Chapter 35: "I swear, if I wasn't holding a child right now-"

I stared down my big brother while I held my little brother in my arms. "Seth, I still don't understand why I need to go to school here," I said in a tone that was vaguely whining.

"You're going to be here for three months, Jordan. What the hell would you do otherwise?"

Marie, who was breast-feeding her Carly at the kitchen table, looked up at me. "Don't you want your diploma?" she asked curiously. "We can't have you fail out of senior year."

I pursed my lips, my leg shaking without my noticing. "Yeah, I guess. You said I'm already registered?"

Seth nodded. "Yup, I got the administrators from back home to send your transcript here so that they'll put you in the right classes."

"Where do I get my schedule?"

"When you go to the admin building at the school, the secretary should give it to you. Make sure you go a bit early so that you can figure out where to go."

I nodded and sat next to Marie, bouncing Theo up and down my knee to get rid of all the energy I seemed to have inside me. She smiled at me. "Want me to take Theo and feed him?"

I cocked my head and made a face. "I'm not sure how I feel about my brother being breastfed by his sister-in-law."

Marie rolled her eyes. "Fine. Honey, can you please go grab a bottle and some formula from the kitchen?"

"Sure. Remember Jordan, try not to scare everybody tomorrow, okay?"

"I swear, if I wasn't holding a child right now-"

"I'm serious. If I get any calls from the headmaster complaining about how you threw a chair at somebody, or you made somebody cry, or anything like that, I'm taking away your Skype privileges."

Theo gurgled at Seth's words, and I nodded in agreement. "You're right, Theo. Our brother is a big meanie." Seth smacked the back of my head on his way to the kitchen, and I stared accusingly at his wife. "Did you see what he did?" I complained.

"How old are you, Jordan?"

I scoffed. "This sudden transition from college students to parents is really fucking annoying."

"Language!"

"Please, they can't even sit by themselves without their necks flopping around like limp spaghetti. I can say 'fuck' for a couple more months at least."

"Jordan, I think maybe you need a break to call Luke or something. You seem...stressed."

"What are you talking about? I'm fine," I muttered. "Right, kid?" He gurgled happily when I rocked him back and forth. I smiled slightly. He was so cute.

"Seriously, go put Theo in his rocker and call Luke. Please?"

I did want to talk to him, so I agreed. I stood up and gently tucked Theo in his rocker, turning it on and lowering the music's volume. "I'll be right back, kiddo," I told him, poking his nose. He blew a spit bubble in response. I bounded to the guest room where I would be staying for the time being, and closed and locked the door.

I smiled when I saw Luke's ridiculous face on his contact picture, and pressed 'call.' In a couple of seconds, he picked up. "Beautiful."

Even miles away, he could make me grin ridiculously. "Hey Luke."

***

"What's your name, dear?" the white-haired secretary asked, peering at me over her thick-framed glasses.

"Jordan Wolfe. I just transferred."

"So late in the school year?" she mused, typing something into her computer.

"It was unavoidable," I murmured.

She clucked sympathetically. "I'm sorry, dear...ah, here we are. Jordan Wolfe, incoming senior?"

I leant against the counter and nodded. The secretary got up and walked over to a printer, and then walked back to me. "I was just wondering, do you have a map or something?"

"Oh, there's no need for that, dear. I contacted the Student Government, and they're sending over someone to help you find your way."

I felt my nose twitch slightly. A guide? Oh god. "No, no, I'm sure I can find my way around if you get me a map or something."

The secretary raised her eyebrows and smiled at something over my shoulder. "Hello, Michael. How are you?"

"I'm doing well, Mrs Yeager, and you?" a bored voice said.

"Just marvellous, dear. Come meet Jordan."

I closed my eyes and my hands formed fists. I took a deep breath and turned around, meeting the eyes of a thin, dark-haired boy. "I'm Michael," he said in that same bored, yet polite tone of voice.

I stretched out my hand and shook his hand. "Jordan," I returned. His hands were cold, but he had a firm handshake. My smile was tight-lipped and not amused. "Thanks for your help, Mrs Yeager," I said to the secretary.

She smiled that kind, old-lady kind of smile and nodded. "Class starts in fifteen minutes, be sure you're not late," she said. "And make friends!"

I managed to smile at her, but as soon as I walked out of the office, my expression dropped and I think I looked highly annoyed. Michael stretched his hand out to me. I stared at it, raising an eyebrow. "What, you want a high five?"

