[Next Day, Morning, Midtown High]
It was early morning, a little past eight, with classes about to start.
The hallways, as always, were full of students with all kinds of styles: athletes, nerds, goths, wannabe gangsters, smart Asians, popular kids, gay kids, stoners—basically, all sorts of people and groups.
And among those groups, Diana considered herself part of the outsiders, the ones who didn't have any trait that could place them in a group. They weren't smart, weren't athletic, weren't good at video games, didn't like emo stuff, didn't do drugs or anything that could make them fit somewhere.
That was exactly how she was. She liked games and comics, but just casually. She wasn't smart enough to be in the intellectual crowd, her grades were average.
She didn't like morbid stuff or rock, didn't do drugs or care about that, and forget sports—her body made it clear that wasn't a strength of hers.
In other words, she was average at everything, not all bad, not all good, just average.
But she was fine with that. She was also happy to know she wasn't the only one like that at school, with two of those people being her two close friends.
Speaking of them, the two were chattering near her like they did almost every morning.
"Damn! Did you see the shorts David was wearing this morning? Did you see those cheeks? I barely held back from grabbing them and giving them a few slaps!" One of Diana's friends said, gesturing with her hands as an example, standing by the locker on Diana's right.
She was a short white girl, shorter than Diana herself, with messy short brown hair like a bird's nest, light blue eyes, a plain face, and a slim body—this was Joanne.
She wore baggy jeans along with a white T-shirt under an open striped brown button-up shirt.
And, like on other days, she was talking about some guy she'd seen that morning.
"Yeah, I saw, and I recommend you don't say things like that out loud or you'll get in trouble." Replied Diana's other friend, standing at the locker on her left.
She was tall, way taller than both of them, wearing thin-rimmed round glasses, her skin a caramel tone, slightly thick black eyebrows, brown eyes, and her hair tied in a small bun with a loose strand tucked behind her ear.
Also slim and with an average face, this was Rani, dressed in loose gray sweatpants and a darker gray shirt.
"Nah, it's fine, I doubt anyone heard me." Jeanne waved dismissively.
"Still, we already know how much you like men, you don't have to say it out loud." Rani said while arranging her books in the locker.
"She's right." Cutting off Jeanne just as she opened her mouth, Diana finally spoke, closing her locker. "We already know you're a pervert who thinks about sex ninety percent of the day, other people don't need to know that."
Looking at her friend to her right, Diana wore a loose black t-shirt and dark blue jeans, with pale white skin, curly red hair tied up in a small bun with two strands hanging over her forehead.
With green eyes, freckles covering her cheeks and nose, she was slightly chubby and had an above-average face, though she didn't consider herself pretty at all.
"Hey, what do you mean I think about sex ninety percent of the day?" Jeanne pointed accusingly at her. "It's at least ninety-five percent, don't underestimate me."
Diana and Rani just gave her deadpan looks in response.
"Besides, don't talk about me like you two are any different. You're just as perverted as I am." Jeanne crossed her arms and smiled suggestively, raising an eyebrow. "Wasn't it you, Rani, who said you'd love to have your head crushed between thick thighs?"
"H-hey! Don't say that out loud." In a whispery tone, Rani swung her arm trying to hit Jeanne, her gaze darting around nervously, afraid some guy might've heard.
Dodging her with just a step back, Jeanne turned her gaze to Diana while keeping her grin. "And you, Diana, weren't you the one who said you'd love to rub your face on some pecs and a six-pack?"
While Rani still looked nervously around to see if anyone had heard, Diana simply crossed her arms and tilted her head slightly. "Yeah, I said that, but our tastes are normal compared to the things you say sometimes. Plus, unlike you, we don't think about it all the time, we've got other stuff to do."
"Blah blah blah, all I hear are excuses." Jeanne gestured with her hand, shooting Diana a flat look that made it clear she didn't believe a word.
And Diana immediately tried to smack her for that face.
