Gareth finally finished coating his head in hairspray as his mother yelled from downstairs, "GARETH, LOVE! TIME TO GO! YOU'LL MISS YOUR BUS!"

Gareth rolled his eyes. He gave himself a final once over in the mirror, moving a hand to smudge his red eyeshadow a bit more, then squatting to say goodbye to his Blue-tongue Skink, Malady. He blew her a little kiss and grabbed his backpack and headphones, yanking open his door and almost flying down the stairs.

"IT'S OUTSIDE, GARETH!"

"I KNOW, MOM! GET OFF MY BACK!"

"Do you have your lunch?"

Gareth snatched his lunch bag off the counter, his shoes skidding on the tile.

"YES!"

"Alright, no need to snap. And don't scratch my tiles with your spiky boots."

Gareth rolled his eyes and ran out the door to catch the bus.

"LOVE YOU, SWEETHEART! HAVE A GOOD DAY!"