The first two periods of the day went by quickly, much to my surprise. During math, Isobel sat next to me, and she told me pretty much everything about this school, and some stuff about herself as well. After math class, she showed me where my next class was, Kinesiology, and that class wasn't so bad either. I think Isobel was right when she said everyone was pretty chill at this school, though I was still uneasy about being the only new person here. All the seniors grew up together in the town, meanwhile, I knew nobody. I stuck out like a sore thumb it felt like.

When lunch came around, I joined Isobel in the cafeteria where Isobel introduced me to Karson and Parker. Parker was Isobel's girlfriend, and Karson was their best friend. Isobel had met Parker during freshman year and fell in love almost instantly, and have been together since, meanwhile, Karson was Isobel's childhood friend since kindergarten. They seemed nice enough, so I didn't mind sitting with the three of them for lunch rather than being on my lonesome because surely, I would have called my brother, begging him to pick me up.

"So, you play ball hockey?" Parker commented, stabbing their fork into their salad, "that's pretty cool! We have a ball hockey league in town that's pretty popular. I know some guys on the football team play in the league sometimes."

"Yeah, my brother Faine has been living in this town for a year or so and told me about the league, so I'm thinking of signing up for the winter season," I said.

"You definitely should! We'll even come to watch you play," Isobel smiled.

"I don't think Nixon will want you to embarrass him with your loud cheering," Karson teased.

"What do you mean to embarrass him? I'm not embarrassing!"

"I've heard you cheer at Parker's rugby games, Iz. I swear everyone can hear you from the next province over."

"Karson's right babe, you cheer pretty loud," Parker laughed. Isobel pouted, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Well, that's because I'm passionate!" Isobel argued. Parker smiled and kissed Isobel's cheek.

I smiled crookedly at the three of them, silently digging into my lunch, which was leftovers from last night's dinner. As I ate my lunch, I listened to Isobel chat away with Parker and Karson over the loud cafeteria buzz in the background. Seconds later, I noticed a group of jocks walking into the cafeteria, loud laughter and chatter following them, and it instantly caught my attention.

And when I saw a sudden familiar face in the midst of the group, my stomach dropped and I wanted to hide.

"Oh god, it's Kingston," Karson said when he noticed the group, and pulled up a binder onto the table and ducked behind it. Parker snorted.

"Really? Come on Karson, you don't need to hide every time you see him."

"Yes I do—have you seen his face?"

"First off—I'm a lesbian. Second off, does he even know you exist? So what's the point in hiding?"

Isobel laughed. Karson flashed Parker a glare, a light blush coating his cheeks, "just because he doesn't know about my existence doesn't mean I can't hide when I see him!"

The conversation between Karson and Parker was a distant echo in the back of my mind. I remembered Isobel mentioning a guy named Kingston during math class, and I could also recall Kingston being in my second-period class when the teacher called his name out for attendance. He was on the football team, and his best friend James was the captain. I thought the name James had just been a coincidence—there are many people in this world named James, but I was wrong, so fucking wrong.

I didn't tear my gaze away from James, even as he walked side by side with Kingston and the rest of their friends as they found themselves at an empty table in the cafeteria. I still couldn't believe what my eyes were seeing like my brain failed to fathom that this was reality. When I said I intended on forgetting the last seven months of my life never happened—that included him. Why did the universe have to always fuck me over?

James' eyes suddenly locked with mine. His eyes widened when he saw me, just as he was sitting down at the table several tables over. I stiffened and quickly turned away, stuffing a forkful of food into my mouth. My heart was pounding so hard that I was sure everyone in the cafeteria could hear it.

"Are you okay, Nixon? You look pale," Isobel commented, voice laced in concern. I quickly swallowed the food in my mouth.

"Uhm, yeah, I'm alright."

"You sure? Did you see a ghost?" Parker joked. I shook my head. Isobel still looked concerned, but otherwise didn't push me further, and went back to conversing with Parker and Karson, who was still ducked behind his binder. Honestly, I wanted to do that too.

I shoved more food into my mouth, and briefly glanced back over at James' table. He was talking and smiling at his friends, though I noticed his occasional glances over at me, and his smile briefly lessened before he would turn his attention back to his friends. I couldn't help but feel on edge by that, and when I looked away for the second time, the urge to crawl out of my own skin was nearly unbearable. I was ready to fly out of my seat and run out of the cafeteria.

"I'm going to go to the bathroom," I abruptly said, gaining the attention of my three lunch mates.

"Oh, okay—" Before Isobel could finish her sentence, I gathered up my lunch and shoved my lunch bag into my backpack, before jumping out of my seat. Isobel called out my name, but I ignored her as I hurried out of the cafeteria, desperate to tuck myself away in a secluded space and never leave it.

I regretted my decision to stay the full day. I wanted to go home.