${name} had not been to ${z/his/her/xir} hometown in years because ${z/his/her/xir} family

Moving back into ${z/his/her/xir} old school district seemed like a blessing. Finding new friends at the places ${name} moved to never really worked out. Par for the course when you switch schools halfway during the year, most school councilors would say. Now, however, after moving an additional 3 more times ${z/he/she/xe/xir} was back to square one, living close to where ${z/he/she/xe/xir} grew up. This time around the move was during summer, so the new school year had not even started, for once. That meant there would not be any awkward introduction to class in the middle of the year, when everyone had already grouped into cliques as best as they could. ${name} would finally be able to just get to know ${z/his/her/xir} peers naturally, without out an unnecessarry introduction by an apathetic teacher. It all seemed too good to be true for ${z/him/her/xir}. And as always, it really was.

${name}'s first day to school started out fairly decently at least. Some quick breakfast, idle banter with the family and then a quick bus ride to highschool. On the bus ${z/he/she/xe/xir} already saw some familiar faces, but nobody had an empty seat beside them or recognized ${z/his/her/xir} face, from the looks of it.

Once out of the bus ${name} caught a glimpse of a face ${z/he/she/xe/xir} recognized without fail. It was Gina! ${name} and Gina used to be best pals, they even lived next to each other and had sleepovers all the time! There was still plenty of time before classes started and Gina seemed to be heading someplace private, so ${name} decided to shoot his shot and reintroduce ${z/him/her/xir}self to Gina.

That, however, did not go as planned. Gina was casual as she strutted her stuff across still mostly empty hallways and into a small yard in the back of the school, surrounded by brick walls. Nobody else seemed to be in the yard, which Gina made sure of with obvious glances. She didn't notice ${name} follow after her at a distance. It's not like ${z/he/she/xe/xir} was sneaking after her, but ${z/he/she/xe/xir} was trying not to be too obvious about it either.

Gina had earbuds in, humming a tune from an artist ${name} recognized instantly. "Still a Gwenaboo, eh, Gina?" were the first words from ${z/his/her/xir} lips as Gina turned to face him, a look of bewilderment and fear on her face. Without hesitating Gina grabbed ${name}'s wrist and pulled the two of them around a corner, pinning ${z/him/her/xir} against the brick wall. "Who are you and why are you following me, freak?" Gina hissed, her face twisted into what she probably considered an intimidating facial expression. Confused as ${name} was her face only made him laugh. "You don't remember me? It's me, ${name}. We lived next to each other from kindergarden to early middle school, remember? I'd moved away before the year ended."

Gina's face went through a ferris wheel of emotions at that revelation. She smiled briefly, her eyes lighting up with recognition as she studied ${name}'s face more closely. Before she said another word though, an expression of dread washed over her and she sneered. With a hiss she asked "So, uh, I guess you also remember all that stuff about the things I liked and did in middle school, huh?"

A grunt of affirmation was not the reaction Gina had hoped for. With a sudden lunge both her hands were on ${z/his/her/xir} face, pulling ${z/him/her/xir} down into a kneeling position.

"Right. So. I'm sorta happy to see you again, not gonna lie about that. But like, I can not be seen with you till you've proven yourself to be accepted around here. I got a reputation to uphold."

${name} frowns at that, cut off by Gina before ${z/he/she/xe/xir} could speak.

"Look, ${name}," Gina growled, "I can and will make your life a living shit-show if you spill any beans about knowing the past me. I...changed quite a bit. And I want to keep my current reputation."