The entire morning, in Dollface's eyes, had been awful.

Completely, totally, and absolutely.

It started before the school day even began and continued from Markus's haircut to morning flag duty, which they were minutes late too, missing the breakfast period completely and tardy for flag.

It was like a Girl Scout Camp for the extremely wealthy and the desperate poor.

After everyone, many half-asleep and barely dressed in their mandatory uniforms, had stumbled into formation around the camp's flag pole, Dollface had received an infraction for not tucking her shirt into her pleated skirt properly. Upon further inspection, her shirt was wrinkled like it had been dumped from a bag and needed mending, adding another two infractions.

Dollface had received her uniform the week before during orientation and had been too busy with maintenance tasks, schedule setting and upcoming school preparations that she hadn't even had the chance to try them on.

Her shoes, also used, were scuffed and clunky, very doll-like.

Markus, a veteran of St. Godiva's, had no issues whatsoever with his specially-tailored boy's uniform, a pair of long gray shorts, a white shirt, and a vest to match the girl's uniforms.

Standing as straight as possible with the rest of the girls' wrestling team and Markus, Dollface had tried to keep a straight face.

Until she saw who was heading today's flag team.

Coach Afton.

She felt a gentle nudge in her ribs and turned without thinking to meet eyes with Tina, the girl's 165 heavyweight, who was biting back a smile, dark eyes glittering.

Gaz, a 125 midweight, was sharing the expression and pointed at Mikey, now leading in unfolding the flag, and giggled.

Markus, now curious, also craned over Dollface's shoulder.

Everyone held their breath as Kennie began whispering a line from Nicki Minaj's 'Anaconda'.

"This dude named Michael used to ride motorcycles-"

Barely able to survive the first line without snorting, Kennie handed over the next line to Kelly.

"It was bigger than a tower-"

"I ain't talkin' 'bout eiffel!"

All four wrestlers, now turning red, had joined in on the last line, now giggling and not even bothering to hold it in.

Dollface, while terrified of Mikey and desperate to be part of general locker room discussions, was now barely able to hold back her giggles upon seeing his confused face.

All four stomachs dropped when they realized that Principal Bucciaratti was standing right behind them.

All of them had detention AND had to face their extremely patriotic head wrestling coach.

After spending breakfast and first period English with the other offenders in the office, Dollface had slipped out for her second period music class.

Where she was late by fifteen minutes, had to tune in the hall, and received sheet music she could barely decipher.

After that was math, which was even worse considering she nearly flunked out of freshman year's algebra for dummies back home in Elmore.

What pushed it to the edge was that she was called out of the class to run across campus to the principal's office again to receive a phone call from home.

Just as she opened her mouth to beg her grandparents to take her home to Elmore and leave Regina behind, Dollface was informed that her dog had died the night before.

Shellshocked, Dollface had been escorted by secretary Martel back to her class, consoled with Funtum lollies and saccharine words of southern love.

Dollface, at the first chance, tossed her sucker into the trashcan.

No way was she gonna eat something with Ciel's name on it.

Now that she thought of it, Courage had shown up around the time her mother had even gotten pregnant with her…

Hmmmm...

A hand was placed in front of Dollface, setting down a scribbled note on her desk.

"Hi!"

Dollface stared at the hands. On each finger was a black, almond nail. The hands didn't look quite real.

While well-shaped, they looked like they'd been dipped in paint, and looked almost sculpted from silicone. Dollface's eyes trailed up the wrist, and saw that the arm was wearing two shirts; a school blouse with long sleeves, a black turtleneck underneath.

She supposed they were long underwear, but was unsure of why.

It wasn't cold enough yet.

Trailing up the neck, Dollface's eyes landed on the person's face and blushed.

"Go ahead, take it."

Eyes still on the face full of caked on makeup, Dollface fumbled around the splayed fingers and pulled up the note.

"Uhhh…"

"Sorry, bad handwriting!" She waved her hands, "I'm Frankie!"

