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Dedicated to Lena, because she's an amazing writer with diverse characters, and makes the best funny pictures, lol. I definitely recommend you check out When Best Friends Kiss, its recently released sequel When Best Friends Grow, and all her other books! (Here you go: Lena-Presents)

So many people. There were so. Many. People.

The parking lot and area leading up to the school building looked like a gigantic ants' nest, crawling with movement. It felt like there was something crawling in the pit of my stomach, too.

Dad must've had the same overwhelmed experiences after leaving the countryside, but he said nothing. Instead, it was Chiara who turned around in her seat to give me some encouraging words.

"Paul saw that you and Atticus both start with English class!" she said. "So, if you don't remember where the classroom on your schedule is, Atticus will walk you there."

"Ah, thanks." I looked at Atticus, but he just stared at his mom, nodding at her rather than acknowledging my presence.

Atticus hadn't suddenly become more talkative this morning at the breakfast table, nor in the car. He replied when I said good morning or asked him a direct question, but otherwise he was a closed book. I wondered if he simply didn't talk a lot, ever.

"Remember to go to the administration office first," Dad warned me for the third time that morning.

"Yes, I will, Dad," I replied for the third time, unbuckling my seatbelt. "Thanks for the ride, Chiara!"

Once Atticus, Dad, and I were out of the car, Chiara honked and drove off.

Atticus promptly started walking, and I assumed I was supposed to follow him. He didn't say so, but then again, he didn't talk in general. As we zigzagged and pushed through the crowd, I tried to have a conversation one more time.

"There are a lot of students here compared to home," I told Atticus. I'd hardly ever seen so many people together all at once, let alone in one hallway. Like sardines in a can.

"Two thousand," Atticus said, speaking for what felt like the first time that morning.

"What?"

Also, for the first time that morning, Atticus glanced my way. "Students attending Pinewood."

I breathed out audibly. Two thousand? That was literally more students than the entire population of Greensboro. "I see."

We made it to the administration, and after stating my name and handing in my file, I received a locker key from a guy who kept chewing gum even as he spoke. He hardly took his eyes off his phone, and I guessed I didn't need to count on any explanations about where my locker was located. I'd find it myself, later.

Atticus leaned against the wall just outside the office with crossed arms and wordlessly started walking again when he saw me coming out. A few cramped hallways later, we came to a halt in front of classroom.

"It's in here," Atticus said, pointing at the open door.

"Why are you still walkin' then?" I asked, as he went right past the room.

"Bathroom."

"Alright, can I save you a seat?"

Atticus abruptly came to a halt, this time establishing eye contact with me for longer than a fraction of a second before speaking. "I'm showing you were things are because Mom and Paul asked me to. That's it."

The 'so don't bother me' was silent, yet still clearly received, and Atticus' bluntness left me speechless for a moment. He wasn't kidding, either. He stared me down, not a trace of humour in his expression.

I knitted my eyebrows and gave the only reply I could give in this situation. "Okay. Gotcha."

Atticus averted his gaze. He reached for his bag's strap and rearranging its weight on his back.

"Sit next to the blonde girl at the front on the right," he said before turning and walking away.

I was alone. I certainly felt alone. Thrown to the blondes at the front on the right. But it wasn't like I had any better plans than to follow Atticus' instructions.

Breathing out deeply, I stepped inside the classroom, scanning the front row for the girl Atticus mentioned. There was, indeed, a blonde girl that fit Atticus' description sitting in the window seat. She was dressed in a black skirt and a striped shirt, and on her desk was a neon pink agenda so bright it hurt a little to look at directly. I could dig it, though. At least she wasn't afraid to buy what she liked. A breath of fresh air between all the play-it-safe band or fad of the moment agendas.

But with the crease between her eyebrows, which were about three shades darker than her wavy hair, she didn't look too friendly. I wondered why Atticus pointed her out to me. But my circumstances hadn't changed. What did I have to lose by talking to her? I didn't know anyone in this room.

Deciding to just get it over with rather than awkwardly hover at the front of the class, I went over to the blonde girl's table. "Hello, excuse me. Mind if I sit here?"

The blonde girl blinked and then looked up at me. Instantly, her frown vanished and made way for a beaming smile that reminded a little of Chiara. She wasn't grumpy. She just had a RBF.

"Oh, yes, of course!" she replied, immediately removing her bag from the seat next to her. "You're new, aren't you? I'm Becky. Nice to meet you."

"Kade. Nice to meet you too. And you're right, I'm new here."

"Right, I could tell from your accent." Becky smiled. "I don't think I've heard it before. Where are you from?"

"Greensboro, P.A.," I said.

Becky whistled lowly. "You're a long way from home."

"You can say that again. Feels like I've moved to a different planet," I joked.

"Oh my gosh! Your accent!" A pale brunette squealed from behind me, making both me and Becky turn.

I was being stared at by three girls now. Becky, the brunette, and her friend who was wearing thick-rimmed glasses.

"Say something to us!" the brunette called out enthusiastically.

"Uh, how ya doin'?"

I received laughter and a clapping salvo for my 'performance' and almost wondered if I should bow or something.

