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The first day back to school after a break was always something close to torture for Grayson. After a break that had included suicide, youma, and the headrush of retaining memories lost after his first death, it was something closer to a death sentence than anything. He didn't want to be there, and he certainly didn't want to deal with being one of the new students and eighteen years old on top of it.

Plus, that ridiculous story about the organ ring was going around. He just didn't want to deal with any of it.

Of course, he didn't have much choice. His parents had made it pretty clear he was getting a high school diploma and he was getting a job or he was finding a new residence. He wasn't too keen on living under a bridge, so he'd suffer through the rest of the school year. He'd somehow manage to scrape together the grades needed for passing, though the effort required in that when he'd missed half the year seemed daunting at best. He could only hope the school would make some allowances considering he had been (apparently) kidnapped for an organ trafficking ring for a year.

Barren Pines. There was only one thing - one thing he really missed about the school, aside from the people in it.

Pants.

A frown crossing his face, he paused for about the thousandth time since donning his uniform to tug the hem of his shorts down. He was really just attempting to comfort himself; the shorts remained as they ever were, which was too short for his liking, and his legs were bare to blind anyone who walked by. Honestly, Grayson had never been tan, and never would be. The Meadowview outfit made him feel like he was a traffic hazard as he walked to school, though.

He'd never gotten complaints about his legs before, but they were not showcased to their best advantage in the shorts. Not that he was trying to impress anyone, but still.

Pausing at his locker, he messed with the combination a few times, finally managing to get it on his third try. He shoved his uniform in it, already depressed by the fact that he'd have to leave school and go immediately to work. He was never going to get time to spin fire again.

He closed his locker, sighed, and leaned his forehead against it.

It was only the first day back, and already he just wanted to find a desk and go to sleep on it.

Of all the things that could have happened before he even got to his first class, being the victim of a running tackle was not one of them. He didn't even get the benefit of any kind of warning; before he was even aware there was a healthy teenage boy hurtling at him he was already absorbing the impact as best he could, arms coming up to circle around whatever else was trying to -- attack him? hug him? knock him over?

Thankfully, he had plenty of practice staying on his feet after such surprise attacks, considering Elke was his little sister and she delighted in flinging herself on him when he was least expecting it. So, he swayed a bit, but ultimately managed to stay on his feet, looking more than a little baffled as he rested his palms against the shoulder blades of, apparently, a fellow student.

He blinked, gaze falling on a familiar person, and a smile like sunshine broke over his face. "Ignacio! Hello."

If he thought it was awkward to suddenly have his arms full of Ignacio, he didn't say. He simply shifted his grip so that it was actually a hug, ignoring the snickers and awkward muttering that started up.

It was a new school, but he figured he'd have to put up with all the same things he had at any other school. He wasn't going to not be affectionate with his friends, after all. And it wasn't any big secret that he was from a somewhat unconventional household, even by the present day's standards.

It would also not be a huge secret that he preferred men to women. Grayson wasn't about to lie about it, so the first person who got up the gumption to ask in between giggles would be able to spread the word, he was sure.

But that wasn't the concern at the moment. Drawing back, still looking pleased, Grayson said, "I didn't know you were going to Meadowview too."

It was a peculiar feeling to be held for any great length of time by anyone who wasn't, well, Elke, and Grayson found himself a little embarrassed as the embrace went on. Not because he didn't like Ignacio, but rather because he did like him, and the close proximity was in danger of making Grayson like him a little too much. Especially considering their misadventures the night Ignacio had wanted to go clubbing, Grayson thought with a slightly perturbed look.

That didn't matter, though. Ignacio had been drunk, and regardless anyhow, Grayson was in no position to be pining after anyone. He'd barely come to terms with Benny's death, hadn't he? And he wasn't even sure he was prepared to accept that. Going to his grave had taken a lot out of Grayson, and there was a part of him that was still recovering. That probably would be recovering for a long time.

It was worse because his parents didn't understand, hadn't met Benny, and never would. He knew they assumed he was visiting the grave of someone who hadn't lived through the organ trafficking ring, and though that wasn't exactly true, it was close enough. It would only hurt them to know what had actually happened at Barren Pines, as well as the fact that he and Benny had been closer than friends. Maybe not much, because they hadn't been given the chance, but...

And there he was, drifting into melancholy thoughts while Ignacio was talking to him. He shook his head slightly in an effort to clear it, saw that Ignacio was looking at his schedule. Helpfully, he pulled out his own, offering the crumpled, abused piece of paper to the other boy.

"I don't remember what my classes are. You can compare if you want, though." He smiled slightly, adding, "It'd be nice to have some classes together."

Because they still had a little bit of time before class started, and it didn't seem like they were going anywhere, Grayson crossed his arms and leaned against his locker. He watched Ignacio compare their schedules, having honestly forgotten the majority of what he'd signed up for - really, he'd let the guidance counselor arrange the necessary classes for him to graduate, and had been content with it. Maybe he wasn't happy about it, but Grayson could rarely inspire himself to be happy about school.

