The sun shined through the trees that lined the sides of a small street street. The fresh smell of the first spring rain still lingered in the crisp morning air. A light breeze blows through the leaves and trembling branches.

Along the sidewalk a young Hedgewolf (Hedgehog/wolf hybrid) of about 16 made his way to the Kingston High School. His slick, mint green fur glistened in the sunlight, and the dark brown quills running from the top of his head to his lower back swayed ever so slightly to the wind. Matted quills forming thick dreadlocks hung down from the top of his head and into his face swaying to the groove of his walk. He dragged his feet down the sidewalk slouched and keeping his face down.

The hedgewolf completely despised his school, but not nearly as much as the inhabitants that attended the prison with him. None of them really liked him even if they never said a word to him, but some never hesitated to make a comment or two as he walked through the halls. If you weren't a jock, 'popular', or a fairly attractive individual, you were an outcast, and this kid knew he was far from any of them. Quiet, awkward, shorter than most of the guys in his grade, and a bit on the overweight side, he knew there wasn't much he could do. That's just 'The Rules of Highschool' as they say.

He scrolled through his beat up IPod that was obviously a few years out of date, and hardly even functional anymore. Clicking on a soft folk song he stuffed the device into his back pocket. He sings along to the song in his head as he makes his way closer to the school. A muffled noise just barely audible over the music be hind him catches his attention. Pulling an earbud out he turns around.

Three football jock stand just a few feet away. A tall, grey and white wolf with golden eyes, a jet-black raven with deep purple eyes, and a sandy brown cougar with blue eyes.

"Hey their, Macimoo! I missed you buddy! Spring break was so lonely withoutcha!" The wolf shouts, his deep growl full of sarcasm. The Hedgewolf just moans angrily and tries to walk away, but the jocks catch up to him quickly. "Wow, hostile! I was just tryina tell ya how much I missed you!" The wolf shoves him into the raven.

"Yeah, c'mon. We just wanna tell our best friend Mac how great of a friend he is! Right, Marshall?" The raven chuckles at the wolf whilst holding Mac by the neck of his T-shirt. The raven shoves Mac back to Marshall, and Marshall grabs him by the back of the neck. He plays with the dreadlocks handing from his head.

"Y'know I've always wondered why ta had these nasty ol' things. You a 'Rastamon'? Bob Barkley an smoke weed everyday shit? That what you're all about?" Mac turns his head away, ears folded back on his head. Marshall laughs, "What? I'm just teasin' with ya, Macimoo, but I'd lay off that Ganja if I was you. Them munchies be takin their toll on ya!" Mac shoves Marshall off of him, and attempts to make his way to the school once again. "I wasn't done you lil shit." Marshall jumps I front of him, and lands a clean punch at Mac's gut. He goes down, wind knocked out of him. The jocks laugh, high five a bit, and head down to the school.

Still on his knees, Mac watches the bullies leave until their out of sight. He rubs his stomach and gets back up, taking a few deep breaths. 'Stupid assholes...' He tells himself as he makes his way back to the school once more.

The halls are full of students. All mingling and putting bags and coats in lockers, waiting for the bell to summon them all to their first hour classes. Mac walks down a long hall and up to his locker.

"Hey, Mac!" A friendly voice calls from behind. A purple she-husky walks up beside him and leans on one of the lockers. She wore black baggy clothes that hanged off of her body, obviously a few sizes too large, and a black beanie covering most of the short neon green hair on her head. She was always picked on for her more masculine style and personality making her and Mac close friends. "You look like shit."

"Hmm, thanks, Bailey. My self esteem really needed that." He replies flatly. She nudges him with her shoulder.

"I'm just teasin', man. Don't get you panties in a bunch."

"Heh, I think I've had enough teasing today, and the day has hardly even started."

"What happened?" She tilts her head curiously. He laughs,

"That stupid fuck Marshall and his jock buddies. You know, the usual."

"Ahh, I see. Well, I guess it could be worse. You could still be layin' on the ground where he left you."

"You always seem to find the brighter side of thing, don't you." She gives him a big, obnoxious smile.

"Because there always is one. You just gotta look for it." The bell rings interrupting their conversation. Mac shoves his bag in the locker, and pulls a notebook out. He shuts the door, and him and Bailey make their way to first hour.

The day goes on just as any other. Boring classes, stupid lectures, gossip, and ignorant bullies. Mac and Bailey sat on the bench After hours outside of the school just as they always have.

"Did you get all the notes written down in Algebra II?" Mac asks flipping through a note packet.

"Hah! Are you really asking ME? I slept through that damn class." Bailey laughs.

"Right. Why'd I even bother." Mac shoves the notes in his bag.

"You okay, bub?" She says tilting her head slightly at him. He looks at her and smiles.

"Psh, yeah. Why?" She raises an eyebrow. "What?"

"You're lying, and you're really bad at it." He glares at her.

"How so?"

"Your left ear twitches when you lie." He sighs and rubs his face. "Now tell me what's on your mind." She places a paw on his shoulder.

"I don't know. I'm just...exhausted...tired of everything. Each day is a struggle just to get out of bed. Constant bullshit, ignorant bullies, teachers letting it all happen, and for what? What's the point? Why do I even bother getting out of bed if I know what's going to happen?"

"What about friends? Graduating to get the hell outta here?"

"Friends? What friends? You? That's it. All I have is you, and I'm sorry, but that's really not enough when I feel like every day I'm battling an entire army by myself. And as for graduating..." Mac chuckles. "I don't even thing graduating is worth the struggle."

"If you don't graduate you won't go anywhere in life. How is that not enough motivation? You can leave, get a job, and possibly even become successful, but you won't know until you try!" In rage and confusion, Mac punches the bench they're seated on.

"Everyday I get beat up, called names, ignored, and disrespected. Would three more years of that be worth it?" Bailey removes her paw from Mac's shoulder. He looks over at her.

"I'm sorry..." She whispers, looking down at her feet. "but I try. I really do."

"I know..." Mac replies wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "And I take that for granted. Thank you for being here for me..."