-Jayden-

I entered the computer room only seeing Zeke today, no Ashley or anything. "So where's Ash?" I questioned as I sat beside Zeke. "She had to do something else, like a winter festival event or something. You know yearly stuff" Zeke yawned. "Thought so; I mean although it's September, December could jump us at any moment," I said. "Remember when you returned on the day of the fall festival?" I froze after he said that. "I-I'm sorry!" Zeke kept apologizing. "Shut up, I know you didn't mean to sound rude. You were the one that came out of your shell that day turtle hair" I laughed. "Hey! I have green hair! That doesn't mean anything!" Zeke lashed back. "What's so bad about it?" He looked at me with fire in his eyes making me laugh. "Awe, are you going to turn into a snapping turtle." I teased him and he still had the fiery look of fire in his eyes. "You're asking for it." I can't take him seriously when he's angry.

It was the first day back after being in the hospital for a week. I walked into the school and a bunch of people surrounded me asking me questions:

"Are you ok?!"

"How did you survive the game?!"

"How long did you play?"

"Were you in a coma?!"

"What made you do that?!"

The school film and news club have always been insane in the head and mind. They've always been so desperate to get anything exciting on the school news, yes it's boring but it's meant to be that way and many of us prefer it to stay the way it is.

I kept being swamped with questions and it was terribly stressful. I just want some peace and quiet after what I went through in that game. I never want to play it again which is easier done than said, because my father took away my device and made me swore I would never play it again after yelling at me. "Can you just answer one question?" One of them asked and I ignored them. "Oh come on we want the school to be excited about something" another Said. Excited about a student risking his life and almost dying?! Give me a break you guys are sick. I've never wanted to make a group of people shut up more in my lifetime. I just want people to leave me alone...I almost have enough money to get out of here so once I do I'll escape and be free from the pain I've been through.

 "SHUT UP! Let him be! You see he wants to be alone and not bothered by you people" I heard someone yell. "Who cares!" One of them yelled back at him. 
"You'll care once I report this to the principal's office you hear me!" He yelled and they all walked away with there eyes rolled. If anything they were probably freaked out. The next thing I knew he was standing in front of me. "Personal space," I said. "A thank you would be nice, not to be rude..you seem bothered," he said. "It's because I am bothered, Thanks for standing up for me, but can you leave me alone" I walked away from him hoping not to see him again.

-Lunch-

I was sitting alone at the lunch table since I got in trouble for harassing the school news team. Gosh, schools are so sensitive nowadays there like baby dolls that won't shut up. "Can I sit across from you? I know you probably want to be alone, but you've been alone every day" he said. "I want to be alone. I always want to be alone. I don't want anyone in my life not even you so go away" I strictly said. "...what about your family you wou-" Before he finished I grabbed him by the shirt collar. "You talk about my family again the last thing you'll be seeing is hell you hear me," I stated in a frightening voice and let go of him sitting back down. "Jayden! Principal's office! Now!" The lunch monitor strictly said and I walked off pissed off hearing everyone in the lunchroom laughing behind me. I kept walking and opened the principal's door, then closed it pissed off at the world.

"What is it this time and don't say you didn't do anything, because if you didn't you wouldn't be here." the principal stated and I growled. "You know you have one more chance until you're expelled and this is the second school you've been sent to in this county. Is there anything going on that you're not telling us?"  Nosey people at this school. "I said I'm fine." I strictly said and he sighed. "You understand that harassing a student, which you did twice in one day mind you is unacceptable at this school," he said. "I understand geez," I said. "You got one more chance and if you ruin that last chance you have then I won't talk them out of sending you to Juvie you understand?" He stated. "Yeah, I do," I said. "Just go to class and straight to class." I got up and left the principal's office on my way to class until I heard someone crying in the bathroom.

 Ugh! Why! This is going to bug me in class so I'll just tell them to stop. I walked in until I heard voices. "Zeke it's okay, you tried to help and that's all that matters. He doesn't even deserve your help after what he did to you." Is a girl in the guy's bathroom?! "But all I wanted to do was be his friend.." Friends with me? That's some gibberish if I ever heard it. "He doesn't deserve you, Zeke, now if you excuse me I got to get to class, but when you calm down come too Okay?" One said. "Okay will do. Thanks for helping Ash" The girl waved, then walked out of the bathroom surprisingly not seeing me in the entrance and I walked in.

"Hey...um..Zeke is it?" I asked and he looked up. "I'm sorry for what I did..." I Said and he looked down again. I sat on the ground, I should be questioning and sat there quietly. "I know sorry isn't enough, but I don't know how to say anything else but that..." I said. "I accept it." What?! "Why?" I asked. "I can't be mad at a person forever that's stupid," Said Zeke. "Thanks for accepting my apology, I thought this was going to be a lot harder, to be honest," I Said. "Why are you always alone?" Why are you asking questions like a newscaster? "My Father isn't the nicest person in the world...I rather not talk about it.." I looked down at the ground. "My father left me when I was born so I know how you feel." He does? "My name is Zeke by the way, but you already know that since you eased dropped" Said Zeke. "I'm Jayden, but why be friends with me?" I questioned. "why not?" He's that forgiving? "I don't know much English or manners to be anyone's friend.." That was really embarrassing for me to say. "Well you said sorry to me so that's manners, but the English part you defiantly know enough curse words," Zeke replied. "That's because of my so-called father and I'm struggling in English class, even if I've lived here for eight years already," I said. "I can teach you! I get straight A's in English class" His eyes glowed up with excitement and joy. "Of course you do nerd, anyways I'll see you around or whatever." I got off the floor and helped him up, then walking out of the bathroom.

Although he didn't seem like it he was so shy back then, now we talk like shyness doesn't exist. "Should we get to class or should we ditch?" I asked. "I'm too tired for this" Zeke yawned and got up. "Of course you are" I got up and messed up his hair. "Let's go, I'll grab my stuff later," I said. "When will you stop messing up my hair?" Questioned Zeke. "Never! Now come on, let's get to breakfast. I heard there are pancakes and I know who likes them" I saw his eyes glow up with excitement, even if he didn't realize it. "I love pancakes!" His eyes glowed up making me chuckle. He's so adorable. I was about to kiss him on the forehead until I heard footsteps near the club door. "Goodness, can you two just kiss under a rainbow already so I can eat breakfast," said Ashley. "GAH!" Zeke jumped in fright and hid behind me. "How long have you been there?!" I shockingly said and she laughed. "I've been here ever since you talked about ditching class." She kept laughing and I wasn't amused. "I hate you." I death stared and walked out to go to the cafeteria, then Ashley and Zeke went ahead of me. "Wait up!" I yelled trying to catch up.

{Funfact: Zeke’s nickname came from the author joking around while writing. The joke probably got to her head as she bought a turtle plush on her vacation the same year}