"Are you planning on joining any clubs or activities, Kade?" Becky asked. "We're looking for new members for the Student Council. It's a great way to meet new people."

"I'll think about," I said. My eyes darted to the classroom door when Atticus came in. He didn't acknowledge me, making a beeline for what I assumed were his football friends (all buff, tall guys) in the centre of the room.

I turned back to Becky and the other two girls.

"I was thinking about an art club. I like painting. Maybe some sports."

All three girls suddenly perked up when I said painting. Brunette and Becky exchanged a look.

"Painting?" Becky asked. "That's really cool. Do you have any work you could show?"

"Sure! I have some pictures on my phone."

I felt myself perk up at the unexpected interest. Back home, everyone in school knew I was a talented painter, and it wasn't considered special anymore. People got used to my creations. But here in Pinewood high, I had a brand new audience.

I showed Becky a few of my works first. One oil painting, two watercolours and a realistic pencil drawing of a dog and watched her eyes go wider and wider.

"These are fantastic," Becky said.

"Thanks!"

"I want to see, too!" the girl with the glasses complained exaggeratedly.

I laughed at her antics, but before I could hand her my phone, a woman in a grey dress and with a stern face walked in. She would make a great model for art classes, as she barely seemed to move even as she clapped her hands to get our attention.

Her name was Mrs. Nilsen, and she taught English. I was spared having to stand up and introduce myself to the rest of the class. I was far from the only fresh face. There were lots of 'new' kids to everyone because classes got mixed around, which I supposed made sense from a school with more students than my town had inhabitants. Everything was much more anonymous here.

When our two hours of English class were over and the bell rang, Becky turned to me. "What's your next class? Do you need us to walk you there?"

"I appreciate it," I gratefully accepted her offer. Manoeuvring through the crowds in the hallways was overwhelming, and with all those people there, I didn't know if I could find all those places my Dad pointed out yesterday. Even with the landmarks.

"I have Calculus. B70," I said, peeking at my schedule.

"Oh, that's really close to our next class, anyway. We'll take you there!" the brunette who I'd earlier learnt was named Mandy, said.

The girl with the glasses, Kim, gestured me to follow them.

Before leaving English, I couldn't help but glance Atticus' way one last time. I'd expected him to have his eyes averted, like always, but he looked at me for just a fleeting moment. Then he glanced at Becky and the other two girls, and lost interest.

He'd done his job. Seemed like he'd already decided Becky had taken over as a tour guide and he had successfully gotten rid of me. I still wondered what I'd done to him to deserve the cold shoulder, but Becky quickly distracted me in the hallway. She walked beside me, while the other two girls went ahead.

"And, have you already given joining the Student Council some more thought?" Becky asked.

I chuckled, raising my eyebrows. "Not really. I was following a class. I got little chance to think about anything yet."

"Right, of course. I can't expect you to already know." Becky bit her lip, her smile suddenly vanishing as she looked down at the floor.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"....Well, to be honest." Becky chewed on her lip. She lead us into a small side path, away from the 'main road' in the hallway, while gesturing at Mandy and Kim to keep going.

"I hate admitting this," she said, a light flush appearing on her pale cheeks. "Much less so to someone who has just transferred to our school today, but the Student Council is in trouble. And I totally understand if you don't want to help. It's honestly not your problem but..."

"I may be able to help ya if you tell me what the problem is," I offered.

Becky looked genuinely upset. She'd been the nicest person in this school, so why wouldn't I return the favour?

"Okay, here's the story." Becky took a deep breath. "So, as the Student Council, we're responsible for the opening party of the academic year, which is supposed to take place near the end of the month. But our Event Decorator got into a fight with some of the other students during the summer break and now refuses to help. We have nobody with any artistic talent left for the decorations, posters, flyers, everything. Everyone I've asked so far said no. I tried using some templates online and tweak them but it just does not look professional and people will notice." Becky's expression turned even more hopeless. "The flyers are supposed to be printed by the end of the week and we don't even have a design yet."

"That's digital design, though," I carefully remarked, not wanting to upset Becky even further. "I mean, I dabbled in it, but I mostly paint on canvasses. Can't the teachers help ya out?"

Becky dipped her head. "I was hoping we didn't need to tell them about this and fix it ourselves, but, yeah, I suppose I could ask the teachers what to do next. Thanks for hearing me out, anyway. I didn't expect you to solve our problems for us, but I had to ask. Come, let's go to class."

"Wait," I told her. "Just because I'm not an expert, doesn't mean I won't help."

"Y-you would?"

I smiled at Becky's perplexed face.

"Yeah. Good way to make new friends, right?" I said. "And a good way to show off my work. I'd be happy to make some designs. If you give me some more information about the party during the break, and an email I can send my stuff to, I'll have some ideas in your inbox by tonight."

"Yes!" Becky nearly jumped up. "Thank you so, so much. That would be amazing! You're the best, Kade!"

I just smiled some more, a little embarrassed at her enthusiasm. Well, at least someone in the school thought I was great, and I wouldn't have to sit alone for lunch.

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