[Ty's POV]
It was hectic at my house on the first day of school. My mom was yelling at everyone to get ready, trying to make everyone lunches (except me of course), and then finally tried to tackle the challenge of my hair. I screamed as she pulled the brush through it. It felt like she was going to pull the hair right off my head. "Ty, one day I'm going to shave this head of yours!" she said as she yanked the brush down again.
"You don't have to brush it!" I whined.
"I wouldn't have to brush it if you had short hair."
"But I look bad with short hair!"
"Tyler, you've never had short hair in your life. Now go get your clothes on. And I swear if you come out of your room again with that headset, it's going straight in the trash!"
I sigh as I walk to my room. It's not my fault that the headset is the last thing I have to remember my dad by. When he left for a trip two years ago, he never came back. The plane crashed down in the ocean. According to the news no one survived that they found. Ever since then I wore the headset everywhere. It obviously embarrassed my mom. She hates my headset almost as much as she hates me, and that's saying a lot.
I changed my clothes and slipped my headset in my backpack where my mom wouldn't see it. I'd put it on once I got to school.
A small knock came from outside my door. "Can I come in Ty?" Natalie whispered. Ever since I came back from the dragon's lair, she's been super nice to me. She helped me when I was frustrated and played with me when I was lonely. When dad died, she was the only one who comforted me.
Anyway, Natalie walked into my room and plopped herself down on my bed. "Are you ready for your first day of kindergarten Ty?" I shook my head. "Why not? It's loads of fun!"
"I'm just afraid that no one will like me," I say to the floor.
Natalie punched me lightly on the shoulder. "Hey, you'll make some friends. I was scared too at first. But I got there and I loved it!"
"Yeah, but people here already liked you."
She stood up and gave me a hug. "Ty, I don't know why mom, Caleb, Kylee and Jamie don't like you. But just because don't like you doesn't mean other people won't."
"Natalie, Ty! We need to get going!" my mom screamed from the kitchen.
Natalie zipped up my backpack and put it on my back. "C'mon. I'll walk you to your classroom."
After the awkward fifteen minute car ride of everyone else talking about school and me staring out the window in the back, we finally arrived. The twins, Kylee and Jamie, hopped out of the car first, mom trying to hug them as they headed off to their fifth grade class. Natalie helped me out next. My mom kissed Natalie goodbye then glared at me. "You better not get into any trouble Ty. Got it?"
I nodded then she drove away. I turned around and stared at the building. It's a lot bigger then I remember. Was it always this big? It seemed like a giant brick monster, ready to swallow me up. A cold shiver went down my spine. I looked at Natalie. "I don't wanna go inside," I stated.
She just chuckled and took my hand. "Ty, I promise it'll be okay. The school isn't really that scary. Here," she reached into my backpack and slipped the headset on me. "Maybe this will help."
I smiled at the familiar weight on my head. "Well, it helps a little."
"So are you ready to go in now?"
"Nuh uh."
She started dragging me towards the door. "Well, too bad. You don't have a choice."
Natalie led me down long hallways until we got to a door at the end of one. The wooden door was open with a sign above it that read 'Welcome to Kindergarten!'
I glanced at Natalie. "Do I really need to go in?"
She smiled and squeezed my hand. "You'll be fine." She led me into the room, which had six round tables, a carpet and whiteboard in the corner, baskets of toys and walls covered with cheesy posters. A couple kids were playing with the toys, but other than that and a cheery woman with short brown hair the room was vacant.
The woman finally spotted me and Natalie. A huge smile spread across her face. "Natalie! How are you?" She walked over to us.
Natalie returned the smile. "I'm doing great Mrs. Diaz. I'm just dropping off my brother before I go to the third grade room."
Mrs. Diaz bent down to my height and smiled. "Hi there! What's your name?"
"Ty." I said quietly.
"Well Ty, I think you're gonna like it here. We do lots of fun things!" She glanced at my headset. "But I'm afraid that your sister is gonna have to take that so it doesn't get broken, okay?"
I grabbed the headset protectively and shook my head. "N-no!"
Natalie put a hand on my shoulder. "Sorry Mrs. Diaz." She lowered her voice to a whisper. "Our dad gave it to him before he died. It gives him comfort."
Mrs. Diaz nodded understandingly. "I see. Well Ty, you can wear the headphones, but you can't take them off. Alright?" I nodded.
Natalie gave me a quick hug then headed off to her class. Mrs. Diaz told me I could do whatever I wanted to until class started, which was in in ten minutes. I thought about playing with the other kids, but I chickened out. Why did I have to be so shy!? I finally settled on coloring at a table by myself.
I watched as kids came into the classroom then immediately went over to the toy area, completely ignoring me. I counted about fourteen of them who did that. Class started in a couple minutes, and according to Mrs. Diaz there was only one kid missing. He walked in with his parents about a minute after she said that.
