Now it wouldn't be your typical high school without the mean blonde, would it? Zoey Harper. Oak Hill High School's head cheerleader, or as everyone else likes to think of her as: The Queen Bee. But anyways, remember those scenes where the popular people walk slowly down the corridor like a group of migrating birds and everyone moves out of the way? Well, that's what's happening now, except for the fact that I'm stubborn so I just stand there.

"Hi Raven, I see your little nerd isn't with you." I thought she would've grown out of her 'mean girls' phase by now but apparently not.

"Zoey." I nod and attempt to step around her.

She decides to block me, hold on I thought that was my thing, she normally lets me past, "Alright, I know that we normally do this though I'm assuming you've forgotten over the summer. First I block you to try and break up that weird and unnecessary walk thing, then we part ways."

"I need to speak to you, after all up until this point I know that you have been ignoring our attraction, come with me to Liam's party this weekend." She's finally lost the plot, how could I like her? She's got an awful personality and bullies all those who aren't sporty... except for Samuel and Camila. I saved Samuel and Camila saved herself. I never did find out how she did it.

"Who? Also, I don't like you, who would?"

"Liam, the new kid on the football team, ya know?" Well at least I finally know who Camila's crushing on.

"Oh yeah, the guy who all the girls were drooling over."

"What?"

Another thing about Zoey: She has to have the best. Simple. I blame it on the rich parents. Considering all the girls want Liam she'll probably go get him first. Sorry pal, but it had to be someone, at least it's not me.

As she stood there shocked I decided to use my introvert powers and walk away to next period.

                                 

                                                                                 ***

The locker room was full of shouting boys and the smell of sweat as always. My first year here it drove me almost insane to the point where I almost quit. Though considering I was one of the best even at freshman year I managed to convince, or in Camila's words 'manipulate' Mr Bowman into letting me change in a separate tiny locker room which the rest of the school had somehow forgotten about.

Jogging out onto the running track (our school is famous for running so we got a track field apparently) I notice that the hot guy from before is here, but he doesn't seem very happy. I briefly check out the brunettes muscles. He's taller and has a slightly bigger build than me. Damn. Of course with my luck he notices me staring, figuring that turning into a blushing mess would wreck my smooth and calm reputation I decide to wink in his direction instead. Surprisingly he looks shocked.

"Boys!" Ugh I don't wanna have to do this for another year, I don't need a school team to run. Issac disagrees so I'm now here.

"This year Noah, one of the new juniors, is here as my assistant. Play nice." Considering he's taller than all of us I highly doubt that the team would bully him like the rest of the assistants he's had.

"Where are the newbies?" One of the slackers shouted. The team normally picks on the freshman, I don't as I like to think I'm a decent human being. I normally end up being the one who gives them an inspiring speech to stay on the team rather than quit.

For once however the brat had a point, normally the first day is tryouts.

"I've decided to change things up this year boys." Why is everyone changing this year? Did I miss the memo? "You all will jog three laps of the track to warm up, then the freshman will each choose one of you to sprint the 200m against before all the freshman compete in the 100m."

I knew I hated this club for a reason.

Anyways, we all start running. Hoping to not get picked for too many of the races I try to blend into the middle of the pack. I suddenly feel eyes on me, but not by the hoard of freshman who have just arrived. Glancing to the bench I notice Noah staring at me, but for some reason it doesn't bother me like it does when Samuel does it... I don't mind Noah looking at me? What's happening to me?

Finishing the laps we all head back over to the benches where Noah hands us each a water bottle, as I grab mine he makes sure to touch my hand. All I do is smile at him.

"Thanks Noah." And with that I find out which unfortunate freshman has to go first.

Mr Bowman tells us to stand in a line from the tallest person to the shortest person. Considering I'm 5'8 while the majority of the guys are about 6'0 I'm quite far down the line, but not the last. There's a few 5'7 people. Apparently the reason for this is that he doesn't want the freshman to influence their decision based on our age. I suppose if I were in their shoes I'd pick a sophomore who has less experience, for once his randomness makes sense.

The first few guys are cocky and choose the tallest people which was stupid on their parts but who am I to judge? Most middle schools and high schools don't take training as seriously as us so it's quite a stretch from what they're used to. During the third race I notice a group of five guys whispering to each other looking at the shorter males. It looks like some of the freshman have brains after all. Not one freshman has won yet. Oh I just made eye contact with the tallest one, he's like 6'2. He's one of the tallest freshman I've ever seen, he'll be the tallest of the whole team! I suddenly feel like I'm being targeted.... Appears I might be running today.

Eventually it gets to the stage where only the five freshman from before remain. The first one, a lanky dude with red hair chooses me. Ugh.

At the starting line he sneers at me. "Calm down, you're gonna get wrinkles if you keep staring like that." He then looks shocked, I have the effect on people. Then the whistle blows. Considering that I still feel uneasy from the other guy staring at me I decide to stay tied to lanky until the last 25m where I take over him and win.

