Sometimes, I like to just sit in my room and just lay on my back. It doesn't matter where in the room I lay, just as long as I laid on my back. It's a sensory thing for me, to feel all of my bones in my back pressed against the carpet. All in all, it's also just super relaxing...until I have to get ready for school.
Groaning as my 2 dollar alarm clock meekly chirped, I slipped out of bed and made my way straight to the kitchen. I can't get dressed without having food first, as it's part of my routine. I like routines, as they keep everything in order and help me focus. Part of my routine is to get a cup of coffee with a toasted peanut butter bagel. Not much of a breakfast, I know, but its what I like and its the best I can eat without having to go to the store. me and my mom don't have much money, and it doesn't help that I am too young to get a job. Somehow, Mom keeps everything afloat. Working two jobs and putting up with me? I would've broke under the stress by now.
I noticed a note on the fridge while I grabbed the hazelnut creamer for my coffee. After stowing the delicious additive, I snatched it off it's magnetic clip and read it aloud:
"Lukas,
Working late tonight, order pizza and garlic twists after school. Money is in my lock box.
Love, Mom"
Sighing a bit in disappointment, as I wanted her to watch Breaking Bad with me tonight, I drew a small heart on the note before clipping it back to the fridge and finishing my breakfast. Once finished, I went back to my room and threw on khakis and a navy blue polo before slipping into my beat up red adidas I stole from the school lost and found. My middle school only allowed these types of clothes because they want us to look "professional". I couldn't make sense of it when I moved here, and still can't. Guess that's just how Mississippi is.
Once I had brushed my teeth and struggled with my unruly black hair, I threw on my black and white flannel before gathering my things and speed-walking out the door, my cd player on my hip blaring a Foo Fighters song into my earbuds while I made my way to the bus stop. I was always the first one there, so I basked in my alone time for a bit. I only have 2 friends, Stasia and Mikey. Stasia liked to goad me into asking a random girl out just so she could laugh at my expense, but she has also been there when I would be going through a rough time, so I trusted her with my life. Mikey...well he's chaos in a 7th grade package. He did anything to try to get expelled but somehow never succeeded. He also protected me against bullies, since I always gave him whatever food I never ate. Kinda sad for someone my age to only have a couple friends, but they both do their part to make me feel as welcome as possible.
"Haha! That's hilarious!" I heard an unknown female voice from behind me, somehow over my music. I looked behind me, curiosity overwriting my usual instinct to turtle up and hide behind the tree to my left, and had to do a double- no a triple take. The voice belonged to an older blonde girl, wearing the school uniform and a brown leather jacket. I wasn't surprised that she was new, I mean we get new people all the time. It was the fact she was talking to not one, not two, not even three, but seven other kids I haven't seen before.
What in the fuck-knuckles is this? I said internally before looking away and trying not to draw attention to myself. Did someone adopt a whole orphanage or some- "OW!" I exclaimed as a football slammed into the back of my head, the force of the blow sending me to the ground and the sound of obnoxious laughter followed.
"Damn, Thomas! Helluva bulls-eye!" A male voice with a country drawl sounded out while I tried to get my bearings, my vision a bit blurry and my eyes swimming with tears.
Thomas, the owner of the football and probably the worst bully I've had, chuckled as he retrieved his ball. "That was nothin', Elijah! It's more fun when he runs, haha." He said before kicking me in the stomach, a strangled grunt escaping me. Before he could send another kick, which was his usual move, a loud yell erupted from the crowd of new students, causing everyone to freeze and turn to the owner.
"That's enough!" a red-brown haired girl said, storming towards us. My vision was still blurry from the blow to my head, but from what I could make out, the girl was around my height, wore a scarlet hoodie over the uniform, and her eyes were a stormy grey. Before I could take another moment to breathe, I felt Thomas' hand grab me by the hair and yank me upward, causing my earbuds to fall out as I grunted more in pain. "Or what, short-stack? You gonna tell on me?" Thomas said with mock concern while I closed my eyes. I did not want to see everyone watch me get beat up, the thought of people talking behind my back and making fun of me more than I already am would be too much.
