***Skyler's POV***

People have been giving me snide comments all day, whether that be to my face or behind my back...

Maybe I underestimated this school. It hasn't been too fun so far and people are a lot more critical than I originally thought. I mean, a cheerleader spilled some sparkling water on my sweatshirt earlier during lunch period and I've been sticky ever since. She said it was an accident, but I was literally sitting in the corner of the cafeteria alone reading. She had to try to spill it on me.

But whatever... I can change at home. It's not that big of a deal; I'd just like them to not pour their beverages on me.

Once I finish getting my stuff from my locker, I shut it softly and start walking down the hallway to the entrance/exit of the school. Most people are still here because it looks like there are a lot of clubs, but like hell I'm joining any of those. By the way people were looking at me today, I'll be an outsider for a while. For such a big, popular city, people can be really judgemental.

I've looked up the Pride parades here, these people shouldn't be like this...

It'll be okay, though. People can't hate me forever and I'm bound to make a friend soon.

Right?

Let's hope so...

The hallways start to empty as people walk into classrooms and rec rooms, probably for those clubs I mentioned. Soon, there's no one in the halls except for me.

Or so I thought.

As soon as I turn the corner, I feel myself slam into somebody, who must've been running because I was walking slowly.

"WOAH SHIT-" Well someone was clearly as surprised as me.

We both fall to the ground, with the other person on top of me.

"Ow..." I groan.

"I am so sorr- Hey! I was looking for you!" When I open my eyes, I see the hot blonde guy from each of my classes lying on top of me. You know, the really attractive one I was telling you about earlier. Yeah. Him. He's on top of me, who is on the floor. His hands are on either side of my head and his body is almost touching mine as he hovers above me, almost in a plank position with his knees on the floor between my legs.

"H-huh?" My face is bright red and I'm so flustered that I can barely speak.

"I was looking for you! I actually have to ask you something..." His sentence fades off as he digs in his jacket pocket for something. It takes him a minute before he pulls out a small, colorful, folded piece of paper. "My band and I are playing at the tavern on Fifth tonight. I was wondering, since you're new here and all, if you wanted to come and we could chat afterward?"

"W-wait, what?"

"Just come. Everything you need is right here." The boy takes my hand and puts the piece of paper in it, then closes my hand into a fist. "And just to make sure you come..." He looks at me for a moment before grabbing my beanie right off of my head and standing up. "I'll give this back to you when I see you there." Before I can even utter a word, he pulls me to my feet by my arm as if I weigh less than a feather and starts running down the hallway.

"H-hey, I don't even know you!" I yell down the hallway at him.

"The name's Ryan Romano!" He waves at me before running around the corner, just leaving me there stunned.

What...the hell...just happened...?

I'm confused.

Ryan Romano, the hot high school boy, just fell on top of me, acted casual as hell, gave me paper, stole my beanie, and bolted.

Is this normal here...!?

My head spins in confusion as I stare down the hallway for a few more seconds. At least thirty seconds goes by before I snap out of it and glance down at my hand, which has the paper in it. I slowly unfold the paper to see what it is that he gave me.

Oh. It's a flyer.

The flyer is one of those smooth papers, like the shiny ones. The base color is a dark lime green, with blue, orange, purple, and white stripes. In big, white letters, it says:

"RIVER MILL TAVERN

Live Music Wednesday!

All your favorite local bands!

~Nomad~ 4 PM

~Hustle~ 5 PM

~Robin, Lead~ 6 PM

~Black Rose Paradox~ 7 PM

~Folklore~ 8 PM

~Apollo Sky~ 9 PM

Come listen to some live tunes!"

On the flyer, 'Black Rose Paradox' is circled in Sharpie and the time is underlined.

So...I'm guessing this is his band.

And he wants me there...why?

How come a tall, handsome boy wants me to go to this?

Maybe I'm just overthinking this. Yeah, I probably am.

I guess I'll be there...?