Kirby yawned as they entered the building. "Did you really have to sleep next to me just to make sure I was awake?"

Simon shrugged. "Mom said she didn't want us to be late either. At least you could say you're on time for once."

The two noticed their classmates in groups.

"What's going on?"

"Cliques. I told them to sit with people they'd work well with to see their pros and cons. Come in," their teacher said.

"You and me, sis?"

"I dunno. Hey, you could make a clique with Len and Devlin. You can yourselves the nerd herd!"

"Just because we wear glasses? I thought you said to have each other's backs!"

"Oh you wanna be the cool nerd."

"We're all nerds if we made it to high school."

"See, so no problem. Plus you can invite Felice to join," with a sly coy. "I saw you cheering each other on."

"We're acquaintances," brushing it off. Plus I can't just talk to one person."

"Okay, let's see if we can join any group, then try to pick friends from there. Deal?"

"Deal."

Simon first went to Felice.

"Hey, personally I prefer the term friends more than cliques but"

"It'll just be for group work, that's it."

"I know, I know, but if you want someone for participation points, you know who to pick."

"I'll think about it," slightly annoyed as he immediately left.

Next stop was Nikia. "Hey." She put up a pair of scissors at him. "Whoa, let's talk this out first."

She swiped at his hair, collecting pillow feathers in between the blades. "Bed head?"

"Oh, nice catch. Um Kirby and I, mostly I were wondering-"

"You're not my type."

"-if you wanted to be friends instead."

"No. I hate siblings. Your chakra fits in with them," pointing her scissors at Devlin and Len.

"Haven't heard that one before. What's it like having a sibling?"

Her cold stare made him shudder. "Depressing."

"Well if you ever wanna work in the future, let me know," quickly sprinting away to Devlin and Len.

"Welcome to the cool kids section," Devlin stated.

"I appreciate the confidence but let's be realistic."

"What's fake about us being cool? It's always you're too ugly, too big, too smart. No! We are cool just the way we are and anyone who disagrees can shove it up their"

"Language Mr. Drake!"

"Sorry Mister KD."

"I thought you liked things being shoved up."

"Ehh, I roll either way."

Simon smiled. "Well, as long as you're not rolling into an obstacle course, you'll be fine."

"You trying to say I'm too fat to run?"

He sighed. "No."

"Good. Besides, we should show these jocks we're the real deal!"

Simon shook his head. "Not after yesterday. Just be yourself."

"Or better," planning on talking to them later.

Meanwhile Kirby went to Sharell first.

"So, I heard you like to dance."

"Oh, would you like to make a TikTok with me? The guys in my comment section won't worry if I'm with a girl."

"Ehh, I'm more of a prank person. But what if they think we're dating?"

Sharell blinked. "Oh. Good point."

Edith leaned over and brought them in.

"Hey, ladies, join us," pulling them in for a group selfie with Nikia, Mary Jane, Jenzie, and Elize. "We'll be the most beautiful group at Empire, all the guys will be fawning over us, and we could even get the bottom feeders to do whatever we want," pointing at Len, Devlin, and Simon.

Kirby winced. "I dunno, they're not so bad. Even Chubbs is kinda cute in a-I-wanna-bully him way."

Elize's infectious giggle led the others to give her cold stares. "That's so funny."

"You can do much better," Edith said. "Look," spotting Devlin, Monte, Bennett, and Haejin talking with one another, laughing and smirking once they saw the girls were watching them. "I hear Monte's into you."

"Oh," making her play with her hair. "Tell me more."

"Wait, Arlene, what about you?"

"Well Jarrod's pretty cute, but," staring at Len. "I dunno. I need to get to know them more."

—

Mince sat with the athletes group. "What's good, my guys?"

Monte snickered. "You, an athlete?"

"Hey, I beat you all in the pacer test, didn't I?"

"We got distracted," Jarrod claimed.

"While I didn't," winking at Edith. "I keep my eye on the prize. Even Simon beat you."

"Hey!"

"He's super annoying," Bennett claimed. "Like it's gym class, why are you going so hard?"

"Don't the three of you play sports," pointing to the basketball, soccer ball, and phone playing boxing matches on their respective hands.

"The person who lasted was going to ask Mr. Pershad which sport we were gonna play."

"Why not just play rock-paper-scissors?" All of their eyes dropped at a simple solution.

"So, Mince, who you interested in?"

"Edith's got my eye. You?"

Haejin nodded. "Nikia's kinda my type."

Their heads moved back. "You're into that emo chick?"

"I like a challenge."

Bennett lifted his hair up. "Sharell's got a nice body too."

"I'm more into fiery ones," Jarrod said, eyeing Arlene.

"You like girls on fire," Monte asked.

"What no. Guess you only like athletes."

"Edith is pretty cute, but," paying attention to Kirby's physique. "I like hourglasses."

"Too bad we won't have time to date them. We lost our chance for those three to do our work for us."

Bennett shook his head. "We just need to isolate them," leaning his head to spot Felice with a devilish grin. "And I think I have an idea."

All of them joined him.

"Wait, what are we all thinking about?"

"Asking the other girls out?"

Bennett naturally questioned their intelligence.

—

Simon let Devlin and Len talk about their interests while keeping his ears slightly attentive about the other groups?.

"You think the girls are talking about us?"

"In a good light, not likely."

It might depend on the person," hoping his sister wasn't slandering them as Bennett's comment passed. Alarmed, he rushed over to Felice.

"Hey, just be careful with the bros. If something happens, we should have each other's backs. Same with Devlin and Len. I don't want them getting hurt."

"But-"

"And you want to be the top student. It won't be easy since I'm here," raising her attention levels higher, "but I don't want my rival to lose because of everyone else."

Felice giggled. "If your grades could rival mine, I'll think about it."

His cheeks grew. "It will."

Kirby joined them. "How'd it go with the smart squad?"

"Okay, better name. Okay-ish. I didn't get to talk to the girls though."

"Good, cuz they didn't talk about you at all," smiling.

His heart sank. "Thanks sis," sighing. "Felice, meet my sister. Kirby, please say hi."

"Oh," awkwardly offered her hand. "He barely talks about you."

Kirby reached over and shook it. "You're the only girl he talks about, positively."

He jostled her with his elbow. "Are you trying to say I like her or I'm a misogynist," muttering.

"Hey I'm not wrong."

Felice could help but laugh. "You've been step-siblings for three days and you already act like normal siblings."

Mr. Daksh collected all the intel he needed. It was time for the next class.