HATE THE TOWN LOVE HER

Chapter 1

The car pulled up in front of the new house, and Chris slumped deeper into the backseat, staring out the window. His parents were excited, of course—they were always excited about "new beginnings." But to Chris, it felt more like an ending.

"Come on, help us with these boxes," his dad said as he popped the trunk, his voice filled with that fake enthusiasm he always used when he could tell Chris wasn't into something.

Chris didn't move right away. He stared at the unfamiliar neighborhood, the perfectly trimmed lawns, the white picket fences, and the strange houses that all looked the same. It wasn't home. Not even close. He thought about his friends, the ones he used to skate with at the park, the ones who'd probably already forgotten about him.

"Chris!" His mom's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming." He dragged himself out of the car, kicking at a rock as he walked over to grab a box.

As he carried it inside, he could hear his parents chatting about how much potential the place had, how "fresh" it felt. Chris didn't care. He dumped the box in the living room, then slipped out the back door, heading for the yard. He found a spot by the fence, plopped down, and stared at the sky. It was cloudy, just like his mood.

Monday came faster than he hoped. His first day at a new school. Chris stood in front of the mirror, fixing his hair for the third time. He was stalling. His mom called up the stairs, saying they'd be late if he didn't hurry.

The school was buzzing with energy when they pulled up. Chris took a deep breath, adjusted his backpack, and stepped out of the car. The halls felt too crowded, too loud, and no one seemed to notice him. He walked down the hallway, glancing at all the groups of people laughing, joking, like they'd known each other forever. He felt out of place, like a shadow.

In homeroom, he found an empty seat in the back and slouched into it, hoping the day would just pass without incident. He didn't look up until a voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

"Hey, you're new, right?"

Chris turned to see a kid with messy blonde hair and a grin that looked too genuine to be real.

"Yeah," Chris muttered. "Just moved here."

"I'm Parker. Nice to meet you." Parker extended a hand, and Chris shook it, a little taken aback by the friendliness. "Where'd you move from?"

"Old town. Kinda far from here."

Parker leaned back in his seat. "Must suck, right? Leaving your friends and all that."

Chris nodded. "Yeah, big time."

"Well, hey, if you need someone to show you around, I got you. This place can be... weird." Parker smirked, and Chris couldn't help but smile a little.

For the rest of the day, Parker stuck by Chris, guiding him through the maze of classrooms and introducing him to a few people here and there. It wasn't the same as his old crew, but it was something. By the end of the day, Chris felt like maybe—just maybe—things wouldn't be so bad after all.

As they walked out of the building, Parker turned to Chris. "Wanna hit the skate park tomorrow after school? It's not like, amazing, but it's something."

Chris shrugged, feeling a spark of excitement. "Yeah, sure. Sounds cool."

Parker grinned. "Awesome. See you then."

As Chris headed home, he felt a small sense of relief. This place still didn't feel like home, but at least now, he had a start.

The next day, Chris felt a little more at ease as he rode his skateboard to the park where Parker had invited him. He wasn't sure what to expect, but it was better than sitting at home, feeling sorry for himself.