"What's up with the paint?" Some pig nosed airhead sneered pointing at Jude's navy blue fingernails. "Does it come in hetero?" He and his band of dweebs laughed and high-fived.

Jude looked into the boy's cruel eyes and whispered, "Shut up."

"What'd you just say to me?" The curly haired bully taunted, taking a threatening step closer. Jude glanced over at his new friend Connor who was by his locker watching the scene unfold.

"I said shut up idiot!" Jude exclaimed bravely before he was pushed up against the wall. The other three insolents closed in on Jude, preparing to hold him down in the anticipated fight.

Just as Jude thought he was destined to be lunchmeat, a random teacher shouted the bully's name and ordered him to the office, along with a promised detention. Jude turned away and ignored his wide-eyed friend staring at him from the hall, the very "friend" who could easily have stepped in at any moment. Why did he just stand there like that? They were only freshmen in high school, but Connor was definitely stronger and bulkier than the idiot dweeb.

Jude spent the rest of the day ignoring Connor in what classes they shared. What was the point of a friend who wouldn't stand up for you? Basically this meant Jude spent the entire day alone since he was new to Anchor Beach and had a hard time making friends due to his weird personality. He didn't identify as gay but most people knew that he wasn't "normal" which was enough to keep people away. It also didn't help that Jude was shy.

The next day during lunch, Jude sat down at a table by himself like usual until Connor joined him. Without words Connor reached into his bag and took out a sandwich, showing off his newly blue painted fingernails. He gave a warm smile to Jude and sat down after Jude smiled back.

"So do you have someone to tent with at tomorrow's campout?" Jude asked tentatively.

"Not really. Hey, do you want to be my tent buddy?" Connor replied casually.

"Sure! That's actually what I was going to ask. You know, since I'm new and all, I don't have many other options so… thanks for being my buddy."

"Yeah no problem." Connor devoured the rest of his sandwich and pulled out some unfinished homework to work on for the rest of lunch. Jude felt slightly awkward from asking about the campout, but he was glad to at least have a friend willing to stick with him.