(Original publication date: 29th of February, 2024, on Archive of Our Own)

The first day of high school is a milestone for many people.

Lloyd is not many people.

Many people also like to be woken up by their nightmares. But Lloyd got pulled out of his dreams of the city's people's screams to the even more dreadful screams of his alarm clock. He looked at the calendar next to him.

Monday, 24th August, 2015.

Crap. His vacation was over. Today was the first day of 9th grade. His mother Koko had told him that high school days are "the best of his life", but Lloyd knew otherwise.

He was told the same about middle school too, and that was no walk in the park.

Lloyd dreadfully got out of bed, and went to the bathroom. He spent extra time there, with hope that he would miss the bus to school. But then he thought about his struggling mother, who wouldn't hesitate to drive him to school despite his protests against it. With a heavy heart, he got out of the bathroom and tried to eat his breakfast. After a couple minutes, Koko entered the dining room and kissed her son.

"Today's your first day of high school! My baby's all grown up."

"Hey, if you don't want me to grow up, I could gladly stay at home today," Lloyd said with a hopeful smile, but his mother returned it with a sad one. She turned on the TV, and switched it on the news channel.

"I'm sorry Lloyd, but you have to go to school. I'm praying it won't be as rough or tough as middle school was for you. I'm sure you'll make new friends."

"Middle school was okay, Mom. It wasn't rough or tough." Lloyd never admitted that he was bullied for the last three years. He despised Chen but if he fought back it would prove everyone right on how he was just as bad as his father.

Speaking of which...

The two were interrupted by the news reporter's voice coming from the television.

"Reports claim that 14 people have died in yesterday's Garmadon attack, and 37 more are injured. The government is working on creating a more effective security system for Ninjago City..."

Oh yeah. Garmadon, Lloyd's father, bombed Ninjago City last night. For the fifty first time this year. This one was on the more fatal side, the worst one so far killed over a hundred innocent civilians. Lloyd felt guilty not only for the murders of all these people, but also for the fact that he was this monster's son. That was the reason he was being bullied his whole life. The reason he had no friends.

Even though his father didn't raise him.

It was his mother, along with support from his uncle Wu, that taught him to stay on the good side, to be generous and kind, to defy his father. Those two people were the only ones he cared about.

Eventually, it was time for the bus to come. Lloyd left the house for the bus station. As soon as the bus stopped in front of him, Lloyd suddenly regretted coming here instead of bunking school. He stepped inside, met with glares and gossip about him. He recognised some people as his classmates from previous years, as well as new faces, but all of them displayed disdain for the boy.

And he was shown a thousand more stares at school starting from the very moment he got off the bus, but all he did in response was smile.

When he found his locker, Lloyd came to realise that the building had been silent for quite a while. And then he found out why.

The only other people near him were Chen, and his best friend, Kai Smith.

Kai was no better than Chen to Lloyd. Both were the most insufferable people imaginable, and Lloyd doesn't recall a single day without being bullied by the two.

"So," Chen started. "Decided to blow up the city again?"

"I said it before and I said it again, I have nothing to do with my father!" Lloyd snapped.

"Except the fact that he's half the reason of your existence?" Kai responded with a smirk.

Chen punched Lloyd in the stomach and Kai knocked him over. Lloyd didn't have time to react before both of the bullies began kicking him and stepping on him.

So this is the beginning of high school...

Lloyd was miserable when he came home. Koko was delighted, however.

"Lloyd? How was your first day of-" She stopped upon seeing her son's bruised body. "Oh, Lloyd." She gave him a bear hug. "I know what'll cheer you up. Your Uncle Wu is coming to visit tonight!"

Lloyd's face lit up. He loved Wu. He was the only person besides his mother who he could talk to. But he forgot about something. He forgot about the worst part of Wu's visits.

"Your cousin Morro's gonna visit too!"

Oh, shit.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

If you're in 7th or 8th grade, just letting you know that from my perspective, 9th and 10th grade are like ten times easier. Unless you're the child of an evil monster.

I have TWO questions for everyone reading this!

1: is it 'high school' or 'highschool'?

2: Was 29th of February, 2020, exactly four years before 29th February, 2024... or one?