"Do you swear on your life that if ANYTHING happens, you will call me? Wether hell or high water. If you even have a little cough, text immediately and ill be there, okay?" My dads eyes were filled with worry and panic.

I smiled in order to ease his fear. "Pops, its high school. I think ill be okay. Besides, its not gonna be like all those teen dramas you were binge watching all week. " I chuckled to hide the fact that i was actually terrified. It was my first day of actual high school, up until now i was home schooled. Today will be the day i interact with people the same age as me. That hasn't happened for a long while.

"I know its not like them, but with everything that has happened these past few years, im just a little worried. But if you feel that your ready, then so am i." he said with a smile.

"I am. I am ready." my voice came out shaky. I took a deep breath and stared out the window. I could see all the kids with there fresh new clothes, big smiles, and no sense of fear. I pushed out a breath, i didn't realize i was holding in. I squeezed my sweaty hands together, to attempt to stop myself from shaking.

My dad suddenly grabs my hands and turns me towards him. He puts my hands to his lips and looks me in the eyes. "You got this, Nemo. No need to be nervous. Okay? Its gonna be like learning how to swim, first you'll fear it, but then once you get used to the water you'll love it. It'll be like floating on a cloud. You just have to keep swimming." I nodded my head and smirked at him. I appreciated the nemo reference.

I took one last look at my dad and then turned toward the school. "Here we go." I finally walked out of the car and the September breeze hit me like a bus. Holy turds it was cold as balls out here. "Nemo!" I cringed at him calling me my childhood nickname out loud. When I was a kid I was obsessed with finding Nemo, to the point that I literally forced my dad to call me that til I was 5. I turned to look at my dad holding up my bag and jacket out the window. "Oops, thanks pops." i grab the them both and throw them on, "Remember, just keep swimming!" he yelled as i began to approach the school. I couldn't help but to smile as i walked my way through those doors.

The temperature was much warmer than it was outside. However the air smelled like old gym socks, or spoiled milk. The colors blue, white, and red were literally everywhere, im guessing thats the school colors. The mascot must be just as basic. I swear in every movie i watched or any school i did visit blue, white, and red would always be the school colors.

"You lost?" someone said. I looked behind me and saw some one who looked like a girl, but i wasn't completely sure. I want to ask but i dont want the first thing i say to some one being me questioning there gender. They had lovely brown skin and with long brown hair. They had such pretty dark brown eyes, and they were a bit taller than I was. However, bad bitch energy that was radiating off of this person was abundant. "Your definitely new. I can smell it on you. You haven't been tainted by the bullshittery, that is this school. " I could here a hint of a Spanish accent in there voice.

"Am i that obvious?" I smiled.

"Well yeah, you were kind of the only one standing still in front of the entrance way. It was cute, in lost puppy type of way." They said smiling in front of me. They reached there hand out to me. "My name is Rebecca. You can call me Becks. I am a trans woman. My pronouns are her and she. I could tell you were curious, everyone usually is."

"The names Meloni. I apologize if i was staring, i know how uncomfortable that can be, but can I say that you are very beautiful. " i said.

A bigger smile spread across her face, "Yeah, your definitely not from around here, mi amor. Your too polite."

"Just cause im polite, dont mean i dont bite. Im a black woman in america, i better have some fight back." Damn straight, daddy aint raise no punk.

A smile spread across her face immediately." Fiesty. I think I like you already. Walk with me." She grabs by my arm and begins to walk down the halls slowly. To where? I have no clue. "So what brings you into this shitty town, Loni?" I kept looking forward, trying my best to hide the fact that I'm still nervous. "Me and my dad, just needed a change of scenery."

The disgust on her face made me laugh, "Mi amor, why didn't you choose a better place? Well, I guess I'll be the first to welcome you to this hell whole. Welcome to Honeydale. The shit whole right outside the city. We are giving complete country hick meet hipster teen vibes."

"Country Hick?.....kinky." I smirked

She giggled at my little quip and pulled me closer. "So, where did you live before you came here?" She asked.

"I actually lived on the other side of the shit whole. I lived city most my life. Me and my-" she suddenly stopped and stood in front of me.

"My love, your telling me, that you left the city, the golden city, for this backwoods town. Porque? Did you get into some crazy shit up there? Feisty and crazy, I just might go gay for you." My cheeks felt hot . And I couldn't hide my smile. I giggled a little. I never really handled compliments well.

