Wake up. Stretch. Shower. Dress. Teeth. Hair. Grab my bag. Food.

"Have a good day! I love you!" Connor yelled after me as I left, per usual.

I climbed into my car, starting the engine and putting it into first gear. I was ready to leave, but then Angel and Mary ran outside. I sighed and went into neutral, waiting for them to climb in. Neither had passed their driving test yet, which means I have to drive them everyday. If they're late to my car, however, they have to walk.

"Good morning!" Angel beamed, sliding into the front seat.

"Morning." I mumbled back, finally pulling out of the drive.

They chatted amongst themselves as I switched the radio to classical, preparing mentally for what was about to come. Luckily, I was in the top set for all of my classes so I could avoid the goons who made school a misery for the majority of the day. After all, they didn't have the intelligence or determination to score higher. Too many footballs to the head. The only time I couldn't avoid them was lunch and football practice. I sighed thinking about that...

I had played football for as long as I could remember, ever since I was really young. Currently, I play for the school team as a striker. That's where I receive the majority of my snarky comments. They really didn't want me on their team; they'd do anything to get me kicked off it. The only reason I had stuck around for so long was because I didn't want to let them win. Now? I was tired of it. I don't think 'winning' is worth it anymore.

"Earth to grumpy!" Angel sang, poking my side, "Have you got footie today?"

I nodded.

"Okay. Our practice is tomorrow, so we'll walk home today. Bye!"

Just like that, they were gone. Angel and Mary have been inseparable for the last ten years. We all used to play football together, but once we grew past a certain age, the school insisted teams should be kept same-sex only. I was plucked from my happy girls team and thrown to the lions in the testosterone-filled lockers of the boys football team.

I stayed in my car until the bell rang. I may be late, but at least I won't get have to deal with anyone before the first period. I jogged through the corridors and into my first lesson, relaxing as I saw the class of people who simply ignored my existence. It was lonely, but it was much better than a class of people who wanted to end my existence. I fell into my usual seat and the teacher raised an eyebrow at me. She had warned me several times about being late to lessons.

I sat through the class patiently, staring at the digits written on a scrap receipt the entire time. I was nervous. Felix seemed nice, but I was scared. Putting myself out there- telling somebody about what's happening- it was all a bit too much for me. If I told somebody, it'll just make it worse. If I stay out of their way, they'll leave me alone. On the other hand, it was undeniable that I'm lonely.

"Is that a guy's phone number? It says Felix." I heard whispers coming from behind me.

I glanced over my shoulder to see two girls whispering to each other, gawking at me. I recognised them as some of the team members' girlfriends. I hastily put the piece of paper away and set my eyes to the front of the classroom, ignoring the whispers from behind. I shouldn't have been stupid enough to take that out in class.

The bell finally rang and I leapt up from my seat, dashing out the door before anyone else could and ducking into the school bathrooms. I hustled into a stall and slid the lock shut, pulling my feet up off the bathroom floor. I usually waited in here while everyone made their way to their next class, to avoid everyone and anyone.

I was just about to stand and leave when the bathroom door swung open and somebody stood outside my stall. Staring at the shadow leaking in from underneath the toilet door, I groaned internally. Why were they just standing there? Clearly this stall was locked. Another set of footsteps joined the first person, followed by a lot of giggling and whispers. I furrowed my brows and tried to make out what they were saying.

"You wanna do it here... Dirty... Sure?"

I could only make out a few words but realisation dawned over me once moans began to ring out in the small bathroom.

My mouth dropped open. I was hiding in a stall while two people were about to have sex in the same room as me. Gagging on my disgust for the situation I found myself in, I had to cover my mouth with my jumper sleeve to stunt the noises of my retching. What do I do now? Do I just leave now? What if it's one of the idiots I'm trying to avoid? I decided to just sit tight, despite my activated gag reflex.

The embarrassment was too much to leave now and my heart was beating a million miles a minute. Who does it in the bathroom this early in the damn morning? Or ever, for that matter. Besides, I don't want to see whatever is going on. On the other hand, I don't want to listen to it either.

I coughed dramatically, announcing my presence so that they would stop doing whatever it is they're doing. It worked: the moaning came to an abrupt stop. I could hear more whispering, followed by heels retreating. They left. I sighed in relief and unlocked the stall, only to come eye to eye with the moaner in question.

"Oh... Andy Williams." He breathed out, clearly more than a bit shocked to see me.

Of course, out of all the people in this school, it had to be Jimmy Wellot who I nearly involuntarily listened to do... that.

"Jimmy Wellot..." I gasped, nervous and unsure what to do.

