The thing about elementary school is that it's so easy to make friends. All you really have to do is ask someone to be your friend and it's like 'hell yeah, why not?' and then you're friends.
Boom. Simple.
The thing about high school is that it's not like that. At least, you don't think it is. It would probably be weird to walk up to a group of teenagers and ask 'hey, want to be my friend?'
Yeah, no. Not a very good plan.
Your name is JOHN EGBERT, and you're not really the best at making friends. You're not very good at reading social cues in general, honestly.
And that is probably why you're standing in the doorway of your house like a petrified weasel instead of getting in your dad's car.
"Can't I just be homeschooled or something? I hear there's some pretty good online programs. Can't I just do that?" You call from the front door, and your dad gives you a bemused look.
"We've been over this, and unless you want to be given awry looks for being late on the first day of school, I suggest you get in the car."
You grumble and drag your feet all the way to the car door, which you open and reluctantly throw your stuff into the front seat before getting in yourself.
"I don't want to go to school. Who cares anyway? None of it is ever useful, despite what anyone says. It's stupid. I hate it." You say, shutting the door and leaning against the window.
"I know." He says simply, turning the key in the ignition. "But even though you might not use calculus or advanced chemistry in your everyday life, you certainly use social skills. And let's be honest-" He looks at you and smiles. "You could use some brushing up on those."
You laugh because it's true, but it doesn't do anything to ease the dread in your stomach.
"And look on the bright side - you only have four classes a day, which means significantly less homework and more time to do... Whatever it is you do in your freetime. Programming? I don't know." He says, shifting the car into reverse and backing out of the driveway. And as you start down the street of your neighborhood, you get an awful feeling.
You have a feeling it's going to be a looooong day.