“You’re staring.”

Tide jumped as Ryan nudged his shoulder.

“This apple pie is fucking terrible,” Hunter swore, spitting out a clump of mashed yellow pastry and grimacing.

Tide glanced around the table at his friends. They were being noisy as usual and Connor’s girlfriend, Ashley was draped across his lap, her already perilously short cheerleader skirt hiking up.

“Wasn’t,” Tide muttered, looking back down to prod at his mostly untouched tray with his fork.

“He’s new, he’s a junior. His name is Forest Zhao and he’s in my sister’s chemistry set.”

“I didn’t ask,” Tide lowered his voice, flicking his eyes up to make sure the others weren’t eavesdropping.

“That’s the beauty of us being best friends,” Ryan grinned, clapping Tide on the back, “you don’t even need to.”

“I hit him pretty hard with the ball,” Tide frowned over at where the small boy with a mop of black hair and thick rimmed glasses was sat on his own at one of the corner tables in the cafeteria. “Do you think he’s okay?”

“You could go and ask?” Ryan snorted.

“He doesn’t look like he wants to talk to anyone,” Tide chewed on his lip. The younger boy seemed to shrink in on himself every time someone walked past him.

“First day at a new school,” Ryan shrugged, “it’s gotta be daunting. Plus he doesn’t exactly look that hardy.”

“I wonder where he transferred from?” Tide murmured, ignoring his friend. Forest had started eating his banana, causing Tide to blush and look away as Ryan giggled at him.

“By the way, Kristina’s asked us to all meet up at the diner tonight, you game for it?” Ryan asked.

Tide grimaced. Kristina was one of Ashley’s friends and also part of the cheer squad. She had been coming on to Tide for months now.

“Nah,” Tide shook his head, “got an English assignment due Wednesday I want to get started on.”

“Right,” Ryan rolled his eyes, “can’t let that near perfect GPA drop even a fraction.”

“How about a party at my house, Friday night?” Tide sighed before his friend could start his usual pouting act. “My dad’s away on business and Annie’s on some spa retreat with her friends.”

“Shame the hot stepmom won’t be there, but yeah, sounds good,” Ryan grinned before turning to announce the plans to the rest of the table.

Tide glanced back over to where Forest had been, but the younger boy had already left.