*Beep Beep Beep Beep*

There it is. That sound. The worst sound in the history of sounds. The crusher of dreams. The silencer of silence. The bane of my existence. The dreaded alarm clock. "Why do you hate me?" I say as I flip the off switch.

Pulling off the sheets, I swing my legs over the bed to the floor. *Bzzzt Bzzzt* My phones vibrating. "Who wants what, and why?" Picking up the phone, unlocking it, and entering my messages, I notice its Sapphire.

-Sapphire: You up yet?

-Me: Just got up, why?

-Sapphire: Why did you wake up so late?

-Me: What are you talking about? I have plenty of time

-Sapphire: I'm outside, waiting on you

-Me: Why?

-Sapphire: Look at your clock

I take a glance at my alarm clock, and my eyes go wide. 6:48. I overslept. Again.

-Me: I'm on my way down.

I quickly grab my clothes and book bag, and rush down stairs to the door. Saying a quick goodbye to my brother and sister, I rush outside. Sapphire is sitting in her car, giving me the most impatient look I have ever seen. "You overslept. Again. And you're not even dressed," she scolded as I was entering the car. "I'll just change on the way. Don't worry about it." "You are not changing in my car!" "Oh why not? It's not like you haven't seen anything before, and it's not like I'm getting naked." "VIOLET SHADE, YOU ARE NOT CHANGING IN MY CAR." "Fine I'll change in the locker rooms then." "Good." We drive for a little while; the silence unbearable. "So how have you and the bf been?" I ask to try and lighten the mood. "Fine. We've been on a couple of dates recently, so that's good." "I don't know how you put up with him." I puff out my chest, and do my best jock impression. "I LOVE FOOTBALL. WATCH THE HAIL THROW THIS FOOTBALL TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FIELD. WOOOO FOOTBALL. THE HAIL LOVES FOOTBALL. IM THE HAIL. FOOTBALL." "Okay, Axel is not like that." "That's what he sounds like to me." "Please, you're just jealous cause you haven't found yourself a guy yet." "Okay, firstly, I'm bi, not straight gay. Secondly, I am nowhere near jealous of you and THE HAIL." I say laughing. "Oh yea sure, tell that to your last boyfriend." "Hey, we don't talk about him." "Whatever," she says rolling her eyes.

We pull up to the school, and get out of the car looking to the building. Beacon High School. Home of the Hunters. And speaking of Hunters. "Hey babe," Axel walks up, putting his arm around Sapphire. "Hey babe," She responds, kissing his cheek. "Sup batsy," he nods to me. Batsy. That's what he calls me. Only because I like bats, probably screeched like one when he jumped out of the bushes at me on Halloween, and because I just so happened to be dressed as batman when he did. "Sup airhead," I respond. "I really wish you two wouldn't call each other that," Sapphire says, rolling her eyes. "Don't worry babe, it's all in good fun. Right batsy?" "Yea Axel, all in good fun," I respond, also doing as Sapphire says. If I've learned anything about Sapphire, it is to do always as she says. Always. "I'll catch you later Sapph," I say as I head to the gym's locker rooms. I walk into the front door, and immediately get stopped. "Mr. Shade, you are aware of our dress code, are you not?" There she is. The crusher of dreams. The bane of my school existence. Beacon High School's very own Vice Principal, Glynda Goodwitch. "Sorry Goodwitch, i woke up late. I was just on my way to the locker rooms to change." "That's Ms. Goodwitch to you Mr. Shade." I wave my hand, and proceed to the locker rooms.

As I get to my destination, I see Leo and Dart wrestling like usual. Leo Gamduhla, and Dart Montaigne. Leo's the captain of the wrestling team, and Dart just likes to help out anyone that asks. "Oh, hey, Shade," Leo says, still wrestling. "Hey." "I'm going to be having a party at my house Saturday. Wanted to know if you'd like to come." "Oh, I don't know. My weekend is pretty booked up." They both look at me with straight faces. "No its not," Leo says. "Yeah, it's not. I'll see what I can do." "Cool. look forward to seeing you there." I wave as I walk into the locker rooms. I change into the outfit I brought. Nothing special. Just black jeans, my purple high top converse, a plain grey shirt, a purple beanie, and my traditional purple hoodie. I've got a thing for purple. Don't worry about it. As I'm stuffing my pajamas into my bag, the bell rings signaling the start of classes. Ugh Gym. Good thing I'm already here. Welp, let's get this show on the road.

"Ugh, I'm so sore, "I say, rubbing my shoulder. "Well that's what you get for running into me," Leo comments. "Listen, it's not my fault you were going the wrong way." "I'm never going the wrong way, Shade." "Yeah yeah." The bell for lunch rings, and we make our way to the cafeteria. Leo goes to his group of friends, as I feel a sudden weight on my back. I turn to see a smiling Sunny piggybacking on me. "Hey there sunshine." "Hey Violet." "Am I carrying you to lunch?" "Yep." "Alright let's go," I say as I begin walking again. This happens a lot more than you would think, so I'm used to carrying her. As we enter the cafeteria, I see our group of friends sitting at our usual table. Sapphire, Axel, Ellis, and Fokkana sitting in the dead center of the room. "Hey, there's your girlfriend." "WHERE?!" She yells in my ear. "Sitting at the table, in her usual spot," I respond. Sunny quickly jumps off of me, and tackle/hugs Fokkana. "I missed you so much, Fokkana." "You saw me this morning Sunny," Fokkana remarked. "Doesn't mean i didn't miss you," Sunny says, snuggling up to Fokkana. "Why do you do this to me?" she asks, turning to me. "Hey you're the one going out with her. You did this to yourself." 'She wouldn't give me up for anything, right Fokkana?" Sunny asks, looking pleadingly into Fokkana's eyes. "Of course my little sunshine." Fokkana responds kissing her on the nose. I sit in my usual spot, between the love birds and Sapphire. "So how's that book coming along Ellis," I ask starting my salad. For the record, just because I like eating salads, doesn't mean I'm a vegetarian. Fokkana is the vegetarian of the group. "It's going fine. Just finished writing another chapter last night," Ellis said, looking up from his textbook. "What are we studying for today?" He flips his book up to reveal Calculus. "Boring," "That may be, but in order to make acceptable grades i must study whenever I get the chance to." he says, returning his eyes back to the book. "Dude you have the best grades in our class. Maybe even the whole school. I think you can relax during lunch." He looks up from his book again to look me in the eye. "I'd rather keep studying." "Suit yourself." He nods, and returns to his book.

As customary to our routine, the two couples get engrossed with each other, Ellis is studying, and I start to people watch. Looking around the cafeteria I see all familiar faces doing their usual routine. Sapphire's brother, Azure, running around playing pranks on people. Leo trying to get people to arm wrestle him. Daniella trying to get Dart to notice her. As I'm looking around I see a new face. A guy sitting by himself. Black hair, black jacket with hood raised, brown pants, and black boots. Obviously trying not to be seen. "Hey, who is that guy over there?" I ask pointing to him. The group looks over to where I'm pointing. "Roren Raven." Ellis says before returning to his book. "He's a new student in our year," Sapphire says, turning to me. "Why?" "I just didn't recognize him that's all. He's sitting alone." "Well that's probably because he doesn't have any friends," Fokkana pointed out. "Well he's gonna have one by the end of the day," I say as I stand, and start walking his way.