***Paxton’s POV***

Fear.

All I felt.

Pain.

All I knew.

I tied to scream. No one came. It was dark. I could hear people crying and screaming my name. “Someone dial 911!” a familiar voice screamed in terror. Agonizing pain shot through my body and I looked around a bright white room.

“He’s gone,” Clifton’s voice said. But Cliff wasn’t around me anywhere. I looked straight and saw two graves. “That could’ve been you,” Cliff’s voice whispered in my head.

I screamed and sat up in bed, drenched in sweat, breathing heavily, and shaking violently. Slowly, I pulled up my shirt and examined the scar I had. I shuddered and stood up to get ready for school.

I threw on a pair of black skinny jeans with holes in the knees and a purple girl’s V-neck. I slid on my Vans before going down to grab breakfast.

Mom slid me a plate of toast and glanced at me. “You were screaming,” she said quietly. “I’m sorry!” I said sincerely. She hugged me tightly. “You don’t have to go to school today.” I shook my head. “No, I want to.”

She nodded and kissed my forehead. “You’re going to miss the bus. I can drive you.” I thanked her and got ready before sitting in mom’s car.

We drove off towards the school as Frosty Like A Snowman played out of my iPod. I nodded my head along with it. “Paxton,” mom said in a serious voice. I glanced at her. “Yea mom?” She pulled into the school parking lot.

“If you want to come home, text me. I’ll come get you.” She smiled at me and kissed my cheek. “I love you so much.” I smiled and waved. “Bye mom! Love you!” I walked into the school and over to Kegan, Taco, Jaymii, and Shayler.

“Hi PacMan,” Jaymii said with a grin. I smiled at her. “Hi Jaymii!” “Dude, you look tired,” Kegan said with a frown. I shrugged and nodded. “A little. I’ll be alright.”

“You better be alright!” Taco said jokingly. I laughed. “So, my place after school alright? You can come too PacMan,” Shayler said with a nod. I smiled at him and nodded. “Thanks!” “It’s no problem. I’ll give you and Taco a ride,” he said. “You aren’t a straightedge are you?” I shook my head. “Nah. I was kind of wasted Saturday night. Weed and all Sunday,” I said, thinking back fondly to the Sunday I had spent with Jay, Jer, and Cliff.

Shayler grinned. “Good. We got some good shit.” The bell rang and Taco and I walked to first period together. I sat down next to Clay and smiled. “Hello Clay! How was your weekend?” “Fag free,” she grumbled.

I chuckled as I pulled out my notebook. “How can you always be in such a good mood?” she asked me in disbelief. I sipped on a Monster thoughtfully. “I’m not sure.”

“And where the hell do you keep getting Monster from?!” I laughed. “It’s a secret,” I said with a wink. Actually, I just had a ton of them at my house and packed away a few each day for school. Cliff kept telling me I was going to get diabetes if I didn’t cut back on all the sugar. But, it was an addiction, like his addiction to weed. I loved Monster so much! Especially green Monster. Clay was staring at me like I was insane and I laughed.

“You are so weird,” she said at last as she pulled out her own notebook. “That’s me,” I said proudly. She rolled her eyes as I pulled out a sugar stick and tipped some into my mouth.

Nothing like a little sugar to wake you up in the morning!

“Barbie, we’re not working on the project after school,” Taco said a bit harshly. Oh right! I forgot about the project! I can be so forgetful sometimes.

She smirked. “Good. I don’t want to have to work with you fags anymore than I have to.” “Doesn’t fag mean I’m supposed to be gay? Because I can assure you I’m straight,” Taco said, raising an eyebrow.

“There’s no way you’re straight,” Clay said. It took me a minute to realize she was talking to me. I cracked a small smile. “I’m completely straight,” I admitted and she stared at me. “You don’t even look straight!” she cried at last.

Taco laughed. “Wow Barbie,” he said in between his laughter. “Sorry,” I said with a slight shrug. “I’m straight.”

For some reason, people always thought I was gay or bisexual. Not that I had a problem with gays or bisexual people. Clifton was kind of against them, but I didn’t mind them.

The teacher came in and we went silent. During lunch, I sat down with Kegan, Taco, Jaymii, and Shayler at the table. Shayler was staring at me. I looked up and he quickly looked away.

Odd.

***Shayler’s POV***

Shit. I really hope he didn’t notice me looking at him. He was friends with Clifton Holst. Cliff had called me over the weekend, asking me to keep an eye on PacMan. That guy was so obvious. I was surprised PacMan couldn’t tell how much Cliff liked him.

Cliff had basically begged me to make sure no one hooked up with PacMan. So it was now my job to make sure Clay Jenkins, that dirty bitch, stayed away from him.

I watched her enter the cafeteria with Ethan. Dirty bastard. He was a preppy bitch like all the other jocks and I couldn’t stand him. I got in a fight with him when I was drunk once. Gave him a black eye and a few bruises. Guy had hated me ever since.

Clay looked over and her eyes locked on PacMan. He obliviously continued to chat with Jaymii. I glared at Clay but she didn’t notice. She was way too engulfed in PacMan.

This was going to be harder than I thought. Cliff was one of my closest friends. We had kind of grown up together. He hooked me up with some shit whenever I asked and never asked for anything in return. Well, until now of course.

I had to make sure no one hooked up with PacMan. I owed that to Cliff. Plus, he was right. This kid was fucking awesome.

He was singing Millionaires by Scene Kidz to Jaymii and Kegan as they clapped out the beat and occasionally sang along. Taco nudged me. “Something wrong?” he asked curiously. I shrugged. “Not really.”

“I love that shit,” PacMan sang. I relaxed a little. Cliff made this kid sound like an angel. But he obviously swore, drank, and did some drugs. So he wasn’t completely boring.

My eyes traveled over to Clay. Dirty prep. She was still staring at PacMan like an idiot. I had to make sure she stayed away from him. I glanced at him and saw Jaymii flirting with him quite a bit.

Figured.

She flirted with every scene guy.

But it looked like she was winning over PacMan.

I smirked.