"Hi-YAH!" Instead of replying with words, the girl sent her own foot into Thomas' groin, causing a collective gasp from the crowd and a painful groan from the taller boy, who released my hair upon contact and flopped to the ground next to me. "Pick on someone your own size!" She declared as the blonde girl approached and helped me up, keeping a gentle but firm grip on my shoulder to keep me from falling over. "Are you okay?" Blondie asked while Elijah helped Thomas up, half carrying him to a nearby bench.
"Uhhhh..Maybe?" Was the only thing that I could come up with in my dazed state. In truth, I was really grateful, but I was also worried. Anyone who'd stand up to Thomas would now have a target on their backs. "T-thank you..." I added once I was able to stand on my own, still holding my side to dull the pain.
"Hey, no need to thank us." the redhead said with a smile that could light up the world. "You won't have to worry about him anymore." She leaned down and grabbed my cd player, handing the near ancient device back to me, which I accepted graciously and mumbled out a thanks.
"I'm Yang. You're hero over here is my little sister Ruby." The blonde said, guiding the three of us to the rest newbies. This made my anxiety spike up a bit, due to my fear of being in crowds. Trying to play it off, I let out a nervous chuckle before replying, "I'm Lukas- ow.." I winced, the kick to my stomach did a bit more damage than I thought. This didn't go unnoticed by Ruby, whom took it upon herself to bring me to the bench closest to the group. "Let your body go slack when you sit down."She said, fishing out a water bottle from her bag while everyone else introduced themselves.
Jaune: Lanky blonde kid with blue eyes, a black and orange hoodie over his uniform with a bunny on the front. Seems a bit socially awkward but an otherwise decent guy.
Pyrrha: Tall girl with scarlet colored hair and emerald eyes, a zip up jacket with a similar design to Jaune's over her uniform. Always feels the need to be near Jaune but can clearly use him to bench lift.
Lie Ren: Black haired guy with similar colored eyes, no jacket over his uniform but does have a forest green backpack and is about the same height as Jaune. Doesn't really talk much and seems to always babysit Nora.
Nora: Ginger girl, about the same height as Ruby, with electric blue eyes and a pink sweater with a picture of Thor over her uniform. Seems to be very hyperactive and has to constantly be reprimanded by Ren in order to calm down. Definitely keeping her away from my coffee.
A white haired girl gave me a once over before introducing herself, curtly extending her hand, which I gave a gentle shake. "I'm Weiss. I take it that hooligan has some sort of issue with you?" she asked, giving Thomas an icy glare while he returned it with a smirk.
"Its a long story..Probably best discussed later, heh..." I said with a nervous chuckle before noticing a black haired girl, the remaining member of the group who hadn't introduced herself. She wore a black hoodie over her uniform and wore a black bow in her hair, and stood at the same height as Yang. Her eyes were an amber-like hue, and they seemed to study me before she offered a friendly wave. "And I'm Blake. Nice to meet you."
"Likewise." I nodded before the bus pulled into view. Groaning slightly, I gathered my things and made sure to beeline it to the back of the bus, hoping to sit in the single seat that was smaller than everyone else's...but unfortunately it was already taken by a napping 8th grader. Groaning to myself, I sat in the seat in front of it, jumping a bit when Ruby sat next to me. The girl noticed this and furrowed her brow in concern. "You okay? Is your stomach still hurting?"
Realizing the headache it would be to explain my social anxieties, I half lied. "Eh, it still aches a bit but I'm okay." I let out a slight chuckle at the end but laughing in any way seemed to make my stomach hurt worse, causing me to flinch a bit. Ruby frowned a bit, clearly seeing through my lie but deciding not to pursue the subject further. Instead, she pulled out an iPad and began playing Minecraft. Fascinated, due to me being too poor to have one of those, I watched eagerly as she slew the zombies she found with her sword.
AN: I genuinely didn't know how to keep this chapter going so I'll end it here, but stay tuned for the next chapter ^^