[ 𝙿𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚝 & 𝙶𝚕𝚞𝚎 ] ~ 𝚆𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝙱𝚢𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚡 𝙾𝙲

I - New School

Antonio sighed, taking a deep breath to calm his nerves. He was at another new school. The black eyed boy pushed the door open after double checking the number beside the door. "Ah, good morning. You two must be our new student!" Mrs. Gracey, whose name he learned from his schedule, said.

"Yup." Antonio gave a tight nod.

"Welcome Antonio, we are excited to have you here. Please, introduce yourself to our class." The black haired woman told him.

"Hi, I'm Antonio Morales. Uhm. . .I was born here?" He muttered, turned to face the students.

"Alright then," Mrs. Gracey smiled. "Go ahead and take a seat over by William. William, will you please raise your hand?"

A boy with brown hair and a bowl cut raised his hand. "Uhm, it's Will, Ms."

"Yes, of course, Will. I'm sorry." She chuckled, a bright smile on her face.

Antonio took slow steps to the brunet, sliding into the seat behind him.

"Alright students, we have a visual aid assignment that will be due on Friday." Antonio stopped paying attention to what his teacher had to say, knowing that there would be a form handed out explaining exactly the same information with less talking. He slid To Kill a Mockingbird onto his desk, he flipped open to chapter seventeen and started reading.

It was the end of class now, the bell ringing against the student's ears. Just like Antonio thought, there was a stack of papers that everyone was taking from as they left from the classroom. "Hi! Antonio?" He turned around, his eyebrows furrowing as he looked at a shorter girl with brown hair. She was the one sitting next to 'William'.

"Yeah, and you are?" His expression softened, deciding to drop his slight attitude.

"I am Jane, this is my frie- brother Will." She smiled, motioning toward the boy who stood awkwardly behind her.

Antonio gave a small nod and an uncomfortable smile. "Nice to meet you."

"Uh, would you like to work on your project with us? We can start them together." Jane offered.

"Oh- Uhm. . .I guess?" Antonio shrugged with a small sigh.

"Hey, uhm-" Will spoke up, looking up from where he was staring off. "Do you want to sit with us at lunch? Since you're new here. Tomorrow, of course- It's already over today. . ."

"Sure. That sounds nice." Antonio gave a tight nod and a subtle smile.

"Cool. . ." Will nodded back.

Jane stood up straighter, her expression lighting up. "What is your next class? Maybe we have it together."

"Oh- Uhm-" Antonio pulled a neatly folded paper from his pocket, unfolding it and scanning it over. "Algebra?"

"Which room?" Will asked, leaning over slightly to try and see the paper.

"908."

"Mrs. Almore, Jane's got her too." Will told him. "Uh- Just- Just follow her. I'll see you guys after class, okay?"

"Bye Will." Jane waved with a bright smile.

"So. . .Jane. Who are you thinking about doing for your project?" Antonio questioned, trying to make conversation.

"My dad! He- Uh. . .He was a police chief." Her smile was clearly forced, wavered.

"Oh yeah? That's cool. My mom was on the force, before she passed." He gave her a slow nod, his hands lightly in his jacket pockets.

"Your mom is dead?" Jane asked him.

Antonio let out a heavy laugh, not expecting her bluntness. "Yeah, yeah she is. Died when I was six."