Chapter Text
New bus, new school, same routine. It wasn’t anything new to Gary. Scott’s job had taken them all across North America, and it’s not like he could just get a new godmother. He stares out the window to see sidewalks and skyscrapers, a stark difference from the years of living in different suburbs. But people stay the same from city to city.
He takes a deep breath before stepping off the bus. All he has to do is make it for a few months, no more than a year. Friends are a luxury he can’t afford; Survival is his main priority.
It’s not long before he finds a familiar set of large doors, slathered in coats of red paint. He walks inside and god is it loud. He struggles to read off a printed map to find the principal's office while navigating through crowds of sluggish teenagers and couples displaying horrific amounts of PDA.
Finally, he makes it inside, breathless, only to be met with another boy his age. A few inches shorter, dark-skinned, and an expression that could only be described as deadly. Despite the ugly face he was making, Gary almost thought he was pretty. That is, until he opened his mouth.
“You can’t be serious. This guy? Really?” His voice is smooth as liquor and stings even sharper.
The principal slams his hands on the desk, an action that has no effect on the boy in front of him, before coldly replying, “Marshall Lee. This is not a game for you to play. This is punishment. Now, do you want to be smart? Or do you want to work this job for another month?”
The boy smiles, almost foxlike, before replying, “Hmm, I’m not sure sir.” He finally turns around to look at Gary, just to say, “What do you think?”
Gary is used to dealing with - unconventional people. And he knows how to handle disrespect. But something about this boy makes him want to wipe that shit-eating grin off his face.
He knows he’s going to speak out of turn before he does, and wonders, briefly, if he’s going to regret it. “Well I can’t imagine someone with your demeanor acting smart, so I suppose there’s only one option, isn’t there?”
The boy’s eyes widen before he freezes, then laughs. “Holy shit dude- you’re such a dork- man this is gonna suck-”
The principal slams his hands on his desk once more, which Gary sees as a signal to sit down and shut up.
“Now. I understand you’re new to this school, and that you’re coming halfway through the school year. I know adjusting can be difficult, so Marshall here will be your student guide. His schedule is nearly identical to yours, so he can keep you company and show you around.”
Gary shoves down the urge to protest before nodding silently. If he spoke he may not have been able to control what he said.
“Now, you two should get off to class, before they mark you as late.” He ushers them out into the now-empty hallway. The door shuts behind them, leaving behind a tense silence.
The boy, “Marshall Lee,” starts walking down the hallway, leaving Gary behind. He doesn’t care. Well, he shouldn't care. He could just find their classroom on his own. But the boy’s complete ignorance gets on his nerves. “Where are you going? Isn’t it your job to ‘show me around?’ ” He blurts out.
Marshall turns back slowly, before spitting back “I am, dummy. Why aren’t you following me?” He keeps walking forwards, so Gary picks up his pace to catch up with him.
“You know it’s considered polite to introduce yourself.” Even with such uncouth people, Gary could force maturity, remember his manners.
“Oh my god. What is wrong with you?”
“My name, for instance, is Gary Prince. I am new to this school, and considering we are in the same classes, I would deeply hope you’re smart enough to know your own name.”
“Marshall Lee. You don’t need to know my last name.”
They walk the rest of the way in silence. When they enter the classroom, Marshall goes straight to the back, while the teacher introduces Gary to the class. And then seats him right in front of who seems to be his biggest problem with the city so far.
Usually he never struggles with paying attention in class. Especially not biochemistry. But soon enough he gets caught up with the conversations of the people behind him.
“Oooh, late again Mar- I’m shocked, he doesn’t seem like your type.”
“Jeez man, he’s not. I just have to escort him for that stupid thing the principal’s making me do.”
“You sure?”
“Yes, dude. I have a girlfriend.”
Before he knows it, the bell is ringing and he’s off to his next class. He pushes his thoughts down, and repeats to himself, “Just a few months, Just a few months.”
The next few classes pass without much trouble. Just more of the same. Not like it’s new for him anyways. Eventually they make it to the courtyard for lunch, and surprisingly enough, Marshall actually warns him before running off.
“Ok man, I’m gonna go meet someone, and I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t like her so you’re staying here.”
“I wouldn’t want to come anyways.”
“Jesus. Whatever, I just wanted to tell you to not snitch on me. I swear to god if your goody two shoes ass brings this up to the principal-”
“I may not like you, but I wouldn’t say anything. That would just mean you’d have to do this longer, and neither of us wants that.”
“Good.” He turns around and hops the fence, leaving Gary alone.
The quiet is nice. He sits down at the nearest bench he finds before unpacking his lunch. He relaxes for a few seconds before his peace is once again broken, this time by a loud girl. Blonde and covered in bunny-themed memorabilia.
She walks over to the table, seemingly not noticing his existence before sitting down. When she does, she excitedly asks, “Are you new here?”
“Um. Yes?” His voice comes out more awkward than he’d like it to, and he starts to regret sitting somewhere out in the open.
“That’s so cool! We almost never get new people here- this place rarely has any free space. My name’s Fionna.”
“Oh- I’m Gary. If you want me to move I can-”
“Dude, I’m obviously not gonna make you move. You were here first- jeez man. I’m not sure where you came from but people here are generally pretty nice.”
“The boy who greeted me wasn’t.” He mutters it under his breath, but she perks up, her hearing matching the rabbit motif she has with her accessories
“Ooh, yeah those kids can be kinda sketchy. But they’re not all bad. One of them’s my friend actually!”
“Hm, maybe I could get switched to work with him instead.”
“That could be cool! I love having my friends be friends.”
The statement shocks him. God, this girl really was such a stark contrast to the boy from before.
“That sounds.. nice.”
The rest of their conversation is light, small talk. Favorite colors and other nonsense. Gary usually prefers talking about more complex subjects, but Fionna was his first positive experience of the day, and he didn’t want to give her up so soon.
They walk back inside together, realizing they shared their next class. They sit together, and class starts. Gary could get used to this. Of course, his mood is abruptly soiled when a few minutes later, Marshall Lee walks in. And to his horror, Fionna beckons him over.
“Dude, you’re late again. You can’t keep leaving me like this-”
“Relax Fi, at least I made it, right?”
Gary tries furiously to avoid eye contact at all purposes, but to no avail. Marshall soon looks over and manages a quiet, “What’s he doing here?”
Gary can’t make out the rest of their whispers, but it’s clear that a realization has dawned upon Fionna's face. God, one day and he’s already gained and lost a friendship. This has to be some sort of bad omen.
A few tense minutes pass before Fionna turns back to him. She whispers, shyer than before, “Sorry dude, didn’t know you had beef with him. I won’t make you guys hang out.”
More surprises. “So- you’re still going to talk to me?”
“Of course man! We’re friends, after all.”
She then turns to focus on her work, and leaves Gary with a feeling he can’t describe. It’s positive, at least.
The unfamiliar feeling carries him through the end of the school day, through all of the awkward classes with Marshall Lee, to when he finally meets Fionna outside, at the bus stop. They get on together and she lets him have the window seat, stating her chivalry.
He glances outside to see him again, this time greeting a woman on a motorcycle. They seem to talk for a bit before she lifts her helmet to kiss him, despite looking far too old to be dating a teenager. He gets on behind her and they drive away, leaving Gary in the dust. He wonders what the backstory is for a few seconds before stopping himself. Why should he care if that asshole makes stupid decisions?