Why did I come here again?

Starlio found himself bumping into Kane Kyoung right at the entrance of the library where he was going to meet his physics project group mates,Shannon and Angie...completely forgetting the fact that Kane himself was in his group as well.

"Asshole."Kane says before walking into the library first.

What?Starlio looked at an enraged Kane as he took in a deep breath:"What's your bloody problem man?Did I step on your toes by accident?Why are you talking shit about me behind my back to others and always seem to carry a grudge at me.What's wrong with you?!"Starlio confronted him.

Kane rolled his eyes,taking off his earphones and turned to Starlio.

"Oh oops I didn't know there was a test.Oh well let's just not put in any effort at all and do better than anyone and everyone else just because I was blessed with a genius brain."Kane mimicked Starlio who was beginning to feel his blood boil."So what,all this is just because I'm better?!How in the world is that my fault for being smart huh?!"

"At least try to work for something for once,maybe that might help calm your ego down."Kane says as Starlio stormed towards him,fist raised.

"Starlio!Kane!Stop!"Angie Snow ran in between them,pushing both of them away from one another.Kane and Starlio both glared at each other when Angie reminds them:"Hey,project alright?I'm sure none of you wanna screw this project up over some stupid rivalry going on."

Shannon was greeted by an awfully quiet team that found her in the library.

"Did something happen?"Shannon asks as her three team mates sat down in front of the empty table she found in the library."Nothing."Starlio lied,which Shannon easily caught onto.Starlio accidentally locked eyes with Kane as the two boys looked away from each other,Starlio whispering to himself:"No homo."

"Huh?"Shannon heard him.

"Nothing."Starlio answers her.

Two awkward and painful hours passed as Kane finally finished his part in the project,volunteering to leave first,leaving Starlio with the two girls.Starlio felt a subconscious weight being lifted right off his shoulders as he turned to the girls to realize that they were still both looking at their project in deep awe.

A rocket powered mini roller coaster.

"Urm...if there's nothing else I'm gonna take my leave."Starlio says,packing his pencil case into his backpack.Angie turned to him:"I still can't get over the fact that we are going to do this.You sure those rockets for the roller coaster would work?"

"Hm...it's all just theories for now.We have to find out."Starlio says.

"Alright....if you don't mind,do you wanna-"Angie was cut off as her phone rang,prompting her to pick it up and answering it while Starlio and Shannon both continued packing their stuff."But.....dinner?Okay,I'll wait outside the library for you dad.See you."

"Your dad's coming to fetch you?"Shannon asks,with Angie nodding in response.

"Alright,see you."Shannon says as Angie quickly strapped her bag over her shoulder,going towards the library's pickup point first in a hurry.Starlio felt more relieved as he and Shannon were finally alone,with the latter offering:"So,wanna head back together?Same direction anyway."

"Yea of course.Let's go."Starlio answers her as the pair headed back home together.

"So uh...you won't be attending the holiday classes I presume,since you are going for the charity trip to Plex."Starlio started the conversation in which Shannon nods:"Yea...I kinda feel guilty though,for not attending those classes.I'm already barely passing and here I am,volunteering to attend a trip."

"Hey,it's for charity after all,collecting and serving food right?You're doing good,I don't think you should feel any guilt about it."Starlio asks.

"As true as that might be,I'm still worried about my grades."

"Which subject are you struggling in the most right now?"

"Math and Science....you know,I still haven't really thanked you for that day.If you don't mind,let me treat you a meal?Maybe you can help me with my grades at the same time?"Shannon asks him nervously as Starlio felt his face fluster.

Is this a date?

"Yes!"Starlio said too excitedly,which slightly made Shannon jump.Both of them felt a sense of awkwardness lingering between them when Starlio took in a deep breath,deciding to ask her another question:"Which part of Plex City are you guys heading to?"

"Aor Town.Many of the residents are displaced because of the new buildings being constructed there.So we're there to provide some basic supplies to hopefully ease whatever they are going through."

