Matriel

Chapter 1 - Gang's All Here

Gabriel Tanyag was a 14 year old Filipino boy of average height and build with short black hair and glasses. Gabriel was a Florida native, having lived in Winter Haven for his entire life. Having just graduated from St. Joseph's Catholic School, a school he attended from Pre-K 4 until 8th greade. Gabriel was ready to take on the world with his 2 best friends, Jasraj Pruthi and Mia Gray.

Jasraj Pruthi is one of Gabriel's best friend. He is a 13 year old Indian boy and is very tall with short black hair and glasses.  Jasraj and Gabriel met in 5th grade when Jasraj first transferred to his school from California, and since then they have only grown closer. Gabriel and Raj both played on the school's basketball team and spent a lot of time together outside of school bonding through a game they both played called League of Legends.

Mia Gray is Gabriel's best friend, but he considers her his sister because they have known each other since they were 2, and have gone to the same school since Pre-K 4. Mia is a petite 14 year old Filipino American girl with long dark brown hair and, coincidentally, also has glasses. At first Mia hate Gabriel because what was more fun to a little girl than having her own arch-nemesis. But that hatred quickly dissolved and the two grew extremely close and considered one another family. 

As time went on the Gabriel and Mia became very close with Raj, and they became inseparable. The three had just graduated and were getting ready to depart from their school that they once called home. The trio were all accepted into an international baccalaureate program at their local high school, and were excited yet fearful of the experience to come. But they knew that it would all turn out alright in the end, because they had each other to depend on.

Gabriel's P.O.V.

I look over at my two best friends as we are walking to our graduation reception in the school's cafeteria. I can't believe we're finally going to leave this school, I thought to myself. I hear Mia laugh a one of Raj's jokes that I didn't hear because I was too busy thinking to pay attention. We finally reached the lunchroom and Mia and Raj turn to me smiling. 

"What about you Gabi?" Mia asks. "What about me?" I reply confused because I hadn't heard the question. Raj rolls his eyes and asks, "Are you excited for high school you bozo?" I roll my eyes back at him and reply with a simple head nod. "Although we'll be leaving our home, at least we'll all still have each other!" Mia says wrapping her arms around both of us in a side group hug. 

We all chuckle as we walk through the threshold to the lunchroom and see it decorated with blue, silver and white balloons and streamers. I look around and see all of our classmates, some of us have been going to school together since Pre-K, some of us have only known one another for a year because of new transfers. Although it hasn't been long for some of us, I know that the friendships I've made here will last, and although some won't, I'm still grateful for all time we've shared together. 

I look over to my friends once again and see them with our families. I know that this transition won't be easy for us, and that we'll probably get a big culture shock, but I'm going to try and stay optimistic about the experiences that I'm going to have at this new school. But for right now, I'm going to try and enjoy this graduation party with all of my classmates, my teacher, my family, and my best friends.

-Flash forward to the day before school starts-

I roll over in bed and groan at the sound of my phone going off. Who the hell is awake before noon during the summer? Is it too much to ask to get a few extra hours of sleep before I'm stuck slaving away doing a bunch of homework? I look at my phone to see multiple texts from Mia and Raj asking about my schedule. I do a quick check of the school's student portal, quickly screenshot my schedule and send it to the two of them, not bothering to look at the screenshots the sent me of their schedules. I am immediately bombarded with texts from the two of them saying we all have first and last period together. I roll my eyes, great now I have to start and end my day with these two and their shenanigans.

As I lay in bed I wonder what will happen tomorrow. Are we going to make friends? Are people going to hate us? Are people going to think we're weird because we went to a catholic school? What if we get hazed by the seniors? A million questions race through my mind as my phone goes off once again. Another text from Mia and Raj, both asking if I want to play a game of League of Legends with them. I sigh and roll out of bed, sending them both a quick text saying I'll be on in 10 minutes.

As I finish up my morning routine of getting breakfast, showering and brushing my teeth I finally log onto Skype and enter the call that the two were waiting for me in. "GABE WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG HUH????" Mia screeches in my ear as soon as I join the call, I can hear Raj chuckle at this sudden outburst. "What do you mean what took me so long? I said I'd be on in 10 minutes, and did you have to scream? You know we're all wearing headphones." I reply while rubbing my ears, trying to make the pain go away.

"Heh, sorry..." Mia says, letting the sorry drag out. "Just hurry up and log on already, I wanna get at least one game in before my mom makes me study again." Raj says in a rushed voice. "What do you have to study? We haven't even started school yet." Mia questions as I quickly try to boot up my computer and log into League. "Man I don't know! It's all random stuff that she makes me study because she wants me to be top of the class!" Raj replies in a hushed raised voice. "Are we gonna play a game or not?" I ask impatiently. I immediately get an invite from both of them to join their lobby. This ought to be fun. I accept the invite and queue up for mid lane. Thoughts in the back of my mind still racing about what will come of tomorrow, and how we will be able to adjust to this new life.

                                                                      /// End Chapter 1///