He scoffed. "Give me your schedule." I sighed and passed it to him before I even read it myself. "Okay, you've got English first with Mr Lyle. He's alright, I guess."

"Is this an open campus?" I asked.

"Yeah. Make sure the campus monitor doesn't catch you though."

"So it's not an open campus?"

"No, it is. He's just really old and doesn't know that."

I squinted at him as we walked into the school's main building. People already there were staring at us and I didn't like it one bit. I kept my head up and refused to look anywhere but ahead. "Do I get a locker?"

"Yeah, you got 307. That's right next to my buddy Daniel's."

"That's great," I said unenthusiastically.

He looked at me curiously, and then chuckled. "Alright then. Here's your locker."

"Thanks," I muttered. "Hand me my schedule?" He did, and I quickly glanced at my combination. When I get my locker open, I put everything inside besides a notebook and a pen and my phone.

"You'll probably have to go and check out textbooks after school."

I closed my eyes in frustration. "God, this is so annoying."

"That's what you get for switching schools right before graduation."

I glared at him. "Honestly, shut up."

"Alright, alright," he said defensively, holding up his hands. "Oh, hey Daniel. You've got a new locker buddy."

"That's fucking fantastic," said someone about as enthusiastic as me.

Michael patted my shoulder. "I think you two will get along just fine."

I scoffed and shrugged my shoulder to get him to move away. "Thank you for your help, but I think that's all I need."

"Are you kidding? Mrs Yeager will string up my balls if I don't take you to all your classes."

I slam my locker shut and turn around. "Alright, okay, whatever. Lead the way."

"Daniel, she's got Lyle as well," Michael said, nodding at his friend.

"Great." He sounded like he didn't give a shit, which was why I already liked him. "What's your name again?" he asked shortly.

"Jordan," I said.

He nodded and then met Michael's eyes. "I'm gonna go meet up with the other guys. You can bring her, if you want."

I raised my eyebrows. "That's okay, I'm going to use to toilets."

Michael pursed his lips. "Uh-"

"Chill. I'll find my way and won't tell on you, okay? Jesus."

He shrugged. "Okay, if you say." He spent a couple of minutes giving me detailed directions that I immediately forgot, and then handed me back my schedule and left with his friend.

I sighed in relief and leant against my locker, closing my eyes. I could feel a migraine coming in. This school was so different than my last one, and it was taking some getting used to.

I saw Luke's grinning face on my mind, and that made me feel a bit lighter. Our conversation yesterday was really long and had prepared me for today. I felt comforted by him without even seeing him.

I took out my phone and quickly texted Luke what was going on. I stayed leaving against my locker until the warning bell rang, then decided that maybe it would be a good idea to figure out where to go.

I followed the flow of students while ignoring some of their nosy looks. The number of Mr Lyle's room was 34, and I was in front of 21, so I just kept walking until I reached 34.

I took in a deep breath to calm myself, and then pushed open the door. Everyone already seated turned to stare at me, and I felt close to throttling all of them. Why the fuck were they so nosy?

The blond, middle-aged man seated at the front desk beckoned to me, and, struggling to keep my grimace in, I walked over to him. "Good morning," I said.

"Good morning," he said in a thick New York accent. "Nice to meet you. I'm Mr Lyle. I take it you're Jordan?"

I nodded and handed him my schedule.

He made a noise of affirmation and peered at me. "Do you have a student I.D. yet?"

"No, sir."

"After school I'll need you to go get one. They process them in the library, and while you're there, check out a copy of Hamlet and Oedipus Rex. We're studying the tragic hero."

"Okay, sir."

"Now, the only seat left is next to Mr Samson, so why don't you take a seat?"

I gripped the handle of my rucksack and turned around to face the class. I blinked and my eyes found the empty seat, which was next to Michael's friend, Daniel.

He acknowledged me with the snakes of nods, and I returned it with a small, tight-lipped smile.

At least he wasn't a huge asshole.

After the lesson was over, I exited the class by myself and began to walk to my next class, which was Advanced Biology.

"Yo Jordan!" I heard someone call. "Wait for me!"

Against my better judgment, I turned around, seeing Michael and another boy jogging to catch up to me. And as they got closer, my expression became tighter and tighter and the new boy became noticeably excited.

"I know you!" he declared, absolutely ecstatic.

Oh God.