Sawyer arrived to the school the next day, still in awe of what happened yesterday. Waiting for the teacher to let them in, there was only him and about five or so other students left as the teachers were in the meeting.

"Should've known you'd been up here early too."

He jumped. "Samiya?"

She yawned. "Well granted, we're supposed to be here before 8:30am, right?"

He couldn't disagree.

She plopped next to him. "Plus, you didn't quite give me an answer yesterday, did you," smirking.

He sighed.

---

"What is going on out here," Assistant Peyer asked. Sawyer took a good look around. Michael was trying to jump out of the garbage can, those two were over him, Mercedes and Yamir were banging on the locked door for their teachers to let them in.

"He started it," Michael boldly claimed, pointing to Sawyer. The latter was still too stunned to respond when Peyer asked for her details, trying to respond to Samiya's words.

"Liar. Dumb, dumber, and dumbest tried to break his arm, I stopped it," Samiya claimed, pointing her thumb at Sawyer. "You've known him longer than me, does he really seem like the type to start a fight?"

"She's lying!"

"I put him in the garbage can. Sorry Principal, but I'm not gonna watch some piece of crap try to hurt someone."

"Alright enough. Michael, I'm calling your parents. Sawyer, write a report, Samiya, come with me."

"Please no, you know my mom is-"

"Your mom knows you should be doing better than that!"

She took Samiya and Michael inside after handing Swayer the note to write, asking him to slid it under her door as she closed the door, though not before samiya waved bye at Sawyer.

----

"Thanks again for yesterday. But I don't know, I've never really had a girlfriend before."

She yawned. "Really? Life's young, aren't there like six people in your class dating?"

"Well most of them have known each other for a while. I mean a lot of them are really pretty but-"

"Oh, so you do have a crush?"

"Well like a little but I think they're taken."

"Well, do you think I'm pretty?"

"Well," feeling his stomach tense up. "Yeah, everyone's handsome and cute in their own way. Including you."

That broke her smiling guard. "Well what you do think makes me cute?"

He stuttered for a response but she turned away.

"Oh you were just saying that to be nice. Well, points for trying at least."

There was disappointing in her eyes. His mind was confused to come up with a response. How could a person who didn't get much compliments from kids his own age would give it to someone else.

Still, his brain tried hard to think of what to say, even if it was just surface level, eyeing her up and down.

"I don't know if this counts, but I think it's cute that you like helping people."

She gazed up. "Huh. What else?"

"Well, you're good at noticing things. Wait, what does Coach call it? Ah, spatial awareness. You saw Mercedes leave after me, and noticed I was gone from the bathroom for too long, which also means you managed to slip out when Ms. M didn't notice!"

"I think you're giving me too much credit," briefly laughing.

"But they said you did track. Like I can't run for that long, even up the stairs."

"Tch, well, I quit."

He took her annoyed look as a sign. "Either way, I'm sure you did the best that you could. You don't have to tell me why," even though he wondered the thought in the back of his mind. "But that kinda made you stronger, well your body, right?"

She stared down at her arms and legs. "Yeah, I guess so."

"Yeah, school's not exactly fun for me either, but if I can make it fun and worth it for me, it'll still help me out in the future, like track did for you."

She grinned. "Think you could be as cool as me?"

"I'd love to!"

She chuckled. "You can't just make someone cool ya know, you decide that."

He blinked. "How?"

She stretched her arms behind her back, resting her head on the wall. "Do you think you're cool?"

"I don't really know," clutching his fingers. "Sometimes, not really. But I want to make myself and my family as happy as possible, so I guess so. What about you?"

"I guess I wanted to help them out too. After all-"

"They're all I have," they said in unison. Her mouth opened while he smiled.

"Jinx!"

"Wait, are you gonna punch me?"

"Why? Doesn't that mean you owe me a soda or something?"

"Hehe, so you're asking me out for later? Sure, I'll buy~," rolling her tongue with a wink.

"That's not what I meant," he replied, only for her to laugh out loud.

"You don't want too? Shame, there doesn't seem to be much out here to do anyway. I was hoping someone could show me around," pouting. "Oh well."

Well it wouldn't be a bad idea, everyone else usually walks home with someone. "I don't know if it counts as a date, but I wouldn't mind-"

"Hey Tryhard!"

The door not to far from them crashed into the wall before closing, where Michael walked about. "How about we settle this from yesterday?"

Samiya drifted in front of Swayer. "You touch him, and the next thing you're gonna kick is the extra space in your hospital bed."

"Who do you think you're talking too, little girl?"

"Who you think you're about to fight, mama's boy? Or should I tell him how you cried yesterday so you wouldn't get a beating like a little bi-"

"Don't a say a single word!"

"I'll keep my mouth shut, and you keep your fists to yourself."

"And what if I don't?"

"You're not gonna win, but you wanna be known for putting hands on a girl?"

"Oh nah, I don't hit women."

Sawyer raised his hands. "Wait, but yesterday didn't you-"

"Quiet! Though Samiya, you're kinda cute."

"Blegh."

"Come to think of it, Jamie and Hayrika are kinda close but he keeps bothering them."

Samiya sucked her teeth. "So he's a playboy and a vulture. Got it."

"The bird? What's a playboy?"

"They're not loyal to anyone they date and try to break up couples if they like one of them." To his dismay, he was still confused. "Imagine if some random person tried to take your mom away from your dad."

"Ohh! That's awful!"

"Hey, I have no idea what you're talking about!"

"Michael Kennedy, get in this room right now!"

The 602 dorm room opened up to reveal Ms. S, frightening him enough to get inside after repeated threats, leaving the two to stare at each other.

"Huh, there are some teachers with a backbone."

"So, what now?"

"We're going out later?"

"Sure. Let's try and get you through today first."

"Make sure I don't get too tired then," as their teacher opened the door.