Stained

Toronto was cold but not the type cold that bit at your skin this was the kind that slid under your clothes and sank into your bones like regret.

I slung my backpack over one shoulder and locked the apartment door behind me. Summer vacation had just ended and school life was crashing back like a bad memory. My parents had migrated to Canada from Pakistan during the break and now i was stuck starting the new term at the only school willing to take me:

WhiteStone High-the place where rejects went to rot.

The school gates creaked as I stepped inside for the first time. Students leaned against the cold walls and dented lockers like royalty. Their eyes tracked me like I was fresh meat. The air smelled like mint gum, sweat and rebellion.

The hallway stretched out like a battlefield. Girls giggled as the hottest guys walked past, swaying like they owned the place. Guys bragged about upcoming matches and who they'd ask to the Autumn Dance. Nerds clustered next to water fountains , mumbling about equations and fiddling with broken Switch controllers.

I clutch my backpack tighter and turn left towards the restroom. I had twenty minutes to kill before class.

Inside, I stared at myself in the cracked mirror. My shaggy black hair was the only thing hiding the exhaustion in my eyes. I ran my finger through it and pulled my headset over my ears. My thin frame vanished under my oversized black hoodie. I was Just one more shadow in this place.

Music exploded in my ears, drowning out everything else. I reach into my locker, grabbed a crumpled pink paper with my classroom number, and tried to focus.

Suddenly, I craved home

Desi food, warm lentils and rice with cold lassi.

But the thoughts slipped as fast as it came.

A tap on my shoulder jolted me

I turned sharply

''Excuse me,'' a voice said, annoyed. ''If you're planning to block my locker all day we're both gonna be late for class''

She stood behind me in a bubblegum-pink hoodie and tight jeans, one hand on her hip, the other holding a cherry lollipop way too big for her mouth. Brunette hair twisted into space buns, tied with red ribbons. Hazel eyes locked on mine-irritated, but curious ?

I blinked, ''Sorry-I didn't realise.''

She crouched to open the locker below mine. As she moved I caught a glimpse of the print on the back of her hoodie.

------

Reyna

He was standing in front of my locker like it belonged to him. Black hoodie. Over-ear headphones. Shadows under his eyes. Not even a flicker of expression when I tapped him on the back_ just a mumble and a sidestep like I barely existed.

Seriously what was this guys deal?

''Excuse me,'' I snapped, popping the cherry lollipop between my teeth, ''if your gonna block my locker all day, we are both gonna be late.''

He turned, finally. His voice was low, kind of raspy. And those eyes? Tired. Way too tired for someone our age.

I spotted a tag on his backpack when I had to bend down to my locker. The name River was written on it.

Weird kid. Mysterious, kind of cute- wait no, I meant weird.