Chapter Text
First Day of School - Grade 9 - Sebastian
"Sebastian! Time to get up! You'll be late for school!"
Sebastian groaned, but pushed himself out of bed, pulling on the outfit he'd set out the night before - his favourite pair of black jeans, a t-shirt with a frog on it (not that anyone would see it), and his customary black hoodie. He wrinkled his nose at the scent of the laundry detergent, even though he'd agreed with his mother that it needed to be washed after wearing it every day for the last two months.
She couldn't understand why he wore a hoodie all summer. He didn't feel like explaining that it was a form of self-defense. No, that would lead to a lot of convoluted conversations about his feelings and promises that things would change. Sebastian had learned long ago they never would.
He fiddled with his dark brown hair, making sure every strand was in place. It would be the first time he'd meet most of his new classmates, and, much as he'd never admit it, he wanted it to look perfect. Plus if his hair looked good, maybe he wouldn't feel so anxious about starting high school.
Or meeting the new kid in town.
"Sebastian, come on! You're going to miss the bus!"
"Coming!" Sebastian called back, grabbing his backpack and heading up the stairs leading from the basement bedroom to the main level of the house. His sister and stepfather were already at the table having breakfast. He wrinkled his nose again. Eggs.
"Morning," Sebastian mumbled, walking over to the coffee pot and pouring himself a cup. He slid into his seat at the table, and took a sip, ignoring the look exchanged between his mother and his stepfather.
"Since when do you drink coffee?" Robin asked.
Sebastian shrugged. "Dad let me have it and I thought it tasted good."
He thought it tasted like shit, actually, but he liked the boost to his energy that came with each sip.
Robin and Demetrius exchanged another glance, but thankfully didn't say anything else. Robin slid a piece of toast in front of him and he dutifully took a bite, appreciating the gesture even if his stomach was in knots. He'd only gotten back from his mandatory court-ordered summer visit with his father the evening before, and he was exhausted from having to play the part of 'perfect son.' While Demetrius and Maru could be annoying (and Yoba was Sebastian tired of being compared to his half-sister), at least he was usually left to his own devices. When he wasn't outright ignoring him (which he honestly preferred), Sebastian's bio-dad insisted that they do things 'as a family,' including trips to aquariums, theme parks and kids movies designed for his four year-old twin half-brothers' entertainment, rather than his own. He hated that the Greeney theme song now played on repeat in his head.
"Are you nervousth about stharting high sthchool, Stheb?" Maru lisped around the gap caused by her missing front teeth.
Yes.
"No," he lied. "It's just school."
"At least Abigail and Sam are in the same grade as you," his mom mused. "You won't have to take the bus alone."
Ah yes. The elusive Sam.
Abigail had called him almost every day when he'd been away, each day being filled with more and more stories about the new kid who'd moved to town. According to Abigail, it seemed like the sun shone out of his ass. After the tenth story about how great Sam was at literally everything, Sebastian had flat out asked if she had a crush on him.
"It's not like that, Seb," she'd protested. "Plus he's not my type, anyways," she'd added, not elaborating on what her type was. "You'll see, he's just a nice guy."
He'd see alright. He took one last sip of his coffee and stuffed another bite of toast in his mouth, leaving well over half the slice of bread behind.
"Gotta go or I'll be late," he said. He paused to give his mother a hug, tweaked Maru's hair (grinning at her annoyed "Sthop Stheb!"), and exchanged an awkward wave with Demetrius before heading to the door. "See you later."
He quickly made his way through town, not actually wanting to be late, accompanied by the soundtrack of the mixed CD Abigail had burned for him for his birthday, holding his headphones just right as he walked so the music would play through both headphones and not just the left one. He slowed when he reached the bus stop, pressing the pause button on his discman and shoving his headphones in his pocket.
He was hoping to see a familiar face, but Abigail wasn't there yet. He wasn't sure why he was surprised. She was almost always late. Alex and Haley weren't there either, but that was normal - Haley's dad usually drove them both to school every morning since he worked near the high school in Grampleton. Instead, the only person there was a boy about his age. He was rocking back and forth on his feet as he looked around the clearing, his eyes lighting up when he spied Sebastian. "Hey," he said, running a hand through his light brown hair. "You must be Sebastian! I'm Sam. I moved to town while you were away."
He extended a hand towards Sebastian, who cautiously shook it. "Man I'm glad it's not just me and Abby going to school on the bus from here," Sam continued, apparently not expecting an answer from Sebastian. "That way if one of us is sick, we'll still have someone to hang out with for the drive, you know?"
Sebastian nodded.
"Anyways, I'm also nervous about the first day of school. It's bad enough being the new kid in town, but also starting high school at the same time… not something I'm looking forward to, not gonna lie. But Dad's gonna be shipping out soon, and the places in the city cost so much to rent, he and mom could buy a whole house here for less than it cost to rent a one bedroom plus den back home. Not sure how, actually. Something about mortgages and army grants for housing." Sam shrugged.
"Your dad's in the military?" Sebastian asked, finally finding his voice.
Sam frowned. "Yeah, he just enlisted. He used to be a garbage man in the city." He trailed off, as if he wasn't sure he was supposed to have said that.
"That sucks, man," Sebastian said, alarmed at Sam's mood change. "About him joining the army, not about being a garbage man. Anyways, I'm nervous too," Sebastian admitted, wanting to see the strange boy's lopsided smile again. "I'm not great at meeting new people."
"You've been fine with me," Sam pointed out. "Plus you're so cool. I'm sure things will go fine. And if they don't, maybe we can have lunch together or something?"
"I hope there's room for three at that table." Both Sam and Sebastian jumped at the sound of Abigail's voice. Neither of them had noticed her approaching.
He thinks I'm cool? Sebastian thought in confusion.
"Oh there's the bus! Good! I was just in time," Abigail grinned. "Come on guys!" She bounded up the stairs.
Sebastian boarded next, taking the seat across the aisle from her. Sam hesitated a moment before sliding in next to Sebastian, offering him a shy smile, which Sebastian returned.
Maybe high school wouldn't be so bad, after all.