A/N: This is my first fanfiction. Do not judge too harshly if it is horrible, but please tell me how I can improve. I am making OC's the pain characters with some Teen Titans thrown in as well. Please review.

Titan Pride 1
With my celebrity, as my new stage name Taylor Pratt, I was hard to ignore. I was known widely as the writer of Rihanna's biggest hit ever, Worst Of Us,resulting in her Super Bowl Halftime Show, along with Demi Lovato's smash hit Humor. My own music has produced a number one album, a number three album, and five top ten singles such as All U Want, Visible, Hanging, Monkey Boy and a duet with my idol Avril Lavigne on the biggest hit of my career, the inspirational ballad Pen And Paper. But what people don't know is the story of how I was discovered, how I rose above my struggles, and how I found the love of my life all in high school. Now, I am 21, looking back on how the worst year of my life became the best. This is mostly from my point of view, with some additional details from my friends Cassandra Allen, Megan Koss-Smith, and Leo Polk, my manager. Even some from other celebs like Rebecca Reinstein, Broadway legend and Conner Kent, football star and part of my life that you will figure out.
"Bbbbbbbrrrrrriiiing!"
The first bell rang as the students settled into their first block of the day. For me, A Block Math with Ms. Bastien. I smiled happily since I had a feeling this day would go well, and could see that my friends Becca and Ethan had the same feeling. For some reason, today felt different. Like something important was going to happen. I didn't really know what it would be, though. Maybe a boy...? Nah. If I had learned anything from last year's Leo fiasco, it was that there was little likelihood that I would attract any guys.
Before I do anything else, I might as well tell you about myself. My name is Henry Walsh, and I go to Isaac Newton High in South, Massachusetts. Our mascot is the Titans, as in the Greek kind, and we have a different Titan for each sport. Basketball has Hyperion, baseball has Mnemosyne, swimming has Oceanus, and football has Kronos. I am an insanely tall person, according to my friends. A sophomore in high school, I am six foot four with more growth coming. I have blond hair, Irish skin, and piercing blue-gray eyes, or so people tell me. I always have on my lucky leather jacket, along with a carefully coordinated outfit otherwise. Today, I am wearing a black v-neck with a light blue shirt underneath and my usual blue jeans.
Ms. Bastien stood up, and as we opened our notebooks, she motioned for us to stop. She said, "Not yet. We have some business to take care of first. Firstly, we have new students in the class. Meet Megan."
A bubbly redhead skipped into the room happily, seeming to be the happiest person, but I had a feeling she was the happiest person in any room she went into. Her obviously Irish pale skin was easily complimented by her white shirt, red belt lighter than her hair, and blue skirt. She had one of the widest, most sincere smiles he had ever seen, and she seemed like a good person to become friends with. He filed that for later, as Ms. Bastien was introducing another new arrival.
"Also joining us, from the same previous school, is Rose."
Rose was a lot more intense. She had shockingly white hair that didn't look dyed, but by her only visible eye, it was obvious she wasn't albino. She was not nearly as smiley, and her intense glare pierced the room in a way that made it obvious she planned on ruling the school by next week. She was wearing very tight blue jeans, a leather jacket, a blue shirt with an orange sword design on it, and a belt that matched the orange. She had a gray eye patch covering her left eye, which he immediately wanted to ask about but knew he shouldn't ask. I decided to try and pay attention in class, so maybe less attentive to the next arrival if there was one.
There was, but it was impossible not to pay him a lot of attention.
His name, apparently, was Conner, and there was no other way to describe him other than teenage god. His straight black hair was in an effortless short style that made him absolutely gorgeous, he had the hopeful eyes and honesty of a Midwestern boy, maybe Kansas? Either way, he was sexy in his blue jeans and Superman T-shirt, and all I could think about was him. When I realized where one of the empty seats was, I brightened considerably. About a month ago, Framelcy had moved, and that meant there was a seat between me and the next person. Good timing, too, because they were just finding seats. I immediately pointed out the empty seat, and Conner was sat next to me, while Rose and Megan sat in the back. I extended my hand in greeting, and Conner shook it. His expression was warm and inviting, not a hint of hesitation in it. I might have just met the guy, but I could tell that at least I had fallen in love at first sight.
I had so much to do that day. I barely paid any attention that class, instead staring at the back of Conner's neck. Throughout the entire class, I learned only one thing. Conner Kent has a disturbingly sexy neck. Luckily, the one time I was called on was for a fairly easy problem that was fairly easy to solve. Next, I had Spanish, which I was looking forward to if only for a break to clear my muddled head.
When he got to Spanish, the teacher seemed brighter than usual. Was there some sort of happy bug going around? Oh well, I thought, why not just let it happen. That might mean less homework anyhow. Then, he realized why. Conner was asking her about seating arrangements. She said she had been planning the switch for today anyway, so why not do it with him added.
