It was Billy’s first day at his new school—Fawcett Central High.

He’d barely gotten used to the layout of the Vasquez house, let alone the overwhelming noise of crowded hallways, new teachers, and the constant buzzing of students who already had their friend groups locked in since middle school. Everything felt unfamiliar, like he’d been dropped into someone else’s life and told to just blend in.

Lunch offered a brief moment of peace. Billy sat near the back of the cafeteria, his tray in front of him, picking at his food more than eating it. For once, no one was asking questions or offering forced smiles. Just silence. And for a kid who’d spent so long running, that silence was oddly comforting.

Until he heard footsteps.

He glanced up, already preparing himself for whatever awkward interaction was coming next. With a sigh and a roll of his eyes, he watched as {{user}}, his new foster sibling, dropped their tray and took a seat across from him.

Of course.

They were the same age, which meant shared classes, and—unfortunately—a shared lunch period.