"Dangerous place though,tons of crime reports are flooding the news this past few months about that town.Please be careful there."Starlio tells Shannon,who smiled at him warmly:"It's fine,I'll bring a bottle of pepper spray."

"Sure,pepper spray the shit out of those criminals."Starlio jokes.

"Hey,wanna try some?!Don't insult my pepper spray!"Shannon sarcastically teases Starlio,lightly punching him in the shoulder as he began laughing.Shannon couldn't help but began giggling as well:"Who the heck laughs while being attacked?"

"Who wouldn't laugh when it's this type of attack?"

"You mocking me man.So mean."Shannon jokingly complains as Starlio smiled at her:"Don't mind me I'm just weird."

The following morning.

Gym class.

Starlio went to school as per normal,in his gym attire only to see Conner and Roy standing by the entrance of the school gym hall,looking at someone."Why are the two of you standing here?"Starlio approaches his friends,which signaled for him to look into the gym hall.

Frank Basto and his group of hooligan like friends,talking obnoxiously loudly in the hall and throwing around the bottle of another student in his class,teasing him.

"Alright,class!Please quiet down!Get into teams of four!We'll be doing our stations like the physical test after your holidays so give it your all."

"Let's just stay away from them."Conner suggests,Roy and Starlio easily agreeing with him.

Starlio took in a deep breath as he looked down at one of his most hated exercises,the pull up station which Frank easily made his mark on with an impressive ten pull ups.His class was up next and after Conner got away with doing none and Roy,just three,it was Starlio's turn....and he knew Shannon was watching.

Shit...I didn't train...Starlio tells himself as the coach called out his name.He could see the three girls,Shannon,Angie and Joseline peering over at their own fitness station,looking at him with curiosity as he leapt up,gripping his hands on the warm metal bar,looking at the coach who nodded for him to carry on.

1.....2.....3....Starlio pushed himself as hard as he could.

"One more!Come on!"Roy cheered his friend on as Starlio pushed himself with all his arm strength,reaching his chin right above the bar and completing his fourth pull up.Starlio let himself down as the coach turned to the three friends:"Alright,go rest up.Prepare for your next station sit ups."

Starlio turned to see the girls still looking at him and surprisingly,Angie was walking towards him."Starlio!Nice pull ups!"Angie gleefully approached him with a canned drink in her hand,an energy drink that she passed to Starlio:"Here you go."

"Thanks."Starlio took the drink,gulping it down as Roy asks:"Only he gets it?"

Angie ignores him,turning away with her white haired ponytail slapping Roy on the face lightly before heading back to the other girls."What was that about?That seems unfair."Roy turns to Starlio who shrugged,Conner adding in:"Well,it's pretty obvious.She likes you."

"Hm."Starlio tried to brush it off when a voice interrupted their conversation.

"Wow,Conner,so fat that you can't even pull yourself up once?"The three friends turned around to see Frank Basto and two of his friends behind him,smirking sarcastically at them."Hey,I don't remember talking to you."Roy tells Frank.

"Hm...why so pissed off skinny arms?"Frank teases Roy before turning his attention back to Conner:"Maybe try not eating so much,don't wanna occupy more unnecessary space when riding in those squeeze buses with the poor genius here right?"Frank points at Starlio.

"Hey,just screw off will you?"Starlio tells Frank off.

The entire gym hall silenced,turning their attention at the ongoing commotion.Starlio turned back to see Shannon wanting to go over and help him,like he helped her before but she was held back by Joseline,who worried for her.

The bully smirks,an evil grin stretching across his mouth as he turns to an embarrassed Conner:"Look at that belly of yours.You look like a pregnant teen whose boyfriend ran away."Frank says as he and his friends began laughing at a clearly hurt Conner.Starlio had enough as he got forward,launching both arms forward and pushing Frank back:"What's your problem?!"'

"Hush....fat he may be,but at least he can eat more than what your parents could ever afford."

"They could at least afford this."Starlio stomped forward and launched a punch that hit Frank right in the ribs,slightly knocking him back before the bully recovered at an astonishing speed,retaliating and grabbing Starlio by the shirt,dragging the prodigy towards him and with his larger build,shot a punch that knocked Starlio down to the ground.

