TW self-harm, mentioning of eating disorder

"So basically, when you put (3X)=15, you have to..."

Leo zoned out after that. Didn't they learn this in middle school anyway? He tried to focus, but couldn't take this class seriously. He knew school teaches stuff he didn't have to use in real life, like algebra, which he already knew. The reason he couldn't focus was probably because of the ADHD, since he forgot to take his medicine that morning.

"Mr. Valdez." The teacher called out. "May you please answer this?" She pointed at the blackboard.

"Didn't we learn this in middle school?" Leo asked, knowing the answer.

"Yes." The teacher answered. "But clearly none of you remember."

"X is five, then." Leo answered, then going back to building a bird. He would name it Joe, so when someone asked him who Joe was, he could just say: "Joe mama!"

It was basic, not that funny as it used to be, but he thought it was funny.

Mrs. Gingerbread looked at him, like she was surprised that Leo, out of all people, remembered and could the answer. Everyone looked at Leo as a stupid guy that joked around all the time. But Leo was actually pretty smart. His score on the mensa test he took was really high, but no one exept his mom knew about it. Well, she was dead. So no one exept him, but still.

"OK then." Mrs. Gingerbread said. "Looks like your mother raised you well. Wait, I forgot, she's... you know..." She raised an eyebrow.

Leo felt anger boil inside of him. No one talked about his mother. No one. He stormed out of the classroom, his face red. Luckily Piper and Jason weren't there.

But Dylan, a guy with tan skin and teeth to white to be real, heard it. And now he would probably spread rumors about his dead mom saying she was an alcholic or something.

He ran to his dorm, and took his knife out from under his bed. His roommate still had classes, so it would be fine. Just one time. He had to do this, he haven't in a long time. He took his knife and some bandage to the bathroom, and stood next to the sink. He washed the knife , just in case he didn't wash it last time, so he wouldn'tget infected. He breathed out, and laid the knife against his skin.

"Sorry mom." He whispered, and drew the knife across his arm. It did hurt, but Leo have been trough enough. But still he flinched at the pain. After a while of the pain, he washed the knife and wrapped it in a towel. He wrapped the bandages around his arm and took down the sleeve. He got back to the room, and layed the knife under his bed. He closed his eyes, thinking about how he could run away. Away from his problems, once again.

Leo woke up in a strawberry field, in a place he have never seen before. Was that a lava wall? He looked around seeing kids running away with... swords.

He decided to explore a bit. He walked towards a big blue mansion he saw in the distance. None of the kids saw him , something that he thought was kind of wierd. He saw a girl with curly, blonde hair sit next to a guy with black hair. Next to them sat a guy with... goat legs. Leo was kind of confused, and figured this was a dream. Then the scene shifted. Leo was in the werehouse his mother died. It was burned to ground.

"Remeber me?" A voice asked. Leo turned around, but right before he saw the face, he woke up, panting. He looked around, and saw his roommate was fast asleep. He decided to go back to sleep, but he couldn't.

The next morning was Saturday, meaning it was weekend. Leo walked around the school yard, hoping couch hedge wasn't there, to order him to take fifty pushups. He was lost in his thoughts while he ate an apple, so he didn't notice Piper and Jason coming his way.

"Hey Valdez." Piper said.

Leo looked up. "Bruh, where did you come from?"

"What do you mean?" Jason asked, confused.

Leo rolled his eyes, and looked up at jason and Piper, that stood above him.

"Who are you going to the dance with?" Piper asked. "Jason and I are going together."

Jason nodded in agreement. Leo nodded, knowing he would probably be the thirdwheel again. "I'm not going with anyone, I mean, maybe I can, like be the third wheel or something," Leo answered, taking another bite of his apple. He probably wouldn't eat much more. Considering how srawny he was, he should, but he had problems eating. Especially since Theresa almost killed him. Piper and Jason nodded. "I mean," Leo said. "I am the coolest person in the world, like, right after that kid that blew up schools. What was his name again? Peter? Percy? I don't remember."

Piper chuckled, and sat down next to Leo.

"You're a wierd, little guy, you know."

Leo pretended to be hurt. "Little? I'm a big man!"

Jason rolled his eyes and sat next to Piper.

"Welp, I have a project I have to finish till Monday," Leo lied, and walked back to his dorm.