(⁠ノ⁠｀⁠⌒⁠´⁠)⁠ノ：└(｀⁠⌒⁠´└)

Jake could just tell that his day wasn't going to go so well the moment he set his foot in his new school.

First off, he missed the bus. Already late, he clashed with a student on his way to the teacher's room and fell. Not only that; a bunch of kids were making posters of "Welcome to the new semester" just nearby. And Jake fell right on one of their posters. Facedown, on fresh paint. As a result, his new school uniform is painted blue, red, pink, green and the ugliest shade of yellow to ever exist.

He hates everything now as he follows the teacher to his new classroom. Everyone's going to make fun of him and he won't be able to even blame them. If he saw a student looking like the way he's looking like right now, he'd want to bully him too.

As expected, students start snickering when he enters the classroom. He introduces himself as per the teacher's instruction and the teacher points to an empty seat for him to take. Jake doesn't waste a second and quickly obeys.

But just as he puts his bag down, the student behind his desk puts up his legs and places them over Jake's chair. Jake sighs silently through his nose and looks at the guy.

At first glance, he reads entitled. The guy looks rich and excited for trouble. Jake knows this type of people very well. Too entitled to think twice before acting. Trouble must be an exciting timepass to them. Unfortunately, that's the last thing Jake wants in his new school.

"Get your legs off my seat," he says, no emotion in his voice.

Entitled brat blinks with dissatisfaction. "Ask me nicely," he says.

Well. In Jake's defence, he tried. Looking away, he pulls the chair so forward the guy visibly gets hurt and his feet drop down. Jake rearranges the chair and sits down without a word.

Rich guy looks at the teacher who's been clearly ignoring the scene and backs off for now. He doesn't want to create a scene during class time. But nothing stops his murderous glare to dig holes in the back of Jake's head.

Yeah, not a great start. Jake knows he's partly to blame. He can't afford problems here. He should know better. But you can't change a person just by changing his situation. At least not overnight. Jake takes a mental note to avoid entitled brat in the future.

During the break, Jake walks slowly to the cafeteria, looking around his new school. He likes what he sees.

"Are you heading to the cafeteria?" asks some guy.

Jake looks down at the short guy in front of him. He looks a total of one foot shorter than Jake with glasses half the size of his face. He looks like he'll die if Jake punches him once.

Beside him is a girl taller than him. And she's looking from the short guy to Jake in confusion. Jake shares the feeling. He doesn't even know this boy.

Before Jake can reply, the short guy adds, "You really should not, you know."

That ruins the tiniest curiosity in him and Jake looks away. He doesn't even bother to respond and walks past the two.

"Hey!" The shortie follows at once. "I'm saying this for you, you know! I guarantee that Brian is going to get back at you for what you did in the morning."

That must the entitled bloke. "Let him do what he can," says Jake, untroubled.

"Oh, he can do so much you have no idea!" says shortie, looking very pleased to succeed in starting the conversation. "I'm Willie, by the way. And this is my sister, Winter. We're twins."

Jake glances at them again. They look not a single thing alike for twins but he keeps his opinion to himself.

Willie continues, "What you did was really cool, no doubt about that. But he's Brian Chase, son of Mr. Chase who runs the Chase Industry and our whole town is run by the Chase Industry."

Jake isn't even surprised. "So?" He asks.

Willie is baffled. "SO!? The Chase are all one! If you are Brian Chase's target then you become the target of all the Chase Industry!"

Jake rolls his eyes. "Well the Chase don't pay my rent," he says, mimicking the emphasis. "And besides, that guy messed with me first."

"Shit, dude, I already like you and you're going to die," says Willie, so passionate his face turns red.

Jake doesn't want to hear anymore so he speeds up.

"Don't go," says Winter.

Jake's steps falter. When he looks at her, she looks genuinely worried for him. "Willie was telling me about the new guy in his class that dared to mess with Brian Chase in front of the whole class. I thought it was fun at first but you really don't know anything about him, do you? Brian is crazy. His dad's rich beyond words and everything's sole heir is Brian. Rumour has it that Mr. Chase wants Brian to take over business asap but Brian doesn't want to. So he's been given time until college to do whatever he wants. After that, he has to join the family business. And the closer our graduation comes, Brian gets more and more worked up. You understand what I'm saying? He acts like he plans on dying before finishing college. He's too extreme. You should stay out of his way."

But Jake is only half listening. All his focus is on the girl who seems sincerely worried for him when she doesn't even know him. And she's really pretty. He'd be lying if he said he didn't feel butterflies.

He coughs a little. "Thanks for your concern but I'll be fine. If I don't go to the cafeteria today, he'll know I'm avoiding trouble. And that'll only make him more eager to corner me later."

Winter looks at her brother who sighs. Using the opportunity, Jake quickly leaves from the place. The interaction had already lasted longer than he'd like. In the cafeteria, he looks around to spot the so called Brian Chase, but it seems like the twins were worrying for no reason. Chase isn't here. Sighing with secret relief, Jake finds himself a quiet place and seats down.

It takes one minute and the already familiar brown curls fill his vision. Brian is leaning over Jake's food with a frown.

"A bun and a bottle of milk?" He asks with mock pity. "Are you poor, Flynn?"

Wow, attacking his status. What an educated move. Jake doesn't even blink his eyes. He chews calmly and opens the lid of his bottle of milk.

Brian's eyes blaze and he snatches away the bottle from Jake's hand. "Look at me when I'm talking to you," he hisses.

Jake takes another bite from his bun. Brian straightens and empties half bottle of milk on Jake's shirt. That does it for Jake who stops eating at once and sits stiff and straight. Everyone in the cafeteria is watching silently and curiously.

"Oops," says Brian, a wicked smile filling his features. "Sorry about that. My hand slipped. But it shouldn't be a problem, right? Your uniform is wasted anyway." He pats Jake's shoulder once. "Buy a new one quickly, okay? I hope you have money for that."

Extremely satisfied, Brian puts down the bottle and turns to leave. Jake stands up and within a second, Brian's head is dripping the remaining milk. Everyone goes dead silent at that.

"Oops," repeats Jake, slowly putting the bottle down.

"My hand slipped."