The bell rang at eleven thirty-five, signaling that it was finally the time for lunch break.

      Liam yawned, silently watching the middle aged U. S. History teacher called Mr. Murphy hurriedly walking out from the class with an expression he could only call relief, just like the face of the students in the class have.

      The teacher wasn’t bad at teaching or have a bad temper, but he seemed to be as disinterested with his own lessons just like his students, and with his monotone voice and slow way of speaking giving out the feeling that the class seemed to last forever and made the clock above the whiteboard to move in slow motion.

      He even sees some kids fallen asleep openly and one even snoring loudly before Mr. Murphy called his name to wake him up just to keep his dignity as a teacher.

      Liam standing up and wear his backpack on his back. Several kids tried to made friends with him earlier, but they’re giving up quite quickly because he simply doesn’t put them in his line of sight.

      He stared at his map to figured out the way to the cafeteria since he didn’t remember passing it when he’s waking back and fro to his class around the buildings.

      Before he manage to find the word ‘cafeteria’ on the map, a soft voice called him form his right side.

      He looked up from the map and greeted with a smiling girl with a long, wavy brown hair.

      “Hi there. My name is Angelina, nice to meet you.” She offered him her hand for Liam to shake.

      Liam take a glance at her hand and ignored it. She slowly put her hand down to her side after a few awkward seconds, understanding that he rejected her greeting.

      “Are you going to go to the cafeteria right now?” Liam still studying her face that still maintaining a graceful smile, thought there’s a twitch on her lips when she asked him that question, although it’s very subtle. He simply nodded at her and she unhurriedly continued after seeing his nod, “Me and my friends are going there too. Do you want to go there together? We can also tell you which food is good or should be avoided over there. Some were very yucky, but there’s a few that have a decent taste too.”

      When he heard the word ‘friends’, he noticed that there’s a group of five to six boys and girls at the doorway. They’re glancing at their direction periodically and appear to be waiting for then to finishing their little talk.

      While she’s still talking about the food in the cafeteria that doesn’t up to the standard for eating, he cut her speech with his still expressionless face, “Sorry, I need to go somewhere else before going there, and I still have my map, so there’s no need for that.”

      He saw the corner of her lips twitched once again and with a smile he’s sure were forced, she said, “Oh, right. New student problem, huh? It’s fine, we’ll preserve a seat for you on our table. The cafeteria usually packed after ten minutes and there are more peoples than the chairs, so just go find me if you don’t have a seat to sit on, and I can also became your guide around the school after we finished our lunch, what do you think?”

      The two of them stood in front of each other, secretly measuring the other person standing before them.

      “Too bad that someone already volunteered to became my guide after lunch, so there's no need for you to do it.”

      He visibly saw her brow twitched and her corner of her mouth faltered for a second before she’s all smile again. “Well, it’s good that you found someone to accompany you so early, but don’t hesitant to come to me—us, if there’s something on your mind or if your guide is unreliable. Since you’re a new students, it must be hard for you to find friends and understanding the lessons when you’re changing the school so suddenly, but we’re here to help you, so don’t be shy to talk to us later, okay?”

      Her smile never go off this time around and Liam only nodded and with a word or two later, the girl walking back to her group of friends. He watched her saying something to them before leaving their spot at the doorway in an orderly manner.

      Liam scorned at them inwardly after they’re out of his sight.

      He’s wondering if the information about the problem form his previous school has reached those peoples ears. He’s pretty sure that it’s too fast for the information about him to spread over his new school, but even if it’s not because of that, those who were on the high place actually taking the time to go looking for him personally.

      So the scouting has officially begun, huh?

      He sneered and looking at the map on his hand once again and deciding to find his locker first before going to the cafeteria. After he found the way to building two, he was about to take a step from his standing position when he heard another voice calling out at him from the door direction.

      “Hey, Liam! Sorry I’m late, you’re ready to go?”

      Garret wave his hand at him from the doorway, urging Liam to come at him. He’s already flushed red skins turning more red and his breath seems a little haggard. Liam studying Garret from his spot for a second before fold the map and place it on his bag and walking toward him.

      “You done? Let’s go to the cafeteria and eat. I’m so hungry right now. Oh, by the way, I get my friends to hold a table for us beforehand since it’s usually packed in the beginning. They’re pretty good peoples, I’ll introduce you guys later,” said Garret excitedly. Liam answered him with a sound of acknowledgment and told Garret that he need to go to building two to organize his books a little.

      Garret immediately agreed to take him there, completely missing the hint for him to go away first.

      As they walk, Garret will point a at doors, teachers or students and tell him some informations that he deemed important. As annoyed Liam with his barrage of words, he’s too tired to care and to tell him to shut up. Liam could only sigh and listening to his non-stop talk all the way to building two.

      They quickly found the locker that’s secured with a padlock that’s located on the very end of a corridor. He throw his unused books and things for the next course until they’re released from the school ground while Garret waiting patiently beside him.

      After he locked up his locker again, his noticed that there’s a banner on the wall above the plastic bench beside his locker. It catches his eyes because of the rainbow colored words and sparky glitter that filling the white cloths surface, as if an unicorn decide to puking colors and glitter there.

      Liam stared at the banner long enough for Garret to ask him if there’s something interesting with that banner. He didn’t answer and started walking forward, leaving the momentary confused Garret to look at the banner again before hurriedly following him afterward.

      Liam reciting the words in his head, and couldn’t help but ridiculing the banner maker.

      Everyone in the school is equal! Treat them nicely and they’ll treat you nicely in return!

      A small smile creeped on his face.

      Everyone in the school is equal?

      He chucked.

      What a complete bullshit.