Leo

As I walked towards my homeroom, I desperately scanned the school grounds for someone that I know that I could hang out with before school starts when I spot Maria Stewarts, one of my only friends, standing outside of my homeroom with two tall students I’ve never seen before.

One of them was an athletically built girl with long raven black hair pulled back in a high ponytail with a lavender ribbon that matched her crop top. Next to her was a boy with messy light brown hair wearing a pink hoodie and ripped jeans. Siblings, maybe?

I approached the three awkwardly, holding the straps of my backpack.

Maria waved me over when she noticed me coming over. “Reigne, Alto, this is Leo, one of my friends!” she introduced happily as always. “Leo, these are Reigne and Alto. They’re new here so Principal Fletcher asked me to show them around.”

Leo managed a smile and waved awkwardly with his hand still somewhat holding onto his backpack straps. “Hey,”

The boy winked at him. “I’m Alto but you can call me anytime,”

Leo choked and he went red.

Reigne elbowed him. “Ignore him,” she said then held out a hand to Leo. “I’m Reigne and this is my twin brother, Alto. He’s always a pain like this,”

“I’m Leo,” he smiled, taking Reigne’s hand and shaking it. “Nice to meet you,”

Suddenly the warning bell rang and Maria looked down at the watch on her wrist. “I’ll be going now. See you guys later!” Maria waved then ran off.

The three students entered the classroom. Leo sat at his usual seat at the back corner of the classroom and Alto sat at the desk next to him with Reigne next to her brother.

I fiddled with a Rubik's Cube, trying to distract myself from the stares from Alto. I didn’t really care to solve the cube, I wouldn’t want to touch it. I’m just really fidgety when I’m overwhelmed and I feel especially awkward and embarrassed right now.

“What’s that?”

I glance to my left to Alto and frowned. “It’s a Rubik’s Cube? Have you never heard of it?” I asked. Alto shook his head. Ignoring his strange behaviour, I tried to explain it the best I could. “It’s, like, a puzzle. The goal is to have all sides the same colour…”

Before Alto could reply, a figure loomed over us.

“You’re in my seat,” said Zach.

“I don’t see your name on it,” Alto replied confidently with a huge grin on his face.

Zach laughed and turned to me. “Your new boyfriend’s got an attitude, Leo,”

I dug my chin further into my arms. “He’s not my boyfriend, Zach. Shut up,”

Alto did finger guns at me. “Not yet,”

I ignored him and hid my red face in my arms.

“Wow, you guys are so cute,” Zach said with a smirk. “But I’m a bit confused. Why would someone ever like a freak like you?”

“Back off,”

I looked up to see Reigne scowling at Zach. They were both tall but Reigne towered over him. While I was thankful, I was still utterly confused. I’d only just met these too but they seemed so nice, especially Reigne standing up for me. No one stands up to Zach, but I guess she doesn’t know that.

Zach seemed slightly intimidated by her but he quickly brushed it off. “Oh, there’s a party over here,” he said with a chuckle. “You clearly don’t know who I am,”

“You clearly don’t know who I am,”

Two of Zach’s friends joined him. “Am I supposed to? You new kids are nobodies, just like that freak.” He pointed at me.

I heard a rumble of thunder coming from outside as it started to pour down. I could’ve sworn it was sunny, but the weather’s always kinda weird here. “I think you might need glasses because you’re pointing at the wrong person,” said Reigne as she directed a finger to his face. Her eyes flashed with rage and Zach took a step back.

“Wow, what a witty comeback!” Zach said and his friends laughed forcefully. “Where’d you get that, Google?” The bell rang but went unnoticed.

Reigne rolled her eyes. “Was that supposed to be a comeback?”

The door to the classroom opened and our form teacher, Miss Bird, walked in. “Please sit down,” she said as she took a seat at her desk.

Miss Bird was a friendly young woman with short chocolate brown hair. As well as being our form teacher, she also teaches swimming and coaches the school’s swim team.

Zach reluctantly walked to the front where the only available seats were while Reigne sat back down.

“I hate people like that,” I heard Reigne mutter as she took her seat.

I put my forgotten Rubik’s Cube in my pocket as I watched the twins from the corner of my eye.

“I’d like to introduce our two newest students to our school, Alto and Reinge,” said Miss Bird, wearing her signature friendly and approachable smile. “Would you like to introduce yourselves?”

Automatically, Alto stood up bearing a cocky grin. “I’m Alto and I’m single if any of you wanted to know,”

Both Reigne and I rolled our eyes at his antics and how multiple girls in the class were now gazing fondly at him. Once Alto sat down, Reigne stayed seated.

Miss Bird ignored Alto’s comment. “Do you want to introduce yourself, Reigne?”

“What? Oh, right.” Reigne stood up and glanced around the classroom. “I’m Reigne, this dork’s twin sister sadly. I like water, like the ocean and rain and that stuff.”

Miss Bird's eyes lit up. “It’s not too late to join the school’s swim team. I’m the coach and we still need more people,”

Reigne shrugged. “Uh, yeah, maybe.”

☯

After twenty minutes of form time, I headed to my first class, Social Studies, which went smoothly as the teacher was strict and didn’t allow much discussion, which was fine by me. Then I had Art, where I was once again in the same class as Alto and Reigne. Honestly, I liked Reigne. She seemed cool, especially compared to her brother. Alto is quite clearly an extrovert and a flirt. If the girls from form class were fawning over him, the girls in Art obsessed over him. Yeah, he was cute and all, I can admit that. But it’s like he’s a magnet and everyone’s attracted to him just like that. He also insists that he sits next to me which means a lot of people surrounding me too.

That’s how I got here. Extremely overwhelmed and panicky, sitting next to a cute guy and surrounded by giggling girls staring at said cute guy. And since Alto and Reinge joined in the middle of the year, someone had to help them catch up quickly. That was me. I’m someone. I’m a good kid, teachers like me because I work quietly by myself and do it properly. I’m not the teacher’s pet, but most teachers do like me so it’s not a surprise it would be me. Just a bit… overwhelming, to say the least.

Reigne was a quick learner and once she knew what she was doing, she was on it. Alto seemed to be purposely messing up. Or maybe he’s just that bad, I wouldn’t put it past him. That lesson was long and tiring and I was so glad when it was over. That meant it was break. I was tired, as usual, and I wanted to sit by myself, not having to socialise for another half an hour. But fate had other plans for me.

☯