Chapter 2

Walking around this place drains my social battery. Considering the fact that I didn't even talk to anyone just makes me all the more sure that my social battery maxes out at half full. The library's in a different building so I had to find my way back to where... I don't think I found out his name. The headmaster guy showed me where the building was. Low and behold, the library is next to that hell-labyrinth of a garden. As I walk into the library I'm in awe of the endless rows of bookshelves. There's even a second floor with more shelves, tables are scattered throughout the large room. This place is a bookworm's dream. I walk towards a secluded looking corner and head there first, instantly finding something to read. I quickly turn around to walk back to a table, but something large hitting me full force surprised me. I feel my balance go as I start to fly backward, dropping the book. Did I just get hit by a truck? How is there a truck inside? But before I hit the ground, an arm encircles my waist, a hand grabs my wrist, steadying me. They let go once I'm back on my feet, and I look up to see what hit me. It was not a truck, worse, a person. He looks down at me with concern.

"Are you alright?" his brows are furrowed apologetically. The top of his fluffy jet-black hair accentuated by an undercut. He's cute- no he's hot. Whether you're into guys or girls, you can still tell if there's an Adonis in front of you. Since I'm panicking, I fail to answer, making him tilt his head to the side curiously. He looks like a puppy.

"I-I'm f-fine." I squeak out. I think I've yet to successfully speak to someone here without short-circuiting first. He beams a smile at me.

"That's good. For a second there, I thought I gave you a concussion or something. I'm really sorry about that. I should have been looking where I was going." His lips twisted in an apologetic smile.

"Um. It's my fault too, I turned around super quick." I bend down to grab the book off the floor.

"Well, I'm glad you're alright. I'm Ezra. You new?" I look down, feeling the anxiety press down on me. People like him intimidate me.

"I'm Re-en." I hiccup nervously. This can't end soon enough. "But yeah, I just got here today. Is it that easy to tell?" I chuckle self consciously. He beams at me with a smile that reaches his chocolate eyes.

"Nah, it's just that I totally would have noticed you before." I feel the heat rising in my cheeks. What does he mean by that? "So, since you're new, I'm guessing you don't know anyone yet." And I wouldn't mind keeping it that way for just a little bit longer.

"I guess. But I doubt I'll be making friends anytime soon." Why did I have to say that? Like he couldn't already tell?

"Well, in that case, how about I be the first one?" I look at him wide-eyed. Why? Does he really want to see me again? "I like you, so let's be friends." Okay, I'm starting to shift from short-circuiting to cardiac arrest.

"Okay, t-thanks." Thanks? He offers to be my friend, and I thank him? I don't think this could get more awkward for me. Now I just want to go back to the dorms, crawl into bed, and never get out.

"See you tomorrow then." Flashing me a grin as he walks away. I saunter over to the table. After reading for a while, I sigh and close the book. I can't stop thinking about everything. So much happened today. Not to mention the two guys I made a fool of myself in front of. I want to eat so I can go to bed, but they don't start serving dinner until five. It's almost four, but I'm hungry. I think someone said they have a store here. After shelving the book, I go outside for another walk to find the store. The sun's so bright. I follow the paved path's to a building close to the dorms. It's pretty big for a school store. I go over to the food, and it's not until I pick up a sandwich that I realize I don't have any money. On instinct, I glance around to look for cameras. There aren't any. Why would there be? It's not like any of the kids here have ever had to take anything. The woman at the counter is out of view because of a shelf blocking me. It's a little nerve-wracking since I just got here today, but it's not like they'll go bankrupt from a little bit of food. I slip it into the inside pocket of my jacket and make sure that you can't see it. Living where I did, a coat with lots of little pockets was worth saving up for. I walk nonchalantly to the exit, smiling at the woman behind the counter as I go through the door. I exhale, breathing out the anxiety. I don't want to do this here, but if I do, I'll definitely make sure not to get caught. If I get kicked out of this place, I'm for sure going to a center. Of course, that's if I don't go to jail for stealing from some wealthy boarding school. I take it back out of my pocket once I'm a small distance away. I unwrap it and take a bite. It's the best sandwich I've ever taken a bite of in my life. I expected the food here to be good, but this is just ridiculous. After eating, I get back to my room. I glance at the door across from mine and pause. I can feel myself flush when I remember his smile. I shake those thoughts from my head and close the door. I chuckle when I remember how Sebastian talked about enforcing the rules. Just another reason for me to stay away from him as much as possible. I lay down on the bed and immediately feel myself relax. I sigh comfortably and nuzzle into the pillow. Feeling myself start to fall asleep, I wonder about tomorrow. Overall, I hope it isn't like today, because I don't think my heart can take that. I wake up to the alarm on my phone, 7:00 AM. Has anyone ever willingly woken up that early? I really just want to go back to bed, and if I was home, I'd probably skip school. But seeing as I now physically live at school, that would be significantly more difficult. I roll myself out of bed and groggily stand up, and head towards the closet. Taking out the uniform, I groan and start putting it on. The pants and shirt are simple enough, but how the hell do you tie a tie? It takes me two video tutorials and three tries, but it looks less horrible than it did at first. It's going to suck to do this every morning. I slip on the blazer and button it. I look at the small mirror on the outside of the closet door. Is there a certain way I'm supposed to do my hair? I brush it until my bed hair's tamed, but other than that, I choose to leave it the same. I stop at the door. I don't have books or anything yet, but I guess I'll find out about that stuff today. But first, I thank whatever soul out there that decided to serve breakfast before school. I close the door and step into the hallway, he sight that beholds me hits me like a freight train. You have to be kidding, there's no way. I have to still be asleep. Because, if you're telling me the two guys I was dreading to see are both looking at me together, you're lying. I must have died in my sleep last night and gone to hell. This is probably my punishment for taking that damn sandwich. Ezra grins at me.

"Well, isn't this a surprise?" Sebastian looks over at him.

"You know him already?" Ezra nods.

"Met him in the library yesterday after I quite literally ran into him." He chuckles, looking back at me. "I also decided that I would be his first friend." He puts an arm over Sebastian's shoulders. "Ren, this is my best friend Seb." Sebastian jokingly shakes off his arm.

"We've met already too." He turns to me. "Good morning." Sadly, I think it's too late to go back to bed and never wake up.

"Morning." I mumble, looking down. Best friends. The two people that I met and embarrassed myself in front of are best friends. And I already told Ezra that I would be his friend so now I have to see both of them. It feels like the universe is laughing at me right now. I was shy in front of just one of them. Standing in front of the two of them makes my social anxiety shift into overdrive. They're both looking at me, but I just hope they can't see me squirming uncomfortably. Sebastian steps closer to me.

"What's your first class?" My eyes widen as he walks up to me.

"Uh. AP English."

"Perfect, the three of us all have the same class first. You don't know your way around the school building, right?" I silently shake my head no. Ezra steps up.

"Alright then, let's go."