Jack was having a shit day.

The sky was cheerful without a single cloud, freshly cut grass filled his senses and the gentle desert breeze brushed against his skin.

'Yes,' Jack thought 'today is total crap.'

The facts were simple, this was his 7th time moving in his high school life. He fully knew they would be leaving this place just like all the rest.

Glaring at the offending weather he just could tell this day was going to be a disaster. 'First days are always the same, no matter the place' he grumbled to himself.

Not even bothering to act as if he cares, he slumps over, adjusts his bag, and slips into the gaggle of students. He could feel the stares, the curiosity that the locals had for the new student. 'Why did we have to move to a pint-size town again anyway?' he groused. Larger schools, larger places didn't care if they saw a new face. New faces were the norm, can't know everyone in cities, not like mom-and-pop-run towns can. He knew for a fact they probably all knew everything. By everything, they know his address, his mom, his fatherlessness, and probably were concocting stories all over again. It has happened before. Different places and times but it still happened before. People talk and others listen. Human nature. He just didn't want to deal with it this time.

Breathing in deep he took in the lack of deodorant that the air needed. 'Guess all high schools smell the same.' That thought brought a small smile to his lips.

"Who knew the smell of body odor could be familiar." He breathed under his breath.


Rumors were always something Miko loved to listen to. They were stories others came up with that were always fun. Not like class. She prefers to draw or hear a story.

Today there was an interesting rumor circulating. Jasper had a new family in town. They lived in town, right on the edge. Josie Rainer was walking her dog when she noticed the moving truck and the for rent sign gone. She decided to 'greet the neighbors' as the story went. She learned from observing that they had a teen boy and only his mother lived with him.

This was the original story. The only reason Miko knew it was because she and Josie were in detention together that day. Josie had run out of things to talk about so she told her.

The original story was so boring. Miko could care less that some random people moved here. Hello, she was a Japanese exchange student. She chose to move here for school. She came for freedom and change. She came for all she could do in America, for the American high school experience. She was getting it. Half the things she did here would get her expelled in her home country. The schools here are way more fun.

By the time Miko heard the story again, it evolved in many ways. This random boy went from being a serial killer to a millionaire trying to run from his money. The rumors were endless and all different. Her personal favorite was that he was an alien who escaped area 51.

'The idea of aliens was just so cool,'' she thought to herself as she entered her 5th-period art class. Art class was the only class she willingly goes to. She may not be good but she sure tries.

Sitting in her seat she barely noticed that someone sat at the empty desk next to her. She always had an empty desk by her in art class, on both sides, it was a fact. It wasn't because people disliked her, no, many liked her. She was just very 'passionate' with art, as her teacher put it. Miko would just say she was messy. Paint often goes everywhere so fellow students avoid the splash zone.

Turning her head she was about to say something when she realized who sat next to her.

Mr. Alien himself. She knew it from his description. Black hair, pale skin, and tall. Sure, many could fit that description, but she also didn't know him so he had to be new.

Smirking to herself, she just shook her head. 'Today was going to be a great day,' she thought as a gleeful grin covered her face.


Being small was the worst, but there was worse. Being small, young, and smart happened to be the perfect combination to attract bullies. Rafael just happened to be the lucky person to get this treatment during his 5-minute break between classes.

Raf was used to it. Nothing new. That doesn't mean it doesn't suck though. Vince and his cronies had the enjoyment of playing keep-away with his bag. Being a little over 12 years old, Raf had no way to get it back. He even gave up reacting because of how frequently this occurred. Vince never seemed to get bored of this idiotic game.

By the time they dropped his bag the bell already rang. Sighing to himself he picked up the bag and trudged to class. 'If only... If only I wasn't small.' He yelled at himself while white-knuckling his backpack straps.

'No, you need to not let them affect you' he chided breathing in a calming breath. His spirits perked up when he realized his 6th period was Calculus. He loved math and was good at it. His brain just worked that way.

Walking into the doors the teacher didn't even stop talking to the class. He only gave Raf an understanding look and motioned for him to sit. Raf, not one to cause a scene, rushed to an empty desk.

Bringing out his supplies he realized he was missing his pencil pouch. Smacking his head, he remembered he left it in his locker. Vince stole it once so he made sure to keep it safe. That precaution backfired.

In the middle of his freak out, he felt a tap on his arm then a simple pencil appeared in his sight. Slowly he took it.

Turning to thank his neighbor, his words died in his throat. Eyes huge under his glasses, he couldn't understand what he was looking at. All he could think was 'color'.

It wasn't his most intelligent thought but it defined the tall teen next to him. His clothes, face, and hair were covered in random splatters of paint in a rainbow of colors. You could see the areas he tried to rub the paint off his skin. The smears just made it stranger. You could hardly tell his hair color with all the paint and his clothes were goners.

Raf realized he was gaping like a fish. The colorfully teen simply turned and gave him a small smile before taping his notebook and pointing to the board.

Raf has never been so confused in his life.