Fresh Start (Tyrus) || Andi Mack

One // Cyrus

"Hurry up, Cyrus, you don't wanna be late for your first day at your new school!"

I slip on my socks and head out of my room.

"Coming, mom!" I shout back. I don't know why I'm so nervous. This alternate learning school is supposed to help me avoid the bullies from my old school. So I should be happy, right?

Except I know exactly why I'm nervous. This school happens to have a program for students who have been expelled from other schools in the district. Not looking forward to being with bad kids and possibly being teased again. I know they separate the programs in different rooms, but it's possible to cross paths during breaks or after school.

Also, I'm still waiting to meet my soulmate and that just makes everything ten times more nerve wracking. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention. 30 minutes after your soulmate calls you a nickname for the first time, it appears engraved on your ankle. It's pretty cool, but I probably don't even have a soulmate so I don't know why I bother hoping for one to come. Who would ever like me?

Of course, not everyone has a soulmate, especially if you're not attracted to any gender. Even before I met my best friend, May, I knew it was possible because I looked up all the orientations when I found out I was gay. She is ace and aromantic, so she doesn't have a soulmate.

I walk downstairs and enter the kitchen, where my mom has just finished making pancakes. She sets them down on the table in front of me, syrup already on top.

"Thanks, mom," I tell her, and gobble down my breakfast.

"So, are you excited for your new school? You know, May is going, too, so you won't be alone," my mom informs me.

"I know, mom. She told me almost two and a half months ago at the start of summer. And I guess it'll be alright."

"Well, we better get going. Grab your bag and get in the car."

"Alright," I respond. I throw my backpack over my shoulder and head out the door, my mom following behind.

•••

I meet up with May at the front of the building when I arrive.

"Hey, Cyrus! How are you?" she asks as I walk up to her.

"I'm alright. Just nervous. What about you?"

"Me too, but it'll be okay Cyrus, trust me."

"Thanks, I just don't know how I feel about being in the same building as a bunch of expelled kids who could possibly be dangerous."

"Cyrus, I'm sure anyone actually dangerous would be sent to military school or something and not here, with kids needing help for anxiety."

"You're probably right. Thanks, May," I say, and smile at her gratefully.

"No problem, Cyrus," she tells me.

We walk inside, and check in at the office. Then the teacher shows us to the classroom, and we sit down next to each other, somewhere between the front and back rows.

"Hello Cyrus, May. I'm glad you both could make it. Here are your course packets. Cyrus, you will be working on Grade 10 advanced mathematics." The teacher hands me my course packet. "And May, you will be working on Grade 10 applied French." He hands May her course packet.

"Thanks, Mr. Branch. When is lunch time?" May asks. I just nod my head. My anxiety causes me to be very shy.

"Lunch will be at 12:30. If either of you need any help, just raise your hand. I'll be over at my desk over there." Mr. Branch gives us a friendly smile and then walks over to his desk.

May and I get our school supplies out of our backpacks, and get to work on our individual courses.

About an hour in, I hear an argument coming from the front office between what I assume is a student and the secretary.

"What do you mean I have detention?! I'm not that late, I just slept in a bit!"

"Mr. Kippen, it's been an hour since you were supposed to arrive. I'm not going easy on you, given your track record of misbehaviour."

"Are you kidding me?! That has nothing to do with this!"

"Do I look like I'm kidding? You have after school detention today, and that's final."

"Ugh, this is so unfair!"

I then here a thud which sounds like the kid kicked the front desk or something, followed by quick footsteps fading away. I assume he ran off somewhere. Oh well. It's not my business.

I turn my attention back to my work.

'3x + 4(5x ÷ 2x) = __
If x equals 7, what is the answer to this equation?
(Hint: use BEDMAS)'

Let's see, I think, as I write stuff down. 3x equals 21, 5x equals 35, and 2x equals 14. 35 divided by 14 equals 2.5. 4 times 2.5 equals 10. 21 plus 10 equals 31! I got it.

I write down the answer at the bottom of the page, underneath my previous steps.

Pretty soon, it's lunch time. I walk to the cafeteria with May (yes, we do everything together, we've been friends since grade 6) and we stand in line. I see a limited amount of chocolate chocolate chip muffins, my favourite, which excites me. But then I count the people in front of us and there aren't enough to go around. I nervously bite my lip, hoping that not everyone takes one. As the line moves forward, the plate gets more and more empty.

Suddenly, I am startled by the door opening to let another student into the cafeteria. After calming myself down from the jump-scare (I know, I'm dramatic, deal with it), I turn around and see a tall, blond guy with dark ripped jeans and a black graphic t-shirt that says 'Don't Mess With Me'. I didn't see him in my class so he's probably one of the expelled kids! I inch closer to May, and hide my face with my arms.

Oh no, oh no, oh no. What is he going to do to me? Relax, Cyrus. Maybe he didn't notice you, I think to myself. He probably doesn't even care about anyone unless they bother him. You'll be fine.

Then I hear a voice in front of me.

"What's wrong? Are you alright?" I take my arms off my face and see the guy standing there.

"U-uh nothing. I-I just was hoping for a ch-chocolate chocolate chip muffin but there's only o-one left. But i-it's okay," I stutter out. May holds my shoulder protectively.

Well, that was partly true. I do want a muffin. But that's not why I'm anxious. I'm actually just scared he's gonna hurt me or tease me or something. You never know with these guys. Especially when they wear a shirt that says 'Don't Mess With Me'.

Shockingly, he smiles at me. What? Then he walks past the line of people and grabs the muffin, glaring at anyone who protests. He walks back over to me and hands me the muffin.

"Here. You're welcome," he says. My mouth hangs wide open.

"Wha- but y-you didn't have to do th-that I mean it's fine I-"

He cuts me off by saying, "I know, but I wanted to. Enjoy your day, muffin."

I watch him walk out of the cafeteria with no food for himself.

"What just happened?" May asks me, still looking at the door, wide-eyed, like me.

"I-I don't know he just came in an-and I was scared and then he talked to me and got me a muffin and then he called me 'muffin' and I'm so confused and I don't-"

"Cyrus, relax," she cuts me off, putting her hands on my shoulders. "You don't have to get so worked up about someone being unexpectedly nice. Let's just think about this later."

I take a few deep breaths in and out. She's right. I'll be fine. I just need to get it off my mind somehow.

"You're right. You're always right. You know, he's probably just messing with me. I'll just forget about it," I tell her.

I know I should probably forget about it. But I can't help thinking, he's really cute...