(Welcome to East High)
Richard Bowen sits in the waiting room of the principal's office for his first day at East High. His parents had recently split and Richard has chosen to live with his dad in Utah which means transferring schools in between his high school years. While Richard looks around in the quiet waiting room, he notices quick movement behind the translucent glass of the principals office. The door opens and an older gentleman, suit and tie, steps out to greet him.
"Richard Bowen." He calls and nods for him to come inside. As Richard takes his seat, he notices another girl sitting next to him. She has tanned skin, dark brown long hair and dark eyes, she also appears to keep to herself.
"Richard," Principal Matsui begins. "You're not the only new transfer student at East High this year. This is Gabriella Montez." He explains and gestures to the quiet girl, slowly looking up to meet his gaze. "Our student counsellor recommends that because you guys are 'in this together', it would be good if you got to know each other. Find a friend in one another." He finishes.
"Hi, I'm Ricky" Ricky whispers, holding out a hand to Gabriella.
"Gabriella. Nice to meet you" She responds, reaching out.
"Likewise." Ricky counters.
"Excellent!" Principal Matsui interrupts. "Now let's get down to business. As you two have different schedules, I've paired you up with a couple of star pupils to show you around. They should be waiting for you as you leave."
Principal Matsui guides them out of his office, leaving them alone. It's quiet. Gabriella doesn't look around too much but Ricky is trying to find where to go next. In the hallway just outside he sees a couple of students having a conversation. The girl is of average height like Ricky, long dark straight hair and brown eyes. She's leaning against some lockers face-to-face to a taller guy. Ricky can't stop looking at him; 5'9", chestnut fluffy medium cut hair, cut jawline, and a well defined, athletic body.
"I think they're our guides." Ricky alludes, pointing them out to Gabriella.
As they walk out into the hall, the two students look towards them.
"Oh, you guys must be new transfer students." The guy exclaims, almost entrancing Ricky with his bright blue eyes.
"Yes. I'm Gabriella and this is Ricky." Gabriella explains.
"Nice to meet you guys!" The girl says perkily. "My name is Nina, though you can just call me Nini. This is Troy, our star basketball player at East High." Nini sets out.
"Basketball huh?" Ricky finally snaps out of his trance.
"Yeah! Do you play?" Troy asks, excited.
"No. I would want to go to a couple of games though." Ricky replies, trying to lighten Troy's clear frown.
A minute or so of awkward silence goes by.
"Okay so..." Nini begins to get the ball rolling. "Gabriella, you and I have the same schedule today so I'll take you around. You boys also share most of your classes together" She calls to Ricky, speechless
"Me and Troy? Yeah...okay sure!" Ricky's face flushes with embarrassment. The quartet says goodbye to one another and split into their respective pairs.
Troy takes Ricky around the common areas; all the corridors, his & Troy's locker, Ricky's next class, the cafeteria, the theatre, and finally ends at the Gym.
"So tell me about yourself Rick." Troy questions, leading Ricky through the massive gymnasium.
"Uhh not much. Mom and Dad split just over the break and I've had to transfer schools with my dad moving down here." He answers.
"What do you like to do? Obviously not basketball. " Troy laughs.
"Yeah haha I've never been in sports. They're interesting but all of my friends want to sit around and play video games so I never got the chance." Ricky quiet down, thinking back to all my friends he left behind. "I skate though." He finish positively.
"Skating? Nice man." Troy says. "You know I can be your new skating buddy if you show me the ropes." He stops and looks at Ricky waiting for a response, frozen.
"Uhhh...yeah I mean only if you wanted to." Ricky answers, skittish. "Maybe you can show me some basketball moves." He blurt out. Troy smiles and laughs at him.
"Okay deal."
Troy finishes his tour in the locker room. The rows of benches, showers and cubicles housing 30 lockers reek of sweat. They walk past a teachers office 'COACH BOLTON' and head straight into one of the locker cubicles.
"Sorry I just have training next so I'm going to change into my jersey." Troy explains to Ricky while he takes a seat and waits. Ricky cannot help side-eying Troy as he strips revealing a well muscled back. Troy, shirtless, reaches into his locker and pulls out his Wildcat jersey. As Troy puts on his jersey, he turns to Ricky just catching his eyes staring at his washboard abs before Ricky quickly looks away.
"Okay, all done." Troy breaks the silence, while silently smirking at catching Ricky's goggly eyes. "You now have Math so head to the classroom that I showed you and it should all be good." Troy explains as Ricky packs his things and begins to walk out. "Hey Ricky!" Troy shouts and he turns. "After class meet me at the staircase right next to the Principal's office. I have something to show you."
Ricky nods, wanting to get out of there quick, wants to stop thinking about Troy. He heads to his first official class at East High.