The kid had wavy brown hair and green eyes. He wore a space shirt and couldn't look more excited about coming to school. He hugged his mom and dad goodbye and I looked back down at my paper, expecting to walk right past me like all the rest. But he didn't. Instead he plopped himself in the chair right next to me. "Hi!"
I glanced at him. "Hi."
"I'm Jason! What's your name?"
"Ty."
"Whatcha drawing?"
"Something." I was actually drawing me and Natalie with my dad hugging us.
"It looks cool!" Jason commented.
"Thanks."
"You don't like to talk much, do you?" I shrugged in reply.
"Alright, kids!" Mrs. Diaz called from across the room. "Time to start class! Put all the toys away!"
I shoved my crayons and paper into my backpack and walked over to the carpet, Jason trailing behind me.
-Timeskip to after class cuz I'm pretty sure we all went to kindergarten-
After Mrs. Diaz finished reading the book during story time (it was about some kid named David and how he had a problem with cleaning his room. Seriously? You think that's a problem? Try having wings and a tail), she told us it was time to go play outside. I headed out along with the twenty other kids in my class.
We were the only class outside, so everyone rushed to the playground, excited that they wouldn't have to wait for the big kids to play. I just plopped myself on the grass and watched the others. After a while, Jason walked over and sat next to me. "Do you want to come play with us Ty?"
"No thanks. I'm a little shy."
"Oh. Okay."
I thought he would go back to the other kids, but he stayed right next to me. "Aren't you gonna go and play?" I asked him.
He shook his head. "I don't wanna just leave you alone. You might be shy, but no one likes to be alone."
"You can leave. It's okay. I'm used to being alone anyways."
He looked at me with concern. "Is that why you're so sad?"
"What?"
"I don't know. You just always look kinda sad."
I took off my headset and started playing with it. "My dad died in a plane crash and my family doesn't like me. I just feel worthless."
Jason stared at me. "Wow. Why doesn't your family like you?"
I shrugged. "I've been trying to figure that out myself."
"Well, I sorta understand how you feel to have someone you love die," he said.
"How? You were with your parents earlier."
He shook his head. "I'm adopted. Both of my parents died two years ago. Kelly found me and took me in." A tear rolled down his cheek. "I love Kelly and Dan, but they're always really busy and don't have a lot of time for playing with me. I miss my real mom and dad."
I hesitantly put a hand on his shoulder. "I guess we're both alone in a way."
Jason smiled gratefully. "Do you think we can be friends so we're both less alone?"
I shrugged. "Sure, I guess."
"Okay then…" He poked me in the arm. "Tag, you're it!" He ran to the playground.
I smirked and ran after him. "Hey! Get back here!"
I played with Jason the rest of the day and we became pretty close. I even let him wear my headset. When the school day ended, Jason and I kept playing while we waited for our parents to get to the classroom.
"Jason!" A woman walked over and hugged him.
He hugged her back. "Hi Kelly! This is my friend Ty." I waved shyly. "Can we have him over sometime?" Jason asked.
Kelly smiled. "Sure. I'll talk to his mom about getting you two together. But I need to get back to the university now. C'mon Jason."
Jason grabbed her hand as she led him out. He turned around and waved to me, "Bye Ty! See ya tomorrow!"
I waved back and watched them walk away. Then I was alone again. I sighed and went back to my drawing. It'd be awhile until Natalie would show up. I finished my drawing when I felt a hand on my shoulder. "That's an awesome picture Ty."
I smiled at my sister. "Thanks. It's you, me, and dad." I picked it up and handed it to her. "Here. I made it for you."
She hugged me and took the drawing. "Thanks Ty. I know just where I'll put it. We should get going. Mom's probably waiting for us outside." We said goodbye to Mrs. Diaz and walked out of the room. "So how was your first day of school Ty?" She asked as we walked.
"It was great," I responded immediately.
She nudged me in the shoulder. "See? I told you would like school. Did you make any friends?"
"Yeah! His name is Jason and he's really nice. His mom said that we could play together sometime."
"That's awesome Ty."
A car beeped in the parking lot. "Ty! Natalie! Let's go!" Mom of course.
We got in the car and squeezed in the back. People talked about their days at school and I stared out the window again. "Ty made a friend!" Natalie randomly announced.
Caleb laughed. "Please. Ty, making friends? No one likes him. Even if he did make any friends, they're either fake or paid to do it." Everyone in the car laughed except me and Natalie.
"Jason is too my friend!" I snapped. "He said so himself!"
Caleb leaned over to Jamie. "Yep. Definitely fake."
Natalie patted my shoulder. "It's okay Ty. As long as you know Jason's your friend."
I grinned. Yeah. As long as I know Jason is my friend, what do I care what my family thinks. I'm just glad I have a friend.
(This isn't my best work DX. Sorry about that. It's just a little filler and a bit rushed. But hey, Ty and Jason met! Yay :D)
