A reader let me know they wished a trigger warning was here and I want to make sure no one feels uncomfortable as that's not my intention. This chapter and the following two elude to rape and sexual abuse. Should these topics be triggering to you please continue with caution or find a lighter story as these topics will be visited in future chapters. Each chapter is marked "m" as these topics and themes will be brought up in random parts of future chapters. I don't go into detail regarding the actions taking place as I have no desire to read it or write it but it is talked about and explained in a way where you know what happened. Each chapter is marked "m" for mature content so this will be my only warning as the topics do pop up again in future chapters. Please find a new story if you're easily triggered. I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable or triggered in any way. (1/31/21)

By the time Eric made it downstairs for breakfast, he had about forty-five minutes left before he had to be at school. He honestly didn’t know why his alarm went off so early. He could have sworn he set it to seven and not six-thirty. 

Shaking his head to clear it, Eric set his very empty book bag in the hallway next to the front door before going to the dining room for breakfast. He was surprised to see Roth wearing an apron and setting down what looked like the last plate of food. 

“Morning, Eric,” Roth greeted with a warm smile.

“Morning.” Eric mumbled, breaking eye contact the moment he felt it wasn’t too rude. 

Despite living under the same roof as Roth for most of the summer, he still felt a little bitter about the start of their relationship. He knew it was mostly Susan’s doing that his adoption was half-assed but Roth could have said something in the beginning before getting his hopes up. 

Letting out a sigh, Eric sat down in one of the chairs, ignoring the feeling of bitterness forming in the pit of his stomach. He couldn’t help it. He still felt unwanted in a house that preached inclusivity.

Roth cleared his throat as he sat down at the table. “I know I said yesterday that I could drive you to school but some things have come up in the office unexpectedly so you’ll have to ride the bus today.”

Disappointment flared inside Eric but he forced that feeling away. “It’s fine.” 

Roth raised an eyebrow but otherwise ignored Eric’s tone. “The bus leaves at seven fifty.”

Eric nodded as he quickly filled a plate with eggs and bacon. “Where’s Kayden?”

“He had to leave on urgent business. He won’t be back until next week.” Roth replied steadily as he flipped open the newspaper. 

“Oh,” Eric simply replied back as he started to eat.

He shouldn’t feel disappointed. It was stupid to feel that way. He’d gone waaaay longer than that over the summer without seeing Kayden. Why should this time be any different?

* * * 

Roth had left ten minutes before Eric and let him know he’d be riding bus seven to and from school. 

Heaving a tired sigh, Eric picked up his suddenly heavy backpack with slight alarm. His eyes opened wide like saucers as he unzipped it and found it full of school supplies. 

There wasn’t a note but it didn’t matter who put the supplies in the bag. It touched his heart nonetheless.

It was easy for him to find the bus stop even though there weren’t other students waiting to be picked up. 

It wasn’t long before a generic yellow bus with the number seven on the side pulled to a stop in front of him. The doors whooshed open and Eric found his eyes meeting the gaze on an older woman with bright pink hair and chocolate brown eyes. 

She had to be in her forties or somewhere near it. 

“A new kid!” The woman gushed in excitement. “Pleasure to meet you! I’m Kathy.” Her voice was high-pitched and relaxing. 

“Eric,” Eric replied back, his eyes wider than normal. “Nice to meet you, too.”

“No need to be shy! Come on aboard! You’re the first stop out of five. Not many students out this way but that’s what I’m here for.”

Slightly bemused, Eric made his way onto the bus. He debated about sitting at the front but thought better of it. He valued quiet time too much to speak nonstop to a stranger. 

As Kathy promised, they stopped four more times before making the short, fifteen minute drive to the high school.

None of the other students paid him much attention as they sat down and stared moodily out the windows. All of them were girls and Eric didn’t fancy making more small talk so he kept to himself. 

When they arrived at school, Eric’s mouth almost fell open in shock. The high school was only two stories tall but it was huge. It felt like a college campus rather than a high school. 

The name Mountain High was magnificently painted right in the center of the building in a rich, forest green with a gorgeous mural of mountains in the back. 

Eric had to force his eyes away to focus on everything else which, compared to the school, wasn’t much. The parking lot was also ginormous and looked like it could hold over three hundred cars without issue and then some. 

Kathy stopped him right before he got off the bus. “I don’t know your story, new kid, but welcome to Mountain High! Good luck!” She gave him an exaggerated wink before waving goodbye.

Eric quickly got off the bus and made his way inside the main doors of the building. He paused momentarily as he took in the two large staircases on opposite sides of the entrance. In front of him was the main office.

He forced himself to walk forward since there was already a string of students rushing about to get to class or greet their fellow peers. 

Feeling more anxious than normal, Eric was happy to reach the safety of the quiet office. 

“Uh, hello?” Eric spoke as he looked around the seemingly empty office. 

There was a shuffling sound to the left of the desk before a man dressed in business casual rounded the corner. He had brown hair and stunning blue eyes. “Good morning, young sir, how may I help you?”

His voice was rich and smooth and Eric silently berated himself on getting a crush on the first person he saw. 

“Good morning. I’m new here and I was wondering if you had my school schedule and information.” Eric shuffled nervously, hoping Roth wasn’t lying about the front office taking care of everything.

“What’s your name?” The man asked as he sat down in an office chair.

“Eric Sanders,” Eric spoke a little too fast but the man had no problem hearing him.

After typing a few things in the system, he told Eric to wait a moment as he printed off his school schedule and some forms Roth needed to sign for things like future school trips and school festivals. 

Once Eric took the papers, the man asked, “Do you need help finding your classes?” His gaze was sharp and a sudden warning flashed down Eric’s spine.

“Uh, I’ll be okay.” Eric didn’t wait for a reply as he turned and quickly left the office. Upon doing so, he accidentally ran into a kid that was twice his size with intimidating gray eyes and a mean snarl. 

“Watch it!” The boy shouted before shoving Eric into the wall. 

Eric bit back his retort as he watched the boy and his group of friends ascend one of the staircases. 

As much as he tried, Eric was no fighter. Sure, he had muscle because he enjoyed running and weight lifting but that didn’t mean he knew how to fight.

“Everything all right?” The man from the office asked, his head poking out of the door.

That same feeling of uneasiness shivered down Eric’s spine like an unwanted itch. “Yes, I’m fine.”

“Be careful, Mr. Sanders.” The man gave him a steady gaze. 

Eric could only nod as he glanced at his schedule and hurried up to the second floor where all the lockers were located, his heart pounding in his throat. 

He would do his best to stay away from that man. 

* * *

The rest of his school day proved to be uneventful. Eric had kept to himself during classes and didn’t have to do the whole “new kid introduction” thing like when he transferred during the school year in the past. 

Right before he was getting ready to leave, the man from the office quickly called him over to the staff room. 

“A moment, Mr. Sanders.”

Dread consumed Eric as he made his way over to the staff room which appeared too empty for his liking. 

The man took a step back, waving Eric forward before entering himself and closing the door with an audible click. 

His blue eyes had become harsh; his face no longer handsome. “Why do you look scared, Mr. Sanders? I’m only here to welcome you.”

Eric’s panic attack was hitting him hard as he stood frozen in place, unable to move as he felt the older man touch him.