"Man, I'm just glad that Ms. Cheerilee didn't give us another page of homework," Rainbow said as she hoisted her backpack over her shoulder.
"Dash, don't even act like you were going to do most of it anyways," Sunset said, already holding the door for some other classmates. "Day it's due, you'll be in front of the statue, panicking and rushing to scrape a C together."
"Hey, I've managed to pull an 'A' out of that kind of panic before. That's just how I make it work."
With that, Rainbow got up and turned around.
"You comin' Trevor?"
Trevor nodded and pulled himself out of his desk.
"Yeah, right behind you."
He held the door for Sunset and Rainbow Dash, pulling it closed behind him as the three walked down the hall.
"Ugh, God I just realized it's fish sticks for lunch," Rainbow said. "Think I've got time to go hit up that new burger place before Fourth Period?"
"If you want, you can borrow my bike if I get a vanilla shake and cheese fries."
"Can you spot me an extra $10?"
"What? No way, you're going to be burning some of my precious gas money to get there. Either you get me lunch, or you can starve."
"Oh, come on! I thought you agreed to stop being evil!"
Dash immediately clapped her hands over her mouth, Sunset stopping as they looked at Trevor. He stopped and turned to them, raising an eyebrow.
"Um... oh, no, I'm fine, I packed some popcorn and a sandwich. Thanks, though."
He walked on, taking out an unpopped bag as Sunset and Dash let out a breath they held.
"Jeez, that was close," Dash said. "I am, so sorry I just blurted that out."
"It... it's fine, he either didn't notice or... I don't know, maybe he thinks we were talking about something else. It doesn't matter now, just... Look, it's fine. Just," she rummaged through her jacket and tossed her keys, "get your lunch."
Rainbow weaved to catch the keys, sparing a sad glance to Sunset before she ran off.
Sunset shook her head as she went into the cafeteria.
\\\\\\//////
Trevor leaned against the window sill as he got in line for the microwaves. There were only two girls in front of him, each one using a microwave for their own meals. Both of them were on their phones, muttering about something.
"And it just happened, like, this week?" the one with purple and pink hair said.
"Yeah, look at the date," the girl with green and white hair said, showing the first girl her phone. "Came out last night. Can't even blame it on the same group, it happened in Nevada this time."
Trevor's curiosity was peaked when he heard that. He tapped the green-haired girl on the shoulder.
"Excuse me?" he said?
She turned around and looked up at him.
"Yeah, can I help you?"
"Sorry, I just heard you saying something to your friend, and I was wondering what you're reading."
"Oh, well, I was looking up a thread on Reddit and ended up in this one sub about Conduits and how some groups are, uh... not being too kind, let's say."
"Pretty sure there's a difference between not being kind and literally assaulting him until he limped out of a Costco for buying toilet paper and pasta, Lyra."
Trevor went pale as Lyra turned her phone to him. On screen was the picture of a man with pale skin and long brown hair, bruises covering his face as he was being lead into an ambulance in front of a Costco. The article itself said what Lyra had, that he was just shopping, but went into detail about how he accidentally caused a panic when another customer dropped a large assortment of glass items and he absorbed them into his body. The man claimed that he didn't want people to be hurt, but some accused him of breaking the glass himself.
"Crazy, right?" Lyra said, putting her phone in her pocket. "Oh, I'm Lyra, by the way, and this is Bon-Bon. Pretty sure you're the new kid, right?"
Trevor nodded slowly.
"Well, if I were in your shoes," Bon-Bon whispered, "I'd be careful around little miss sunshine and her friends. She says she's changed, and I want to give her some kind of chance, but still."
Just then, the microwaves dinged simultaneously, and both girls exchanged a look and squealed.
"Perfect timing!" Lyra said.
"As always~!" Bon-Bon said.
They both got their meals out and walked off, chatting up a storm.
As Trevor eyed the popcorn in his hand and the microwave, his thoughts wracked his brain like a derailed train.