It was the evening of September 11, 2023, as the clock struck 6:30 PM, Nate's attention reluctantly shifted from his treasured notebook. It was filled with his latest creation, "Dr. Cesspool," a comic that brought to life a part-time surgeon and a part-time lumberjack. With a sigh, Nate closed his notebook, setting it aside with a sense of accomplishment and a tinge of excitement for the night ahead. Shedding his pajamas and donning his old clothes, he carefully selected his outfit for the middle school debut party. His attire included his father's vintage suit, its fabric worn but imbued with sentimental value, a pair of his old blue ripped jeans, and a clip-on Three Stooges tie, which he had gotten for a discounted price due to a stain that Nate considered a bargain.

"Dad, I'm heading to the middle school debut party!" Nate's voice echoed through the house as he descended the stairs.

His father, immersed in the act of slicing carrots for dinner, responded with mild surprise. "I thought you said those school parties were a waste of time!"

"Yeah, well, I thought it would be a good way to check out my new classmates!" Nate explained, opening the front door. "Besides, Francis arrived today, it would be great to meet and catch up with him!"

"Okay, take care, and be home by 9:00!" his Dad called out while slicing some carrots.

"Oh wait," Nate muttered, gently starting to close the door. "I forgot you wanted me to help you unpack our luggage," he remembered.

His father smiled. "I don't remember saying that," he replied.

Nate paused. "I must have had you mixed up with somebody else then," Nate said, rolling his eyes as he shut the front door.

Before leaving, Nate made a quick detour to the garden that faced the kitchen window.

"Thanks, Dad," Nate said gratefully through the window before disappearing down the street.

Nate's Dad smiled, waved his hand, and returned to cooking.

As Nate skateboarded down the street, the wheels gliding over the gritty pavement, he found himself immersed in the serenity of the evening. The vibrant hues of the sunset painted the sky, casting a warm golden glow that enveloped the neighborhood. The cool evening breeze danced through the air, gently rustling Nate's hair, creating a symphony of whispers that seemed to carry the promise of new beginnings. Rackleff was not the wealthiest or most modern city, it had an lonely, bitter-cold atmosphere.

Nate accelerated, feeling fortunate to have discovered that his new school was only 15 minutes away from his house. "I need to seize every opportunity," Nate thought.

Nate had gained a reputation among his previous classmates and teachers as "Mr. Detention" due to his tendency to receive at least one detention every day. Most of the time, he wasn't intentionally seeking trouble; it always seemed as though trouble found him. Therefore, the proximity of his middle school was a stroke of luck as it reduced the chances of him being late to some extent.

Zipping across Pepper Street, Nate turned left onto Haywood Avenue and crossed the bridge over Beard's Creek, which was more of a swamp and rubbish dump than a creek. "Comin' thru!" Nate warned as he glided across the bridge and entered the district of Twenty-One, home to the public and his new school, PS. 38.

Navigating the final stretch of his journey, Nate stopped at a crosswalk, taking a moment to look both ways. The school still loomed in the distance, and the uneven sidewalk made skateboarding impractical. Luckily, he spotted a white jeep heading towards the school. He waited for the jeep to approach, then skillfully maneuvered his skateboard and hitched it onto the back bumper of the jeep. "Much better than those expensive taxi rides," Nate thought, a satisfied grin adorning his face.

A few minutes later, as the jeep slowed down, Nate let go and gracefully glided into the gates of his new school. On the large billboard at the entrance, a message read: "Welcome back, PS. 38 6th Grade students." Next to it, a sign that looked like it was made way back during one of the wars his previous teacher Mr. Gib's taught him: "PS. 38 Founded February 7, 1912."

"So even older than I thought," Nate said to himself.

Casually strapping his skateboard to his back, Nate joined the flurry of students making their way into the school. He stopped just outside the cafeteria, where the party was in full swing. Unlike the entrance and his old primary school, which were old and underdeveloped, PS. 38 appeared as a bustling middle school, brimming with energy. The cafeteria was adorned with stickers and doodles, while the walls of the lounge showcased artwork and educational posters. Bulletin boards displayed upcoming events and student achievements. The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation, social dynamics, and occasional hints of chaos.

