Side Story - Dylan’s First Day

It’s my last year of high school. Finally, I’ll be out of this hell hole full of fake people and start living a real life! I can’t believe I’ve survived so long. If it weren’t for Vivian, I probably would have transferred a long time ago, like my old friend…

I arrive at the prestigious Thomas Rourke High, and notice that there's someone stuck at the gate in front of me, talking to Lewis, the security guard. He’s laughing at something the person inside the car said. They must be someone nice if Lewis likes them.

The car finally passes through and it’s now my turn.

“Hey there, young Dylan! It’s great to see you back!” Lewis greets me warmly, as he’s been doing for the last 3 years.

“Hello, Lewis! It’s good to be back!” I lied. It’s not like I’m going to confide in him.

“Have you seen the new kid’s car? Quite the beauty, I must say!”

“The new kid? We have a transfer student?”

“Yeah, it was the one before you.”

Suddenly, I hear a honk from behind.

“Yeah, yeah… Kids these days have no patience. Go through, Dylan, we’ll talk later.”

“Sure, see you later, Lewis!”

I enter the parking lot and notice that a lot of people are staring at this new kid as they get out of the car. Is that car so special? I never understood the fascination for them, but it’s expected of me to like them, so I always pretend I do.

After parking, I approached the school, only to notice a lot of kids taking pictures of the transfer student’s car. Some of them greet me, only to ask me what I think of it. I don’t care about it! Why are they so obsessed with a damn car?!

As I talk to them, I notice the new kid talking to Isaac and his gang. Are they going to bully the poor kid already? Maybe I should help… No, I’m popular enough to mess with Isaac…

Some of my fake friends and sophomore fans approach me, asking about my Summer. I tell them all the amazing things I did, which never really happened. They wouldn’t like it if I told them I just rewatched the Love Love Fantasy anime 3 times.

We slowly make our way to the gym, as they all notice the transfer student and change the subject from me to this person. What makes them so interesting? Just because they’re an unknown factor, everyone wants to get to know them. Or maybe my friends are just vipers, looking for someone new to gossip about.

At some point I get so annoyed with the constant talk about that person that I just attack one of my followers. “Did you get that at a yard sale?” I ask about her scarf. Everyone starts pilling in on the girl, and I can see she’s close to tears as she takes it off. I’m sorry, this is a jungle and they should all know their place in the hierarchy.

The principal’s speech goes largely uninterrupted, though someone made fun of him at some point. It was too far for me to see who said something. The assembly quickly ends and classes start.

I occasionally pass the new student by in the hallways, but I ignore them, thinking that they will likely want to talk to me at some point, right? I do have thousands of followers on Backbook and Cameragram.

Well, it seems it won’t happen, though many freshmen introduce themselves to me and I make sure to complement them, offering them to join my group.

We finally get to lunchtime, after I had to endure my followers talking about this transfer student all day. So what if they caused some commotion during homeroom and they may or may not have angered the mighty Cecily Knight? I don’t care.

This time, I see this kid standing in the middle of the cafeteria, looking at Olivia. Oh no, they don’t know about Isaac’s games. If they talk to Olivia, there’s a huge chance they’ll also become Isaac’s sacrificial lamb! This time I have to do something.

I get up and start walking toward the student, but they somehow manage to talk to Olivia and sit down next to her extremely fast. No… It’s too late now. I look around and spot Isaac looking right at them. All I can do now is somehow distract Isaac before things turn sour.

Vivian is at the same table with him, so I can just go greet my best friend, as any normal person would do, right? I walk right up to them, blocking Isaac’s view of the new kid.

“Heyy, Vivi!” I say looking only at her and ignoring the very intimidating people surrounding her.

“Dy!” She gets up and hugs me, “We haven’t talked in so long!”

“It’s only been the weekend haha”

“So much can happen in that time!”

“God, how much longer do I have to listen to this loser talking?” Michael butts in, as per usual. They’re relationship has really strained my friendship with Vivian.

“Shut up, Michael! Stop being a dick.” Vivian protects me, again, as per usual.

“I’m just messing around, Vivi.” He likes to make fun of the nickname I gave her. After looking me up and down while grinning, he extends a hand to greet me. I shake it. Of course he’s going to use all of his power to grasp my hand, making me visibly grimace, “You gotta join me and Isaac at the gym more often, Dy.”

The bell finally rings. I’m safe. I finally gain the courage to look at Cecily and Isaac. Cecily seems to be looking at anything but me and Isaac is directly looking me in the eyes, grinning.

They all get up, Vivian gives me another hug, while Michael bumps into me with his shoulder intentionally. I look back at the new student, only to see that they’re alone at the table. Did Olivia leave? Was my sacrifice for nothing?

The last classes pass quickly. I get bombarded with messages from my followers to hang out afterward, so I suggest we visit the new bakery that opened on Kidwell Avenue. I don’t actually like pastries, but I have to be a trendsetter.

Before leaving, I go to the washroom to quickly check out how I look. I hear someone enter the restroom and I suddenly get pushed right into the wall.

“Dylan! Long time since we’ve had a proper talk!” It’s Isaac…

“What do you wan–” Before I can finish my sentence, Isaac punches the wall right next to my head.

“I thought we had a deal? I don’t mess with you, you don’t breathe in my general direction?”

“I didn’t do anything!”

“You know what you did. Don’t go thinking you’re some kind of hero, you dumbass. You're nobody.”

“I’m not–” This time he doesn’t let me finish my sentence, as he punches me in the liver. I gasp as he grabs me by the hair, “You’ve got a pretty face now, so I don’t really want to ruin it. How about you keep pretending you’re not a loser and I continue doing the same? For Vivian’s sake.”

He punches me again and then leaves, as I collapse on the floor. DAMN IT! How can I still end up in these situations? I thought I learned my lesson…

After crying for a bit, well, maybe a bit longer, I get up, wash my face, and make myself look more presentable. I lock myself in one of the stalls and report every post Isaac has ever made on Backbook and Cameragram. I finally leave the school, only to pass by the new student’s car. That damned car. What’s so special about it?

I approach it and start looking at it from every angle. Nothing seems to be standing out. Maybe I should start doing more research, there must be something unique about it, right? I wonder… would people like me more for getting something like this?

Maybe I can do a poll! Oo, I’ll take a few pictures of it and I’ll ask my followers for opinions. But they couldn’t really tell if it would be a good fit for me, would they? I should take a selfie with it. Hmm, that’s not a good pic. Let’s try from a different angle!

There’s just something so relaxing about taking pictures of oneself. Some might call it vain, but I call it art. Yes, I am an artist, not some loser. I am someone people follow! That idiot Isaac can’t tell me what to do! I am–

“You can take even better pictures from inside.”

Who said that…? Fuck…