Summer rains suck. Like, you thought you'd have a nice and sunny day and now you're sitting on the floor, freezing your ass off, and your hair is dripping because you were absolutely not prepared for this. Also, nobody hugs you for obvious reasons. I narrow my eyes and stare and the tons of water crashing down just a few feet in front of me where the roof ends as I lean against the brick wall of the school building.

"Is my eyeliner fucked up?"

I turn to Cheeto, who is right next to me, and shake my head. "No, it's still good. What about me?"

Cheeto shakes zir head. "Non-waterproof mascara, that's all I'm saying."

"Is it bad?"

"You kinda look like you just cried your eyes out."

"Ugh. I'll fix it later. Thanks."

Jesse, who sits in front of us, grins and says something in sign language, Cheeto furrows zir forehead. "Wait, you wear makeup?"

She raises an eyebrow and signs something else.

"I'm sorry, I sometimes don't recognize a joke when it's right in front of me!" Cheeto laughs.

"Seriously, sib." I join in. "I thought you were the one who makes dumb jokes all the time."

"And you aren't, or what?"

Our conversation is interrupted by a loud rattling noise and all our heads turn to the source of it.

"Oops, sorry 'bout that." A boy says, referring to Jesse's open bottle he seems to have kicked while walking.

He doesn't look sorry. But Jesse just shakes her head and makes a waving movement with her hand, as if to say Don't worry, it's fine before picking up the metal bottle to dry it with the sleeve of her jacket. The boy leaves, a victorious grin on his lips. As he's far enough, I lean forward.

"You do know that that was on purpose, right?"

Jesse nods her head and shrugs.

"Why'd you ignore it then?"

She signs something that Cheeto translates with "Show you're not bothered and they lose interest" before ze adds "I get the point, but don't be too nice or they'll go 'Oh, wow, easy victim!' Y'know what I mean?"

Jesse says something else and Cheeto shakes zir head. "Yeah, I know he just spilled your tea, but I know that guy and it's probably not gonna stay at kicking bottles and pretty quickly go over to actually acting like shit. Was raised in a household that teaches assholeness and stuff, but that's not an excuse, he's old enough to use his brain."

"Who even is he, actually?" I ask.

"Ethan, I have IT and bio class with him. An ass who doesn't have anything better to do than project his self-hate on others."

"Great."

We're is interrupted by the bell and Jesse asks something which is answered with "Math" by Cheeto.

"You have math now, too?" I ask. Funny coincidence, I'm one year below the two. Jesse nods and scowls. She doesn't seem to love this subject either. Well, who does, honestly? Cheeto is pretty good at it (apparently the only one of us), but not even ze enjoys it.

"So, see you later then!" I smile at Cheeto and Jesse and they smile back.

"See ya!" Cheeto responds, Jesse waves and we go our separate ways.

A/N: sorry... filler/build-up chapters suck. the next one's better, promise! <3