From the moment I walked into that school, I could sense that something was wrong. I saw the captain of the football team having a lighthearted conversation with a stereotypical nerd. Popular, bubbly girls chatting quiet outcasts. It was like there was no social ladder, as if everyone got along perfectly. However, throughout the day, I noticed something even stranger. Someone would be colder towards those in the same social group, for seemingly no reason. It was like everything was split in two sides. It was strange, but what was stranger was the way they treated me. Whispers about the 'new girl' were quick to reach my ears, alongside stares when they thought I wasn't looking.

   When I noticed the wristbands, that's when it started to make sense. There were two colors I saw throughout the day: Blue and Red. Every person I saw had one, and seemed to only talk to others with the same color wristband on.

   Then, during lunch, I found an exception. A boy was sitting alone at the only empty table. I approached him, but he didn't look up.

   "Excuse me, could I sit here? I don't think there are any more open seats."

    His head jerked up, and he stared at me, then glanced down at my wrist. He relaxed, and nodded. "Sure." I sat down two seats away, hoping to give him enough space to feel comfortable. I pulled out a book, and took small bites of my salad.

   "You're new, right?"
   I glanced over. The boy was looking at me. "Yes. How did you know?" Silence. "Is it because I don't have a wristband?" That seemed to hit the nail on the head. "Huh. You're smart. Yes, there's that, but you're talking to me. I'm kind of a social outcast around here, since I never..." He trailed off, and I glanced down at his wrist. Neither red nor blue. I suddenly felt a bit more trusting of this boy. "I'm Sadie Bennet. No one talks to you because you don't have a wristband, right?" He seemed surprised, and a faint smile crossed his face. "Jasper Holmes. You're right, though. The reason no one talks to me is because I didn't choose a team."

   Team?

   Seeing my confusion, Jasper sighed, and explained. "In our school, everyone is divided into two teams. Team Harmony, and Team Entropy. Order and Chaos, Blue and Red. The spokesperson from each Team will approach you in your free period, and will ask you to join their Team. I'd suggest joining Team Entropy, since the rules are more relaxed, and the people are less superficial. Of course, they're more loud and unorganized, so there's that." Free period? Entropy? Harmony? This was all so confusing. "What if I chose not to join a Team?" Jasper's eyes widened. "You can't do that! If you do, no one will ever speak to you. They'll make your life a living nightmare." I was taken aback by the sudden emotion in his eyes. "Then why haven't you chosen a team?" I inquired. Surely, if he was being shunned by everyone, he'd give in and join a team. "I... I can't. Even if I asked now, neither side would accept me."

   After it seemed like he'd finished speaking, I returned to my book. However, Jasper wasn't done. "Joining a team is a commitment that can alter the course of your future. Choosing one that won't suit you is a mistake. Since you're new, could I tell you more about them?" I nodded. It was fascinating, the idea of a school divided in two. He took in a deep breath. "Let's start with team Harmony. They're always well behaved, never in trouble. Joining that team automatically gives you a good reputation. They get really good grades, and the teachers love them. It's where overachievers and teachers-pets feel most at home. Everyone is quiet and respectful, more thinking than talking. They also have a lot of real world political influence, since many graduated members are upstanding lawyers and politicians. It's a great place to be if you enjoy school, but there is a downside. Team Harmony is really strict when it comes to failure. They have a system in place where anyone who fails a class or gets too many detentions is temporarily outcast from the team until they shape up. It's rare that happens though, since teachers usually do anything they can to help a member of Team Harmony."

  Jasper took a sip of water. I wondered how he knew so much about a team he'd never been a part of. "Then there's Team Entropy. Usually troublemakers or slackers, or sometimes people who just didn't like the idea of Team Harmony. Being with them is a gateway into a world of chaos. Academically, Entropy's not too strict. A+'s or F's, it's all the same to them. They're way more lively, and hanging out with them will always be a memorable experience. Of course, that energy can go too far sometimes. People are always talking over each other, and teachers tend to class them as 'bad kids'. Team Entropy doesn't have too much influence in the political world, but in the artistic world, you're bound to hear of them. If you join them, you'll have to accept that everyone will have freedom. Don't try to manage anyone's life, and do not criticize decisions. If you make a bad choice, the team can rub it in later, but self-expression rules those people."

  Jasper watched me, waiting for my reaction. It was a lot of information to be given on my first day, and I was nervous. But within the storm of questions inside my mind, a single inquiry stood out. "Hey, Jasper, you've never been on a team, right?" Green eyes narrowed. "No, I haven't. I already told you that. Why?"

