Echo took a deep breath. The air was humid. It always was, here. Here where all the freshmen came to see the school. Kamino High. Named after the late, Mr. Kaminoan. As Echo limped to the front door, he felt a push behind him. "Move it, Crutch!"

He sighed. "Hey, Tarkin." Tarkin was tall and mean. The biggest bully in middle school. Probably the biggest in high school, as well.

"Did you not hear me Crutch?" Crutch. That was the nickname Echo had gotten ever since his accident in 4th grade, when some jerk in his car wasn't paying attention. Echo had gotten permanent damage to his legs. So he walked with a crutch. He was also missing an arm. He was born an amputee. He got made fun of for his legs and arm.

Tarkin shoved him again. He fell, but fortunately, was caught in big arms. His best friend, Wrecker, had caught him. "Hey, maybe knock it off Tarkin!" Wrecker growled at him. 

Tarkin opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, Echo's other friend, Hunter came up behind him, with his brother Tech. They were twins, but Hunter was born first. Hunter cracked his knuckles and Tarkin backed away. "Whatever, Bandana. Maybe you and your friends should stop causing so much trouble!" Tech walked straight up to Tarkin. "We are not the ones causing trouble. Maybe you and your lackeys should try making some friends for once, instead of taking out whatever bad feelings you have on everyone else!"

"Hmph!" Tarkin stalked into the school, with his best friends; Thrawn and Pryce.

Hunte walked over to Echo. "You okay bud?" Hunter had taken Echo under his wing in 4th grade after the accident, when everyone had started bullying him. Hunter and Tech had also taken in Wrecker in 5th grade, when he had been new to the school.

"Y-yeah I'm fine. Thanks." Hunter smiled. He helped Echo up, and led him into the school. Echo's dad had talked to the principal about Echo's accident, and how Hunter had helped him. And they agreed to let Echo have every class with his friends. So all of them were in the same classes for all four years of high school.

Wrecker stopped at his locker. He looked at Tech, who sighed and broke into Wrecker's locker. 

Hunter heard footsteps and he looked up to see his best friend since preschool, Crosshair. "Hey Cross!" He waved enthusiastically. Crosshair did a half-smile. And lifted his hand a little bit.

Hunter ran over to him, and hugged him. Over the summer Crosshair had been... distant. His mom sent him to summer camp and he rarely got in touch. He called once to confirm that he was alive.

Crosshair shoved Hunter off him. "Alright, yes I'm here. Let's get this party started."

Tech looked up from his own locker. "Hey, Cross."

Wrecker ran over and picked up Crosshair. "CROOOOOOOOSSSHHAAAAIIIRRR!"

Crosshair grunted. "Ouch."

Echo limped over to Crosshair. "Hey, Crosshair, welcome back."

"Echo. Are you okay?"

"Yeah. I'm fine."

"You don't look fine."

"Haha. Ouch."

That was an inside joke. Saying that Echo didn't look good because of his legs.

Crosshair's face darkened. "I heard about what happened with Tarkin outside."

Echo sighed. "Yeah, he's so..."

Crosshair looks away. He seems to be hiding something. But they never lie to each other!

Before Echo could say anything, the sound of running came from behind them, and their best friend, and Tech's girlfriend, Phee jumped up, and hugged Tech. 

Tech laughed. "Phee, you saw me yesterday!"

"I know, but that was yesterday morning! That was so long ago! Now shush, and show me your schedule."

As she studied it, her face lit up. "Yay! We have every class together!"

Tech laughed. Something he only does in front of Phee, or when Wrecker is trying to be smart.

"You can thank Echo for that!" He said. Phee hugged Echo, making him blush.

Crosshair sighed. "We don't want to be late for class... again..."

Last time they were late was in middle school February 18. 8th grade. That was the first time Tech had broken into Wrecker's locker. It had caused them to be late.

They ran to their homeroom.

"You're late!"

Their teacher, Ms. Cid, glared at them as they ran into the room.

"S-s-sah-sahorry." They were all so out of breath. Ms. Cid glared at them even harder.

"I didn't know that was possible." Hunter murmured to Echo, making him snort.

"WHAT WAS THAT?" Ms. Cid stomped over to them, yellow eyes narrowing suspiciously.

Hunter flashed his most charming grin. She was not fazed. "Get in your seat!" She barked at them.

As they got into their seats, Phee leaned over and whispered in Techs ear; "No wonder she's retiring."

Tech stared at her, puzzled. "Wait. Ms. Cid is retiring?" He spoke a bit too loudly, because Ms. Cid whirled around and growled at them. "THAT IS NONE OF YOUR CONCERN!" Soon, Tech was covered in spit. Only a drop or two, but it was still gross. Ms. Cid had a saliva problem.

"Yech." Tech muttered as he shook spit droplets off his jacket. 

Echo gulped. He could tell this was going to be a bad first day of high school...