"Alright, thanks." He was saying to her and he was turning around as I realized I had nowhere to hide so I just looked at him sheepishly. He grinned, obviously relieved to have someone he knew in the class. Apparently, Mrs. Wiener saw my expression and gave me a thumbs up. I had no clue what she meant, but hoped it turned out well. When everyone had sat down in their usual seats, which left Connor standing, Mrs. Wiener decided to put us in a new seating arrangement, with me on the other side of the room with Libby to my right and Conner to my left. No more staring at his neck, I suppose. However, this might give me the opportunity to actually talk with him for once. When the teacher paired us off into groups, I was assigned with Conner, so it was an easy thing to get a conversation going between us.
"Hi. I'm Conner. In your math class, remember?"
"Yeah. Of course. Did the three of you know each other back in San Francisco?"
"Actually, there's more than three. Our school abruptly closed, and those who could had to move here, to the school with the closest curriculum to ours. There are ten of us. Those two, me, my friend Tim, Cassie Sandsmark, Bart Allen, Lorena Marquez, Jaime Reyes, and Tim's girlfriend Stephanie Brown. For most of us, the only reason we're here is that Tim made his Dad pay for the tuition of most of us. Cassie could afford it on her own, but we never offered. To be perfectly honest, she can be a bitch sometimes, but she means well, especially to her friends."
He had no idea how much I remembered. I decided it was best to keep it that way, so I just nodded and moved on to the topic at hand.
"Yup. So do you want to go first, or should I?"
He seemed a little startled at that, like he had been expecting all students from Massachusetts to be mouthy and rude compared to people from Kansas or even San Francisco. He recovered quickly, though.
"Nah. I'm no good at this language stuff. I barely know English, and I was born and raised in Kansas until a few years back."
So I had been right. He was from Kansas. How on earth did I know that? It didn't really matter, since it was probably best if he didn't catch me staring. We were both in a mutually uneducable boat, but we seemed to be worth one A student when we combined our abilities, so we worked. I hated myself throughout the entire thing, wanting so badly to kiss those incredible looking lips. But I controlled myself, managing to refrain from doing anything too stupid. We had a fairly normal class after that. Well, normal is relative. My normal involves obliviously hot boys who are just ripe for staring at. It has ever since Leo, but I really try to forget that. Conner will definitely be a big help, probably without knowing, but I was really hoping not to have the same thing happen twice, so I worked hard to find his flaws. It got difficult after a while. When he bell rang, we walked out of class together.
"So, where do you have your next class?" I asked him curiously, thinking it couldn't get any weirder.
"It's something called Advisory, apparently. With Ms. Xiao?"
"Seriously? I have that exact class next, too!" Now it was officially getting strange. Were the fates trying to tell us something, or was this just a scheduling error? Either way, I wasn't complaining. From the way a wide grin spread across his face, he was okay with it too.
"Weird. Oh well. At least you can show me the ropes of this new school. Right? You don't mind, do you?" He seemed to be blushing. Blushing. I was making a guy blush. Oh. My. God. Heaven. I feel like jumping for joy right now but I don't. Instead, I decide to play it cool and try to have some semblance of normalcy.
When we got to Advisory, and I introduced Conner to everyone, I saw Ido eyeing him appraisingly. I immediately stood a little closer to him, which he may or may not have noticed, but I then realized. I was jealous. Had he seen that? I suddenly heard the conversation taking place, where Ido was speaking.
"...So why not join the football team?"
"I don't really think so. I just don't think football is my sport."
"Really? Not to be awkward or anything, but you definitely have the body for it." I chimed in, basically flirting without flirting, and I was very proud of myself for it. He immediately stiffened up, like I'd simultaneously kissed him and punched him, and I guess I sort of did, but without doing either thing. Ido looked confused, as did most of the others listening in, but Lizzy grabbed my arm and steered me away, out of the room. When Ms. Xiao looked up, Lizzy gave her that look girls give other girls that I can never imagine understanding. She got me in a private place, and immediately began interrogating.
"What is happening with you two? I don't think Ido sees it yet, but you act almost like a couple."
"What? I have only known him since today. Are we seriously acting likes that?"
"Yes! He hasn't exactly noticed all your subtle flirting yet, and you haven't noticed his. Two oblivious people perfect for each other. Go for him! I am going to help you out as best I can."
Ok. Lizzy saw my attraction to Conner. I am very afraid he sees it too. The bell rang, silencing the protests forming on my lips. Conner walked out of the room directly to me, obviously poised to ask me a question.
"Hey, man. Do you know where Mr. Lee's English class is?"
"Oh my god. This is getting kind of creepy. "
"What? Did I do something wrong?" He looked scandalized and afraid for a second. A part of me felt pity for him, then realized why he had thought that.
"No! I just have that class too, and that means you haven't had a class without me yet. I am not complaining, though. Hey, Ido!"
"No, wait. Don't call him over."
"Why not?" I replied.
"He's just a little, I don't know, insistent. I don't really like him."
Hmm. A weird reason, but why not believe him? It would keep him close to me.
"Well, I only did it to tell him you were in our English class as well. Even if you disliked him, he obviously kind of liked you. Not romantically, I mean. A blind bat could see that you're straight."
