Requested by KawaiiKitsune12

I'm making Player's name Jake Grant in this. Just deal with it, don't fight me.

Player POV

Just one week. Mom said I only had to do one week, and then tell her what I thought. I can leave if I want. I DO want to leave. I don't have time for public school. Carmen needs me.

I repeated this to myself over and over again as I pulled my backpack on, my legs restless and bouncing on the floor as I mentally screamed for my mom to hurry up. It was my first day as a Sophomore in high school- couldn't she at least TRY to be quicker?

"Jake, will you just calm down!?" I heard her shout, her head popping around the corner. Her chocolate brown hair was in a messy bun, sliver glasses askew on her face. "I know you're anxious to go, sweetie, but I need you to hold your horses for a second. I can't find the car keys!" Blue eyes flashing with annoyance, she disappeared again, white doctors coat swishing behind her.

I blinked, suddenly angry at myself. Mom was obviously under a lot of stress, too. Sure, she was a well known doctor and was used to fast-pace situations with a lot of people, but she'd never had to deal with school before. My three older siblings had all been home schooled, but as the youngest, my parents wanted me to try it out before I missed the chance. I sighed and readjusted my jacket around my waist, reaching up to pat my hair, which had been cut last night. Short, spiky curls now waved around on the top of my head, the sides now shone nearly to the skin. I liked the change, but I didn't know if I'd get used to it. Carmen had said it looked cool.

"Alright, alright, let's go." Mom hustled into the hallway, keys in one hand and her coat in the other. She set the latter aside, as she didn't work today, and I took a second to admire its similarities to Carmen's own before following her out the door. "Sorry for shouting, sweetheart," Mom quipped, hurrying to get into the driver's seat. "I'm sure you can tell I'm not exactly... used to having to get my kid ready to leave."

I laughed, a little embarrassed. "It's okay, Mama. I get it."

Her pretty face softened, and she leaned over the armrests to hug me tightly. "Thank you, Jake. Now, seatbelt. We'll be there in no time."

I buckled in at her instruction, settling my bag between my legs on the floor. I only had a big notebook and two pencils with me -plus a water bottle with my lunch- and I wished silently they would be enough. As of now, I had no plans to stay at school any longer than this week. Carmen had given a good argument about why I should at least consider staying- she wanted me to have a chance at a normal education. I'd been firm on my no, and I hoped my parents would be just as understandable as she had been.

"Well, Squirt, you excited? You ready? Any thoughts on your decision at the moment?"

I looked over to my mom, gut flashing with a hint of guilt as her fingers tightened on the steering wheel and we drove away from the house. She was ecstatic for me- both her and Dad. She knew I wasn't keen on this idea, but I  also knew she still held hope that maybe I'd like it.

"Sure, I guess I'm exited," I mumbled halfheartedly, shoulders drooping a bit. "But right now I still don't think I'll keep going after this trial run."

Mom nodded, lips pursing just slightly before stretching into a wide grin. "Well, at least you'll get to say you went, huh? You'll be the talk of the office, no matter what you do."

I smiled, amused. Mom's coworkers had an unhealthy obsession with me. I guess it was a bit understandable, seeing as they were all moms like herself, but a sixteen-year-old boy can only handle so much "Ah, it's Jake! Look at him, with his cool new shoes. How you doin', Kid?"

Oh, well, come to think of it, I did like it when I got to show off my shoes... It's not like Carmen or any of them knew I even wore socks in the first place, let alone shoes.

"Oh, that reminds me, Cindy wanted me to give you this." Mom stopped at a red light and dug around in her purse, eventually pulling out a small, bright blue trinket. "She says happy birthday."

I grinned, then laughed loudly as she handed it to me. "A kazoo? What am I, four?"

She gave me a knowing look, starting to drive again. "That doesn't stop you from playing your old one you have around the house almost 24/7."

I shrugged. "Yeah, but still." I held the kazoo up, looking over it with a gleam in my eye. "This is one of those high-quality ones. It doesn't squeak as much, and it's easier to play for longer. Probably has a larger range, too." It wasn't made out a of thin, flimsy plastic, either. I hated those ones. They were party gifts, never really any good.

Mom giggled as I continued to study it. "Enthralled, huh? Knew you'd like it."

"You mean Cindy knew I would like it."

She rolled her eyes playfully. "Sure, that too."

I just laughed, bringing the tiny instrument to my mouth to buzz a jaunty tune until we arrived at school. Mom tapped along with me.

Once Mom had talked to some of the officials and kissed me on the forehead, I watched her walk back to the car from a window in the main office. She turned and stared at the building for a second, face uncertain, then opened the door and slowly drove off.

"Alright, Jake Grant, was it?"

I turned, smiling nervously at the tall senior beckoning to me from a door. "Yeah, that's me."

"Dope, little man. I'll show you to your first class, 'kay? I'm Tyler, by the way." He reached out to me, and I took his hand, shaking it. "Follow me, and try to keep up." He gave a bright, friendly smile, leading me out into the crowded hallway. I was probably one of the only kids getting shown around, but from the lanyard titled "student assistant" around Tyler's neck, I guessed he was used to helping others out.

"Do you know where I'm going first?" I asked, struggling to be heard over the chatter of kids.

Tyler glanced down at my schedule in his hands, then gave it to me, brushing strands of strawberry blonde hair of his forehead. "Advanced Math with Mr. Yarbrough, room 216. He's a cool dude, you'll like him a lot."

I nodded, careful to not lose sight of my escort as we navigated the crowds. We eventually managed to arrive at our destination, and Tyler bid me farewell with a friendly pat on the head before hurrying to his own class. I scanned the classroom- I was the first here.

"Ah, you must be Jake! I saw a picture of you from the principal." The man at the desk stood, walking to me. He wore khaki pants and a button up collard plaid shirt, his freckled face accented by a neatly trimmed beard. He didn't look much older than thirty, and I relaxed as he shook my hand. Woah, he's strong. "I'm Mr. Yarbrough, but I'm sure you knew that." He gave an easy smile.

I decided he was my favorite teacher ever.

"You'll be sitting over there," he instructed, pointing to a corner, "next to Y/N. Hope you don't mind sitting next to a girl." His tone was teasing, and he laughed, going back to his desk. Of course he knew I didn't mind, that would've been stupid. And obviously I didn't have a choice in the matter, anyway.

Setting my backpack down beside me, I took the seat and pulled out my notebook, starting a doodle to calm myself down. The kazoo sat comfortably in my pocket, begging to be played. I managed to ignore it for the next minute, then pulled it out and blew into it for a small test.

Mr. Yarbrough eyed me, then just smiled and shook his head. "Just make sure to put that away when class starts."

Tyler was right, he was a cool dude.

I played it softly, humming a theme song I'd been making with Zack and Ivy for Carmen as a joke, when a voice next to me said, "Is that a kazoo? That's awesome!"

I whipped around, startled.

"Hi, I'm Y/N. Sorry, didn't mean to scare you."

Uh oh.

She was cute.

THERE YALL HAVE IT

NOW GOODNIGHT