"Uh... I wasn't. You know? We weren't..." Jimmy tried to explain, stuttering over his words.

"Stop. I don't care to know." I was cold, regaining my composure and moving past him swiftly to get the hell out of that room.

I couldn't get to my next class quickly enough after that. I was quite late and the teacher attempted to reprimand me, but I just ignored it, pulling my phone out from deep in my backpack. I usually had no use for it, but I thought to hell with it.

I sat hunched over the phone for the rest of that period, trying to figure out what I should say to Felix. I didn't want to sound too eager, but also not cold. It was kind of awkward after what happened the other day, but I was determined to reach out to somebody. After a lot of debate, I decided to just settle on a simple 'hey, it's Andy'.

My heart was racing as I clicked send, but I tried to not dwell on it. To my surprise, I received a text back pretty quickly- within a few minutes.

Felix: I'm glad you texted, do you want to hang out this evening? :)

I read it about four times before I processed that somebody had actually asked me, Andy Williams, to hang out. I felt like I was on my way to having my first friend and it made me feel over the moon with happiness. I quickly sent back that I'd love to and what was he thinking of doing, not wanting to make him wait any longer (or allow myself time to overthink it).

By the time lunch rolled around, I had a newfound pep in my step. I was hanging out with a friend tonight. It was a new feeling for me; I don't think I've ever hung out with somebody who isn't some kind of family. I strolled along to the lunch queue to pick up some food, acting recklessly due to my preppy mood. I was grounded in reality once again when I saw the goons at their special table.

I saw a few of them glancing my way, but they weren't dumb enough to try and say something with so many teachers present. I saw Jimmy Wellot looking over too and I recoiled, ducking away from his line of sight. Pretty much the whole football team sat together at that table... except for me, of course. Between them, they have about one and a half brain cells so I didn't really fit in.

I grabbed two sandwiches and two drinks, paying quickly and heading straight for the art block. Walking past the classrooms, I found the familiar little door and knocked twice. It swung open to reveal an organised, artistic haven and the smiling face of Daxx. Once he saw me, he stepped aside and I flopped into one of the many comfy chairs. It was dark in his office, for obvious reasons, but it was super calming.

Daxx wasn't faculty here- not technically, anyway. After college, Daxx set up his own art and music therapy business for young people. He works here in school twice a week, but the rest of the time he's at his office or another school in the county. It sounds like a niche business, but he's done pretty well for himself. After all, his house is large enough and expensive enough to reside on the same street as Jimmy Wellot's. He's also paid for half of Mum's house, not that he'd ever admit it.

"What's today's delicacy?" Daxx grinned, flopping into his desk chair and swivelling around to face me.

The room was lit up by LED fairy lights and what Daxx likes to call 'bubble lamps', which are just tube-shaped, fake fish tanks. It's supposed to be relaxing for the senses (so that you open up more and calm down). Works for me. The artwork that lines the walls comes mostly from patients, but I can see one or two of Daxx's too. He's incredibly talented. Daxx is one of the only people who understands me anymore. As much as I try to hide it, I think he knows I'm struggling to fit in. He doesn't know the full extent of it, however. Nobody does.

"For you, questionable cheese and is it really pickle sandwich?" I announced with a flourish, presenting him with the smelly sandwich.

"Only top quality food from a top quality school." He took a tentative bite from the sandwich, "How's your day been?"

"Oh, you know... Good." I lied through my teeth, "Is it okay if I hang out with a friend tonight?"

Daxx choked. He looked up at me with surprise plastered on every inch of his face and I raised an eyebrow. Such a drama queen. It wasn't that shocking that I was hanging out with a friend... Okay, maybe it is. I was still buzzing with excitement.

"Is it a friend or... A friend?" Daxx asked, seemingly nervous about the response.

"Oh, ew. No. It's a friend. We work together." I scrunched up my nose.

Daxx sighed in relief. Presumably relieved he didn't have to give a birds and the bees talk. He had tried with Angel and it hadn't gone particularly well. An awkward, quiet grown man trying to give a sex talk to his younger sister wasn't something Daxx was ever going to be good at.

I spotted some papers on his desk and I peered a little closer, getting a glimpse of the word 'adoption'. My tummy flipped. Connor and Daxx are looking into adopting? They hadn't mentioned anything about it to us and I felt a bit betrayed. I felt silly about it, but in a lot of ways Daxx is more like a dad to me than a brother; he and Connor have routinely been there for us for the last ten years. I felt replaceable.

The final bell rang and I said my goodbyes to Daxx. Daxx is somebody that I feel like I can open up to about some things because I'll always be loved and wanted. If he's ready to start his own family, does that mean we'll be left behind?