Try Harder, Alex.

One.

Alex sat in the principles office, again, for the third time this week. God, he needed to stop getting into fights. He anxiously tapped against his leg, waiting for his mother to come and get him.

"Alex, your mother is here." A soft voice called and Alex nodded, looking down, not daring to make eye contact with the woman who walked over to the desk, talking to the principal. Eventually they finished and his mother, Maria, turned to look at him, an angry look on her face.

The principal looked at Alex with a wary look, "See you in two weeks, Alex."

Great. He was suspended. He sighed and nodded, following his mother out of the door. He opened the backseat door and got in, staring out the window and watching the passing trees and cars. His mother didn't say a word the entire time, keeping her eyes on the road.

She didn't need to say anything, Alex knew she was angry by the way she held the steering wheel. Somehow, they arrived home quicker than usual. Why did it have to be such a short ride? Is use it felt like hours, though he knew it was only a thirty minute drive.

He got out the car and walked inside, his cat, Tiger, walking after him the moment he walked through the door. He went upstairs and sat on his bed, letting out a soft sigh.

Three knocks came at his door before his mother walked in, she didn't even ask. Of course, not like his privacy mattered anyways.

"Alex, you realize if you keep this up, your grades will drop, right?"

Alex nods without saying a word, he knew better than to say anything, knowing the wrong thing would come out and he'd be in trouble, well, worst trouble than he already was. His mother walked over and sat on his bed, sighing.

"You know I care about you. I just need you to try, alright? I can't have you being expelled, this is your second school. I know you're a good kid, you just need to prove it," Maria whispered, Patting Alex on the back, "I know it's been hard on you, you think I'm not affected by your fathers death? I am, but that doesn't mean I go around and get into fights everyday. You're sixteen, for heavens sake."

Alex nodded again. He hated this, he hated that she would assume things as if she knew everything. It was stupid, so stupid! She acted as if she knew what happened at school.

"Alright, then. Please try to think about what I said." She stood up and went to walk out his room, "And if it happens again, you're grounded." Then she left.

Alex let out an annoyed breath, falling onto his bed and pulling a pillow over his face. He couldn't wait til he could finally move out, to be on his own and not be criticized for every small move he made or not have his stories taken as lies because he was a boy.

Of course, they immediately assume he hit her first. Because he was a boy and she was a girl, and girls are gentle. He was a boy. Boys are mean and annoying. He was a boy. He can't be hurt by a few words, or be sensitive.

That would be stupid of him. Very stupid of him. He sighed and looked around the room. Great. He left his backpack in the car. He was so stupid! With a sigh, he rolled over, staring at the wall. It didn't matter, nothing real did at this point. He had quite literally no friends in the school and everybody either hated him or wanted to fight him.

He loved talking to people though, he was one of the most extroverted person in the school, he just didn't know how to keep his opinions to himself. Which is why he was constantly in the principals office. He wasn't sure why he got sent there though, he never started a fight, or hurt anybody.

They hit him first, he couldn't control their actions. And, for the first time in months, he wondered if they ever got suspended. Why was he always getting in trouble? That wasn't fair, but it wasn't like anybody would actually care. He wasn't stupid, he knew what people played attention to wand what they didn't give a shit about.

And unfortunately for him, he was one of the latter.

He wasn't sure when, but he fell asleep. When he woke up, it was dark out and his mother wasn't home, she was probably working. Alex stood up and changed into pajamas, grabbing his phone and checking the time. 7:45. He yawned. He wasn't quite sure how long he was asleep for, but it was probably long enough for his body to be hungry.

He made his way downstairs and grabbed a bowl before hesitating. Maybe it'd be best if he didn't eat, that way, if he got into another fight, he would be weaker and maybe he wouldn't get in trouble for it. So he put the bowl back and went upstairs, lying his head on the pillow and hoping his thoughts of eating would go away.

And it worked. He was asleep in a matter of minutes, his dreams filled with nothing but emptiness. Strange, but oh well. He would get used to it. Maybe.