Cooper.

Seven.

The bell to leave third lunch chimes, followed immediately by an announcement over the loudspeaker.

"All students are to report to the Gymnasium. All students to the Gymnasium."

I roll my eyes as I stand up to throw away my tray of whole wheat mac and cheese. Oh boy, another GlobalInc related announcement. I just love the takeover of my education.

I follow the herd of students into the gym, where we are filed into the bleachers by grade. I get squashed between two other seniors, two best friends, a troublemaking bad boy and his indie hipster best friend - Frank Grevecci and Alec Grimes.

I like Alec. He used to intern for Jackson. He's always doing things to help people, but dear god, don't piss him off. He's quiet and passive - to a point. His flippy chestnut hair and gentle sky blue eyes hide his hacking capabilities. He likes to work behind the scenes to tackle different issues, and as a result, if you somehow manage to aggravate him, he'll ruin your life little by little.

His best friend, however, is a different story.

Frank is the product of a snobby mom with money to burn. He's reckless and asinine and always getting into some kind of trouble. He spends more time in the office for mouthing off or disrupting the environment more than Gwen does, which is saying something. Everything about Frank screams 'rebel without a cause,' from his messy blonde bedhead to his ice blue eyes to the leather jacket he dons every day of the year.

Even when we were little kids, I never liked Frank. I've lived next to him my whole life, and I remember that as kids he was always having his friends over and stirring up trouble. His mom always got on my nerves as well. Something about her was just...off putting.

"Hey there, Cooper." Alec greets in his soft, whispery voice, just barely glancing at me. So, so quiet.

"Hi, Alec."

Frank puts an arm around me and pulls me into an awkward hug, smirking. "Good morning, Cooper." He pinches my cheek as I swat his hand away. "How are you today?"

"Let me go, Grevecci." I grunt, cutting my eyes up at him. Even sitting, he towers over me.

He removes his arm from my shoulders and shrugs good naturedly. "Whatever, Cooper. Your loss."

Alec glares at his best friend. "Honestly, I have no idea why I put up with you."

Frank laughs and gives Alec a knowing glance. "Because you like having your own personal cheerleader at your hockey games." He taps his chin, the smirk on his lips ever present. "Speaking of games, well in this case, meets, are either of you two going to my track meet?" He nudges me with his elbow. "It'll be fun." He drags out the 'u' in 'fun.'

"You know I'll be going." Alec laughs, fist bumping Frank, making me lean backwards so they can connect fists. Why did I choose to sit here?

"Attention, students." The gym falls silent as a short, portly man in an absurb pinstriped suit speaks into the microphone. "I need your attention, please." The light glimmers off of the man's shiny, bald head as he smiles around at everyone. "Does anyone know who I am?"

"Balding Peter Griffin?" Alec mutters under his breath, smiling softly. Frank snorts, grinning at Alec.

No one dares vocalize a response, although other students visibly joke quietly amongst themselves, much like Alec.

The man ignores this. He adjusts his tie before speaking again. "My name is Henrich Jaeger. I work for GlobalInc's academics branch, and I'm here to announce to you all about the implementation of your school uniforms."