Dollface looked away from the note.

Frankie had wide, mismatched eyes and stripey hair.

Dollface had always wanted to dye her hair, but Gramma wouldn't let her.

Frankie gave out her hand, "I'm Frankie, they/them!"

"They… tham?"

"My pronouns!" Frankie said, "What are yours?"

Dollface gulped, "Guess I never really thought much of 'em…"

"That's ok!" Frankie said, "Markus said you were cool!"

Frankie swung into a chair next to Dollface.

Dollface looked away, a glimpse of Frankie's legs making her turn bright red when their skirt had flipped up a bit.

Frankie's legs were covered by custom green and blue patchwork leggings, feet shod in black and white striped platforms that matched their waist-length hair.

"Aw, what's up?" Frankie leaned over Dollface's shoulder, smiling, "Nervous? I'm new at school too!"

Dollface covered her mouth, ears burning.

"Well, I was new last year!" Frankie said, giggling, "I'm only two y- a junior now!"

Dollface glanced at Frankie again, their face very, very close to hers. She noticed a large scar ripped diagonally across Frankie's square face, slicing it in half and uneven. Frankie's face was unnaturally symmetrical despite the heterochromia and strange scar. They were very uncanny, Dollface had only seen models with faces so perfect.

"I'm a sophomore." Dollface said.

Could she get a nosebleed from this?

Frankie put an arm around Dollface's shoulders, "I think we should hang out- Markus said you were cool!"

"Oh, I, uh, I'm not exactly…"

"Queer?"

Dollface turned red, "I wouldn't say that, e-exactly…"

"Queerness is queer!"

"Well, I meant…"

"You're not transsexual?" Frankie asked.

"Well, maybe, I haven't really thought much 'bout it…"

Frankie leaned back, "Queer isn't just about gender, y'know."

"Oh, I figured…" Dollface said. She toyed with the hem of her skirt, "...That it was a bad word…"

"It's only a bad word if you let it!" Frankie laughed, "I'm queer in every way there is, and I think it's a beautiful word!"

Dollface shivered, feeling a crackle of electricity running up her arm.

Frankie scooted away from Dollface.

Dollface was disappointed but didn't pursue further.

Frankie exuded happiness. Bright pink cheeks, purple and blue eyeshadow to mach their eyes, and red lipstick that was lined with a color almost black.

Dollface burned, butterflies swirling in her stomach.

"So, I'm here because I wanted to ask you if ya wanted to hang out soon," Frankie said, "My friends and I are having a bit of a party soon, and I heard you were cool."

"Cool?" Dollface said, not quite believing it. Frankie was a cool kid. They wore designer shoes and expensive perfume and hung out with Cleo, Clawdeen, and Draculauara, three of the top dogs in the school.

"I-I'm really not-" Dollface stuttered, "I've always been kind of a freak..."

Frankie punched Dollface's arm, making her heart stammer and pound, "New school, new you! Let the freak flag fly!"

Dollface let out a startled, high-pitched laugh; she quickly stopped, hands over mouth, suddenly embarrassed.

Frankie stared at her for a few seconds, both gauging each others reactions.

Frankie then let out a loud laugh, eyes squeezing shut. Dollface uttered a laugh, then began a real one. She'd never been so girl-crazy in her life! She couldn't help but wonder how well Regina was holding up, seeing as her twin was a nervous wreck around Izzy and friends!

Dollface sat back, staring at the note.

"Look, Markus will probably take you, day-of," Frankie instructed, "It starts after dinner for my friends and I, since we're hosting, but you guys can come anytime after seven."

Frankie squeezed Dollface around the shoulders again and stood up, leaning heavily on their crutches. The crutches were covered with skull stickers and Sharpie doodles that matched their prosthetic leg.

Frankie looked back to Dollface and smiled, "See ya then?"

Dollface nodded, sweaty hands holding onto the note for dear life.

Frankie grinned, "Can't wait!"

Maybe this hadn't been too bad a morning?