Sawyer Adams yawned in the middle of the beginning of the final period of sixth grade as their teacher yelled at them. It was the same old, same old. Two kids got into a fight at lunch, another classmate left the room to fight another teacher, and once again, half the class was failing.

With marking period two approaching, he was afraid 601's antics throughout the past four months would continue. At this point, he put his head down, knowing he wasn't the target of his teacher's complaints. In the end, Ms. Mercado's heart was in the right place, they just weren't taking school seriously.

He yawned. Some of his classmates expressed anger they didn't need. It's like his father used to say: if you know you didn't do anything wrong, you weren't the target. Unfortunately even the children who didn't do anything wrong were falling for the trap.

"Anyway, thank the rest of you who are behaving appropriately and doing the right thing, like Sawyer."

She had other names, but he dreaded this moment. Being placed on a pedestal was nice and all, but the kids who weren't called got hit with disdain.

His tan skinned crush, the cooler girl with the nice comb, the chill girl with two ponytails, the fun girl who fought with the class clown, the tall other class clown who got his work done, and the child more quiet than he were the only eyes who shifted their glares to him.

The whispers were roaming around, releasing their nickname for him: "Tryhard." He didn't initially consider it a bad thing, but unlike the other top five students, he didn't have the friendships to ignore it. Only moving to the outskirts of Queens, New York due to an incident in his neighborhood at the start of the school year, he gave up trying to be comfortable.

"Try hard, try to make school fun for myself, and try not to cause trouble. That's my motto," he told himself in his mind.

As the teacher continued, one pair of eyes was on his: the new girl who showed up.

He adjusted his glasses to take a good look at her. Both had on hoodies, but while his hair was wild, uncombed, and spiky, her ponytail and braids were better taken care of. And while he was tired, she looked bored, drained, and more tired than was.

Sawyer decided to go back to work, but when he looked up, her eyes matched him. He couldn't tell whether to decide she was cute or scary.

After Ms. Mercado finished and asked everyone to go back to work, he raised his hand, having to use the bathroom. Though the rules stated no bathroom last period, the fight that broke up prevented him from going earlier.

"Fine, go."

"What," one of his classmates yelled. "Why does he get special treatment?"

"Unlike you, he doesn't give me any problems!' She sighed. "Just hurry up, Sawyer."

As he entered and did his business, Sawyer walked out when he bumped into another student from 602, all of whom he preferred to stay away from.

They snuck out, didn't they. "Um, sorry."

He tried to pass them when one of them, a boy with a beanie and a tough exterior wasn't keen on helping him out: Michael Kennedy.

"You were there when the fight broke down. Why did you tell the aids I started the fight?"

"I," gulping, "didn't know. I was just eating and doing my work."

"Liar!"

Michael was soon joined by another dark skin girl from his class, larger in weight than both of them in weight and bombastically crude. As much as he hated the black on black violence or shaming her weight, Mercedes Burton's behavior was far from pleasant. None of the teachers liked her, she had already gotten in trouble for leaving math to fight another student, and even the other girls admitted she was a bad influence.

"Why did you ask Ms. Samuel to not work with me in math?"

"I didn't. Mason said he thought you'd slow us down. Didn't you tell her you weren't even going to do the work?"

"So you were going to make me work on my own? What makes you so special? All they do is compare us to you!"

She shoved him aside to the ground. As he got up, a third person joined them, Yamir, a sneaky girl with braids who he heard was one for causing trouble, Ms. Samuel needed four teachers to come on to see how she was acting.

"Even Ms. S does the same thing," annoyed. "Oh 601 has so much better students," in a mocking tone. "Oh 601 has better students."

"That's not true," Sawyer countered. "We have Mercedes."

Michael and Yamir laughed at her expense. She responded with the usual "shut the," plus an f bomb for good measure.

"Maybe if you couldn't work anymore you'd finally understand what it's like to be like us."

"Wait what?" He could tell something wasn't right. "We're all just trying to do our best."

Michael punched him in the face, knocking him towards the stall, much to the two girl's laughter. He tried to yell for the vice principal, whose office was from across the room. However, she couldn't hear it during the meeting she was at.

"Hey, aim for his arms. Let's see what happens when Tryhard can't even use his hands!"

"He probably has to type with his feet," Michael snickered.

As they laughed, he got back up, clutching his stomach.

"I promised my family that I will try my best to support them. Even if you break me, I will find a way to build myself back up! I'm not afraid of you!"

"Oh really," Michael asked, well known for punching his teacher in the face aimed his foot above Sawyer's hand. "We'll see about that!"

Sawyer feared for the worst, closing his eyes. When he opened them, there was no pain to be found.

And a hand had caught Michael's foot, stopping it from crashing on his body.

"I thought girls weren't supposed to be in the boys locker room. Besides me, why are there three of you," addressing the trio.

Sawyer blinked. The new girl?

"Who the hell are you," Michael asked.

Yamir tugged on his shirt. "That's Samiya Wilson, there's rumors she was number one in the PSAL for Outdoor Track amongst elementary. They say she could go to the Olympics one day."

"They said. Now could you leave my classmate alone."

"What, you're friends with this loser?"

"And what if I am?

"I don't care what fancy title you have, little girl. Move!"

"Ooh, I'm so scared. I'll guess I'll move along and let you fight him, Mr. Manly." She pulled the lollipop out of her mouth. "Actually, do you mind if I try something? Beating up a pussy is what y'all do, right? How about I do it for you?"

Sawyer regretted thinking she was cute as she crouched down to him.

"Hey, Tryhard, stay still. This won't hurt a bit."

He gulped and nodded.

Samiya spun around, seemingly aiming her leg towards him. However, the heel of her leg kicked up a soda can next to him, flying up to the leader's face. It struck him so hard, he stumbled into the rolling garbage can.

"Oops, I missed," she smirked. "I'm more of a basketball girl than a soccer gal."

Hey you two," addressing Yamir and Mercedes. "Can I use your faces for practice too?"

The two ladies gulped and high-tailed it back to their respective classrooms. Samiya offered Sawyer a hand.

"Why did you come after me?"

"I saw Mercedes leave after Ms. M shut her down, then the other girl. Teach was talking to someone and you weren't back yet, so I wanted to check. You alright?"

He nodded. "Thanks to you. I owe you. Sorry for thinking you weren't cute."

She tilted her head to the right. "Huh?"

"Wait, um, I mean," catching himself. "I thought you were going to join them."

She laughed. "I barely know anyone here. I don't give into peer pressure like that."

He adjusted his glasses. "Sorry, I assumed wrong."

"What would you have done if I had?"

"Hmm," pondering. "I'd get I'd try to fight you all. Even if I lost, at least the others would think Mike went too far. My classmates don't like me, but they'd hate him even more."

"All of them don't like you?"

"If I had come to this school before September, maybe they wouldn't. Even surrounded by people, I still feel alone. But I'm gonna try my best to get through this grade."

She smiled. "Interesting. Okay, I have a deal."

"What is it?"

"I'll be your girlfriend then. That should make my time here less tiring."

He nodded. Then his cheeks bloated. "Say that again?"

Just as she was about to repeat herself, Michael crawled out of the garbage can, and the assistant principal opened the door.