Chapter Text
He'd known this was coming. He'd known from day one.
His mom worked here as a counselor. Her degree to prove she had the capability hung on the wall, up the stairwell.
He knew from day one, he'd come here, when he was old enough.
It'd come.
Orange walked through the doors, bag slung over his shoulders.
He wasn't exactly thrilled. He'd always heard whispers of high school being hellish.
And he was just a freshman. He still had 4 years of hell to endure, and it was only the first day..
He sighed as he walked through the doors.
One more chance.
Plus, maybe, he'll see him again..
He was about to find out just how hellish.
The Watcher slipped behind him as he pushed the doors open, sneaking with him, cheating the system..
Of course, if one squinted hard enough, you'd be able to see them; but nobody would've known to look for them.
But nobody had ever noticed them.
Nobody but the missing poster knew them.
And hopefully, nobody would come looking for them.
They weren't sure they wanted to be found..
The only people they had in their life that they were fine with knowing their name were their two older brothers. Those two had been the only ones they'd ever been able to really trust and love, and be loved back.
Of course, they wouldn't be stupid enough to just willingly follow anyone, especially with a missing poster put up by their shitty mom who claimed to miss them (when she didn't) out and about. But they were the adventurous type, and Orange .. Something about his appearance reminded them of a better time..
Back when things weren't so bad..
Back in middle school...
Maybe they'd known him, and just couldn't remember?
He seemed so familiar..
They had to have known him at some point or another.
Orange clutched his class schedule close to his chest, protectively holding his messenger bag strap as well, out of paranoia.
Caught up in himself and the rush of the first day adrenaline, he accidentally bumped into a girl; neither fell over, but they definitely directed their attention to the person in front of them.
"Whoops.. Sorry!"
"Nah, it's alright," she quickly explained. "What's your name?"
"You can call me Orange. Yours?"
"I'm Cyan."
".. Cyan?"
Now she seemed confused. "... Yeah? That's my name, don't wear it out."
"I.. I knew a Cyan back in middle."
"Wait.. Was your real name Second?"
"Yes!" His eyes lit up. "Cy, it's you!"
"Aah, Orange!!" She waved her arms happily.
"Just ignoring me, are you?" Another girl teased.
"Huh?- oh. Who're you?"
"I'm Magenta, silly! Did your sweetheart never say anything about me?" She teased, an almost cocky grin gracing her face. Cy gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Well .. He did, but- where .. Where is Green? Also, you've changed a lot from what I remembered!"
"Oh. Green's somewhere around here.."
The Watcher, like their name implies, watched curiously. Green? That name sounded familiar, too. But the only memory connected to that name was that he was something of a jerk. Their head tilted to the side, but nobody saw.
"He walked here with his sister. .. Blue, I think?"
".. Blue??"
"Well, duh, that's what I said."
A smile played on Cyan's lips.
".. What is with me and running into women right now..? I don't even like girls!"
"Don't say that too loud, O.." Cy warned, teasing. "Mango's here."
"I mean, as always." Orange said simply.
"No, I mean ... He doesn't .. Respect, stuff like that."
The Watcher stiffened up.
"Oh.. Does he at least respect pronouns?"
"Pfft, I'm surprised you even tried to hold any respect for him .. Of course not. Why did you think he would've changed since middle?"
The Watcher bit their lip worriedly. Was it just gonna get worse and worse?.. Well, as long as they stayed invisible, they'd be fine.. and if worse came to worst..
Now two more people walked by; abruptly calling out, "Yooo, Orange?! Is that you??"
"Yellow, Blue!!" He practically cheered, racing to hug them both.
Their greeting was a tight embrace. "Oh, I'm so happy to see you guys.. The only thing that could make this better is running into Red and Green right about now."
All three got startled by the bell suddenly blaring at them, The Watcher flinching the hardest, they parted ways and went to class.
The Watcher continued to follow Orange, meeting Green and Red, and a bunch of random other sticks.
Orange's greeting from Green was a kiss on the temples. Red's greeting was a firm handshake.
The Watcher wondered how Orange, or anyone else, would greet them.
There was this kid named Purple, too, but that was a lot more awkward. Orange couldn't seem to remember him. He seemed upset by that.
The Watcher liked him, somewhat. Some way.
Best not to think of it now.
"So? How was your first day?"
"It was fine. Not too much happened." Green stated simply. Any more tone than that and he'd find himself in trouble.
"And you, Blue?"
"It wasn't bad."
"Good. Nobody noticed any injuries, right?"
"Right, sir."
He nodded.
He left, and Blue found herself holding onto Green's arm.
"So,.. how'd it go?"
Chosen wasn't a guy of many words. So they were definitely surprised when he asked the question.
"Pretty okay! Nobody saw me."
"Did you learn anything?"
"Lots!" They smiled.
He and Dark smiled, too.
"You're infectious." Dark laughed.
"Hey, Orange! Welcome home. How was your day?" Alan greeted him, sitting at the table.
"Pretty alright. Wheres mom?"
"Trying to perfect a new recipe," he said casually. "Anything especially interesting happen?"
"Well.." he blushed. "My boyfriend goes to the same school as me, still."
Alan grinned gently at his embarrassment. He didn't even have to be the one spiteing it this time. "That's nice to hear.. do you think we'll ever meet him?"
"I'm .. not sure. He always says his dad is sick, so he's too busy to do much. He says we can't go over there, and he can't come here.. so probably not for a while."
Alan nodded in understanding.
Yellow's house was empty. It'd been that way for a while. Neither parent was often home, so she'd learn to fend for herself.
She heated some leftover mac n cheese to have an early dinner.
"...Well? Como foi?"
'How was it', he'd asked.
Purple's hand twitched at the question. "Fine," Purple murmured. They walked past him, up the stairs.
They heard him mumble a few swears in Portuguese. Mom must've taught him.
.. They've learned to keep their distance for as long as possible.
Everyone went to bed that night, with varying levels of comfort.
Some were scared of tomorrow. Some believed it'd be alright.
But all were glad to escape from home to hang out at school, even if neither option was very safe to some of them.
Anything to get away from home.