Chapter One: New Friends.
Thorax’s P.O.V
Today is a fresh day. Fresh start. I told myself that as I was waking up, but it didn’t ease my sleepiness. I yawned, stretching out my limbs. I looked out the window, seeing the sun shine brightly through the glass. I rubbed my eyes, before sliding off my bed. It was new day of school, and..I wasn’t ready. I get picked on a lot, so I just..don’t like going to school. But, I hold my composure, and sigh. I had a very easy routine, doesn’t take more than 20 minutes. I have to be at the bus stop at 8:00, and I normally wake up at 7:30. So, I get 10 minutes to get there, and it doesn’t take long to get there, so...yeah. Anyways, that ramble over, after I freshened up, I grabbed my backpack, and headed out the door. It was the season of summer. My favorite season. It was the perfect time for taking nice strolls here and there. As I started down the sidewalk, I glanced to a few neighbors that I never talk too. I keep thinking about talking to one of them, but I never get the chance. Probably never will. There were also many critters where I live. Not like..rats, or anything. Like squirrels, and some bugs. But, it’s not that common around here. It wasn’t long until I got to my destination. I stood away from everyone else, as they talked to their friends and such. I, wasn’t one of them. I was the lonely one. Didn’t have friends. Period. I try to get to know people, but they..just don’t like me. I don’t know why...
But then, this happened. So, I was just standing by myself, as always, before this person came up behind me, and tapped me on the shoulder. I jumped, and turned around, quickly. There, standing in front of me, was a taller girl. She had colored skin, and navy blue hair. She was wearing a shirt that showed her shoulders, and wore dark gray leggings, and dark green boots. She had a slightly menacing expression on her face. I looked up at her. She looked so cool! And scary. I was just this short, dumb, dork. It sucked. So, we just looked at each-other for a moment, before the girl spoke.
“ ..What’s your name? “ She asked, her voice was monotone, and tough sounding. I gulped, before answering.
“ ..T-Thorax.. “ I cracked up, sounding like a complete idiot. She nodded, and held her hand out.
“ Chrysalis. “ She spoke. “ I’m Chrysalis. “
Chrysalis? That’s a cool name.. I thought, still looking up at her, nervously. I coughed, awkwardly, before looking at her hand. I grabbed it, and slowly shook it.
“ ..I-It’s nice to meet you, Chrysalis.. “ I mumbled, looking at my feet. This was so embarrassing! Finally, the bus came. It stopped, and the doors opened. Everyone pushed through me, but the girl who I was talking too waited. Me and her were the last ones on. Already, almost all the seats were full. I sighed, and walked off to the back. The girl followed me. I sat down. I just looked down at the ground, sighing. Chrysalis sat next to me, and saw me sulking.
“ ..Hey, what’s up? “ She asked. I looked up at her, and glanced away for a moment. She narrowed her eyes.
“ Yo, Thorax, what’s up? “ She asked, a little more demandingly. I just gazed at her, still not saying anything. She frowned at me, clenching her fists.
“ Don’t ignore me, dude..! “ She growled. I sighed.
“ L-Look, I..I don’t wanna talk about it, ok..? “ I mumbled. She blinked, before huffing, frustrated.
“ Fine. Whatever. “ She muttered. We sat in an awkward silence, as everyone else were talking to each-other. Chatting about certain topics, probably other people. I then looked at Chrysalis, who was taking her phone out of her backpack. She turned it on, and started texting someone. I watched.
“ ..Who are you texting? “ I asked. She narrowed her eyes at me.
“ No one? Why’s it your concern? “ She mumbled, just loud enough for me to hear. I blinked, before just minding my own business. I looked out the nearest window. School was pretty far away, so getting there would take a while.
“ ..Where’s your phone? “ Chrysalis turned her head to face me.
“ My phone? O-Oh, Uhh..I don’t have it with me. “ I mumbled, shuffling a bit in my place, uncomfortably.
“ Why..? “ She seemed curious.
“ Well, I mean, I don’t have much use for it. All I do with it, is watch videos, and play games. “ I explained. “ I hardly have a purpose for it. I don’t have friends to text, or call. I don’t have any social media apps, so..yeah.. “. Chrysalis nodded, slowly. She looked off to the side, before taking out a piece of paper. She took a pen from her pocket out, and starting writing something down. She then ripped that piece off, and handed it to me. I leaned off to the side, confused.
“ ..What are you— “
“ Just take it, Thorax. “ She shoved it in my hand. I took a look at it. It was..her number?
“ ..Why did you give me your number..? “ I asked, tilting my friend. She groaned, rolling her eyes.
“ Isn’t it obvious? I’m trying to get you to be my friend, idiot. “ She huffed. I blinked, before looking at the piece of paper again, and just..put it in my pocket. I didn’t have my phone, so I couldn’t put the number in yet. After another while of silence, the bus jerked forward. We were here. School. AI School. Yes, the school’s name is AI School. The people who made it didn’t have many ideas. The doors of the bus opened, and everyone got up, and started walking out.
Chrysalis’s P.O.V
The doors of the bus opened, and everyone got up, and started walking out. Me and Thorax were the last ones out. I didn’t know the name of this school, but once I saw the actual name, I couldn’t help but snicker. ‘ AI School ‘. That was the stupidest name I ever heard! Thorax turned to me, confused.
