The bell to end first hour rang and it snapped Erin out of his thoughts. Erin looked around as his peers gathered their things and left for their next class. He started putting his binder into his bag when papers were dropped onto his desk.

"I figured you could copy these during some free time today." Kye said as he slung his bag over his shoulder.

"Thanks, you didn't have to do that though."

"Yeah, but you zoned out and I know how important these stupid notes can be for tests. This is only your second day here and we're already three weeks in. I don't want you falling behind because you can't keep up." Kye teased.

Erin walked with him out into the hall and shoved him lightly.

"I'm not gonna fall behind jerk. I just zoned out a little, I do that sometimes."

"We all do, it's normal. Still, Mr. Grant is super strict about notes. I've heard of him from the upperclassman."

"Well, I'll be sure to not zone out again then."

Kye smiles as the two take their seats in their History class. Mrs. Jaspil stood at the front and smiled at her students as they filed in.

"I love Mrs. Jaspil, she is one of the nicest teachers here." Kye commented leaning towards Erin.

"She seems nice, she pulled me aside yesterday to talk about the different clubs and stuff here at the school."

"Yeah us Blue Jays really enjoy our clubs. and activities."

"Blue Jays?" Erin questioned as everyone got out their textbooks

"Yeah, New Rye Blue Jays. That's our mascot."

"Ok then. Why though?"

"I don't know," Kye admitted, "What was your last school's mascot?"

"We were the Huntsman, the Jaycen Huntsmen."

"That is kinda cool. So your mascot was just a guy in hunting camo?"

"No, he was dressed like a huntsmen from the 1700's. Stupid raccoon hat and everything."

"OK that is pretty cool. Did he carry a gun?" Kye pressed as Erin rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, it was fake though." Erin answered as he started filling out the assignment.

Kye didn't press for more information as the two started doing their work. The assignment wasn't very difficult, just dates and names. Erin found the methodical work therapeutic, book, paper, repeat. Finally the work was done and Erin pulled out his book, hoping to get some reading done. Normally he would be done with the book already but everyone keeps interrupting his reading. Erin found himself lost within the pages of the books in a matter of minutes. The immersive world of orcs and goblins washing over him as he read the pages.

Kye found himself watching Erin again. The way his eyes flicked over the pages as he read. Those Russet brown eyes were beautiful when glazed over in a daydream. Kye shook his head to clear those thoughts, He couldn't think those things, Erin is a guy, guy's don't call other guys beautiful. Kye moved his eyes back to his own paper and continued his work until he was finally done. Kye stretched and then slumped in his seat, taking his hearing aids out. As soon as they were out everything fell silent. The sounds of classmates talking suddenly stopped and soon the ringing picked up. The dull high pitched ringing filled his ears and Kye shook his head.

Third and fourth hour came and went for the two teens, Erin sat through his business and college prep classes and Kye slept through physics and tried to stay awake for English. He didn't mind English but physics was so boring and he couldn't help falling asleep, despite having gotten a fool nights sleep. The nap caused him to be tired throughout his English class, but by the time the bell rang for lunch he was more awake and ready for the lunch his mother packed him. Kye raced out of Mr. Keliar's English class and to his locker. The young deaf boy grabbed the lunch and replaced it's place in the locker with his backpack. He started the walk towards cafeteria, running into Finely on his way there.

"Hey dude, what's on the menu today?" Finley investigated as the two walked.

"We'll find out, she used the larger box today so it's probably something big."

"Maybe you can share then," Finley attempted.

"Maybe I will."

The two teens made it to their usual table, only to find an odd case sitting on the table. Kye and Finley sat down slowly and stared at the case as if it was going to explode any second.

"It's not a bomb you dimwits." a voice says from the left of the two teen boys.

"Oh, Mae is this yours?" Finley questions as the girl sits down.

"Yea, It's my lyre." She opens the case and pulls out a small string instrument. She plucks a couple strings and plays a small tune.

"Isn't that a harp?" Kye challenged as Erin sat down.

"No it's a lyre. On a harp the strings enter directly into the hollow body of the instrument, whereas with my lyre they pass over a bridge here," She gestures "My family has played the lyre for generations on my father's side. This is a more modern one because my grandma's broke."

"I didn't know people still played that. I thought it was replaced by the harp in the mainstream media."

" It has been, but some people still play it. I play it for family gatherings and things." Mae puts the lyre away. "Anyways It's lunch time and I'm hungry."

The other teens agree and turn to their own lunches. Kye opened his lunchbox and gawked at the amount of food in the container. His mom never packed him this much. He noticed a large sticky note on the inside of the lid.

I made some extra food for Finley and those two new friends you were telling me about yesterday. I made enough for three burritos each, I know it's not as nice as what I usually make you but they are easily mass produced. Don't worry they're still my usual traditional cuisine just like grandma made. I'll see you at the restaurant today after school I need you on dishes.

Love mama

Kye smiled and turned to his friends as they looked at the food.

"Wow, that's enough for all of us." Finley remarked.

"Yeah, mama made enough for three each, so everyone grab three before I eat them all."

The other three immediately reached for the container to grab their portion. In a matter of seconds there were only three left in the container, Kye's share of the food.

"Tell your mama thank you for me Kye," Mae said as she took a bite into the food.

"Yeah, it's really good," Erin added and Kye just smiled in response.

The four teens continued to eat with small chatter in between bites.

"So, Mae, I feel like this might be rude to ask, but your hair...."Kye trails off as he looks to the girl.

"Yes Kye it's fake, It's weave. Yes you can touch it, and no it's not made with human hair,"Mae spoke in rapid succession, as if she had been asked before.

"I wasn't gonna ask if I could touch your hair. I mainly just wanted to know how much it costed." Kye clarified.

"Oh, I can't remember my mom paid for it when she got hers done a couple weeks ago. I'm having it taken out in about a month and then I have to wait a few weeks before getting it done again." Mae explained as she fiddled with the handle on the lyre case. The conversation was quickly dropped and the four sat in awkward silence, before Mae spoke up.

"So, what clubs are you guys joining?

"I'm pretty busy with band," Finley answered.

"I work at the restaurant pretty often so I don't know if I can join a club," Kye explains as the other boy continues eating.

"I'm thinking of joining the creative writing club," Erin comments.

"That's pretty cool."

"What about you Mae?"

Before she could answer the bell rang and the conversation was cut short as she waved goodbye to the other three. Kye waved to the other two and walked off towards his next class. Erin watched as the other teen left, he didn't realize he was staring until someone shook his shoulder.

"Dude, you're gonna be late for 5th hour." Finley said and Erin shook his head to clear it.

"Yeah, Yeah I'm good."

The two left the cafeteria in the opposite direction that Kye went.

Erin sat in his fifth hour physics class staring at the clock. The teacher was droning on and on and almost the entire class had zoned out. There were very few people who were actually interested in this class and they were all willing to share their notes with their peers. Erin stared at the wall as time ticked on.

"This stupid class drags on for so long", Erin thought to himself.

"I really don't know why I have to take physics.

I don't need it for my future, not like Jessibel and Marckus.

Those two are going to be great physicists one day.

I should probably work on my book, If I want it to be done by the time I'm twenty five I need to work on it more and read some more LGBT books. " Erin's thoughts were interrupted.

"Mr. Laemar, can you please answer question fifteen for me?" Mrs. Perry quizzed.

"Uh," Erin looked down at the paper. "C?" He offered.

"Incorrect. Anyone else?"

Erin sighed and laid his head down on his desk for the last ten minutes of class. Once the bell rang he slipped out of the class amongst the small crowd.