   I looked away. When I'd first seen him, he'd seemed so approachable. Now he was a bit more mysterious, and I could feel the barrier he put between us. "It's, well, you seem to know a lot about personal things about each team." He nodded. "Of course. I'm good at observing what's going on without being noticed." The intimidating look in his eyes faded. "Oh, right. There's still some other stuff you'll need to know. So, each team has a designated common area, a place where the other team is forbidden to go to without explicit permission. Team Harmony's common area is the second library. It's at the other side of the school, near the gym. It's smaller than the first library, but pretty nice. Team Entropy's common area is the theatre classroom. It's a large classroom, with desks and chairs, but it also has a stage built into the front wall. People in Team Harmony are forbidden from joining a theatre class, since they'd have to go to the common area to attend." Jasper tilted his head, thinking. "Common areas, and what else? Oh! Spokespeople. Every few weeks, the two teams meet up. It's the only time they really socialize. The two spokespersons talk about issues they've been having, ideas they've had. Spokespersons are essentially leaders, even though all they really do is speak for their teams. Team Harmony's spokesperson is Oliver Normandy. He's a nice guy, though he ignores me like everyone else. At least he never actively antagonized me. Benjamin York is Team Entropy's spokesperson. He's a pretty logical person, and good at sifting through bad ideas to find the good ones. He's not afraid to speak his mind either. Right, I think that's all you need to know. If you don't have any other-"

   "One more question. What's a free period? I mean, I know what it is, but could you explain it to me?" My face burned from feeling so stupid. A free period was a time slot when you didn't have any classes to go to, and could do as you wished. I knew that, but I'd never had one before. My old school didn't believe in free periods. Jasper nodded. He didn't seem to be judging me, which I found relief in. "Of course. So, at the end of the day, there's a free period slot instead of a class. That time is when you go to your team, hang out, check in. It's also the time where meetings are held, every other Friday. It's a school wide agreement to use that time wisely, if you need it."

   I understood now. "So the team spokespeople will approach me during my free period, and ask me to join a team." It was the same as I'd heard before, but I finally understood it. Jasper nodded. "Exactly. Now, each team is going to want you to join, so they'll make their own team sound as attractive as possible. Remember what I told you, and think hard before you choose. However, you'll have to choose a team before the next day. If not, they'll get impatient. Most of all, once you choose a team, you can not, can not ever speak to me again. I'm the school's outcast, and being seen with me can only do bad things for you. Understood?"

   I was silent. Jasper seemed nice, despite his aura of aloofness. "Is it really okay being alone?" He nodded. "Yes. Focus on yourself. I made my decision long ago." An expression of reluctant acceptance fell over him. It must be lonely for him, being ignored by everyone. "Hey, Jasper? Thank you. Really. I'd have been lost without your help."

  His breath caught. Shock stunned him to disbelieving silence. "R-right. Yeah, happy to have helped." Suddenly, the lunch bell rang, and Jasper deflated. He picked up his stuff, and began to walk away. "Goodbye, Sadie. I've enjoyed talking with you."

   Not 'See you later'. Not 'Bye for now'. Goodbye. Final and lonely. The next time we met, I'd be forbidden to speak with him. I was so grateful for Jasper. He'd told me what to expect in an unbiased view, letting me decide what to choose. I wondered if he helped all the new students. My heart stung with sympathy. Talking to someone, being treated as an equal for the first time in a while. Then it's over, and that person joins the ranks of those who hate you. I made a decision to, at the very least, smile at him if we crossed paths.

   Classes passed in a blur. My peers were kind, but not overly so. They were waiting to see which team I chose. I wasn't fully paying attention. My thoughts were full of debate, listing reasons to join either team. I'd only just come to a shaky decision when the day ended. It was free period time, instead of an eighth class. It was strange, wandering around when my instincts shouted to get to class. Eventually, I settled back in the lunchroom at an empty table. I was reading my book, but stopped when footsteps approached. I glanced up nervously. Two boys stood on either side of the table, a large collection of students behind them. Behind the boy with brown hair and blue eyes were a group of calm and quiet individuals. They whispered among each other, but I couldn't hear what was said. Those who weren't sneaking glances at me were reading or doing homework. On the other side was a different group. They muttered to each other, talking about who I would pick. Some weren't listening yet, playing on phones or trying to take a nap. Their spokesperson had reddish hair and brown eyes.

   Even before I saw the color of their wristbands, I knew who was who. The boys sat down a few seats apart. Immediately, the Entropy spokesperson began to speak. "Hey new kid. Listen, you might be a bit confused about what's going on, so we're here to fill you in. Our school-"

  "I know already." I said quietly. I hated to interrupt, but I just wanted to get this over with before I freaked out. "Jasper Holmes told me." At the mention of Jasper, the spokespeople shared a look. The Team Harmony spokesperson finally chimes in. "I see. Then you know why we're here." His name was Oliver, I remembered. Oliver Normandy. And the other boy was Benjamin York. "I, yes. I know what you want from me." Benjamin snorted a laugh. "Wow, she really called you out!" He turned back to me. "Sadie, right? You seem cool. Timid and bookish, maybe, but cool. You should join Entropy. It's not bad, and we're like a family. A giant, chaotic family." Oliver held up a hand. "Enough with the propaganda. I believe Sadie's already made a decision. Am I correct?"
  
  I nodded. "Well then, what is it?" His cold tone was unnerving, and I felt unprepared. I opened my mouth, but the words refused to come out.

   "Don't be worried about disappointing anyone. We will all respect your decision."

  I glanced up, and that's when I saw him. Peeking from just behind the door, watching with a lonely expression on his face. Jasper Holmes. He didn't realize I'd seen him, but his presence gave me confidence. I looked at each spokesperson for a minute, and spoke aloud my decision.

   "I'll join Team Entropy!