"Hey, Nate!" Someone called his name, and Nate swiftly turned around, his face lighting up with a happy smile seeing who it was. "Francis! Long time no see!"

"Hey Francis, how'd summer treat you?" Nate asked, giving his best friend a high five.

"It was great! We had so much fun together, didn't we? It's a pity that summer's over, even though I like school," Francis admitted.

"Yeah, say goodbye to freshly cut grass, sun tan lotion, saltwater, cotton candy, and rain on hot asphalt. Say hello to chalk dust, craft paint, ammonia, pencil shavings, and American chop suey," Nate said, sounding miserable.

"Yeah I wish we could have stayed in New Jersey" Francis said. "I had planned to get a scholarship to the IVY League."

"What's that, some sort of Botany School?" Nate asked, looking at Francis.

"Never mind," Francis said, smirking.

"I'm just sad that we had to leave our friends, plus I'm honestly kind of nervous about starting school in this new dump," Nate admitted.

"Well, there's no time like the present," Francis chimed in, his eyes lighting up with determination. "Let's enjoy the last day of summer while we still can."

"We are going to have a good time!" Nate affirmed, smiling and raising his water bottle.

"Always," Francis replied, smirking and clicking his bottle with Nate's.

They walked toward and entered the cafeteria where the party was taking place. Since it was a new school year, there were hundreds of people they had never seen before. It seemed like a mix of kids who look like they are in their mid 30s and kids who still looked like they should be in second grade. But most importantly, there were many new attractive girls. Suddenly, this place got a whole lot better.

"Now, this is what I call a target-rich environment," Nate said, straightening his tie.

"I still think it's nature's sick idea of a joke, having girls hit puberty earlier than boys," Francis replied, sweating and nervously smiling.

"Francis, even you could get laid in a place like this," Nate claimed, adjusting his posture.

The new school had done a great job organizing the party. There was a buffet, a disco, and a lounge.

"Hey, look! Karaoke!" Francis shouted, pointing at the stage. "Want to go up and sing 'Day Tripper'?"

"Maybe later. For now, I just want to meet some of my new fellow classmates!" Nate said, scanning the area.

"Female classmates, I presume?" Francis asked, rolling his eyes.

"You know me so well," Nate said, smiling at some cute girls who walked by.

Nate and Francis went to the school cafeteria and got some drinks. Nate bought a can of grape soda and a jumbo bag of Cheez Doodles, while Francis opted for some punch.

"So, how is your sister Ellen doing nowadays? Did she finally dump that jerk Kenny?" Francis asked, taking a sip. "Seeing Ellen with another guy just rips my heart out!"

Nate rolled his eyes. Francis had had a crush on his sister Ellen all summer. Ellen had gone on a vacation with her girlfriend Kenny, she was coming home tomorrow on Sunday.

"I've liked Ellen for a lot longer than he has, I bet!" Francis stated. "Why does she like him?"

"He's hit puberty, for one thing," Nate added.

"So he's got a low voice. Have you noticed the guy's complexion?" Francis complained, walking next to him towards the cafeteria.

Nate slapped Francis on the head with a paper plate.

"Sorry, Francis, but when you start acting like a bonehead, it's my job to knock some sense into you. You're lucky I didn't hit you with a heavier book." He thought.

Nate paused when he saw someone sitting by the snack table. Could it be? Yes, it was!

"Hey, Francis! Look over there!" Nate pointed at the person.

Francis quickly looked in that direction and smiled. They quickly ran over to the snack table.

"Mr. Rosa!" Nate called out. "Mr. Rosa, what are you doing here?"

Mr. Rosa was the new art teacher for PS. 38. He had just been promoted from teaching elementary to secondary school. Mr. Rosa was Nate's favorite teacher in Primary school, although he sometimes felt like the student had surpassed the master. Mr. Rosa had moved here as well, as he couldn't afford to live in New Jersey selling his paintings and teaching elementary school.

"Hi Nate, hi Francis!" Mr. Rosa greeted them enthusiastically. "Did you have a nice summer?"

"Yeah, you bet!" Francis said. "Did you sell any of your artworks this summer?"

Mr. Rosa coughed. "Well... no, actually... I had to work in an ice cream shop... cough... Why aren't you boys dancing? Find yourself a partner and hit the dance floor!" Mr. Rosa quickly changed the subject.

