I've been writing this in my head for a while now so, fair warning, this story will be a long one. There's a lot that needs to play out even from the first chapter so bare with this novice here.

Rick tapped his worn out cowboy boot furiously on the shiny white tiles. His eyes were starting to glaze over from staring at the principal's office door for so long.

The receptionist had abandoned his post to go print out Rick and his little brother's schedules, leaving Rick with nothing to do but to sit in the green scratchy armchair and stare at the door.

He had forgotten what it felt like, being at school. The cool wide halls lined with navy lockers, bright classrooms filled with rows of graffitied desks. You could almost smell the anxiety in the air. Today was the first day back for him and his brother, but for everyone else, school had been a stark reality for two months.

Two months. Enough time to memorize your way to classes, enough time to find a group of friends, enough time to claim where your group eats lunch...enough time to mourn.

Rick would have been fine with this prospect of being two months behind if it meant that his best friend and girlfriend would be by his side. But of course, during the summer the school board decided to screw up his senior year and redistrict his friends to East Linden High.

Although Rick wasn't exactly on the strongest of terms with his friends, the whole integration would have been a lot easier with Shane and Lori by his side. Now the stereotypical image of eating lunch alone in a restroom stall flashed in his mind.

The aggressive rap music coming out of his little brother's earphones snapped Rick out of his thoughts. He shook is head at the gangling sophomore, lounging comfortably on the identical armchair across the room. Rick wondering how the hell Jeff hadn't managed to burst his eardrums yet.

Rick and Jeff rose from their armchairs as the door to the principal's office swung open, Principal Greene and Rick's mom stepped out.

Rick's mom turned to Mr. Greene, "Thanks for being so understanding Hershel."

Rick was taken aback to see the principal, mostly due to his resemblance to Santa Claus. The last time Rick had seen Mr. Greene he was cleanly shaved and was absent of a ponytail.

"Of course Lena, don't worry about your boys, I'll be keeping my eye on them."

Rick and Jeff exchanged apprehensive looks across the room. "This is an important time for them," continued Mr. Greene, "it's vital they don't miss any more school."

"Absolutely." said Rick's mom just as the receptionist arrived to give out Rick and Jeff's passes and schedules.

After a record time of just five minutes of that famous southern small talk, the Grimes walked back out into the hall.

Rick's mom fumbled in her bag, looking for car keys, "I'll see you boys at home alright? If something happens, call your dad and he'll come and get you."

"We'll be fine," assured Rick, kissing their mother on the cheek, "See you at home."

Waving to their mother as she left the school, Rick felt the reality of his situation sink in.

Jeff lightly punched him in the arm, "Why do you look like someone shat in your cereal this morning?"

"Watch your mouth, man."

"Fine. Why do you look like someone defecated in your cereal?"

"You're such an idiot."

Rick sighed. "Well let's see, my girlfriend and best friend are at a different school. I have about thirty more scholarships to apply for before the end of the month and I'm two months behind in all my classes. That's a quick list for you."

Jeff dramatically rolled his eyes. "Well, I'm behind too! And don't act like Daryl isn't going to hang out with you this year." He paused, contemplating his next words, "Besides, it's not like you and Lori were exactly lovey-dovey the last time y'all were together."

Rick blinked, recognizing the weight of his words. "You heard us?"

"Well duh! I'm surprised the whole town didn't."

Rick couldn't help but agree. He thought back to his shouting match with Lori a few weeks ago, it was the worst they had ever fought.

Rick looked at Jeff questionably, "You never said anything."

"If you wanted to talk to me you would have." Jeff said, hitting him in the face with the same words he had said to Lori.

"Whatever," Rick glanced down at his watch,"The bell is gonna ring, we should get to class." Side by side they walked down the hall and split into their separate classrooms.