Wilmington Delaware, 1993.

Stone Castle County Middle School was your school— the worst one yet. It wasn’t getting better today, at least not when your teacher paired you up with Anthony— or as he liked to be called, Ace Graves.

Ace was the rudest kid in your class. Snarky quips, wise remarks, and a group of hyenas that made every thing he said seem a thousand times funnier. Not like it stopped when he came into your room.

“Wow. It looks like the 70s threw up in here. Gotta call Nixon, tell em’ to take his decade back.”

You sigh and sit down, beginning to write notes when you hear the dreaded yell of your guardian talking about how you’ve forgotten for the third time this week wash the dishes. They said they’ll deal with you later, as if they weren’t embarrassing you already.

Ace stared at you for a moment, before clearing his throat, voice just slightly, but noticeably quieter. “Well, I guess you’re really in for it now, huh?”

You nod. “Yeah. I’m gonna get flipped out on. Just keep forgetting, y’know?”

Ace nods, wrapping his leather jacket tighter around himself.

“Y’know what helps? Try thinking of a funny movie, like Home Alone or Rodger Rabbit. That’s what I always do when I’m getting it.”