“ What? “ He said to me. I looked at him, smiling.
“ T-The name. AI School! It’s so dumb! “ I exclaimed to him, still giggling. He blinked, before sighing.
“ Yeah, yeah, I know.. “
“ I-I mean, is this school like—all about technology or something? “ I asked, jokingly. Thorax sighed again.
“ No, it’s a normal school, Chrysalis... “ He mumbled, looking a bit annoyed. My laughing slowed, and I just smiled.
“ Haha..alright, alright, I’ll stop bugging you.~ “ I’d ruffle up his hair. He groaned, softly, before trying to fix his hair up. The bell rung, and the doors opened. Thorax, me, and a bunch of other people shoved their way through. Though, I noticed Thorax was having the most trouble with it. He was always stumbling, and almost tripping. Poor kid looked like he didn’t know how to walk! So, I just tried helping him, holding him by the arm.
“ H-Hey, what are you doing?? “ He looked at me, confused.
“ I’m just trying to help you, stupid. “ I rolled my eyes, tugging at his arm, trying to keep him from falling down, and possibly dying. Thorax nodded, and just tried to keep himself steady. He was rather skinny, and weak looking. Unlike me. I’m kinda tall, and intimidating looking. Though, he’s the first friend I have ever really had. I don’t really like making friends, but mom kept telling me to at-least make one friend. So, I tried. Right now. It’s not that easy. All of the sudden, I felt Thorax fall to the ground. I looked down, and quickly tried pulling him up.
“ DUDE! What’s your problem?! “ I gave him a look of concern, mixed with frustration. But, once I got a good look at him, for some reason..something didn’t seem right. He looked pale, and he was shivering.
“ ..Thorax? “ My expression went to just being concerned. He wasn’t breathing right, that’s for sure. It was slow, and..rather unsettling. What the heck is happening?! I thought to myself, still holding onto Thorax’s arm. A few people were looking at us. After a second, he just..fainted. I was pulled down too.
“ Thorax?! Thorax, What the hell?! “ I just stared at the kid. Something definitely screwed up happening to him, but what? I didn’t know. I just picked him up, and tried holding him in my arms. This was...awkward. Was this what having friends felt like? Cause I didn’t like it. I started running around trying to figure out where the Nurse’s Office was. The kid was light, so running around wasn’t that hard. People kept glancing at me, confused. After a while, I figured out where the office was, but I ran into a problem. I looked at Thorax...and at the door. I didn’t know if I should just..put him down, or..or something. After a moment of thinking, I just went ‘ screw it ‘, and kicked the door open. There! Problem solved! The people in the office were shocked to see the door kicked opened.
“ ..Can we help you? “ One woman asked.
“ It’s Thorax, he—I don’t know, he just fainted, and I don’t know what happened! “ I tried to explain. Another woman just sighed.
“ A shutdown. Of course. Bring him here. “ She leaded me to the room where people were to be taken care of the best they could. I set him down at the..not-so comfy looking surface.
“ ..So..now what? “ I asked. The woman shrugged. I just gave her a look.
“ ..Whatever. “ I huffed, before climbing up on the bed thingy. It wasn’t actually that bad. It was comfy, actually. The woman just left me, and Thorax alone. I looked at the kid. It looked like he wasn’t breathing, but he was, but it was just..well..not too seeable. I sighed, before I heard him coughing. He was waking up.
Thorax’s P.O.V
I was waking up. It took me a moment, before being able to catch my breath. Thank goodness it wasn’t a long shutdown. It just..happens. It’s a condition. When I woke up, I noticed Chrysalis sitting next to me.
“ Thorax! You’re awake! That’s good. “ She sounded rather glad. I took a moment to process everything, before mumbling.
“ ..Ch..Chrysalis..? “ It sounded like I was dying or something. She scooted closer to me, sort of narrowing her eyes.
“ Alright, mister. Care to explain why you just fainted on me like that?! “ She seemed to interrogate me. I took a few breaths, before sitting up. I rubbed my eyes, groaning a little.
“ ..I-It’s a condition.. “ I mumbled. It seemed like she didn’t buy it.
“ Yeah, yeah, alright, whatever. “ She turned her head away from me.
“ Chrysalis, it’s the truth..! I..I’m sorry... “ I curled up into a ball. Making friends was harder than I thought it would be. We both sat in silence... Did she even hear my apology? She ignored me. Of course...
“ ..Chrysalis, I’m sorry, ok? I- “ I was cut off by her hand on my mouth. I blinked, confused. She looked at me, with a smile.
“ All I want, is a sorry. Not some sappy apology, you dork. “ She ruffled up my hair again. My face felt a little hot, huffing. I fixed up my hair, right before the bell rung.
“ Well. What are you waiting for? Let’s head out, k? “ She hopped off the bed, and stood there, waiting for me. I hopped off as well, stretching a little bit. The bed did make you a bit stiff, but..not too stiff. We both then walked out.
Author's Note
(Ok. First chapter. My opinion is..ok..? I don’t really think..it’s that good. But, I’mma just try.)
