Today was the first day of school for me since almost 2 years ago. I tried to feel normal about it, exited to be around other people again who hadn't killed someone or commited some kind of crime. I combed through my hair again, getting out the small snarls I missed the first five times. My hair was starting to puff up to my displeasure. I grabbed some hairspray and sprayed it all over my head, making it have an oily glow. At least it was staying down.

I scrambled down the stairs, snatching my old backpack off the handy new hook that hung on the wall next to the staircase. I planned to walk to school with Ashley today, like normal. But the city had other plans: For the next 2 or 3 months I was to have a police officer "escort" me to school because of some parole thing. I plopped onto the newly furnished sofa, stain free and twice as squishy as before, and turned on the TV to see what was on actual television other than Oprah and the news. Cartoons were the first thing to come on as I switched through the channels, something about a talking dog that defines words.

At 7:30 the doorbell rang. I grabbed my bag and headed for the door. I looked through the peephole to see a bald head shining back at me. Smiling, I opened the door and greeted the officer. I've seen him before on guard duty and he was very nice. He sneaked me a bottle of soda once when I mentioned I liked Dr. Pepper.

"Time for school, kid." He said, turning and walking back to the black and white police car. I shut and locked the door behind me, scurrying after him.

"Can you drop me off by--"

"Nope." he said. "I have to walk with you in the school too."

I grumbled in my throat, not looking forward to this. "Why? Scared I'd kill someone walking in?"

"Laws, boy." he snapped.

I rolled my eyes and looked out the window at the passing cars. Almost everybody passing us looked at me, their eyes burning right into my soul. Mothers glared at me and kids stared in awe, probably wondering what I did. I stared and glared right back at them, itching my tattoos absentmindedly. After about 5 minuets he pulled up to the empty bus lane, shifting it into park. I looked around at the groups of kids standing outside the school, chattering with eachother until they caught sight of the police car that just drove up. Now everyone was staring at us. I smirked like a smartass and waved.

"Out you go, boy." he said, opening the door for me. I stole a glance at everyone staring at me. A lot of faces I didn't recognize stared at me while just older versions of old classmates burned into me like lighters. Some puzzled or with amused smirks. I rolled my eyes and walked to the building with the officer.

"Now, you are not to leave this building without an officer or your trusted guardian, understood?" he growled, making me look at him.

"Okay." I replied. I just wanted to see Ashley.

He strode back to his car and was gone like that. As soon as I turned around I felt a pair of arms wrap around my shoulders and a squeel come from my back.

"Andy!" Sandra screamed, almost making my ears bleed.

"Sandra!" I said in mock excitement, but chuckled anyway and returned the hug. Soon Jake and Jinxx had sprang over to hug me, as well as Ashley. CC literally knocked me off my feet by tackling me.

"Jailbug is FREE!" he yelled, almost snapping me in half.

"CC you're killing me!" I hollered, trying to wiggle from his death hug. Ashley and Sandra pryed him off of me, Ashley helped me up and hugged me gently, since he had seen me about 5 times before hand. I looked around the small hallway, looking at the wall of school trophies and educational posters which wasn't much different from middle school, only a bigger hallway. People were still staring at me, which was really getting on my nerves.

"Why are people staring at me?" I murmured. "HEY! Human being here! Not a freakshow!"

Ashley took my hand and led me back to our own little group, packing us in close together. I looked at my old friends closer, Jake and CC definately had gained a few inches, Sandra was still her normal fun-sized self and so was Jinxx. He had a small whisp of black on his upper lip as well. Other than that we all looked the same: black, band shirts and 100% badassery at the full. Sandra elbowed me in the hip.

"So?" she asked.

"So....what?" I answered confused.

"Whats it like there?" CC blurted. "Is it like in the movies where everyone is in orange uniforms beating eachother up?"

I cocked my eyebrow and Jake punched CC in the arm. He whined in pain and growled at Jake, earning both of them a slap from Sandra. I chuckled softly.

