Chapter Text
In those cool high school movies, everyone always seems to see high school as a new chapter in their life. Well, technically, this is junior high, but still. I don't really know why everyone always thinks that whole 'new year, new me' thing works most of the time. Certainly didn't work in 6th grade. But junior high is gonna be different! I'll make sure of that. No more crybaby tears, I'll be as strong as I can! Maybe I'll even get popular. Wouldn't that be amazing? Having friends all over the school would be a dream come true-
"Boomer!" Brick calls, snatching my headphones, "Are you even listening to anything me and Butch are saying?"
Ugh. Stupid Brick and Butch. They're always trying to make me do something for them. I turn to them with a smile, only for them to shoot stern looks back.
"Sorry, Brick. I just... uh, really like this soundtrack." I murmur.
"Cats wasn't that good of a musical, Boomer." Butch states. I roll my eyes at him. My idiot brothers don't know how fun theater can be. At least Bubbles gets me. I yank my headphones out of Brick's clutches, stuffing them in my bag.
"As I was saying..." Brick begins, "Look, boys, it's a new year and all that fun shit. But we're still going to school with most of the same fuckers, alright? Don't get your hopes up. I know that a certain someone here loves to do that."
Brick stares at me again. I sink back down in my seat.
"Yeah, Boomer. We really mean it in the best way, yanno. I hear that the grades above us aren't so... what's the word, chill? I dunno." Butch chimes in.
"We just don't want any more of your fiascos. Really ruins our reputation. We're the sons of Mojo Jojo, we can't look like sissies." Brick adds.
I frown. That's what this is about, huh? Them not wanting me to ruin their chances of being popular? Well, I'll show them. I'll have more friends than they ever could.
The bus finally halts, and I look out the window. There it stood, right outside. Townsville Junior High. The bus door shutters open, letting out everyone on the cramped bus. Butch shoves me right out of the door, and I almost fall onto another kid. Butch is always so aggressive with me, even more than Brick is. I don't get what his deal is.
I glance around the front yard, seeing if I could spot Bubbles. Her and her sisters weren't on the bus, but they aren't anywhere else to be seen either.
I spot a girl with orange hair. Wait, that might be Blossom! Wow, her hair certainly got a lot longer over the summer. I'm glad she could grow it out so fast, Bubbles mentioned the short hair was giving her dysphoria. I sneak up behind her and tap her on the shoulder.
"Blossom! Hi! Have you seen Bubbles-"
"I'm sorry, who are you?" The girl turns around, a puzzled expression on her face. One of her bright yellow eyes is covered with her hair. She has freckles on her smooth face, and a gap in between two of her teeth. I freeze.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" I stammer out, "You just looked like one of my friends, and, um- well-"
"Boomer! Get your ass over here!" Brick shouts from across the yard. I turn back to the girl, nervously grinning.
"So sorry." I repeat before speeding across the yard.
A bit later, my schedule was given to me. I taped it to the wall of my locker and decked out everything in stickers. I want my locker to look cool this year! If I'm not plain, I'll get more attention. Maybe Bubbles can paint some stars in it. That'd be awesome! I have theater first period. Hopefully Bubbles has that one, too. But if she doesn't, I'll just make a bunch of friends there!
I race up to the top floor, bursting into the drama classroom eagerly. All the heads in the room turned to me, but I couldn't see anything except for scowls look my way. I choose to retreat into the corner until class actually starts. The door opens up again, and I catch a flash of yellow uniform shirts and orange hair.
The girl from earlier comes in, a tall boy who looks a lot like her following right behind. The boy is around my height, and like who I can only assume is his sister, has hair covering one of his eyes. His face is freckled, and his eyes are a sunny yellow. His hair reaches past his shoulders, with a ponytail poking out from behind his head. Wow. He's... handsome.
He probably felt me staring at him. His head snaps around to look at me. I look away, watching him examine me from the corner of my eye.
God, this is embarrassing. I hope I at least look fine. I slept in and didn't have time to actually put the effort in and look good. The two orange-haired siblings head off to greet the kids in the room, but the door opens once again.
"Bubbles!" I exclaim as I see her come in. Bubbles' eyes light up when she sees me. She squeals and gives me a big hug.
"Hi, Boomer! How was your summer?" Bubbles asks.
"Oh, it was good! I watched Phantom of the Opera last month!" I answer.
