“Metaline!” The loud voice echoed down the hall of Joel’s new high school.

The voice was calling to his new friend, one Liam Metaline, the tall, spindly young man dressed all in black who stood next to Joel.

Joel, hazarding a careful glance behind, froze when he saw the angry jock approaching them. Jocks, especially angry ones, were never good news to Joel, who had been bullied all through his first two-and-three-eighths years of his high school experience. He’d hoped to avoid such bullying at this new school, but apparently even an angsty stay-the-fuck-away-from-me goth-type wasn’t enough to protect him.

Liam, un-intimidated, turned around and glared at the approaching student. “The fuck do you want, Nick?” he snarled.

Nick held out his hands and took a tiny step back. “Whoa, Met, don’t tell me you’re still upset about this weekend?”

Well this was something new in Joel’s experience.

“You forgot our anniversary, dipshit,” Liam snarled back.

“Anniversary of what?” Nick asked. “One year, two months and three days since we first went out? One year, two months and six days since our first kiss? Eight months since we got back together after our first breakup? Or do you mean the anniversary of that itself, which was just over nine months ago?”

“Don’t know how we managed that long, either,” Liam muttered, though not loud enough for Nick to hear. “That’s it,” Liam said louder. “If you can’t remember, this relationship is over.”

“What? You can’t break up with me-”

“Why the fuck not?” Liam snapped back.

“-Just for the make-up sex,” Nick continued as though Liam hadn’t spoken. “It’s the fourth time this week.”

Joel checked his watch. Yup, still only Monday.

“But-“ Liam started to protest.

Another jock had appeared behind Nick, and, having caught the end of the conversation, now rolled his eyes. “Like you two need more excuses to have sex,” he said, annoyed.

Liam leveled his glare on the newcomer. “You have something to add to this conversation, Jock?”

“Yes. Get a room you two,” Jock (was that really his name? Joel wondered) said, rolling his eyes.

Liam continued to glare at Jock (but if it wasn’t his name, why did Liam call him that?) as he angrily grabbed Nick, starting to drag him past Jock (but what kind of a name is ‘Jock’?). Jock (maybe it’s a nickname?) grabbed Liam’s arm as they passed. “Could you introduce this little cutie before you go?” he asked, nodding at Joel. “So he won’t feel quite as abandoned and unloved?” His voice was dripping sweet sarcasm, although Joel knew it wasn’t directed at him, and knew that Jock (how would he get a nickname like that?) only meant well. Besides, he’d called Joel cute.

Liam snorted. “Joel, Jock, Jock, Joel,” he said, before wrenching his arm free and dragging off the unresisting Nick, who tossed a shrug and a smile over his shoulder at them.

Joel stared after them.

“We all thought they were going to kill each other, and it was just a question of when. Then they got locked in a classroom together. There was lots and lots of yelling. Then it was silent, and I swear we all thought they were both dead. But when we finally got the door open, well, the custodian was so surprised, he shut the door and locked them both in again.” Jock (what were his parents thinking?) said, rightfully assuming that Joel wanted an explanation. “Anyway, I’m Jack, but everyone calls me Jock, so as not to confuse me with any of the other Jacks.” He held out his hand.

That explains it. “I’m Joel,” Joel said, taking his hand. They shook, but Jock didn’t let go of his hand.

“So when did you move here?”

“Just this weekend. I thought I should have more time to settle in, but mom said she’d have more space to unpack if I wasn’t there; so here I am.” Joel wondered if he should pull his hand away, but if Jock wasn’t objecting, then Joel certainly didn’t mind.

“Have you seen much of the town yet?”

Joel shook his head, the blush he’d been fighting finally breaking through. “I didn’t see much of the school, either. Liam was supposed to show me around.” He wondered if Jock would take the hint.

Jock raised an eyebrow. “Oh he was, was he? Well, since our illustrious goth abandoned you for his golden boyfriend, I could show you around instead?”

Joel smiled shyly at him. “I’d like that, if you don’t mind.”

Jock grinned. “Why would I mind? And if you’re not doing anything this weekend, Met, Nick and I are going to hang downtown, and you’re welcome to join us.”

Joel’s shy smile blossomed, and he found he couldn’t stop grinning. “I think I’d like that.”

There was no way this school was going to be as bad as his last one.