"Not every day, but there was riots and all. I helped at the place they call a hospital inside there." I shrugged. "It could've been worse." I could tell they were all really interested in any kind of story i had, except Ashley whose heard it all. CC was fidgeting on his feet and the rest looked up at me curiously. It was like I was talking to a bunch of preschoolers.

"I think I have to go get my schedule..." I said, backing away from them. My head was starting to hurt too and I really needed a cigarette. I know, bad Andy for starting, but I had no way to hide cutting or have any way to hurt myself in jail. Everyone would see it and shit would get ugly. I hadn't smoked since last night and it was really getting to me.

"I could show you to the office." Ashley offered. I nodded, rubbing my eyes with my hand and let him lead me to the office. He hand motioned something at the group, but I didn't catch it.


~

"So you're a new student I take it?" the receptionist asked, peering at us over her goggles of eyeglasses. I nodded, leaning on the desk and running my hand through my hair nervously. She typed on the small computer loudly and wrote something down on a piece of paper, everything was really loud. She handed me a piece of paper labeled with all sorts of squares with names and numbers on it, my name printed at the top.

"If Mr. Purdy would be so kind to show you around that would be great." she sang, looking at Ashley. He nodded eagerly and led me to the door, holding it open for me.

"Are you okay?" he asked as i rubbed my temples.

"Y-yeah." I said. "My head just hurts. Thats all."

I followed him down the corridors and other places, he showed me the classes I had and where the classrooms were. All of the hallways were abandoned due to it being 1/2 an hour before school started. He held one last door for me, leading to a giant gymnasium.

"This is the gym?" I asked, looking around. He nodded, raising his arm to point across the dark expanse of a room. "The pool is over there, its only for the swimming team and occasional gym days. We haven't used it yet. Over there--" he moved his arm a few inches left to a bright pink door "Is the girls room and right here is the boy's." he pointed to the side of us where a dark blue door stood. I saw a little black stick man spray painted on the door, like what you would see at public restrooms.

"Can we go in?" I asked curiously. He looked over at the door, no lights were on so the teachers were probably gone. For a second, the left side of his bottom lip disappeared into his mouth but poped out a second later when he spoke. "I guess."

I pushed against the door, letting it swing open on its own. Lights flickered on around us inside the locker room as the door tapped the wall and swung closed behind Ashley. About 15 rows of blue lockers filled the room from wall to wall. I wondered to the left of the room to where it was darkest.

"Thats the empty lockers." Ashley said, his voice echoing around the room. "Most people don't really go back there except to cry or make out with eachother."

"Stop giving me ideas." I said, looking back at him. "I wanna see if theres anything back here."

"Like what?"

"I dunno. Money?" I waved my arm in a circle, beckoning him. "C'mon Ashes."

He rolled his eyes and followed me, burying his hands in his pockets. I looked down, not really meaning to be looking for anything. Dark and quiet places just seemed to calm me, you know? The hum that lightly sounds in your ears, no voices or anything, the dimness, it just calms me. I looked back at Ashley, who was peeking around the corner of a locker. I got an idea and went up to him.

"So what did you say, people did back here?" I asked softly, standing centimeters away from him. I felt him jump a little, turning his head to face me. "Cry or make out?" he answered, straightening up to face me. I put my hands on his waist, backing us against a locker and pressing my forehead to his, only having to bend down a little bit to do so. I nudged his mouth up to meet mine and pressed our open lips together, our tongues meeting eachother and fighting dominance, which I let Ashley win. He put his hands across my shoulders and laced his fingers in my hair while I snaked my hands up his back and around his shoulder blades, then back down to his waist and around his hips. He pushed them closer to mine and grinded slowly. I giggled and broke off the kiss.

"When does school start again?" I murmured.

"A few minuets." he replied. "Maybe we should wait till afterwards."

"You're sure?" I traced over his jawline with my fingers. He looked so beautiful in the dim lighting. He nodded yes, wiggling out from under me and finger combing his hair. "You have your first class with me." he said, smiling.

"Room....105." I read my schedule. "Yep."

"Come on then." he raced me out of the locker room, letting the door bang behind him.