The Spy and the Sniper
Chapter 2
((AN: so im really bad at sitting down and writing? and actually uploading the 2nd chapter in a reasonable time limit uh? please don't hate me. butut I finally finished it so maybe that makes up for the wait! wont they get mad at me for neglecting to upload the next chapter for like five hundred million thousand gazillion years? *waves hand dismissively as my nervous laughter fades into sobbing* no but seriously, enjoy!))
This was the day that Dave Strider went to his first day of school.
The local high school wasn't particularly hard to find. It was the largest building in this area and you lived fairly close to it. There was a bus stop just up the street from your house, but sitting in a giant yellow vehicle crammed full of a bunch of puberty stricken kids hardly seemed like a pleasant experience. And so, you found yourself striding (heh) down the sidewalk on your way to your first day of school in a new town.
Normally, this would have been no big deal. If it were the beginning of the school year that is. But no, it was right smack dab in the middle of the second quarter. You would be the "new kid", shoved into a school full of kids who had known each other forever. Everyone here would have already made friends, formed groups that would have no room for you. You're probably over reacting, but that's who you are.
With any luck, you can make it as a cool kid recluse, it's probably best to stay out of everyone's way anyways. You can act like you don't care and that will be that. You'll just have to survive a couple more years and then you can get out of here. Until then, you're stuck in this one horse town. You reach up and readjust your shades. Breath Strider, you can do this.
The school has come into view now, and you have to take a moment to stop and have a mild break down. You are the coolest of cool kids. Ever. In the world. You've got this. You straighten up and start walking again, making your way to the front doors. You can see some other kids now, walking alone or in groups, all heading into the school.
You put on your poker face and follow them through the doors.
Only to duck to the side and have another mild breakdown. This is so un-cool you think to yourself. But as much as you hate to admit it, you really want to be accepted. You want to make friends and laugh and talk and do teenager stuff. Come on Dave, you think staring blankly at the white concrete wall. What are you even freaking out over, it's not that bad. You're so cool, you're sure these lamos will flock to you. You'll have friends in no time, you just need to relax. You can hear more kids coming through the doors, talking to there friends and walking past you without a care in the world.
One group in particular though, stands out to you. Mostly because they're laughing. Who laughs like that at seven o'clock in the morning? its just not normal you think trying to hear them better. Whatever the joke was is over, and now they're just laughing. One has a small polite laugh, obviously a girl. Another, a girly childish giggle. One legitimately /guffaws/. Other assorted laughs ring in your ears, making up the group. But one manages to be louder, more whole hearted, dorkier.
You would recognize that laugh anywhere.
You spin around to find yourself face to face with the one string of good luck you've managed all morning. John Egbert. You stride (heh pun intended) over to the group, slightly pushing past a taller, tan boy, and throw your arm around John's shoulders.
"Sup Egbert." you say in a flippant tone. He looks up at you, the remains of a goofy grin still on his lips, obviously confused.
"Wha- oh! Dave!" he grins up at you. He's a lot shorter than you and has to look up when he speaks. "What's up?"
"Oh you know, just being cool..." smooth Dave, "What about you? How's your ankle?" you say nodding towards the boy's feet. He looks down at his ankle then back up at you.
"Its good, I'm tough!" he giggles, pulling up the edge of his pant leg revealing an ace bandage. You wince, trying (and failing) to cover it up with a smirk. As far as you know, the boy still doesn't know it was you who shot him out of his window and you would like it to stay that way.
"I'm glad." you say, removing your arm from around the smaller boys shoulders as you realize it had been resting there throughout this conversation. Smooth Dave.
"What happened to your ankle John?" the taller boy you had previously shoved out of the way practically shrieked. He had a British accent and hair just as black as John's that swooped up from his forehead. You already didn't like him.
First of all he was loud and obnoxious and he totally just pushed you out of his way to get a better look at Egbert's ankle. You glare at him from behind your shades before realizing it won't do any good as he can't see your eyes. These shades are a blessing and a curse.