As soon as he graduated, he was going to have to find a better job, and fast. He really didn't want to go to college. He had the feeling his parents were going to force him, though, by threatening to kick him out again. There was a lot of love in his family, but he knew that his parents wouldn't let him waste away his life under their roof, so he fully believed they'd boot him out and let him see firsthand what life without a college education was like.

He didn't look forward to the idea. So, he had about six months to come up with a game plan. Maybe he'd ask Jude for suggestions? Jude wasn't going to school, but then again, he was pretty sure Jude was living in a truck at the moment.

Maybe asking Jude wouldn't be the best idea.

Violet eyes flicking back to Ignacio's face, he offered his hand for his schedule once more, tucking it away in his pocket when the other was finished with it. His tone was easy and relaxed, indicating none of his more troubled thoughts. "Graduating is my main goal. I don't have to pass really well, I just have to pass."

It wasn't a go-getter's attitude, but no one would ever convince Grayson of even wanting to be a straight A student. School bored him, school irritated him, and school was not something he wanted to waste effort on, period. There were so many better things to do.

He blinked at Ignacio's next question, pursed his lips. He actually didn't know many people who were going to Meadowview. He hadn't asked many of the Zodiacs, and until just now, he hadn't even known Ignacio was attending. Oh, but!

"Sue is," he said suddenly, smiling. "Sue Gottschalk. Other than him, I'm not sure... I've kind of kept to myself since getting back."

Grayson frowned a bit when Ignacio referred to Sue as catboy -- if only he knew, he thought -- but his expression cleared up easily enough. He liked Ignacio, which meant he trusted him, so when he said he had nothing against Sue, Gray believed him. It was nice to know more than one person in the school, though he doubted either of them would have many classes with Sue, considering he was a grade below them.

After a moment, he said, "Oh, and Yvette. Yvette Weaver, I think? She's a senior, too." Another person Grayson didn't know particularly well, but she seemed nice enough, and he hoped to get to know her better. Everyone could use more friends, right?

When Ignacio apologized, Grayson's eyes softened, and he reached over, touching his wrist lightly. "It's okay. Don't worry about it, okay?"

A girl passing by stumbled, clearly having seen the delicate touch and the tender look that passed between them, no doubt misinterpreting it entirely. Grayson ignored her, his main concern reassuring Ignacio, not caring how awkward it probably looked.

Almost as soon as the moment began it had passed, but it left a funny feeling in the pit of Grayson's stomach. He knew what it was, had felt it before, but just as in the other times, he buried it. Attraction was something that he flirted with from time to time, but he was the sort of person who didn't act on his feelings, and rather waited for others to take the first step. It wasn't exactly conducive to having long, healthy relationships, but he wasn't about to change his ways. It was much easier to avoid being hurt, really hurt, if you didn't put yourself out there, after all.

He dealt with being attracted to someone the same way he dealt with everything else. He ignored it.

He was glad for the subject change, and he rolled his shoulders, back at ease once more. "Mostly, I was told that I had to keep on top of the classes she gave me, which are mostly core ones needed to graduate. If I toe the line, I should be good."

It was the toeing the line bit he was going to have to work on. Sigh.

"You should get an appointment with her," Grayson opined, sliding his hands into the pockets of his shorts again. Augh, shorts. He frowned briefly, one hand curling around his henshin pen, the other crumpling his schedule some more. He couldn't believe he was going to have to wear this uniform for half a year.

Eyes flicking back to Ignacio's face, he waited a beat before removing his schedule once again. He unfolded the paper, pursed his lips at it, and held it up once more for him to read. He hadn't actually looked at Ignacio's schedule, so he had no idea if they had homeroom together or not, but he was pleased by the idea that he might try to get lunch with him. He liked Sue and Yvette, but he wasn't sure if they would have lunch together or not, and it would be nice to have at least one person. He wasn't against eating alone, but he'd rather not if he didn't have to.

"It'd be nice if we had lunch together. Otherwise, I'll probably eat and then sleep through the period."

He said it so casually that it didn't seem like a big deal, but the truth was, if Grayson didn't have someone to talk to, he probably would fall asleep. He was fairly certain he'd be dozing off in class that day, just because it was school and he wasn't all that thrilled to be there. It was only actually dangerous for him to fall asleep on a free period like lunch, because he couldn't count on anyone to wake him up and make sure he moved on to his next class.

The bell had Grayson frowning again, though his reasons weren't as intense as Ignacio's. He reached down to where his backpack was propped between his feet, lifted it with a small sigh. So it was time to really head back to school. He was so over this school business.

Dad was in for a nasty surprise if he was seriously still thinking that Grayson wanted to go to college. He couldn't think of anything he was less suited for, except possibly prostitution.

The thought made his lips twitch a little, though.

"See you around, then." Grayson smiled and brushed past him, glancing down at his schedule one more time. Apparently, he and Ignacio had to go in opposite directions for homeroom. He'd see him in two classes, though, and maybe lunch.

That had to be good enough, right?