(sophomore year)

I'm hungry as fucking hell.

I hurried to the cafeteria, not caring if I looked food deprived. I skipped breakfast this morning to check on Connie. She didn't come to school today, and she wasn't answering any of my calls or texts. I had no choice but to go to her house.

Thank God I did because her step-mother apparently made her clean up their house instead of letting her go to school. Connie was like Cinder-fucking-ella, only she didn't have any step-sisters. Her older brother was away for college on a football scholarship, and their dad worked as a mechanic all day. She was stuck with that batshit crazy step-mom.

I had to drag her away from there, sneaking her out and all. I always did. I'd known her almost as long as I'd known Alfie. We basically grew up together, attending parties of our older siblings since we were in 6th grade – but I've been going since I was in 3rd.

The sea of students parted for me. I was used to this so it didn't make me feel special. If anything, it was normal.

"You skipping football practice later?" Alfie asked, who was suddenly beside me.

"Nah," I replied, shaking my head. "There's a new kid on the team."

That meant there was someone new for the upperclassmen to toy around with in the field. We all went through it freshmen year. It was the new guy's turn.

"Oh, yeah. The one from San Fran?"

"Yep."

"Shit," he snickered. "The seniors won't go easy on him."

I sneered. "It'll be one helluva show."

"Get real," he snorted. "You're hoping they'd let you in on the fun."

He caught me there.

"Everybody knows that's my thing." I shrugged.

Letting it out on others was my way of relieving the pressure that was suffocating me inside. It was my release. It was the only thing I learned to do in order to cope with the shit that had surrounded me.

What kind of shit?

Parents who didn't give a fuck.

I didn't even know if I still had them because as soon as my sister Annabelle graduated a couple of years ago, they moved to the City, leaving me here in New Jersey by myself. Sure, they sent a generous amount of allowance. I guessed I should be thankful for that, right?

There was also the fact that my siblings looked at me like an accessory rather than their youngest brother. Who could blame them? We grew up in a messed up family.

And then, I had to deal with people who were only being friends with me because my family was loaded. Gold shit diggers. It was hard to identify the real friends at first. But in time, I got the hang of it. Still, though. The fakes were all over the fucking place.

There, take your pick.

"Teenage dirtbag," Alfie chortled.

I grinned. "Jealous?"

"Fuck you." He laughed.

"I'd rather not."

My playful vibe was shot to hell when I saw how long the line was in the cafeteria. Alfie and I stood there for a moment, trying to think of something.

Damn. I was starving. This wouldn't do.

"Fuck it," I muttered, walking straight to the middle of the jet line with Alfie following beside me. I smoothly slipped in front of some girl, without looking back.

"Excuse me, there's a line."

The girl who spoke was behind me so I got to deal with her instead of Alfie. I saw his shoulders shaking in quiet laughter. I pushed him hard, causing him to stumble to his front. The guy in front of him glared, but then he saw who it was and let it go.

"Did you hear me? There's a line," the girl repeated.

"So?" I said, still not looking back.

"It's only right that you wait like everybody else."

Like hell I would.

"I'm waiting, too."

"You cut in front of me."

"Do I look like I care?"

"At least, look at my face when you're talking to me."

I hang my head and sighed. Turning around, I almost took a step back. Almost. Staring at me with big green eyes was the prettiest girl I've ever seen.

Whoa.

She had freckles on her face. My eyes went to her red hair that was pulled up in a ponytail, then to her body. She wore simple fitted long-sleeves and skinny jeans. For someone our age, who was about done with puberty, I'd say it did her good.

"So?" she asked, with a raised eyebrow.

My eyes flew to her lips. They were a bit on the thin side, but they were full enough. They seemed soft. Fighting the urge to test my theory, I returned my eyes to hers.

"So what?" I countered back.

"Aren't you going to apologize for cutting line?"

This is getting interesting.

I looked at the people behind her. All of them avoided my eyes, their faces saying they weren't backing up the redhead's words. Bunch of cowards. At least, she had guts.

"No," I told her nonchalantly.

"Jerk."

"You're holding up the line behind you, babe," I said, gesturing to the crowd forming. I flashed her a sympathetic smile. "Who's the jerk here?"

I left her and went to get my food. All that fuss for just a stupid line. Gotta say, though. It was refreshing for someone to speak up like that.

I heard her apologize to the person behind her, making me glance in their direction. Her cheeks were flushed from embarrassment as she moved on the line.

A small smirk formed on my lips.

"You always get your way," she muttered, shaking her head.

Ah, she was still talking to me.

"What's wrong with that?" I asked.

"Without any consideration for others? That's wrong."

I shrugged. "Not my fault if they don't stand up for themselves."

People wouldn't get pushed over if they didn't let people do that to them. Simple as that.

She scoffed in disbelief. "So that gives you the right to bully them?"

"No." I snorted. "But it sure fucking lets me do whatever the hell I want."

She made a disgusted face. "You're unbelievable."

I grinned. "I get that a lot."

I couldn't get to be my usual asshole self with her. What she was getting from me was way too mild compared to what others get.

She glared at me. "Are you gonna pay for that?" Her head tilted, adding, "You're holding up the line."

I looked around. She was right.

Huh. She slapped me with my own words. Impressive.

Alfie was waiting for me with an amused face, while the lunch lady was waiting for me with an annoyed one. I paid for my food. But before I could say more to the redhead, my best friend dragged me away.

"What the hell, dude?" I demanded.

"You're playing with fire, Oz."

"Because of her hair?" I asked, confused.

"Ha. Good one."

With the last word, he lightly pushed me and sat at our usual table. I scowled and sat across from him. As soon as I was settled, my eyes scanned the cafeteria.

Alfie raised both of his hands to cover my view.

Kurt and Connie watched him.

"What the fuck's your problem?" I snapped.

Alfie put down his hands. "You don't recognize her? Really?" He sighed. "Well, I guess she changed a lot through the summer."

I stared at him, going out of my mind baffled.

"See for yourself, then," he said, pointing at the redhead with his fork.

I followed the direction to where he was pointing. I saw the girl and watched her walked across the room with ease. She suddenly smiled when her eyes landed on someone. Before I could look to see who it was, Scout Crimson came and ruffled her hair. I saw the resemblance right away.

Just like that, it clicked.

"Fuck," I whispered, biting my lip.

"What's going on?" I heard Connie ask.

My eyes didn't leave the girl who was now sitting at the basketball team's table. She looked like she belonged there, laughing with them.

As if I willed her, she caught me staring. Her laughter subsided but her eyes were still locked with mine, unwilling to look away.

"Oz just fell for the enemy's twin sister," Alfie sneered.

Connie gasped. "No way."

"Who?" Kurt asked.

I could feel Alfie's eyes on me.

"Snow Crimson."

_____________

If Snow's the redhead, who's Halo?!