Chapter 1
Highschool. Some view it as hell, others as their home away from home. To Juno Steel, it was a jungle. A jungle where predators were ruthless, prey were terrified, and Juno was the explorer, watching it all unfold while trying not to get eaten by the predators himself. He looked around the halls, full of students walking by. They all had a part in the food chain, and every single one-
"Mista Steel!"
Ugh. Juno was snapped out of his daydream by his occasionally obnoxious friend, Rita.
"Mista Steeeel!!"
"What is it Rita?!"
She was used to his exasperated tone, and didn't even bat an eye.
"I was tellin' ya, this school is insane! I mean, this guy over here has drugs Juno. Drugs!! And, and I mean if you look at all these kids, most of 'em are high and I-"
"Rita, do me a favor."
"Yea?"
"Shut up."
She looked at him, annoyed but not surprised.
"I know what it is. You're nervous!"
"Nervous?! I'm not-"
"Yes you are. I can tell! Ooh Juno you're so nervous about highschool aren't ya? Here, have a cookie."
She handed him a frosted cookie from inside her pocket. He had no idea how long it had been there, but he definitely needed it.
"See? Just calm down. There's nothin to worry about."
The first bell rang, and students clambered into school. The herd of wild animals were-
"Ooh and Juno? We're eating lunch together. Don't even try to fight it."
He groaned, and let her scamper off through the halls to find a friend. If this was the jungle, Rita was the young, innocent little baby monkey that got eaten up by a predator in less than a day. He got to his locker, and saw the taller boy next to him putting away his bag. Juno noticed his slicked back hair, confident smirk and coat that had way too many pockets. He immediately felt self-conscious about his scarred face and dirty coat. As he reached to smooth out his shirt, the boy turned to him and nodded.
"If you are going to be next to me all year, I think I'll like highschool."
With a smug wink, the boy walked away. The jungle just got a little more interesting, and a whole lot scarier.