Roy jumped in as well,ready to punch Frank when his friends kicked him down."Wow,you actually asked for it."Frank stomped down onto Starlio,pressing the prodigy's fingers right beneath his sole as Starlio roared in pain.

"Hey!What the hell is going on there?!"The gym coach roared.

That evening.

Roy and Starlio were both still in the principal office,way past school hours as punishment for their fight today with Frank."Seriously....he gets away scot-free...this is messed up....this is so messed up...."Roy whispers to Starlio who nods.

Shannon must have saw him beaten down...there goes her impression of him being perfect.

"His parents are rich sponsors of the school....they can't do much to him."Starlio reminds Roy.The door to the office they were in opened as their principal,Mr Jackson entered,dressed in a suit and a distinct curled up mustache."Well boys,look at what you have done.Detention,a week for the both of you."

"What about Frank?"Starlio felt his pent up anger giving him a courage he never felt.

"Frank did not start the fight.You punched first young man."

"He didn't?He insulted my friends and I.Let's be honest here,the only reason why he isn't punished is because of how much his parents are pumping into this school.Tell me I'm wrong."Starlio boldly tells Mr Jackson,even surprising Roy who sat there in awe."Be careful what you claim young man,are you telling me that you think we are-"

"Are you not?"

"You sure you wanna say what you wanna say,Starlio?"

"Sure,give in to the rich then.Show me what kind of educator you wanna be."

Mr Jackson paused,his eyes mixed with anger and shame as he growled:"You are suspended young man.You will not be coming back to school this semester until after the holidays."Roy tried to speak up but was quickly dismissed by the principal,who demanded them to leave.

Roy and Starlio left the office room to see Conner waiting outside with two sandwiches in his hand."You haven't left?It's been hours."Starlio looked at his friend.

"You guys must be hungry."Conner says,passing them the sandwiches.

"You didn't have to-"Starlio tries when Conner stopped him:"You guys did it for me.Just one sandwich for each of you should not even compare."Conner says,grabbing both of his friends with his arms as the trio walked out of the school compound together.

Dumb school.Run by money craving adults who clearly did not prioritize any of them students' welfare,much less any of their problems the school claim can be talked about with them.What a lie....I am so much beyond what school can offer....once I built this jet pack,I'll attend save up enough money for a station within the next major science fair.People will notice me and I won't have to study these useless subjects anymore.....

Starlio eventually reached home.

"Big bro,a girl called you today."Mitchell tells Starlio who set his bag down on the couch.His parents weren't home as usual when he gave Starlio a look that his brother recognized instantly:"I won't tell anyone.Is it your-"

"No she's not my girlfriend."

"Aw."

"Just gimme the phone."Starlio says as he returned the call to Shannon Ray.Starlio's heart was sinking already....does he...like her?Why does he care so much about she thinks?What if she doesn't see him the same way anymore?

"Hello?"Shannon's voice shot him back to reality.

"Uhh...yes?You called me?"Starlio answers her."Are you alright?I saw what happened at the gym today."Shannon sounded extremely concerned as Starlio's spirits began being lifted."I....I'm suspended from school till next semester."

"Next sem...I mean it's only one week before the holidays.You won't....miss out much right?"Shannon asks the prodigy who smiled to himself:"Probably not...well I guess it's a good thing.I can focus more on my hobbies rather than come to school."Starlio was suddenly more elated about his suspension,already beginning to plan out all the things he wanted to do....continue constructing his jet pack which he had already made significant progress in.

"Well I'm glad.But...you won't be coming to school right?"Shannon sounded disappointed.

"Yea..."Starlio mutters softly,part of him feeling slightly crushed from not being able to see Shannon.But....why?

"But my science-"

"We can still meet up.Just tell me where and when."Starlio spoke out too fast as he noticed Mitchell giving him the thumbs up from across their living room.Starlio gave him a stare to bugger off as he heard Shannon contemplate from the other end of the call,sounding nervous."That will be great...but I won't really be free until the morning of the Plex City trip."