Jeanne dodged by stepping back, smiling mischievously as she pointed at them. "At this rate, you two will never lose your virginity, Diana and Rani." She then covered her face with her other hand, peeking at them between her fingers and speaking in a cold voice. "You're too weak, you lack thirst."
Diana stared back impassively while Rani raised an eyebrow. "Seriously, did you just make a Naruko reference?"
"Definitely, hehehe~." Jeanne nodded, apparently pleased with herself. "Anyway, I'm not wrong. What you're missing is thirst, but don't worry, this weekend we—" Just as she was rubbing her hands together and smiling like a kids' show villain, a small commotion caught her attention.
Together, Diana and Rani turned to see what was causing the buzz, and soon they understood why.
"And here I was thinking something serious had happened. These guys are really dramatic." Turning back, Jeanne shook her head, sighing with a resigned look.
And her words were about how everyone was reacting to the presence of three students who had just arrived.
"They act like those three are some kind of celebrities or something." Jeanne shook her head, looking disappointed.
"Well, to them, I guess they're not any different, since they're everything they'd like to be." Diana crossed her arms, watching as well.
"They're called the King Bees for a reason, though I think the reaction's a bit much too—it's like we're in an American teen movie." Rani pushed up her glasses, her lip twitching slightly as she also watched.
That was because, in front of them, with students parting like they really were in some kind of teen movie, three well-known students were walking by.
On the right, dressed in expensive-looking clothes and walking as if he were strutting down a runway with a confident smile on his face, was Tyrone. He looked around, greeting students as if he really were some kind of celebrity.
On the left was Chad. Though he walked normally and didn't strut, he still wore stylish clothes while smiling calmly, looking satisfied with the attention as he waved to a few people.
And between them was Jonathan, dressed in comparatively simpler and more "feminine" clothes than the other two, his face completely impassive as he walked silently with one hand in his pocket and a bag slung over his shoulder, apparently ignoring everyone around.
"Sheesh, I really don't get why those three are so popular. I mean, I know they're hot and handsome, but that's it." Jeanne sighed, shaking her head with a disappointed look.
"You just answered yourself—they're hot and handsome, that's all a guy needs to be popular." Rani replied, pushing up her glasses again. "Besides, they're not just that. Tyrone's known for being a social butterfly who befriends everyone, even outsiders like us. Chad's no different, though he's a bit more reserved, he's still really nice."
"And Jonathan is Jonathan." She shrugged slightly. "Besides most people thinking he's the best-looking guy, he's also pretty nice, though he seems way more distant compared to the other two—at least that's what I've heard."
"Look, Diana, here comes your future lo—!"
Jeanne said with a sly smile, raising her hand, but when she was about to point at Jonathan, Diana smacked the back of her neck.
"Shut up, idiot!" Diana hissed urgently, grabbing Jeanne and covering her mouth just as the trio walked past them.
But as if the universe were against her, right when she didn't want to draw Jonathan's attention, she ended up doing exactly that.
She could only stare, feeling inner horror as she met his eyes. He passed by, glancing sideways at them.
Reacting quickly, Diana immediately let go of Jeanne—the last thing she wanted was for Jonathan to think she was gay or something.
She then watched, a little embarrassed and trying not to show it, as Jonathan simply walked past with Chad and Tyrone, heading to their classes.
"Hahaha, what's wrong? Afraid your crush might think you're gay~?" Jeanne teased, knowing perfectly well that's exactly what she'd been thinking.
Diana just shot her an irritated look, threatening to punch her.
Jeanne stepped back but kept her grin. "No need to get mad, it's not like you have any chance with him anyway."
While Diana narrowed her eyes at her, Rani came to her aid. "You can't say anything—you like Tyrone, don't you? I heard he's dating Megan from the football team now."
Jeanne shrugged. "Doesn't matter, that candy cane and chocolate eggs will end up in my hands, and when that happens, I'm gonna do exactly this!" She put her hands in front of her face as if holding something phallic. "Guh! Guh! Guh! Then I'll do this!" She opened her palms and stuck out her tongue, shaking her head quickly. "On those balls!"
