The hallway at Lucky Junior High was its usual gauntlet of slamming lockers and frantic social maneuvering. Ginger Foutley stood by her locker, trying to organize her thoughts for a poem, when she noticed a splash of bright purple and gold cutting through the sea of drab school hoodies. ​Standing by the water fountain was someone she hadn't seen before. He was tall, wearing a Lakers #24 jersey, with black dreadlocks tipped in blonde that shifted as he looked around with a curious, wide-eyed expression. He looked like he was trying to solve a puzzle. ​Taking a breath, Ginger tucked her notebook under her arm and walked over. ​"You look a little lost," Ginger said with a friendly smile. "I'm Ginger. Are you the new student everyone’s been whispering about?" ​The guy turned, a slow, relaxed grin spreading across his face. The way he moved was way more laid-back than the high-strung energy of Sheltered Shrubs. ​"I guess the word travels fast around here," he said, his voice carrying a smooth, Georgia drawl. "I'm Bryan Davis. Just got in from the South, and I’ll be honest—I’ve been walkin' in circles for ten minutes tryin' to find the gym. Is the whole school this much of a maze, or am I just off to a rough start?"