Alluring Friend

Chapter 1

Due to his father's profession, Mikey and his grandmother had to move frequently to a few cities. By the time his second year of high school life was about to begin, they already went over 7 of them, making it harder for him to have any peers he could keep in contact during holiday seasons. He tried not to let this problem get to him as he knew family is more important than any of that. Fond memories of past classmates, teachers, schools were almost faded from his mind if it wasn't for the school's yearbooks.

The most recent move was two weeks ago, in a beautifully planned eco-city named Celeste City, his father dropped the news right after Mikey finished his last paper for his freshmen year. He did feel a bit sad leaving his classmates that he had the most time to become emotionally attached to but followed along with his father's demands nonetheless. They started packing to Celeste City once they've been given the confirmation. Mikey was trying his best to hold himself together from the excitement of starting his high school life with new people. He was rather optimistic in the whole moving process, getting to widen life experiences makes the adrenaline flowing in him.

By the last week of school holiday, they head on to their new house, saying their farewells to a few close neighbours, hoping to see them again someday, leaving their old bungalow house for rent.

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"Mr. Lacroix, may I see you in my office for a moment?" Mr. Howard said with a friendly tone, pointing towards the end of the hall. Nathan was already nervous to be called down to the Head Discipline's office, who is also his History teacher. He was just about to head out to the school gate to join his friends for a group study but had to decline this time. "See ya later, Nathan," his friends said sheepishly.

Nathan followed his teacher to the office, wondering if he did anything that would lead him to Mr. Howard's office. Thought after thought led him nowhere. It's too early of the school year for me to even make a bad impression, right?, he concluded in his head. Mr. Howard turned the doorknob to his office which was located far off from the teacher's lounge. Seeing that a lot of arguments happen in there, mostly with aggressively irresponsible parents. Nathan tried his best to not look as nervous as possible but he instantly forgot all that as a wave of men's cologne hit his face when they entered the room, reminding him of a familiar smell, Yuck! Smells like dad's suits.... "Please, sit down", Mr. Howard gestured a hand to his chair. Nathan immediately sat down like an obedient dog.

"Don't worry. You're not in any trouble", he started, "I just need you to give these assignments and notes to one of your classmates, the new kid". Nathan slowly slumped his shoulders, relief to know it wasn't much to worry about. Mr. Howard laughed seeing his reaction, "What do you kids think I was going to do? Eat you? If you didn't do anything wrong, what do you have to worry about?", he sighed. Nathan took the papers from him, "Right...I heard a boy was supposed to come in this week. What happened to him?" he asked. "Not much info, yet. He missed the entire first week of school so... fever perhaps?" Mr. Howard replied unsurely.

He handed a note to Nathan with a nervous grin, "Anyway, here's the address. Fortunately, you're the nearest to his house, so I figured, why not?" Nathan looked at the note, his heart sank seeing what was written, "This is 30 km from my house, Mr. Howard! How is that the nearest?"

"Alright, the kid lives far from here... But I have a date tonight so please...," he pleaded. Nathan bit his lip with a raised eyebrow as a respond. "But I wasn't kidding about you being the nearest, technically you were the furthest away from our school before him", he continued. "Fine! I'll do it!" he unwillingly agreed. Mr. Howard clenched his fist, "Thank you, Nathan! You're considered as my wingman if the date goes on smoothly!" He excitedly leaves the office and finger guns to Nathan's direction after punching his card.