"And you didn't invite me? How mean of you." She jokes. We giggle and keep chatting until we hear the tinkling of a bell.
"Gather around, students!" The theater teacher calls out. Everyone sits on the floor, surrounding the teacher in a semicircle formation. The teacher has short, dark hair that's greying at the side. He's a bit pudgy, but like, in a cool way. You know that one chill uncle who pulls up at the barbecues? Well, I don't know if that happens, actually. It happens in the sitcoms I watch. I wish I had an uncle.
"Welcome to improv class, everyone! I'm Mr. Dellarte," Mr. Dellarte smiles, "It's so nice to see all of these new faces! This course will teach you all there is to improvisation in theater. Even if you want to do scripted theatrical productions, improv is a good skill to have! It's crucial to acting as a whole."
Mr. Dellarte's speech was only met with quiet murmurs from bored kids, and two pairs of hands clapping. Those orange-haired twins. They seem really immersed in what he's saying. It's only nice to clap as well. I don't want people to think I'm a bad person, especially not that boy, so I just clap along with them.
"Good to see we have some eager students!" Mr. Dellarte beamed at the siblings, "Now, how about some icebreakers? Cooperation is important in improv, and you can't cooperate if you don't know your classmates well!"
Mr. Dellarte made up a pretty simple icebreaker. All that's asked is for you to say your name, grade, where you're from, and your favorite theatrical production. Seems easy. We all stand up, and one by one, my new classmates answer the questions. I don't pay much attention to who's saying what, or what their names even are. My eyes are only set on those twins.
They actually look similar to me and Bubbles. Maybe they also have powers.
"And you, young lady?" Mr. Dellarte points at the orange-haired girl. She clears her throat and holds her head up high, a smile like sunshine on her face.
"I'm Bee Wilson, and I'm in the 8th grade," Bee introduces herself, "Me and my twin brother Birch are from London. I quite like Newsies."
"And my favorite Broadway production is Phantom of the Opera." Birch speaks up.
I thought Newsies was a movie. Maybe they adapted it into Broadway? I'd have to check. But I certainly knew that Birch guy's favorite. I love Cats, and I probably will for as long as I'm alive. But I don't want the twins to think I'm weird. I'll just say the same thing as Birch! Technically, it's only a half-lie, right? I mean, I like Phantom of the Opera.
"How about you, kiddo?" Mr. Dellarte calls on me. I grin widely.
"I'm Boomer! I'm in 7th grade, and, uh, I'm from Townsville! I like Phantom of the Opera."
Bubbles raises a brow at me. She can tell I'm not being honest. I just avoid her gaze and look straight.
The rest of the class is kinda boring. Mr. Dellarte doesn't even let us play any improv games; he just tells us about them. Apparently, there's gonna be some big show at the end of the semester. Cool!
The bell rings loudly, and as I'm packing my things to leave, I see Bee and Birch not too far from me. I lean over, smiling at them.
"Hi! I'm Boomer. You're Bee and Birch, right?"
"Uhm, yeah. We kind of said that during the icebreaker." Bee scoffs, rolling her eyes.
"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you guys! If you need anything, I'd be happy to help. I've lived in Townsville my whole life."
"Oh, you're the kid who also likes Phantom of the Opera," Birch points out, "Well, you've certainly got good taste. We'll let you know if we need anything. Right, Bee?"
Bee just shrugs. Birch gives me one last smile before he and Bee leave the room, whispering among themselves. I feel heat creep up my cheeks, tinting my face a pale red. I have good taste? Nobody ever says that about my interests. Especially not boys.
"Boomer, why'd you say Phantom of the Opera? I thought your favorite was Cats?" Bubbles questions me.
"It is!" I reassure her, "I just... I don't want people to think I'm weird on the first day."
"You should be honest, though. I'm sure that if you make any friends this year, they won't care if you like 'weird' things. We're all weird in our own way!"
I mean, I guess she's right. But I can deal with that honesty stuff later. All I need to do right now is try and befriend those Wilson twins. They seem really cool! I'm sure they won't judge me, but I won't take any chances right now.
"You're right, Bubs! I should be honest if I wanna make real friends," I say, "We should get going now. I don't wanna be late for English."
Bubbles grins at me, almost like she's proud of me. I just muster a half-hearted smile in return. I don't really like to lie to my friends, but if it's the only way I'll get popular, then one or two lies won't hurt. Bubbles will understand once I'm popular.