My test worked, and he did exactly what I expected him to. His mouth dropped into the cutest pout ever for a split second, and it was so cute that some part of me wanted to jump him right there and then. Luckily, I had somehow walked to English without noticing and he had just followed me, so we ended up being on time. I decided to sit anywhere but my usual table, and he followed. I saw my friend Kiki and immediately sat next to her, and as soon as I did, Conner came rushing over to my seat. He sat right next to me, maybe a little close but I did not mind one bit.
Mr. Lee decided to start the class right away, he didn't even notice Conner at first.
"Ok, class, today no notes will be needed. You are simply being treated to a PowerPoint of our next book, Romeo and Juliet. We will discuss the importance of the dominant themes in the text, and why they are important for us to be aware of. In later classes, there may or may not be some acting out of the scenes in the book."
Mr. Lee being nice? Where had that come from? This day was turning out too good to be true. Was there some sort of conspiracy occurring? He finally noticed Conner just then, and was very surprised. He looked at him, confused.
"What?"
"What?" Conner replied.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Conner. I'm new."
Mr. Lee went over to his computer and checked the dates.
"Oh, that's today! Ok then, welcome Conner. Let's get started."
The rest of the day went off without anything wrong happening, except until lunch. Conner and I had checked each other's schedules and found that we had every class together. Every. Single. One. Wow. So, obviously, we had lunch together. I led him to my usual table, with Abby, Leo, Ethan, Becca, and apparently Megan and Rose. It seemed like Megan had befriended Becca and Rose let her drag her to the table.
Conner immediately picked out a seat that was next to another empty one. I could almost hear Abby squeal inwardly as I sat down enthusiastically. She immediately started the conversation.
"So, Henry, who's your new friend...?"
"His name is Conner, he is in literally all of my classes, and I think you all will like him." I responded with a slight, almost unreadable tone of warning. Abby understood and pulled me aside, using that same look Lizzy had used a few hours before.
"Ok. I think he likes you. I know you like him. You had better ask him out within the week or," she finished louder, "I will disown you".
"Wait, what? Disown him?" Conner looked very confused, as did Rose and Megan.
Abby responded quickly. "We have a little joke running around ever since Ethan here compared our group to the family. Me and Leo are the parents, always doing the right thing or the old fashioned thing or both. Henry is the middle child, in need of more support and sometimes feeling invisible. Ethan is the jock older brother, who everybody goes to. Becca is the artsy youngest sibling and, despite a large size difference, Taylor is Henry's twin sister who was separated at birth and taken to a horse farm in Alabama. None of this is real, of course, except for the Alabama bit. She only came a month before you guys."
"Did you follow any of that?" Conner asked Megan and Rose. Megan nodded excitedly, but Rose just shook her head in wonder. Ethan smiled at Becca happily, and Rose grinned knowingly while Megan just looked on innocently. I smiled at Conner and explained further.
"So, we are very comfortable with each other. We rarely keep secrets, the last one that was kept was my homosexuality and that was changed when I came out on Facebook two months ago, just before Halloween. I almost went as a male version of Rose Tyler, but I decided not to go instead."
Conner's interest was piqued as soon as I said I came out on Facebook, and the others noticed too. A new arrival, Noah, had heard what I said, and once again commended me.
"That took a lot of courage, man. We're all proud of you for that, and extremely sorry about all the flak you got from Sasha."
"Wait, who's Sasha?" Conner asked, the amount of questions he needed to ask piling up by the minute
"Did someone say my name?" A voice said from behind him. I looked up and saw that Sasha, the bane of my high school existence, had come to our table. He was average height, but taller than all but me at our table. His brown hair, slightly plus-sized figure and evil smirk were all things I had come to hate. The worst part was, he used to be more hated than me. This year, he only had to join the football team and start picking on me to basically get top spot at this school, just underneath the dynasty that was Daniel and Katherine's crew.
The others were very unwelcoming. Abby and Leo especially, since they had been there the most for my breakdown and bad times, including Sasha's torturing me.
Abby lashed out at him. "What on earth makes you think you are welcome at this table? You tortured Henry, Taylor and Becca, tried to get with me, and insult us every chance you get. What gives?"
"Well," Sasha replied, I thought I saw someone who would be a better fit with the jocks sitting at your table, with a fag, a bitch,a cripple, and some nobodies, so I thought he must have come to the wrong table. The jocks sit over with me, dude."
"Are you trying to imply something?" Rose asked. "You think I'm ashamed of my handicap? Well here's a news flash for you, mister. I am who I am, and so is everyone else at this table. We have our own lives, so why not just go back to your way too behind country who was lucky to host the Olympics after what happened. You are far behind the times, my friend, so can you please just go away?"
"Yeah," I chimed in, standing up next to her, "let us live our own lives, and if you have a problem just ignore us. Just because I'm gay doesn't give you the right to-"
I was cut off, because Sasha had had enough. He punched me full on in the jaw, then right in the gut, when I was completely unprepared. Conner, enraged, rose up and retaliated, breaking his nose. Rose cheered, but the teacher nearby, Mr. Werrentery was not amused. He walked over angrily, and spoke to us.
"Principal's office immediately, Mr. Shapiro, Mr. Walsh, Mr. Kent, and Ms. Wilson. I don't want your excuses."
Cornered, Sasha slumped his head, and the four of us grabbed our bags and went.