Diana and Rani just stared at her silently with neutral faces. No matter what they said, Jeanne never seemed to change or show any intention of doing so—maybe when she finally got an accusation of harassment.
"And I don't know where you get all that confidence. You seem so sure Tyrone will want something with you even if he breaks up with Megan." Diana crossed her arms, giving her a doubtful look.
"And that's exactly why I said you two lack thirst. But don't worry, as your great best friend, I'll help you, don't worry." Jeanne pointed arrogantly at herself.
Then she turned, heading the opposite way toward class. "Anyway, see you later, bitches." She raised both hands high, flipping them off before turning around.
Diana and Rani watched without reacting as she walked off, a thoughtful look appearing on Rani's face afterward. "You know, she didn't use to be like that until last year. I mean, she was always perverted and kinda crazy, but now she seems completely nuts. What happened?"
Diana shook her head. "I already asked, and you saw how she reacted. She said she's always been like that. Anyway, I don't think she's gonna tell us anytime soon. We can only stick by her until then."
Turning, she gestured for Rani to follow, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "Let's go."
Rani followed silently.
...
"Kyaaaa~! Hey, boy!"
"Kyaaaa~! Good morning, boy~!"
Running ahead, letting out an extremely flamboyant scream, Tyrone approached with his arms raised for a hug with another guy who reacted just as flamboyantly, while Jonathan silently entered his classroom.
Chad followed at his side, greeting another guy with a wave as he headed toward the back of the class.
Sitting in the last seat of the second row, he put his bag under the desk before leaning back and crossing his arms, with Chad sitting to his right.
He watched silently as Tyrone chatted cheerfully with the other effeminate guy, waiting for class to start.
And just as Chad was about to talk to him, a girl walking in front of him dropped the pen she was holding when she bumped into the desk.
Leaning down and picking up the pen, he offered it to her with a faint smile. "What's wrong, Liana, forget to do your homework~?"
"Haha, very funny, Jonathan." Puffing, the girl took the pen with a smile of her own. "No, I'm just reviewing my notes."
With short black hair with parted bangs slightly covering her forehead, thin-rimmed round glasses, light brown skin, brown eyes, and Asian features.
Wearing a loose brown sweater and tight jeans was Liana, one of Jonathan's classmates.
"I see, diligent as always, huh?" Jonathan leaned back again, crossing his arms.
"I have to be—after all, I'm the woman of the house. My family depends on me, and unlike a certain someone, I can't rely on my looks to survive." As she placed her things on the desk, she kept talking while smiling at him.
"The day barely started and you're already attacking me? Good morning to you." Despite his words, Jonathan just laughed.
"Hahaha, good morning to you too, Jonathan." Laughing along with him, she winked, making a heart with her thumb and index finger.
But instead of returning the heart, Jonathan just flipped her off.
She gasped for a moment. "You bastard." She came closer, giving him a playful slap on the shoulder.
Jonathan just laughed at her, something she answered by sticking her tongue out at him again in another playful gesture before finally sitting down.
As Jonathan smiled, he caught, from the corner of his eye, Chad looking at him with a meaningful smile while resting his chin on his hand.
"What?" Jonathan raised an eyebrow.
Chad leaned in closer and whispered. "You two look good together. Are you sure you're not interested in her~? I totally ship you guys—you'd make such a cute couple."
Jonathan shook his head, exhaling through his nose. "This again? I already said I don't see her that way." 'That's a lie, but he doesn't need to know.'
"That's a shame, you two have great chemistry." With a wistful look, Chad pulled back.
"Hmm." Jonathan didn't disagree—in fact, he completely agreed—but since he was focused on winning over Elizabeth first, he'd have to put other potential girls on hold. That didn't mean he wasn't doing anything, though.
While he waited for the teacher and more students arrived, someone else he knew appeared at the door, yawning, and stopped when they met his gaze.
It was Marianne.