Chapter 17

Nathan

“Class, we have a new student,” Ms Laura announces.

My head shoots up from my arms and I look around. Everyone is murmuring. I turn around in my seat to give Ryder a curious look and he shrugs in response.

He looks a little better than before, like the dark aura around him has gotten lighter and the dark circles under his eyes from last week are less visible now.

Then a girl stands up from the back of the class, diverting my attention to her. She’s a little short, probably around five feet, sort of chubby. She has long jet black hair which she wears in a high ponytail with the tips dyed electric blue. Her strong amber eyes peek out from under her bangs as they survey the whole class. She’s clad in all black and I also find that she has multiple piercings on both ears. Frankly, she looks like Ryder if he was a girl (without the dyed hair and amber eyes, of course).

“This is Mae Amanda Nguyen,” Ms Laura continues. “She just transferred from another school. Mae, would you like to introduce yourself?”

The girl - Mae - shakes her head and sits down. “I’m good.”

Ms Laura says without blinking an eye, “Okay. I hope you all will welcome Mae into this class.”

Mae catches my eyes and with some unprecedented courage, I give her a small smile. She smiles back.

Mae

That was hella awkward.

I didn’t want to switch schools, but I did anyway. The reason’s pretty lame though: I got expelled from my old school for repeated pranking. But what the hell, it was fun anyway.

What happened was this: we set off the fire alarm to distract everyone while Connor, my best friend, and a few others released a bunch of chickens into the field before everyone assembled there. (I don’t know why we did that but hey, life is short.)

Everything went according to plan but some idiot snitched on us. The principal called us afterwards in his office. We’ve only been caught thrice and because I didn’t want Connor to get in trouble (they were the mastermind), I stepped forward and said it was all me. And I guess you know what happened afterwards. Turns out that the prank violated many rules and since it was a repeated offence (I already got suspended twice), the only thing was to expel me.

And now I’m here at Fernwood High School and I probably scared everyone off. I mean, I’m not trying to be cold or anything, but I’m just bad at first impressions. Is it my clothes? Or is it just me? I sigh. It’s always like this.

And the thing about me not introducing myself? The reason’s simple: I didn’t rehearse it in my head. I didn’t prepare a mental script about it so I just refused and sat back down. Pretty lame, right?

Now I’m actually very worried I’ll be an outcast here. No one’s looking at me (in a friendly way, at least). But then I catch the eyes of a boy with big gold-rimmed glasses and fluffy dark orange hair (it almost looks bronze).  He looks really small in that oversized lavender hoodie. I’m thinking, Hm, he looks friendly. Then, he smiles shyly at me and I return his smile out of habit. Well, that’s a start.

*

It’s lunch and I’m sitting alone eating my food. At least I didn’t mess up my order like I usually do. I look around. Everyone’s talking so much, it’s kind of nauseating. People generally just wear me out when I’m not in the action.

I find Hoodie Boy a few tables away from me, waiting for someone. I feel like joining him at his table because I feel lonely, but I don’t want to barge into his life just like that. I sigh and continue eating my food.

I really miss Connor. They’re my friend since young and we couldn’t live without each other. Connor came out as non-binary a few years ago (though they’re okay with being called ‘bro’ and ‘dude’) but it was hard for them because some people completely ignored their pronouns and went ahead and called them by she/her pronouns. Some idiots even told them "it's impossible to be non-binary, you can only be a boy or a girl”. Obnoxious asses. Connor had to restrain me from ripping those assholes’ throats apart.

Connor’s a real crackhead like me. Sometimes, we’d laugh about stupid stuff or nothing at all. But we were always there for each other and they also helped me with my awkwardness. They're also the only person who can tolerate my inane rambling about hot fictional characters.

As I’m reminiscing, a shadow falls over my table. Then, another one. I look up from my food and I find Hoodie Boy. But there’s someone beside him. Taller by a few inches, with rich honey-brown skin, piercing turquoise eyes, black hair and black studs on both ears. Oh damn, he looks a little like a hotter Keith Kogane. And heck, those arms. . .

