Chapter Text
⋆⊱༻𖥸༺⊰⋆
Will’s converse hit the floor as his leg bounced anxiously. It was just nerves on his first day of a new school, at least that’s what his mom told him, but he was sure that he was too old for nervousness.
“Will… Mahony…” His new principal, Ms Waters, muttered slowly to herself as she typed his name into her computer, “Found you! I’ll print off your timetable.”
“Thank you Ms Wate-“
“Patterson High School may not have been the most ideal choice for a new school, there are certainly better out there, but it’s the one you chose… and we welcome you with open arms! You’re ready to meet other students, I assume?” She cut him off, bellowing a speech that was definitely rehearsed.
Will smiled politely.
“I’m excited to star-“
“That was a rhetorical question. Before anything else, I need to speak with you about expectations,” She paused and waited for him to nod, “School is a place of safety and education, but without solid foundations you get chaos. That’s why I expect you to look after the wellbeing of your peers and friends by following the long list of rules that were sent to you via letter. Can you do that for me?”
Will stayed silent, he was unsure if he was supposed to reply to that.
“Can you do that for me?” Ms Waters repeats, her tone more aggressive than before.
“Yes… Ma’am..?” He braces himself for a lecture.
“Good. Get out of my office.” She replies harshly.
Will quickly gathers his things and hurries out of her office. In his rush, he accidentally bumps into someone.
“Shit! Sorry-“
He stands face to face with a tall brunette boy, wearing a black tank top and dark jeans. The boy’s face was rugged and he had a deep frown that made him look perpetually peeved; he had the distinct and unmistakable smell of cigarettes and stale ash that almost made Will cough, but he managed to hold it in. Definitely one to stay away from.
❀
“Shirley,” a girl with dark curls and a huge grin shook his hand enthusiastically, “Shirley Mohan. I’ll be showing you around today!”
Will smiled back and handed her his timetable. She laughed and gave him it back.
“Room numbers you’ll figure out eventually, but I think it’s more important you learn about how this school works.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” He asked.
“Well…” she started walking through the halls, “First of all, you need to know about the different groups we have here at Patterson High and who belong in them. That way you won’t find yourself in an awkward interaction with someone you don’t want to be caught talking to!”
“That’s… kind of you, but I really don’t think it’s necessary-“ He began.
“Oh, it is. Trust me,” She led him outside, “You’ll thank me later.”
Shirley stopped at a small patch of grass.
“You obviously have your jocks and your nerds,” she pointed to different clumps of people that were all cramped together, “but you also have your heteroplatonic multiracial polycule; best to stay away from them though, they’re all insane.”
Will almost laughed at the absurdity of it all, until he spotted someone walking past him.
“Oh my God.” He said without thinking.
Shirley immediately met his gaze and laid her eyes upon a girl with her brunette hair in two braids. Wearing a white sundress that was speckled with a floral pattern and a light pink cardigan, she walked briskly in the summer breeze and laughed with her friends.
She looked beautiful.
She looked like the sun itself.
“That’s Hannah Bondalo, but everyone calls her Hanbon.” Shirley explained.
“I burn, I pine, I perish…” Will replied breathlessly, “What group is she in?”
“The ‘don’t even think about it’ group,” She answered, “Her dad is the strictest person ever. She’s not allowed to date until she graduates.”
He watched Hanbon walk away from him with a slight spring in her step.
❀
Coy sunk into one of the suede chairs in Ms Waters’ office and it wobbled slightly as he made himself comfortable.
“Coy Piso, it’s a pleasure to see you again in my office.” She said, a fake smile creeping up her face.
He smiled back, making sure his was even faker.
“I can’t say I feel the same way.”
Ms Waters hesitated.
“People at this school perceive you as somewhat…” She began.
“Tempestuous?” He offered.
“Heinous bitch is the term used most often.”
Coy smiled to himself.
“If that’s the case, why are you always so pleased to see me?”
“I chose this job because I wanted to teach. Who’s a better student to teach than one with so much to learn?”
God, he despised her.
“Now tell me; why are you in my office?”
“I don’t know what everyone’s been saying to you but I still maintain that Neal kicked himself in the balls.” Coy shrugged.
She huffed a long and drawn out sigh.
“Now, I don’t know why you think you’re exempt from the rules but-“
A swift knock on the door interrupted her.
“Hi Ms Waters! I’m here to pick up Coy,” The unmistakable voice of Hanbon flooded the room, “Our dad wants us home early.”
Coy had never been so happy to see his sister.
“Fine,” She said after a long pause, “Pack up your things, but I won’t forget about this.”
“Oh, I’m sure,” Coy replied, as he was already halfway out of the door, “Thanks Ms!”
❀
“Dude. Pick your jaw up from the floor, this is getting hard to watch,” Shirley complained, her nose scrunching up in disgust, “No offense, but she’s way out of your league. Besides, she’s probably just like every other popular rich girl at this school.” She patted Will on the back.
He shook his head.
“No. You’re wrong about her.”
“How do you know that? You’ve never even spoken to her.”
“I just-“ He huffed out a breath, “I just do, okay?”
“Prove it.” She challenged him.
“How am I supposed to do that? I thought her dad was super strict.” Will frowned.
Shirley took a step closer to him.
“I heard she’s looking for a French tutor.”
“That’s perfect!” His eyes lit up.
“Do you even speak French?”
There was a long moment of silence between the two.
“…No.”
❀
Coy felt the dog-eared page of his book; the words weren’t processing in his head, they were all swimming around in his mind and being engulfed by other thoughts, so he opted to daydream instead.
That was until he was rudely interrupted by the argument his dad and sister were having in the kitchen migrated to the living room, which just so happened to be the place he was unfortunate enough to reside.
“I just think it’s so unfair, dad!” Hanbon whined, “I’m the only person at school who isn’t dating.”
“That’s not true, your brother isn’t.” Their dad replied matter-of-factly.
“And I don’t intend to,” Coy added to their conversation, “That school is full of straight men that also happen to be pea-brained dickheads.”
“It doesn’t help that you’re a mutant that comes from planet loser,” She was clearly annoyed that he was on their dad’s side, “No one would want to date you anyway.”
“That’s homophobic.”
Hanbon rolled her eyes and turned away from Coy.
“Dad, can’t you see how unfair this is? The rule doesn’t affect Coy, it only applies to me!”
He paused for a long time, causing the two siblings to glance at each other, their faces contorting in confusion.
“You’re right, I’ll change the rule.”
A large grin spread across her face.
“You can date,” He paused dramatically, his finger pointing at Hanbon, “When he does.” His finger moved to point at Coy.