Chapter Eight: Time Skipped

(TIME SKIPPED) 

Stray Kids 2000line socialized faster than I had expected. Hyunjin joined the art club. I expected him to join dance class with Felix. 

 Han had joined a library reading committee.

I guess it was the amount of pressure the committee girls had put on him or he really loved reading.

 Nikki, of course, had joined the group.

 As for Seungnim, a baseball captain. Basically that sport was almost dying in the school according to the sports teacher. 

 I had forgotten Jeongin came to this school as well till Lizzie had come to return my hoodie, she rattled a bit about a cute boy in her class. 

 Our baby bread would surely make all his classmates Stays before school end. Still I wasn't hearing much of Stray Kids at school. 

 It seems the boys focused more on education than promotions. Which was good, I believe. 

 Nikki was totally a different girl around the members. I told her being more real would be better in making friendships. 

 Since the incident where my dad picked his girlfriend over his family, I and my mom I guess, haven't really been having the best kind of lives. 

 I was a total mood and spaced out a lot. But would you blame me, that's like my first heartbreak. 

(P.E) 

It was P.E class and I was feeling really tired after chasing Nikki round the school trying to get my phone pack. 

 She had discovered Chan's pictures underneath it and was so determined to show Han. And yes, she was now friends with him. But he didn't know she was a Stay. 

 Them becoming friends with her was epic. And with my help of course! How it happened:

 (Start of flashback) 

 Hyunjin and Jeongin were having Americano when Han had accidentally thrown Seungnim's baseball at them. 

 The drink has spilled on Hyunjin's hoodie and Hyunjin wasn't smiling. Han just froze. 

 "This is my favorite hoodie" Hyunjin said with a glare. I was watching with Nikki from a window. Creepy much. The boys were at the empty basketball court. 

 "S-Sorry. Jeez, I didn't want to, I wanted to play" he ran behind Felix that was shocked as well. 

 Hyunjin took the ball and began walking menacingly towards Han. And soon, a chase began. 

 Jeongin seemed entertained, Seungnim unbothered but Felix worried. Han would get caught and beaten. 

 "I don't know if this is a good timing but can I go lock the basket ball court" Nikki smiled at me. 

 She was now the assistant of the P.E teacher so she was assigned to lock the basketball and Gym hall. 

 I gave her a nod and she hurriedly bounced into the court. She had memorized how not to stutter or act stupid around them so she was good. 

 "Hello, boys. P.E assistant here" she hopped to where they were. 

 Hyunjin stopped chasing and ran his hand through his hair in frustration. Han ended his run besides Nikki, making her flutter a bit. 

 "Oh, you wanna lock up?" Seungnim began packing his bags. 

 "Should I?" Nikki tilted her head. 

They looked at her confused. 

 "Didn't you want to? Then why did you come here?" Felix was stern. 

 Nikki had talked about she had been paired up with Felix for a jog by the P.E teacher. But he had exchanged her for another girl. 

 Nikki assumed it was because of him hearing her call my mother "a jerk". 

 Felix, our sunshine, didn't like insults but he had met Nikki out of context. 

 "Oh, not really. Do you guys wanna stay here?" she forced her sadness downs and answered cheerfully. 

 "Let us stay senior. We'd leave when our driver comes. We'd lock up for you" Jeongin stood up. He was friendly with Nikki and I as we usually come to their class to hang around Lizzie. 

 "Don't worry, we are leaving" Felix said before Nikki could say anything. 

 Seungnim had already packed his bag. 

Jeongin pouted and helped Hyunjin pack his bags. 

 I jumped into the setting to save Nikki. 

 "Hey, P.E assistant. The P.E teacher accepted your plea to let them stay here. Let's go check the surrounding". I clapped my hands and moved out. 

 The boys looked at her. 

 She played along immediately, "Yeah, I realized you guys might need somewhere to stay so I asked. Enjoy here. I'd lock it when you leave" she gave her brightest smile and began walking away. 

 "Thanks, keep this" Hyunjin bounced the baseball to her. Han sighed in relief. 

 "Well, thank you, miss?" Han sighed. 

 "Nikki, thanks" Seungnim said as I dropped his bags. 

 "Thank you, senior, you're the best" Jeongin poked his cheeks cutely. 

 "No worries" Nikki waved and glanced towards Felix. He seemed moved by Jeongin's cuteness so didn't pay attention to her. 

 She zoomed off from the court but then heard a deep voice saying, "Thanks Nikki". 

 She had gushed about it all day that I was almost regretting helping her out. 

 (End of flashback) 

 Now we were having a P.E class, she hopped over to them leaving me alone. I shrugged and slumped down at a spot. 

 She was so alive when it came to the boys. I always felt I could relate more to Chan that the rest as I'm a withdrawn person. 

 He's not here so I better just sit at a place, before I make a bad impression. 

 Someone sat besides me. It was the pretty new girl. I heard her name was Zara. It was the second week and I haven't seen her associate with anyone. 

 My eyes widened when I saw Hyunjin pointing at me with a shocked expression. Felix was clapping his hands laughing. 

 I didn't know what it was about but I felt uncomfortable. Nikki better not be gossiping about me. 

 "Those boys is it true that they're Kpop singers?" Zara leaned in and asked. 

 I nodded, this was our first conversation, "Stray Kids. Fourth generation. Eight member boys". I gave the first intro of them, proudly. 

 "You're a fan?" she smiled. She was pretty. And I'm not gushing. 

 "Yeah" my face flushed. Cos of her or the thought of being their fan? I don't know. 

 "Do they know? Did you tell them?" she was sounding excited. 

 "No, I want them to feel comfortable and not think I'm some creep" I laughed nervously. 

 "Also, I'm not anyone important. They're lots of awesome fans out there" I frowned at my own words. My low self esteem was speaking again. 

 "Hmm" she tapped something on her phone that I wasn't sure what it was. She looked up to me and smile. 

 "Wanna know more?". She shook her head in the negative. It's cool. Her loss. 

 The P.E teacher came and everywhere fell silent. Grade eleven students started marching in earning groans from students from our class. 

 They hated practicing with juniors. It was some ego issue. 

 Well, Lizzie waved as she came closer to me. She was with Jeongin. (I didn't them set them up for those asking). 

 Jeongin turned to his team and saw them laughing and talking about something, with Nikki. 

 He turned back to me, sitting gloomily at some abandoned spot, joined only with Lizzie. His face wrinkled into frown.