“Hey, can we sit here?” Hot Dude says.

I squirm a little in my seat, not looking at him. But I don't want to be rude so I just nod, and they do.

Now I’m looking at Hoodie Boy. He’s actually really cute too, now that I think of it. He has innocent-looking eyes, one blue and one green. Freckles scatter across the bridge of his nose and his fluffy dark orange hair falls over his eyes. His eyes meet mine and he smiles shyly.

Hot Dude speaks, "You're Mae, right? I'm Ryder and this" - he puts his hand on Hoodie Boy's shoulder - "is Nathan."

"Hi," Nathan says and I just smile and wave back.

I don't know how to start conversations so I just awkwardly sit there. Luckily, Ryder comes to the rescue.

"So, Mae, how are you finding Fernwood so far?"

"All's well. Food can be improved, though," I say.

Ryder laughs. “That’s true,” he says, “I recommend eating at break time, though. Lesser people and the lunch ladies are nicer.”

“Wait, then why are you both here?” I ask.

He looks at Nathan. “Nathan got hungry,” he says and Nathan ducks his head shyly. Then, Ryder tilts his chin towards my shirt. “Good taste.”

I look down at my shirt like I forgot it was there. I’m currently wearing one of my many band tees, and today's Queen. “Thanks.” I smile.

“You should have seen his room, though," Nathan stage-whispers.

Ryder nudges him, blushing madly. “Stop revealing my music obsession, Nate!”

“Uh, sorry,” Nathan apologises, and I see his blue-and-green eyes change to magenta.

“Woah,” I gasp. “What’s that?”

Nathan looks a little panicked and I regret being so rude, but Ryder comes to the rescue again. “Been like that since he was born,” he explains. “They change colour depending on his mood.”

“So it’s like a mood ring? But for eyes, of course.”

“Yeah.”

I turn my attention to Nathan. “That’s so cool!”

He smiles shyly at me. “Oh, thanks.”

I sneak a glance at Ryder and find that he’s gazing at Nathan with a little blush on his face. Woah, I’m definitely surprised now. Didn’t see that one coming.

We continue talking about random topics and by the end of recess, I guess I’ve made my first friends here at Fernwood High.

*

I message Connor after school.

Me: CONNNNNN

Connor: MAEEEE

Connor: how was school? made any friends?

Me: Mediocre

Me: But 2 guys talked to me so they’re kind of my friends?

Connor: NICE

Connor: they cute? or hot?

Me: 1 cute 1 hot

Me: But tbh they aren’t as hot as Levi Ackerman sjwdcjsdcj

Connor: STOP COMPARING EVERYONE TO LEVI

Me: Whatever Con

Me: Anyways I kind of ship them

Connor: wtf mae

Me: No rlly tho

Me: Hot 1 (Ryder) blushes a lot around cute 1 (Nathan)

Me: So I naturally assumed idk

Connor: dunno man, i think you have shipping problems

Mae: Lmao true

I message them some more until it’s time for them to go and I open my laptop to resume watching the anime that’s been rotting in my to-watch list for a long time.

As I watch Cowboy Bebop, I suddenly think about tomorrow and whether or not Ryder and Nathan are actually my new friends or if they’re just talking to me to make me not feel lonely on my first day.

Will they ditch me tomorrow? Will I be an outcast? What if they're talking behind my back? Am I too rude? The questions keep coming and soon it's just me and the never-ending barrage of doubt. I can't even enjoy my goddamn anime.

I suddenly feel sick to my stomach and I almost vomit.

Oh damn, I don't think I'll make it tomorrow.

______________________

HI YES HELLO GOOD MORNING/EVENING MY FRIENDS :D

YAY here's the new character I was talking about :)) What do you think about her?

And yes, I am aware that non-binary doesn't necessarily mean they/them pronouns (I just wanted to clear that up)

Ok that's all for today!!! Stay safe, take care of yourself, happy Black History Month and see yall next week❤️✨