After most of his classmates exited the classroom, Stanlee went up to Mrs Pat's desk.
"Mrs.Pat, I'm not against having Jason in my group-"
"But." Mrs.Pat cut in not even looking up while she graded the worksheets from other classes with her blue pen.
"But if he counts as an person that means I only get to add two more people to the group and leave one out. Unless my group is exempt from that rule-"
Mrs Pat shrugs, "Quite easy actually. Cut Kevin. His math skills aren't on par with Jessica and Keisha's. Quite worthless on any team but the twins and Marcus's squad."
Stanlee gritted his teeth, "Fine. C'mon Jason lets go."
Jason slung his backpack over his right shoulder and rose to his feet. "Lead the way, brilliant star."
Stanlee rolled his eyes. "Aren't you the comedian? Do you have your class schedule on you?"
Jason took a folded white sheet of paper out and handed it to Stanlee. Stanlee unfolded it and scanned it quickly.
Stanlee cracked his neck. "Alright, you've got Nebraskan history for 2nd hour, Mr. Graves 3rd hour, and you've got gym with me. Then after lunch, you've got music class and then end the day with me. Not a bad schedule."
Jason stretched his hands to the ceiling. "Okay, so can you give me the rundown?"
Stanlee's eyebrow furrowed. "Rundown of what? The school or the project?"
Jason shrugged. "Both."
Stanlee rolled his eyes. "Sure, as soon as we stop by my locker. It's right next to your next class."
The two boys walked out of the classroom and into the hallway, full of bustling teens and teachers in conversation in the five-minute passing period. They eventually made their way to the spiral staircase.
Jason jumped back, "Whoa, does this staircase get a little base or pit stop every once in a while?"
Stanlee glanced back, "No, it doesn't. It's a straight spiral drop."
Jason cringed in fear, "Sheesh, has anyone fallen down these steps before?"
Stanlee sighed, "Not yet. But if you want to make a name for yourself at Lyons, that's the fastest way to do it."
Jason stared at Stanlee, "Totally not cool."
Stanlee smirked, "It wasn't meant to be. Come on."
As the two boys trekked their way down the spiral staircase, Stanlee asked, "So what do you think of our principal?"
Jason hung tightly to the railing, taking it one step at a time. "He seems all right. He was surprised to see another Asian kid join up here. He said there's only one other Asian kid here. So clearly he was referring to you."
Stanlee frowned, "That racist old geezer. There are three of us, technically four of us but I highly doubt Wade has a drop of Asian in his blood."
Jason blinked, "So wait why did he lie to me. Also whose the third guy and there's no way Wade is Asian. That guy from Mrs.Pats?"
Stanlee chuckled as the boys reached the first floor, "Ok so for starters, get used to Principal L lying in your face. Two, Wade is part Asian his white side just ratioed his Asian side. Finally were about to meet the third guy."
As the boys turned the corner, they saw a trio of kids huddled near the locker. A girl with a red ribbon in her brown, curly hair, which matched her amber eyes, and a scarlet red dress to go with it, stood there tapping her red and black flight Jordans.
The girl with the ribbon snapped her fingers, "Ahh yes, Stanlee, just keep walking and let Officer Black toss all of us in his office on the first day. We all have nothing better to be doing."
Stanlee scratched his head, "My bad "Keish. As you can see, I've got my hands full."
Keisha stared Jason up and down. "And who are you?"
A boy in a red, white, and blue windbreaker with an afro and black & white Adidas peeped his head from behind Keisha. Jason's eyebrows rose.
"It's you!" They said in unison.
Stanlee and Keisha glanced back and forth, confused.
"You two know each other?" Stanlee asked.
Jason shook his head. "Nah, I ran into him in the hallway, and then he helped me find Officer Black's office. This school is a maze!"
Keisha rolled her eyes. "Alright, so Kevin knows you, but you still haven't given us your name?"
Jason saluted to them. "My name is Jason Yang. Some call me J for short."
Kevin nodded, "Glad I got your name, Jason. I see you're also Asian like me."
Jason's eyes widened, "Now that I look at your face, I see it. You are. What country are you from?"