The second guy like myself has his hair dyed, but mine is green whereas his is dark blue. He is my height and seems a lot calmer than the other one. We just nod at each other and then the whistle blows and I do the same thing again.

By the time the third guy in a row challenges me I realise what their strategy is: wear me down so  one of them can win. Smart strategy honestly and it's working but I refuse to lose. I can be competitive when I want to be. Mr Bowman tries to get him to challenge someone else though the team and myself aren't having any of it. Refusing a challenge is seen as weak in this running club. With that I win races three and four somehow. I'm lightly shaking, I'm pretty sure that's a bad sign.

Guy number five, the one who made eye contact with me earlier, looks at me with almost a guilty expression on his face. He noticed the shaking.

"Come on Goliath, this was the plan all along right? Wear one of us down enough to win. Don't tell me you're backing out now." I say. This is the most fun I've had at a practice in a long time.

"Alright." He replies. Wow he has a quiet voice. Not what I was expecting.

Making my way to the starting line Noah grips my arm, "You could get hurt."

"I'm not one to run away from a challenge."

"Appears we have that in common." He replies winking. Looks like Camila won't be the only one getting to know someone this year.

Standing at the starting line we only glance at each other before the whistle blows. I'm exhausted so for the majority of the race I'm behind him. Now I don't typically like to boast but running is my thing. My talent. I run every evening at six o'clock, a simple 1k during the weekdays and 5k at the weekends. So I have amazing stamina but of course five races at once has drained most of it. Using the last of my stamina during the last quarter I finally put in a hundred percent and push through the aching pain I my legs to win against Goliath by about three seconds.

I of course having just pushed my body too hard fall dramatically to the ground. I can barely breathe. Great. Mr Bowman shouts at Noah to bring me over to the bench. Somehow while leaning on him I manage to get myself lying on the bench. Wrapping me in a blanket that was in one of the first aid kits he gently strokes my cheek until I can catch a breath.

Starting the conversation I say something of great intelligence, "Hi."

I blame it on the tiredness.

"Hello." Noah replies softly, "That was a bit reckless of you. From what I have been able to find out about you you're supposedly one of the most chill people ever."

"Over exaggeration. I'm only competitive if I need to be."

"And how do you determine if you need to be competitive?"

"If it's a challenge. A struggle. Something that's not easy."

"Fair." At this point we fall into a weirdly comfortable silence while he continues to stroke my cheek. For some reason I'm enjoying this to. I normally hate people touching me.

Goliath and his merry crew of freshmen come over to us. Noah moves his hand to my arm. As I am now apparently, according to unknown sources 'one of the most chill people ever' I decide to just let it happen.

"We are so sorry dude. We assumed you would give up after like two races." Lanky apologises.

"It's fine, it was fun."

"You basically collapsed." The fourth guy I raced said. He was 5'4, shorter than the rest of the team, but seemed to have the most natural talent out of the five.

"Yup. Fun."

"And reckless." Noah chimed in. "I'm Noah, who are you people?"

"Rude." I joke.

Lanky replies on behalf of the group, "I'm Levi."

"Glasses guy is Gabriel." Third guy I raced.

"Guy standing beside him is Ryan." Blue haired guy.

"And finally the couple are Elias and Adrian." Elias being the 5'4 guy. Adrian is full of surprises today apparently, the guy was so quiet I didn't expect him to be in a relationship. That's actually quite rude of me. Sorry Adrian for judging you, even though you will never know.

Adrian glares quite harshly at Levi. Noah decides to save the poor guy. "Closeted? Don't worry I'm gay and considering this cutie hasn't gotten annoyed with my flirting yet I'd guess he's fine with it as well."

"I'm Raven, bi and have gay dads."

I decide that the conversation is over so I make sure to invite the five to sit with myself and Camila at lunch if need be before leaving. Noah asked what about him and I just winked and left. Finally, I get to watch Beastars.

                                                                                 ***

I love Louis. Honestly sometimes I feel like he is underrated. That deer is everything. I wish I was his friend. Best character in the series which I unfortunately finished last night. Is it too soon to rewatch it?

Camila pulls over in front of my house. Luckily for us her parents decided to give her car to her early. No more cramped bus. No more noisy idiots. We were free, at least until we got to school of course.

"Yo."

"Hey Raven." With that she puts on her Spotify to pay a random song. Today its Pearl Jam.

Upon reaching the school I get this weird energy so I do what a sane person would do and stay in the car.

"Raven, get out of the car."

"You don't feel it?"

"Feel what?"

"The weird energy. Something weird is happening." She smacks her forehead with her palm.

"Come on you wuss." She literally yanks me out of the car and drag me into the school. Considering she's only 5'6 it's impressive.

Everyone is staring at us. I then notice why. Somehow we were both nominated for prom king and queen.

"Told you something weird would happen."

"Not the time Raven."