"I will if you will," Nate said.

"Who, me? Well... I... uh-"

"There's Miss Burton, the school nurse! How'd you like to get a check-up from her?" Nate said, pointing at her enthusiastically.

Suddenly, Nate spotted someone familiar in the background.

"Excuse me a sec," Nate said and rushed over to get a good look. "Could it be... Yes!"

Blonde hair, cute button nose—it couldn't be anyone other than Jenny!

Nate met Jenny in first grade. He's liked her ever since. And he is positive that deep down she likes him, too, even though she acts like she hates him. He's always been 100 percent sure that someday the two of them are going to make an awesome couple. She had moved here a year ago, and finally they were together again. It was destiny, Nate was so happy and smiled with his mouth open.

"Nate! Who are you looking at?" Francis asked, running after him. "Oh no," Francis said after seeing Nate's dreamy eyes. "Nate, forget it, man! She's not interested! She's into Ronnie Dwyer!"

Nate wasn't listening. He was gazing at her. Man, did she look good in a tight dress. His mouth was almost wide open.

Ignoring Francis's scolding, Nate bravely started walking towards Jenny. He felt now was the perfect moment. She was all alone in the middle of the dance floor, and a slow-paced romantic song was playing in the background. The atmosphere was just right.

"Hey there, sweet cakes!" Nate said, waving his arm.

Jenny glanced towards him and looked back, groaning and rolling her eyes.

"Hey Jenny, it's been a long time," Nate said.

"Too long." Jenny said sarcastically.

"Well, Jenny, here we are at the big dance, and it looks like fate is bringing us together! See, everybody is dancing except us! Clearly, it's destiny that you and I pair up! Why fight it? Haven't you held out long enough, Jenny? Isn't it time to hop on board the Nate Express?" Nate rambled on.

Jenny's annoyance grew. She started glaring at him.

"Come on, honeybunch! You can't resist me! I'm smooth, I'm funny, I'm devastatingly handsome!" Nate exclaimed, holding his arms out hoping for a hug.

Jenny paused, staring at him for a second.

"Your breath smells like grape soda," Jenny said.

And walked away.

Nate stood there dumbfounded for a while, then limped back to an amused Francis.

"Some people really know how to spoil the mood," Nate complained, slouching.

"Besides, you had Cheez Doodles stuck in your teeth," giggled Francis before bursting into laughter.

"Gee, thanks for warning me beforehand!" Nate said sarcastically, hitting Francis lightly on the head.

"I'm just messing with you, Nate. Come on, it's just one rejection. There are plenty of fish in the sea!" reassured Francis, patting Nate on the head.

Nate nodded, feeling better. He bounced back pretty quickly.

"Yeah you're right! This is our first dance after all!" Nate exclaimed "This is wicked honestly".

"Yeah! As soon as we walk out on that dance floor we're not kids anymore!" Said Francis, putting his hands on his hips.

"You said it!" Nate agreed.

"Tonight is the night we become men!" Francis said.

"Right!" Nate agreed.

"You first." Francis said, pushing Nate towards the dance floor.

No, you first!" Nate said, resisting.

"It is kind of weird being at the dance and seeing all the girls that you saw in school everyday. At a dance they act kind of different, especially how they travel in packs" Nate thought. "They stand around and wait for you to ask them to dance. So it's like, the pressure is on!"

"But it is important not to rush into anything. You have to be cool and take your time. Fortunately being cool is my specialty" Nate thought.

"Um, Nate?"

"Hm?" Nate woke up from his thoughts and looked at Francis.

"We've been sitting here for two hours. Maybe we should make our move." Francis said concerned.

"Uh… I don't like this song! Let's wait for a good song!" Nate said nervously looking at the girls.

Nate sat down for a few more minutes while Francis decided to hit the dance floor.

"Come on Nate! Get with the program!" Francis said.

Nate looked at him blankly.

"Why don't you dance?" Francis asked.

"I don't want to look stupid." Nate admitted.

"You mean stupider than you look sitting here all by yourself?" Francis asked.

"Good point." Nate thought as Francis started dancing again.

"Hi Nate, enjoying the dance?" Mr. Rosa asked Nate, walking up beside him.

