Chapter Text
Dex fumbled with the TV in the auditorium, his hands covered in wires. As he tried to get rid of the static on the screen, someone called down from the stands,
“Yo Deck, is your girlfriend back there?”
"One more year," Dex muttered, "One more year and I’ll be out of this hellhole." No more jocks, no more awful equipment, no more getting shoved into lockers.
Dex finally got the loose wire back into place, and the TV sprang into action, its colour bright and sound overpowering.
As crappy as high school may have been, there was nothing like the feeling of something going right, especially with equipment as bad as this.
Dex rubbed his hands together and returned to his seat. His best friend Sophie waved him over, squished beside Marella and Jensi.
Dex sat beside them, and Sophie began to tell them all about the upcoming student council election.
“Ugh, I swear if Fitz gets it again this year, I’m going to strangle him!!” Sophie cried, throwing her hands in the air.
“I, for one, am in favour of that motion”. Dex laughed. “Don’t worry, Sophie, you’re totally going to win, I guarantee it.”
Sophie grinned, “You really think so?”
“I know so,” Dex reassured her. Sophie leaned over and hugged him tight. “You’re the best!”
They refocused their attention on Principal Alina, who was talking all about the school code of conduct, for the thousandth time.
“I swear, we wouldn’t have to hear about this so much if it wasn’t for Keefe’s love of pranks,” Dex exclaims, “Can you think of a single day where he hasn’t pranked someone? I love the Keefster, don’t get me wrong, but the guy’s a menace.”
“I think someone’s jealous!!” Marella says in a sing-song voice.
“What are you talking about?” Dex asks, confused.
“Well, let’s see. He’s cooler than you, taller than you, funnier than you, cuter than you, and of course, he’s your crush’s crush”.
“And who exactly is this mystery crush?” Dex asks, taking a sip of water.
“Biana Vacker.”
Dex choked on his water, keeling over as Jensi asked if he needed the Heimlich manoeuvre.
“I don’t have a crush on Biana!!” Dex told Marella, his face bright red.
“Keep telling yourself that. Maybe one day you even believe it.”
Before Dex could come up with a reply, the bell rang, signalling the start of first period.
The four friends waved goodbye as they headed off to their various classrooms.
“Good luck,” Marella called, “try not to set this place on fire while I’m gone.” She turned around, a smirk playing on her lips, “Because I want to watch it burn.”
“Major Hitchcock vibes, but okay,” Sophie laughed, “See you later, guys.” She waves goodbye to Jensi and Dex.
Jensi saluted Dex and wished him luck in his quest to woo Biana, before he and Valin melted into the crowd.
Dex was finally alone in the corridor and was grabbing his Chemistry book out of his bag when he crashed straight into a familiar figure.