As Camila was changing in the locker room, one of her classmates approached her.

"Oh, hi. Do you need something from me?"

"You've been interacting with Silas a lot."

"Oh that? He's just been introducing me to the school more."

"You sure he's not trying to get in your pants?"

She tilted her head. "Are you sure he even knows what that means?"

"Well the book smarts always lack street smarts, but he could be a vulture."

"Like the birds?" She started mentally sketching the idea of him with a bird's head and wide wings flying around and stealing people's chicken wings to feed on with his fictional half-human half-vulture family, but having no idea of the type of girl he was into.

"No, like the guys who go after girls once they end up single."

"Oh." Hold up, rightfully upset. "Wait, how do you know if I'm single?"

She backed up. "No need to get so explosive, I'm just asking a question. You know, a hypotenuse."

"Isn't it a hypothesis?"

"Whatever, but if you see a guy getting that close to someone, wouldn't you get suspicious?"

I guess it depends on the guy. "Is he that type of person? What kind of girl is he into anyway?"

Her eyes went around the room trying to answer Camila's question. "I'm not sure. Why don't you ask him? He's probably up there waiting for you right now," she assumed with smugness.

I'm starting to doubt making other friends in this school. "Sure, I'll ask," feigning a smile.

As she finished and headed to the bleachers, Silas burst out of the locker room most guys were heading into, skipping over to their usual talking spot.

"Oh," sucking her teeth. "She was right. Darn it," targeting her glare at him.

He took a step back. "Uhh, I'm guessing either I did something wrong, or you're not having a good morning."

"It's not your fault," slightly easing up. "Well it kinda is."

"Which one is it," spinning his hands around. "Getting mixed signals here."

"Sorry, it's just, drama and gossip can be so dumb. Can I ask you something?"

"Shoot. But in a non violent area, my body's kinda fragile."

"If we hadn't met outside that day we met, would we have still been friends?"

He took a while to process those words, closing his eyes, and pondering before taking a deep breath.

"You can't alter the perspective of closed minds, but be open to listen from ones open with you. My heart says if you came early and got introduced to the class, I'd still want to talk to you. My mind says it doesn't matter because I'm glad I got to meet you. It's been really fun."

"So you don't want to get into my pants?"

"Girl, if I wanted to get a girl's pants, I'd go to a clothing store," completely straightforward without a second thought. "They'd probably be good enough to use as a whip though."

Well, at least I was right there.

"Besides, your waist is smaller than mine."

She pouted. "I'm trying to eat healthier!"

He tilted his head. "I didn't say it was a bad thing," laughing and sat down next to her.

"I can be a little gogo, so it's nice to just slow down a bit and relax like this."

"Why do you rush out of the locker room so much?"

"So I could get more time to talk to you and treasure it before class. Ever since I've been talking with you, I just feel a bit more motivated than usual."

His friends are right. He's either really genuine or doesn't see his own filter. "So there's no girl you're interested in anymore?"

"That I like? Well, it's too early to say," growing tender, "but it's not anyone I met last year."

"Wait, who?"

A certain grin appeared on his face. "You're only curious because someone kept bringing it up."

He knew?

"My guess was right, huh. Well if they want to know what girls are my type, that's exactly what I'll give them," snickering. "But for this to work," pouting and sighing, "I can't talk to you as much."

"How come?"

"I'll explain it later."

Around lunch time, she found him talking with several students who she didn't know.

"Blanca, who are they?"

"Oh those are the juniors and seniors."

"Silas is friends with them?"

"Yeah, he got close to one at a party that one time after he was grinding with a lot of people and sorta bragged about it a bit too much."

Mecole groaned, joining them. "He was trying to clap back against the people telling him he'd get no witches with a b. But he helped us beat them in frisbee and he's kinda cool with them."

Tilly rolled up next to them, rolling her eyes. "They're not that special."

Camila raised an eyebrow. "It's nice to see he's got more friends outside of our grade. Is he into someone?"

"I think he was into Majesty once. I get why though. When everyone wants to give you smoke, you treasure your friends more than thinking about love."

"None of you would date him?"

"We're just friends," Mecole shrugged. "But we help each other out so people think we're a thing," laughing.

"He's too extrovertive for me," Blanca admitted.

"He barely spends any time with us as it is. He was more interested in Gayle anyway."

"I don't blame him," Mane added. "She helped him out a lot. People formed cliques fast at this school, and if you stand out, you gotta find your own group."

Camila pondered. "Maybe he's trying to find the people he can open up to more?"

"Without feeling tied down, right?"

"Are there that many rumors?"

"Oh yeah. There was this time he said he wanted to talk with Genesis more, and Keegal went ballistic on him in the locker room. Did you ever see the scar on his neck?"

"No. Keegal did that?"

"After school, Silas was trying to patch things up with Zumel when Keegal threw him into a wall and it cut him. He almost actively avoids going to lunch. Just grabs and goes."

"Usually in a teacher's room or, one time he snuck out alone to sit alone at the steps."

"I wouldn't blame him." So he does it to escape more rumors?

She later learned why in the coming days.