"Not really, I'm kind of nervous." Nate admitted.

"Go on and ask someone to dance, Nate! You can do it!" Mr. Rosa motivated Nate.

"Well…okay." Nate said, still nervous but gathering courage. "Thanks Mr. Rosa".

Mr. Rosa smiled and watched him stand up and walk towards Francis.

Francis saw Nate walk up to him and ran towards him. He could tell that Nate was motivated to ask someone out.

They chose a nice place on a bar, and scanned the area, holding some punch.

"Alright, so the bet is twenty dollars!" Francis said loudly, while sipping his punch.

"Twenty dollars!" Nate repeated, equally loud.

"You have to have carnal knowledge," Francis said, then jokingly. "Of a lady this time!"

Nate amusedly smiled.

"In the premises."

"In the premises," repeated Nate confidently.

In the corner of his eye, Nate spotted someone who stood out in the crowd.

Nate's heart raced with anticipation as he looked at her. His curiosity piqued, he scanned the bustling cafeteria, hoping to catch a glimpse of her again.

And then he saw her.

There she was, standing on a footstool, surrounded by a small group of students. Nate couldn't take his eyes off her. The girl had an effortless grace about her, with flowing dark brunette hair that cascaded down her shoulders and eyes that sparkled like the stars. She seemed to exude a magnetic aura, drawing people in with her presence.

Nate couldn't help but feel a wave of admiration wash over him. He found himself captivated by her beauty and charm, unable to tear his gaze away.

"Come on Nate, bet's a bet," Francis stated, reminding Nate of their playful agreement.

"It just doesn't seem fair... to you, I mean," Nate whispered, nudging his friend with his elbow. "But, uh, she's lost that loving feeling."

"She's lo... No, she hasn't," Francis panicked, catching on to who Nate was targeting.

"Yes, she has," Nate assured him, putting a hand on Francis's shoulder.

"She's not lost that lovin-"

"Francis, she's lost it, man."

"Come on!" Francis complained as Nate grabbed a microphone from the karaoke and started walking towards her.

"Aw, shit... I hate it when she does that," Francis muttered to himself as he grabbed a microphone as well.

Nate walked up to her quickly and confidently.

"Excuse me, miss?" Nate asked the girl, gently touching her shoulder.

The girl flinched, startled by Nate's sudden approach.

Quickly, Francis grabbed Nate and pushed him back.

"Hey! Hey! Hey! I'll take care of this, ma'am," Francis assured the girl, who grinned and started going back to drinking her punch.

But Nate couldn't be stopped. He jumped over Francis, determined to get her attention.

As Nate locked eyes with the girl, a mischievous grin spread across his face.

Clearing his throat dramatically, Nate began to sing, his voice intentionally exaggerated and melodramatic. He hammed it up, adding comical gestures and exaggerated facial expressions for effect.

The crowd fell into a stunned silence, surprised by Nate's sudden performance.

His voice wavered slightly as Francis joined in as well, their imperfect harmonies adding to the humor. They put on a show, delivering the song with gusto and a healthy dose of self-awareness. It was all in good fun.

Laughter and smiles filled the room as they sang. Nate's over-the-top performance drew people in, lifting their spirits and creating a light-hearted atmosphere. Even the new girl couldn't help but crack a smile, thoroughly amused by Nate's antics.

The crowd, catching on to the charm, couldn't resist joining in on the fun. The room reverberated with a joyful energy, everyone singing along at the top of their lungs.

Nate continued his exaggerated singing, each verse punctuated with comedic flair and exaggerated gestures. He played it up for the crowd, embracing the silliness of the situation.

As the song came to an end, the room erupted in laughter and applause. Nate couldn't help but feel a surge of pride and satisfaction.

"Thank you!" Nate said, taking a seat beside the girl, a wide grin on his face.

The girl chuckled, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she looked at Nate.

Nate smiled back, staring at her intensely, unable to hide his admiration.

"I love that song! I've never seen that approach. How long have you two been doing this act?" she asked, genuinely curious.

"Aw, I don't know... since-"

"Puberty?" she interjected playfully.

"Right, puberty," Nate replied, chuckling along.

The girl smiled and extended her hand.

"I'm Angie Coleman."

"I'm Maverick," Nate replied, shaking her hand with a hint of mischief in his eyes.

