubled over boy in the face.

People start showing up, my loud cry drawing their attention. Walking out of classes and into the hallway. The other bully not noticing this, throws a punch my way wich I dodge and counter. He throws another, missing again. His friend still on the ground in pain.

"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE??!" A teacher shouts. I notice Dylan walking out of the class and I cover up my eye with my hair. Just blocking it from view. " To the principal's office! All three of you!"

Helping the one bully to his feet, the teacher, the two bullies and I, walk to the principal's office. The principal and I are good friends, though in her opinion I see her to often.

Sitting down beside the door. The two boys sitting on the other side of them room, both with Kleenex to stop their nose bleeds. Uncovering my eye, I sit down looking weak and timid. My stomach and eye hurts like hell, but I was more pissed at the one bot who was about to grab my ass. I'm gonna fucking murder him.

" Why is it half the time there's a fight you end up here Frog?" The principal states walking into the room.

"Well you see Miss B. I tried the whole W.I.T.S. thing. But I couldn't just walk away or ignore a kid getting harassed. Then I tried to tell them to stop but... Oh yeah, and the seek help isn't very helpful when your getting chased by Tweedle dee and Tweedle dumb.

Sighing she moves a chair, to sit down in between us like a mediator. "Tell me what happened boys." After the bully and the perv finished their bullshit lies about how I cause the fight, by picking on a kid. It was my turn.

"So, what actually happened was-" Telling her everything. Explaining the whole story. Especially the facts about the perv. To which, he flinches at every detail.

"Well it is only fair to say that-"

"Wait!" A kid comes dashing into the office. Out of breath. "It wasn't Frog's fault!" It was Fion. Just in time to save my ass. "I've been doing their work for a few months now, and I fell behind on one work packet. So they were mad. Frog had nothing to do with it, and could've just walked by like everyone else had done. But no. Frog came to help getting me out of the way while distracting the buffoons. Also, barely threw any punches."

"Well then, Frog how are they more injured than you, if you barley hit them?"

"To be fair, there is an invisible gut punch causing me pain and one of them face planted, and the other I kicked in the face for trying to grab my ass."

"Well then I guess it's safe to say-" Sighing in between, she pinches the bridge of her nose. "Frog, I'm letting you off with a warning, next time try to deescalate the situation or run to the office instead of running to the third floor." I nod in agreement. "And you two. You." Pointing at the bully. "Are suspended for two days. And you, are suspended for a week for attempting sexual assault."

"But I didn't do anything to assault that bitch!"

"That's decided. And it final."

Heading to the gendernutral bathroom, I check my eye in the mirror. Its forming a bruise and hurts like hell.

"I can't tell them about this... We need to make sure that Luka's ok, and can't get distracted with some stupid fight at school." Covering my eye with my hair I manage to make it look fine. Walking out of the bathroom I head back to my locker, the halls are empty cause we're supposed to be in class. Though I stopped by the gym and Mr Anderson gave me a pass.

Reaching my locker I notice my gym clothes on the floor covered in foot prints. High schoolers don't give a shit about your stuff do they? Welp, it needed to be washed anyway. Opening my locker, I stuff my P.E. clothes in my bag and grab my stuff for the next class.

The rest of the day passes like a blurr, at lunch Dylan was talking about how three kids got into a fight this morning. Guess he didn't recognize me. And I managed for them not to notice my black eye. After lunch we head to classes. Then finally schools over and we head to Arden's.