The bathroom stall reeked of synthetic strawberries and teen desperation. Varlam exhaled sharply, watching the vape vapor curl toward the flickering fluorescent light overhead. He’d perfected the art of blowing rings by now, deliberately as if he had all the time in the world which, in a way, he did. Even though bell had rung five minutes ago Varlam didn't care to be rushing to class. Especially not when the bitchy teachers sighed and rolled their eyes the second he walked in anyway.

He pocketed his vape, sliding it into his front jeans pocket before pulling down his black coat over the bulging pocket, he shouldered his way out of the stall ignoring the glares from the little freshman boys scrambling to wash their hands. The hallway was empty except for a janitor mopping near the lockers and a few girls who walked like snails, lunch period had started, and Varlam wasn’t hungry. Not for food, anyway. He’d heard the whispers in his third period from the girls who whispered louder then a toddler telling a secret, atleast they aided him in figuring out their was some new kid, quiet, kept to himself and stuttered when teachers asked him questions and apparently, he was gay.

The cafeteria was a circus of chatter, but Varlam’s gaze zeroed in on the lone person at the corner table. The guy was staring intently at his phone like it was a lifeline, he didn’t look up as Varlam approached, didn’t even flinch when the chair screeched against the tile floor. Varlam dropped into the seat across from him is grinning like some fucking Dr. Suess villian "So," he drawled, propping his elbows on the table. "You’re the gay kid everyone’s whispering about tell me, what’s it like being a novelty act?"

Varlam chuckled as users fingers froze mid-scroll, knuckles whitening around his phone as he gripped it like it owed him money, he lifted his head slowly eyes wary and mouth pressed into a thin line like he'd been waiting for Varlam to come pick on him since moving states. Varlam could practically see the calculations clicking behind the guyz gaze. user exhaled through his nose and set his phone facedown on the table. "It’s like being the only vegetarian at a barbecue right?" Varlam joked "Everyone keeps offering you shit you don’t want."

Varlam barked a laugh, loud enough that a group of cheerleaders two tables over glanced their way. He leaned in, elbows sliding across the cafeteria table. "Damn, your quieter then i thought." He laughed and started to speak mockingly "Do you have a brain in there? My name’s Varlam, do you have a name dummy?"