"Maverick? Your mother not like you or something?" Angie asked, raising an eyebrow in mock seriousness.

"No, it's my call sign," Nate answered, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.

Angie gasped in surprise.

"You're a soccer player!?" she exclaimed, her eyes widening with curiosity.

"That's right! I am soon to be goalkeeper for this year's P.S 38 Bobcats!" Nate clarified, a sense of pride evident in his voice.

"Ohh..."

"Actually, I've only done two games," Nate told Angie, his tone shifting to a more serious one.

"Oh, how did you do?" she asked, genuinely interested.

"Crashed and bled on the first one. We won, but it wasn't pretty," Nate confessed, shaking his head in mock disappointment.

Angie grinned, closing her eyes and shaking her head in disbelief.

"And the second?"

"I don't know yet. I'll tell you tomorrow, but it's looking good so far!" Nate said, bursting into laughter.

Angie took a deep breath, her laughter subsiding.

"Well... Maverick, my friend has just arrived, so it's been great talking to you," Angie informed Nate. "Larry, hi! I'll be with you in just a second," she called out to an older guy who looked to be in 8th grade.

The guy nodded and found a table to settle at.

"Listen, can I ask you a personal question?" Angie asked Nate, her expression curious yet playful.

"That depends," Nate replied after a short pause, a spark of anticipation in his eyes.

"Are you a good player?" Angie asked, a mischievous smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

"I can hold my own," Nate claimed in a low voice.

"Great, then I won't have to worry about you making your living as a singer!" Angie laughed, her laughter filling the air before she disappeared into the crowd.

Nate sat there, watching her disappear into the sea of people, a smile playing on his lips cringing at his attempt.

"I'm gonna need some punch to put these flames out," he berated himself. "Good job, Nate, real slick."

In the corner of his eye, Nate saw Angie smile at him and then excuse herself from her date, walking towards the bathroom. Nate stared into the distance for a while, contemplating his next move.

Nate secretly followed Angie as she exited the cafeteria and headed for the ladies' room. Nate hid behind the corner until he heard the door shut. After making sure the coast was clear, Nate entered the ladies' room.

Angie was putting on her makeup, looking at the mirror. Angie looked at him surprised as she saw him enter and stare at her, smiling. "A long cruise, was it sailor?" She asked, amused.

"Too long." Nate said, giving a charming smile.

"So what exactly was your plan?" Angie asked.

"I'm not really a planner, I'm more of an act first, think later type of person" Nate said, leaning close to Angie. "But honestly, I came in here to save you from making a big mistake with that older guy."

"Why? So can I go on a bigger one with a guy like yourself?" Angie asked, flickering her eyes and smiling flirtatiously.

"Maybe," Nate said, shaking his head and blushing. Her beautiful eyes mesmerized him.

Just as Nate moved closer to Angie, the door to the bathroom suddenly swung open.

"A-HA!" A big middle-aged man in a suit yelled. He had on a green blazer, a red tie, glasses, had a round figure, and looked well… absolutely furious.

"Caught you right in the act, Mr?"

"Nate Wright," Nate replied, smiling nervously.

"Mr. Wright, I am Principal Nichols, may I ask, if it's not too much trouble, what were you doing in the ladies' room with Angie here!?" Principal Nichols yelled angrily, throwing his arms in the air.

"Well, it's not Angie's fault, Principal Nichols," Nate said, desperately thinking of an excuse. "I drank too much punch, and I had to throw up, and I wasn't looking at where I was going." Nate said, laughing nervously.

"It's true, Principal Nichols, he's telling the truth, I saw him," Angie said, giving Nate secretly a beautiful smile with a wink.

Nate blushed furiously in surprise.

Principal Nichols looked at Angie with a questioning look before looking back sternly at Nate.

"Well Nate, the year hasn't started yet and I want to keep good relations with you, so I'll just give you a detention for Friday next week." Principal Nichols said sternly, placing his hands on his hips. "You may both return to the party."

"Thank you, sir." Nate said.

"And Nate?"

Nate looked back just before he re-entered the cafeteria.

"Try not to make this a habit."

Nate gulped, nodding his head. The school year hadn't even started yet, and he was already number one on the principal's most-wanted list.