She laughed at my reaction and we started walking again. "Do you know where your first class is, I could show you." She said. I pulled my schedule out and handed it to her. "Oh yes. Baby, this must be god telling us we need to be friends, because we have four of the same classes. And the same lunch period."

"Thank god, i thought i was gonna start the school day sitting in the back of the class in silence til someone asked me for a pencil." I smiled nervously. She laughed and called me cute again.

"Welp new bestie, lets make our way to our first class." she grabbed me by the arm and we started walking toward the class.

We finally made it to our class and it was filled with people. It looked like we were the last two to arrive. "Martinez! Nice to have you again this year."

"Hola, Senora Robinson. Coma estas?" A big smile spreads over Rebeccas face as she walks over to the woman. She wore a black and white checkered skirt with a red blouse. She had locs but they were put up in a bun. She was such a beautiful black woman. She returned Becks smile, "Muy bien, mi armor, y tu?"

"You know, the usual, living life to its fullest. Oh. Senora, this here is my new bestie, Loni." Becks pulls me over to where she was standing. "Loni, this is the best teacher in existence, Senora Robinson. If it wasnt for this woman, I don't know where I would be today."

The smile on Mrs. Robinsons face widens. " Rebeccas over exaggerating. Nice to meet you, Loni. If you need anything at all, my door is always open." She reached her hand out and shook mine. Her hand was so warm and soft. Like a blanket.

"Thank you. I'll keep that in mind." I smiled back at her. She nodded her head.

"Now, the two of you go find your seats, class is about to start." We end up moving to the back of the class til the bell rang. "Alright class, my name is Mrs. Robinson and we are going to go around room and introduce ourselves. Let's start on the-"three boys suddenly barge into the class. The first boy was black tall and quite handsome. You could tell he worked out but not enough to make it unattractive. He had a big apologetic smile on his face. "Sorry, Mrs. Robs. Our dad dropped us off late." The second began to chime in as he stood at the door with a smile.

"Heyyyyy Mrs. Robinson. I missed you." He said in a flirty tone. He was just as handsome the first boy, but in the flirty fuck boy kinda way. He wasn't black

but he did resemble his brother in some traits. I couldn't tell what he was mixed with but he is cute. She rolled her eyes at him and began to look around.

"Micheal, Timmothy, i know there's one more. Where's your brother? Tate?!" Mrs. Robinson said.

"He should be right behind us. Mike, where is he?"

Micheal, the one by the door, peeks his head out the door frame and a smile slowly makes its way on his face. "Tate! Hurry up. Your holding up the class." He screams down the hallway. Timmothy rolls his eyes at his brother.

I hear a laugh from the hall. It was soft and kind of cute. Micheal moved away from the door and finally stepped in the class and someone followed. The three of them stood at the front of the class in awkward silence. However, you could still here all the girls swooning over them. It was kind of annoying.

"Since you three wanted to make an entrance. Why don't you guys introduce yourselves first. Let's start with the oldest. The floors yours boys." Mrs. Robinson said she moved back and gave the boys the spotlight.

The flirty on stepped forward and raked his hand through his hair before speaking. A smile was still plastered on his face. "Hello, everyone I'm Micheal Mancini. The Eldest of the Mancini clan. I am 20 years old. No I did not get held back, I just started late. And I'm always open for tutoring sessions, but only for girls 18 and older." He looks directly at the girl in front of him and winks at her. Her cheeks turned a bright red, and I could help but laugh.

"Ay, he so stupid." Rebecca murmured to herself. Micheal stood back and pushed Timmothy forward. He stumbled a bit, but caught himself. He turned and gave his brother a dirty look before turning back to the class. He was a nervous wreck.

"Hello. Um..my name is Timmothy Mancini. I am 18. I am the second oldest. I am the quarterback of the schools football team. And....that's all....uh Tate it's you turn." He pushed the last guy forward but he wouldn't budge. It was this weird struggle between the two of them for at least a minute. The whole class was doing it's best to hold back there laughs. "Tate." The older brother spoke up and Tate stopped fighting and looked toward Micheal. Mike gestured for him to speak. Tate rolled his eyes. And slowly lifted his head.

That's when I first saw him. That's when I first saw Tate.

Picture above is picture of Zuri Tibby as Meloni