"The trip is..."Starlio asks when Shannon answered him:"The bus takes off at 11am.Wanna meet around...let's say 8?At Mcdonalds near the West...we can have breakfast there."

"That would be great."

The longest week in his life passed.Everyday felt extremely dragged out,each hour felt like an entire month had passed.Starlio thought that he could be occupied entirely by focusing all his efforts into his jet pack but with each moment passing,he couldn't help but look forward to his next meeting with Shannon,a feeling he didn't understand.

The jet pack had everything in place already.

All the circuits were fitting perfectly to how he designed it,the rockets was being powered with almost no difficulty using the batteries that he collected over the past few months,the insulating systems were all working with no issues,protecting himself from another fire.All he needed now was a test run,but he needed to wait for his friends.

Deep down,he knew that Shannon was going to be entering a dangerous part of the city.Despite going with a fairly large group of students and teachers...Starlio didn't really have faith that ordinary teachers could do much against gangsters or crime lords.Starlio's paranoia got the better of him as he headed to the box under his bed where he kept most of his previous inventions.

A chip,a tracking chip the half the size of his thumb,as flat as a cracker.

Starlio sighed....only a creep would be doing this but....it's for her safety right?

Eventually,Starlio woke up to the morning he was looking forward to.

Starlio tossed a hoodie onto himself,ensuring that he looked at fresh as he could before heading for the Mcdonalds that Shannon had requested him to.He spotted her a good distance away in a red baseball call,fitting her blonde ponytail nicely,a slightly loose light red camp t shirt and short pants,sitting at the corner of the fast food outlet.

Starlio flipped out his wallet....3 dollars....probably just get something small.

"Starlio!"He heard Shannon called up to him as he walked towards her,waving his hand more confidently and taking a seat right opposite her.

"Let's get some food,I'm starving."Shannon offers as the duo headed towards the counter when Starlio noticed the prices of the food.Shit....he can't even afford a wrap,much less a burger.Starlio desperately looked through the entire menu to settle on a small packet of fries."You don't wanna get something else?"Shannon asks.

"I...I'm not hungry."Starlio lied.

The duo headed back to their seats when Starlio noticed her bag.Probably clothing and stuff that she was going to bring to the charity trip but...this was supposed to be a studying session.Is she...?

"Here."Shannon passed Starlio a burger.

"Urm...don't you-"Starlio was concerned for her own hunger when he noticed that she was already munching down on her meal."Just take it as a thank you gift,for the past few studying dates that we have and the time you saved me from Frank."Shannon blurted out before stopping in her tracks,both of them realizing what she just said.

"Studying sessions I mean...urm...yes."Shannon corrected herself.

"You sure...?"Starlio felt his stomach growling,which made Shannon glare at him:Really?

"Just eat man."Shannon opens the burger wrapping,shoving it right into his mouth.

His heart on cloud nine.Date?She bought me a meal?"I know you can't go for the trip,but I'll write a journal there,you can read it once I return,you know.I can also be a commentator while you read.I mean...share some memories with you."Shannon offers a content Starlio who smiled at her:"That's will be great."

A conversation ensued between them,Starlio and Shannon both feeling the ice between them further melting away.Shannon clearly understood everything he was saying from an empathetic point of view,something that some of his classmates previously had a hard time doing,always mistaking him as being proud or wanting to show off his intellect with the exception of Roy and Conner.

Time flew right past him as before he knew it,it was almost 10.Shannon had to be in school for the bus to fetch her.

"You should better get going soon,it's almost 10 already."Starlio reminds her."I'll just head to the bathroom real quick,help me watch over my stuff."Shannon says,leaping out of her seat to the bathroom.Starlio found himself staring at her phone,which she left right in front of him.His heart began pounding more violently than he had ever felt before as he took a deep breath,calming his nerves a little before deciding to do it.

Starlio opened the back of her phone out,clipping his tracking chip in and quickly placing the phone back in place,making it look untouched.

