Signal Lost, Self Found

Marcus's thumbs hovered over his cracked iPhone screen, doomscrolling through everyone else's highlight reel while the city bus lurched toward Northwood High. First day at a new school, junior year—absolutely the worst time to reinvent yourself. He'd already spent forty-five minutes crafting the perfect 'casual but not trying too hard' outfit: vintage band tee (nobody needed to know he'd discovered the band two weeks ago), dad jeans (actually his dad's, but whatever), and his lucky thrift-store bucket hat pulled low enough to hide whatever panicked expression his face decided to wear today.

The Bluetooth headphones around his neck died mid-podcast, because of course they did. Marcus fumbled with the charging cable, tangling it around his fingers like digital anxiety. The guy beside him watched with amused pity.

"First day?" the guy asked. Marcus nodded, hating how obviously nervous he felt. "I'm Chen. You good?"

"Yeah, just—technology hates me."

"Same. Hey, nice hat. Vintage vibe?"

Marcus froze. Was that sarcasm? Chen looked genuine though. Relaxed. Like he belonged in his skin.

At school, Marcus's phone buzzed nonstop—group chats blowing up, his old friends asking if he'd survived, his mom checking in for the third time. He clutched it like a lifeline, afraid to look up too long. The hallway chaos slammed into him: laughter echoing off lockers, couples being gross, friend groups reforming like middle school amoebas.

Then he spotted HER: Zoe, from summer camp last year. The one who'd made him laugh until soda came out his nose. She was near his locker, wearing this oversized blazer over a dress, total chaos energy.

Marcus ducked behind his open locker door, heart hammering. No way was he ready for that interaction. Not with the bucket hat situation. Not with the sweat situation. Just—no.

Someone tapped his shoulder. Chen.

"You hiding?"

"Maybe."

Chen grinned. "Welcome to the club. We meet behind gym equipment during lunch. Very exclusive."

Marcus snorted before he could stop himself.

"Hey," Chen said, "I'm heading to the music room after school. You play?"

"Guitar. Badly."

"Perfect. We suck together. Bring that hat—it's giving musician energy."

For the first time all day, Marcus's phone stayed dark in his pocket. He pulled the bucket hat brim slightly higher, actually smiled, and thought maybe junior year wouldn't completely wreck him after all.