Class starts as the last few students walk into the gym. The coach takes roll and everyone is present.

After the last name is called, he looks up towards the bleachers saying, "Okay, today we are going to be running the course. The course is a little over two miles, all dirt and sand, so hopefully you all finish within half an hour. When you guys are done you can have a free period. But before we start let's get stretched out and dressed out if we can".

Most of the students go to the locker rooms and change while a few others wait. Eventually, everyone gets set up and spread out on the court. About 15 students. They all do the stretches as the coach instructs. It takes about 5 minutes. Then they all go outside waiting for the signal.

"Go", coach says starting the timer.

Johny is running with his friend Quinn in front of everyone.

Quinn was a bit taller than Johny.

They jog to preserve energy, both going the same speed so they can chat a bit at the same time as they run. It's fresh outside. A few students run past them, literally running at full speed.

A few minutes pass. Quinn and Johny stay talking and jogging as they hear someone run up right behind them.

"Slow down!", she calls.

They look back and slow down a bit. It was Bell. Johny got slightly nervous and his heart started to beat faster.

"Why are you guys running?".

She was a bit out of breath. She was wearing basketball shorts and a tank top. Johny was looking at her necklace, which had a heart pendant, while Quinn was looking... elsewhere.

Quinn's face was red.

They both slowed down to a walk for her.

"Hi Bell", Johny greeted.

"Thanks for letting me catch up! Do you know how much you made me run?!", She accused laughing a bit.

"We were only jogging", Johny replied with a laugh looking at Quinn.

"Well still!".

Bell was now walking with them, in the middle. It remained quiet for a second.

"So your name is Bell? I'm Quinn", Johny's friend spoke up grinning.

"Pleasure to meet you", she smiled.

"So how long have you guys been friends?", she asked looking at both of them.

"Since forever. We've always been friends", Quinn answered.

"Yeah", Johny confirmed.

He thought back on when they first met. It was their first day in kindergarten, during lunch. Quinn was sitting by himself next to the wall. Quinn wanted Johny to sit next to him, though only Quinn can be sure why. He called Johny over and they sat together. He asked Johny if he wanted to be friends, and the rest is history. So much has happened since then.

"Wow. That's cool. And sorry I interrupted you guys earlier, what were you talking about?", Bell apologized.

"This summer. I was telling Johny that I went to my grandparent's farm".

"Farm? Like with horses?" She asked excitedly.

"Well, it's all plants, but yeah. They have a few horses", Quinn answered.

Bell seemed ecstatic and joyous at the news of horses. She continued to ask Quinn questions about the names of the horses, what they look like, their favorite things to eat, and their personalities.

Johny looked at them trying not to laugh at Quinn's suffering, and then noticed a cyan whisp out of the corner of his eye disappear. He looked towards it. It was gone now.

Johny questioned it for a moment. He came back to reality before they noticed and asked what was wrong. He just pushed the thought aside.

***

It was math class. Johny was sitting next to Quinn and his other friend Devin. The teacher was standing by the white board reviewing what they should know so far and going over what they would be learning.

While the teacher was reviewing, Devin was trying to illicit a reaction out of Johny.

He was making weird noises in Johny's ear, moving his tongue like a snake. He then made a farting noise with his mouth. Johny, who was already smirking let out a bit of a laugh.

Pleased with the reaction, Devin put his hand next to Johny's ear as if he were going to whisper then he did it again.

The teacher must've noticed this action because he was looking directly at them and asked Devin if he had something he would like to tell the class.

"No sir", Devin replied with an attempted serious look, trying to look like he hadn't done a thing and was paying attention the whole time.

"It's not good to keep secrets. Why don't you go ahead and tell everyone here in the class what you whispered to Johny?", the teacher inclined putting his hands in his pockets leaving his thumbs sticking out.

Devin was quiet for a moment, then without much hesitation made as loud a farting noise as he could.

Laughter filled the room.

"Really Devin?", he laughed shaking his head.

The teacher then turned around and went back to giving the lesson.

***

Devin, Quinn, and Johny sat at a circular table, eating lunch, a few other boys sitting with them. They were discussing an assortment of topics, but came to a certain one that captivated their minds and captured the interest of the boys.

Lock picking.

They were talking about the mechanisms within a lock and how they work. Johny didn't have much experience or knowledge with lock picking so he decided to remain pretty quiet during this conversation, only asking a few things or making a few statements. He was mostly listening and just learning about the craft.

This is how they learned new things from one another once in a while. Maybe one of them, or a few, had heard of something or learned about it and would share with the group because they found it interesting or something of the similar.

Things like how to make gun powder, starting a fire, how to make random weapons and how they work, stuff about vehicles, cooking, games, something random like how to get a girl's attention, and to today's topic: how to pick a lock.

Maybe they were strange, but they thought it was quite normal. They had their fun with it, and would even make plans to do things together, maybe some dumb things, but that wasn't discovered until after usually.

Johny was listening and getting lost in the conversation when he felt like someone was staring at him. He looked around and didn't see anyone looking towards him. But still felt the strange presence.

Then it disappeared.

He came back to the conversation.

"I can bench more than you".

"Bro, you can't even lift a five pound dumbbell".

"Yeah right. I've benched 90 before".

"Oh? Well I bet I could bench your mom".

Johny was just lost now.

"How did the topic change to this?", Johny questioned in his head.

Suddenly another kid joined the dispute, "Are you sure? You've met his mom".

The other boys eyes widened.

The hype was real now and taken to a personal level. They were freaking out, covering their mouths, putting their hands over their heads, gasping, yelling, the whole nine yards. They were all anticipating what was gonna be said next.

The boy who's mom got called out sat there irritated and took a breath. He then let out a sigh.

"Which kind of wood is the best?", he asked out of nowhere.

"Bruh".

They all laughed.

***

The day went on and school came to an end. Johny got on the bus and took a seat in his usual spot. He stared out the window, his thoughts still buzzing.

Bell took a seat next to him. His heart leapt.

He greeted her moving his bag and scooting over. Then Quinn sits with them, forcing them too scoot some more.

Johny's now against the window. The bus was off, and Johny could already tell, it was going to be a long ride.

*Chapter: End*

Hey! Long time, no see. How's it going? Sorry I take so long releasing these chapters

:( Hopefully you haven't lost interest. I have a lot planned, but getting these plans and such written out is a bit complicated. There has been a lot going on in my life. It can be too much at times. But thank you for reading. As always, here's the recommendations:

Anime:

1. Bungo: Stray Dogs

2. Your Lie in April

3. Eden of the East

Songs:

1. Peach Tree Rascals - Mariposa

2. Kid Laroi - GO

3. Counting Crows - Mr. Jones

Until next time! Later!