Hi my name’s Dani I just turned 18 about a month ago and my parents are shipping me off to some place called Bumbridge? No, Lumbridge Boarding school. It stretches from 12th grade to a 4-year college.

I look out the window of my Mom’s car waiting for what the future holds. As the gloomy scenery speeds by, so does my past. My friends, family, everything…

It’s an all boys one too so no girls. 

‘Who knows, maybe I’ll become into boys’ I think jokingly unaware of the near future.

“Daniel” my Mother says with her cruel as usual tone. 

I snapped out of my thought, “Yes Mom?”. 

She takes a deep breath before speaking “...I uhm”. 

I sat there curious about what she would say. My heart racing, she seems almost...worried? Sometimes I wish I could read minds. 

Her tone softens “...I'm gonna miss...you son.”  

I'm surprised by what she said. Out of all the people I didn't expect my Mother to say that. “I…I’ll miss you too Mom.” I smile for what feels like the first time in a while.

The rest of the ride is quite awkward and the other half is kinda— comforting? We have around 30-ish minutes left till we get to the Prison— oops, I mean school. I guess I’ll sleep while waiting to get there. I hate drawing in the car anyways. I hum a remedy in my head as my eyelids become heavy and then I black out into the soft darkness as if all my problems, worries and pain suddenly disappear.

It's so peaceful… Well it was while it lasted cause what felt like a second later I got woken up with a harsh shake. 

“Daniel!” My Mom says loudly as she shakes me awake as if the world was ending.

“I'm up! I'm up, okay!!” I say with a half sour half sleepy face with a voice to match. I rub my eyes torn between my rare peace already missing it and this harsh reality.

“We…we’re here..” My Mom says with slight regret.

I notice how tired her expression is and a slightly swollen eye from the other night, god I hate my Step Dad. He’s such a damn tool.

Ever since he lost his job 5 years ago he’s been hitting her. Hitting us.

As I look at her my eyebrows furrow slightly.

I miss who she used to be.

We used to be best friends, we'd laugh and joke together, do the stupidest impressions, have the best of times. I smile slightly at the thought.

But now, all I see when I look in her eyes is the sorrow and sadness of a woman I feel like I don't know. 

“O–Ok I’ll get out.” I say with silent longing in my voice, secretly hoping that my Mom would stop me. Yet she doesn't. I feel as though she wants to.

I step out of the car and make my way towards the trunk opening it and retrieving my small luggage.

Despite its small nature it holds everything I hold dear, my art supplies, headphones and a small printed picture of me and my Mom before she met him.

My stupid Stepfather— no, Brian. It’s all his fault. 

I clench my teeth, my hand doing the same. I look up at my Mom. 

She looks like she’s holding back tears but I can see through her ice cold mask. I can see her true emotions.

“I’ll see you in December…Son” She says with a straight cold face holding a mask up to hide.

I nod and start walking, the sound of the running car fading into the distance.

I look ahead and see the gloomy gates up ahead, the rusty sign reading “Lumbridge Boys Boarding School” I scrunch my face at the sight. As I walk through the tall gates my new life begins if only I knew what was to come…

I walk across the falling apart bridge that leads to the school. It's hella sketchy. I walk through the front doors navigating through the halls looking for the front office finally. 

I walk into the front office of the 3 story building, maybe even more, who knows. I see a middle aged woman who reeks of smoke, her long slumped over body with a strangely long gray bun.

“He…Hello Ma’am?” I say with a tired and nervous voice.

I sense people staring at me from the window. It pisses me off. 

“No girls allowed here sweetie.” She says in a tired mocking voice.

I smile fake as Brians love “Ma’am if I’m a girl then your hair is real. Oh wait, that's if today was the opposite day.” I say with fake sweetness. I almost sickened myself.

She smirks and coughs “I like ya’ kid. What—” she coughs as if she’s been smoking her whole life “whatcha name?” 

I cringe “my name's Daniel Hargrowth” I say looking away I see a blonde head walking past the window.

He sure does stick out from the surrounding mellow and gray colors. 

My thoughts get interrupted once again.

“Dorm 369 on the 5th floor of building C. Your roommates name is Leo Millers” She smirks as she reads off the screen. 

“What's with that look lady?” I say with a curious yet tired tone raising an eyebrow. 

“Welp he’s da guy yer eyin’ up outside’ the window” She says as she smirks, lighting a cigarette. 

My face turns redder than a tomato. 

“I have not! You're seein’ things lady!” I say with a shocked expression on my face. 

…Wait am I blushing? Why am I blushing! A…am I gay?? No, no…I'm just overthinking it. I'm just embarrassed.

That's all…right?

“Snap outta’ it kid go find yer self somewha else’” She smirks and blows out smoke before taking another drag.

“Are you even allowed to smoke here ‘lady?” I say with a face dressed in an attitude like it was going to the Grammy’s.

“Whatcha’ gonna do ‘bout it kid?” She says as she waves me off.

I roll my eyes and use the map to locate my dorm getting stared at by all the students like I'm a piece of raw meat in a Lions den. 

When I finally reach my dorm I open it to see my roommate shirtless and lounging around on a couch. He has blonde hair, his skin sunkissed with green eyes and what seems to be a white scar crossing his chest and going halfway up his throat. 

I silently enter hoping he doesn't hear me. 

“Yo, who are you? Ya know girls aren’t allowed here right?” He says eying me up and down.

“I’m a guy, dumbass” I roll my eyes. 

“Which bed is mine?” I say looking at the two twinsize beds on the opposite side of the room from each other.