Kevin smiled, "My Mom said China and some other Asian country. What about you?"
"China as well. My family came from Hong Kong," Jason said.
"That's so lit!" Keisha and Kevin said simultaneously.
Stanlee sighed. "Anywho, this guy is a part of my group, thanks to Mrs. Pat."
"Bruh, you couldn't work your magic and negotiate with her? You're her brilliant shooting star," Keisha said.
Stanlee shook his head. "I tried speaking with her after class. Trust me, it wasn't pretty."
"She wanted him to cut one of you from the lineup," Jason blurted.
Keisha crossed her arms across her dress. "What did she recommend the lineup should be, Stan?"
Stanlee glared at Jason before answering, "She wanted me to cut Kev. She basically said he was hopeless."
The locker door beside them slammed shut. Standing behind them was a girl with brown sugar skin wearing a black zip-up hoodie and a pink tee with roses and daffodils making a heart. Her dark brown hair was in long pigtails. She had a huge frown on her face.
Jessica's deep brown eyes stared at Stanlee while clutching her binder against her chest. "Did Mrs. Pat really say that about Kevin?"
Stanlee shot a dirty glare at Jason once more before saying, "Yes, you know how she is. She's said the same thing to Barry and Marcus. I don't think she meant anything by it."
Keisha slowly shook her head. "Still, that was uncalled for. She treats Kev like he's some type of poison, like he somehow will infect her 'bright stars'."
Kevin leaned against the locker with his hands behind his head, relaxed. "Well, it really doesn't matter anymore. All it means is that I have to lock in and blow her socks off with my presentation."
Jessica bumped shoulders with Kevin, "You know I could work with the twins and Marcus. That way it all still works out."
Kevin smiled, "You'd do that for worthless little old me, Jess?"
Jessica punched his arm, "I mean, I never said it was for free."
Keisha snickered, "Rest in peace, Kevin. I'll make sure to add you to my prayers in the team huddle in gym class."
Kevin slowly panned to Keisha, "Come on, Keisha. Not in front of the new kid."
Stanlee shook his head with a huge grin on his face, "Nobody's giving up a spot. I'm going to make it work. It's only fair since last semester I was on the twins and Marcus's group project."
Keisha cackled, "You better get to stepping, genius. Time's ticking."
Stanlee pushed back his glasses. "I'm aware. New kid-"
"I have a name, Shooting Star," Jason snapped back.
Keisha clapped her hands in provaction. "Damn Stan, me personally I wouldn't take that."
"Haha, very funny," Stanlee said sarcastically before turning his attention to Jason.
"What's your deal?"
Jason shrugged, "None really, I'm just getting my payback for earlier on the steps."
Keisha smirked, "You know what? I like you, Jason. I'm gonna call you Jace for short."
Kevin nodded, "Yeah, you're my bro. I like your chill energy. Perfect counter to Stan."
Keisha snickered, "Right?! They're a match made in heaven."
Stanlee facepalmed, "Not you two agreeing that me and this buffoon belong together."
Kevin and Keisha exchanged a glance and continued laughing.
Jessica took Keisha's arm, "Welp, the warning bell is about to ring, so Keish and I have to go. See ya at gym class, Kevin, Stanlee, and Jason."
Keisha was still howling with laughter, "You've got your work cut out for you, guide. Good luck, Jason. Even if he acts like he hates being your guide, deep down he enjoys being somebody's manager."
Kevin snickered as he walked off to his own second-hour class, "For real."
Stanlee sighed in exasperation, "Okay, Jason, your class is right there. Room 101, Nebraskan history. Meet me back here for your third hour and fourth hour, understand?"
Jason nodded, "Ditto, manager."
Stanlee scoffed, "At least I'm not scared of spiral steps."
With that, Stanlee took off to his own second hour. Jason couldn't help but smile. The way that group of friends interacted was like a tight-knit group of close friends that could never be shattered. A strong bond. They acted like family. Something Jason used to have. Flashes of playing hot potato and going kite flying zipped through his head. Jason shook his head as if to shake out the memories and walked into his second class of the day.