"Alright,I'm set.See you in a few weeks."Shannon walked out of the toilet."See you."Starlio says,walking out of the fast food chain with her when he suggested:"You know,if you want to talk....or....ask...ask about your math or science you can always just call me."

"I'll tell you once I reach my room."Shannon answers him as she raised her arm for a high five that Starlio happily complied to."Did you bring a jacket?It's getting pretty cold over there."

"Of course.Don't worry about me,you said you were building something big right?Work on that."Shannon clapped her hands together,facing Starlio.

"I definitely will."Starlio promises her as the two part ways.

The following evening.

Aor Town.

"Okay remember.Stick to the motel,don't ever leave the premises without a teacher's consent.We have a long day ahead tomorrow so good night everybody."Mrs Wooly tells the students who signed up to the trip as they replied in unison:"Good night Mrs Wooly."

Mrs Wooly returned to her own room within the motel as Shannon grabbed her bag,ready to return to her room she was sharing with Angie when she heard someone call her."Shannon!"Angie hopped onto Shannon,wrapping her arm around Shannon who looked at her and instantly recognized a look:"What are you up to this time?I have to record a daily journal entry to Joseline you know?"

"Okay,okay,hear me out.While on the bus here I saw a 711 downstairs just across the street."Angie suggests.

"The journal-"Shannon tried when Angie cuts her off:"I'll buy you a drink.I mean how long will a journal entry take?"Shannon sighs,low key wanting to go as well as she gave in,nodding her head.Shannon heard multiple footsteps behind her.Kane,as well as two other classmates Kate and Miles spotted Angie and Shannon.

"Come on,let's go!"Kane whispers.

The group followed his lead as Kane first made his way towards the teacher's room,eavesdropping onto them.They were planning out the following days' itinerary and settling down,which pretty much gave the students the whole night for themselves.

The group made their way to the local convenient store,getting their drinks and gathering at a bench right at the back of the store where they won't be seen by the main road or the motel,allowing them to have their snacks in peace.

The evening sky was dark purple,a warm overhead lamp was lighting up the bench,just providing them with enough lighting.Angie bought Shannon a mountain dew as the group gathered."So,Kane.Tell us,why do you hate Starlio so much?"Angie began.

"Hm?Oh...Starlio?I don't actually hate him...as much as I make it look like it.I'm just really vexed by the fact that he doesn't need to put in much effort and yet,scoring so well.For someone like me whose trying their absolute best,it's...it's really demoralizing."Kane answers her.

"He's actually a pretty nice guy if you get to know him better."Shannon speaks up.

"Whoa,you seem to know him pretty well huh."Kate answers her."No...no!It's not anything like that,it's just that I've talked to him more recently.He's actually pretty awkward,like in terms of interacting with others,maybe that why he gives off the wrong impression."

"Probably,oh well."Kane answers casually.

"But...Shannon....if you have the time,do you mind...."Angie dragged Shannon closer to her as she whispered:"I have a crush on Starlio.So...can you like,help me out a bit?"

Shannon's eyes widened as she turned to Angie,about to speak up when she realized that the rest of the group was in close proximity."Uhh....sure."Shannon says half hardheartedly when she felt a cold,metallic object at the back of her head....

"Now,nobody scream."

Shannon froze in place when two other men,armed with pistols walked up to them,pointing their weapons at the five students."What...what do you guys want?"Kane asks."If you want money,we don't have that.We are just students."Shannon spoke up.

"Don't be stupid...we know.Come with us,quietly.Don't want things to get messier now do we?"the man behind her says as from the corner of her eye,she could see Angie started to have a nervous breakdown,shivering in her seat.

Out of the blue,Miles jumped out from his seat,making a mad dash away.

BOOM.

Shannon's ears deafened as a gunshot blast echoed across her skull,the heat from it blowing right past her hair and Miles,being blasted in the back of the head,collapsing onto the ground in a pool of blood.Kate started began whimpering uncontrollably when the voice behind Shannon reminded them:"Now,pull off anymore bullshit and you'll be next."