let's all make believe. (w. axl rose).

Chapter Three: Surviving Lunch and Other Misadventures

Aside from the occasional eye-roll from Izzy, lunch was going smoothly. They had gone to the cafeteria, filled with multiple round tables and chairs—just your standard high school setup. William didn't mind sharing his food with Harley, the raving beauty sitting beside him, especially when he saw she hadn't been able to get any herself.

"So... Harley," Richard called out as he placed his can of soda on the table.

"Yes, Dick?" Harley replied, sharing a bag of chips with William.

"How does a girl like you survive living in a religious household?" Richard wondered, trying not to sound rude.

"Really, Dick?" William glared at him, using the newly found nickname as an insult.

"Well, Dick, I don't really have a way of surviving. I just... live," Harley shrugged, causing Richard to laugh.

"Oh, I like her," Richard pointed at her, picking his drink back up with his free hand.

"I'm going to class," Izzy scoffed, abruptly leaving the table and exiting the cafeteria.

"I'm starting to think he doesn't like me very much," Harley sarcastically pouted at the two boys.

"Yeah, I don't know why he's being like that," William shook his head, watching as his best friend left.

"He just needs time to get used to you, is all," Richard promised with a smile.

"Either way, I don't care," Harley shrugged again. "My own parents don't like me, so Izzy not liking me won't be a problem."

"That's rough," Richard commented.

"Yeah, strangely enough, it doesn't bother me anymore," Harley laughed to herself.

"That's... sad," William mumbled.

"It's whatever," Harley brushed him off. "So, what do you guys do for fun around here?"

"Not much. Has anyone told you how much of a shithole this place is?" Richard inquired, causing Harley to hum in response. "Well, they're not wrong. The most fun we have is pissing off cops, sneaking off to parties, or going to band practice."

"You're in a band?" Harley asked, raising a brow.

"Yeah, me, Izzy, and Bill," Richard grinned, slapping William on the shoulder.

"Ooh, fun," Harley smirked at William, causing him to playfully shake his head at her. "What do you do?" Harley asked, her gaze lingering on William.

"I sing," William replied, causing Harley to let out a gasp. "Rich plays bass and Izzy's on drums. We're looking for a guitarist, though."

"Izzy doesn't strike me as a drummer," Harley mused, shaking her head as she tried to picture Izzy behind a drum set. "Anyway, you sing?"

"Yeah," William chuckled. "I sing at church too, sometimes, with my siblings. We call ourselves The Bailey Trio."

"That's adorable. That's going to be the only reason I go to church now," Harley announced with a grin.

"Oh, great," William pretended to be annoyed but couldn't hide his smile as Harley laughed.

"I can't wait to hear you sing," Harley gushed as the three stood up, making their way to fourth period after the bell rang.

"You didn't come to the bleachers at lunch, which is fine, obviously, I'm just curious about where you went," Lisa wondered when Harley took a seat next to her in Spanish class.

"Oh... yeah. I was hanging out with William, Richard, and Izzy," Harley told the girl, not thinking much of it. "You know them?"

"Yeah, well, not personally. I just know they're like, the outcasts of the school. Always getting in trouble with the teachers and cops, smoking pot, just doing illegal shit, you know?" Lisa informed Harley.