Needle In A Haystack (EarthMix AU)

Chapter 1 - Sourdough

The first time Mix saw him was in a crowded classroom as he sat down beside his cousin and listened to whatever his cousin said. The boy was maybe head taller than him, even seated he looked big, but slouched over his desk as he ate a lunch that seemed to make Mix's cousin Niam laugh at him. 

"What's his name?" Mix pointed at the boy no one else talked to. Classroom full of people, yet they seemed to not see him at all, downright ignoring him. 

"That's Earth. Don't talk to him, he's a farmer's boy, they're like...so damn poor and filthy. When we were in primary school, his dad would drive him there on a tractor. So pathetic. He mucks the stables and touches manure all the time. I wouldn't be friends with him even if there was ten walls between us. Yuck." Niam pretended to shudder, but Mix was intrigued. 

"He wasn't here yesterday." Mix commented. 

"Yeah, he doesn't go to school on Mondays. Some stupid exception from principal, because he helps his parents at farmer's market. Yikes. They got like twenty kids too, can you imagine? I'm so glad I'm an only child. Must be awful sleeping on hay with all your siblings." 

"I don't think that's a nice thing to say." 

"Whatever." Niam jerked his head. "I still wonder how could his parents afford the tuition. Even now he fucking walks home even though their stinking farm is like half an hour away."

Mix didn't respond. Not just because the bell rang and the teacher entered the classroom, but also because those words were nothing but rude. He didn't think such stuff would be true, and even if it was, it's not a horrible thing. He didn't condone bullying and he didn't enjoy his cousin talking like that about someone, a bad gossip, but Mix knew where his cousin picked it up from. His aunt, who was Mix's mother's sister, married a very rich and snobbish man, and they only cared for two things; money, and social status. In this small town they lived in, most people knew them as the rich couple who has four cars and a mansion. 

Not that their house was enormous, just a little bigger than the others, but it stood out as it was situated smack in the centre by the town square, with its lush floral bushes and neatly trimmed lawn at the front. They weren't influential by any means, just very popular. It certainly seemed to be obvious who's behaviour Niam inherited, he was just as snotty as his father, but luckily Mix's aunt seemed a little more down to earth than her husband. She was the one who happily helped her sister to find a job almost instantly after moving to the town. As much as Mix liked his previous school and his classmates, he didn't care they had to move and he had to finish high school here.

The town was pretty, the school was nice, and his mother seemed much happier than before when they lived in big city. Not to mention she seemed to thrive without her asshole husband, Mix's father, as the divorce got finalised. Mix spent half of his summer vacation with his cousin while his mom furnished their new house and neatly decorated the place, leaving him to finish up his room on his own and explore the town before the school year started. It was his final year, and even though graduating high school wasn't such a big deal, he was looking forward to it. Even if it meant listening to his spoiled cousin on the loop. Besides his gossiping and his 'I am better than everyone else' attitude, Niam was quite okay. Sometimes. 

"What's the next class? The teacher didn't give me the timetable again. I asked for it three times already." Mix sighed as they packed up their things and Niam stood up. 

"Gym. You got your kit with you? I have a spare in my locker if you need." The cousin said as they walked towards the locker rooms. 

"Nah I got it, thanks." Mix nodded, unpacking his backpack into a locker. His eyes followed the other boys for a second, searching, until Niam chuckled.