When a butterfly flaps its wings (0faceinthecrowd0)

*BEEP* *BEEP* the alarm sounded. It had little affect as Zack Bishop was already awake and preparing for the first day of his senior year. He was comfortable with his reputation but also wondered what would happen if he’d focused more on his social life. Social life clearly meaning girls. Not that he was celibate, he did have one relationship… ‘It didn’t go well’. This was his last chance to not only prove himself to his class but to win over his crush.

He jumped into action, getting showered and dressed quickly to keep on schedule. He was the appointed driver after all. He buzzed by his mother with a quick kiss on the cheek, and a side hug to his dad.

“H-O-R-S-E tonight for the car this weekend?” Zack asked with a raised brow.

“And how many times do you expect me to fall for that?” his father Daniel quipped back. Monica Bishop tried to hold back a smirk.

Zack tried out for his school’s team sophomore year but was cut. With encouragement from Daniel (and a growth’s spurt) he made the team junior year. Not that this means he gets much playing time but it has helped him make a couple friendships and looks good on college applications. Daniel had a half court built in the back yard to support Zack’s interest in basketball. Not much of an athlete himself, Daniel made an effort to rebound for Zack and give any pointers he could. Zack was aware that Daniel had little to offer as far as coaching but admired his attempts.

Zack smiled back at his parents and walked out of the house. Chloe and Paris were leaned against his car mid gossip. Paris was Zack’s cousin who was over at his house enough that Daniel jokes he should be able to claim her on his taxes. She has bright blue hair (that is naturally brown). She’s a curvy girl with a medium size bust and a nice round ass that Zack scolds himself from peaking at on occasion. Many other guys at school are just as guilty though it’s made clear they don’t have a chance. Chloe has a fit athletic body that’s been sculpted from years of battles fought on the soccer field. A normally rather meek girl turns savage once on the soccer field. She has long red hair and incredibly large breasts. Not that you would know it from the baggy clothing you’d typically find her wearing.

Not sure what they were talking about, Zack approached them while spinning the car key around his finger. “We’d be better off getting an Uber next time…” Quipped Paris. Chloe smirked and nodded her head.

“I’m not stopping you.” Zack answered back. “It would help on gas mileage.” He said with a breaking smile. Both girls responded with words that should not be repeated under their breath. Zack luckily survived this encounter. They had one stop to make on their way to school.

Ashley Woodsen was impatiently standing in front of her house waiting for Zack to arrive. A star cheerleader with multiple college offers, she fantasized over what her future held. Ashley was a petite blonde with medium sized breasts and a fit ass. Not the curviest of girls but was very well proportioned for her build and was definitely the cause of many of her schoolmates’ fantasies at night. Add on her bright smile and sweet but spunky personality, Ashley is quite the catch. Finally out of her older sister’s shadow, this would be her year. Ashley was a great student when she wasn’t focused on her matchmaking, a hobby that she took great pride in. She was constantly focused on making her friends happy. Possibly trying to compensate for her lack of relationships. She dated the school quarterback over the summer but it only lasted a couple months. She was at first infatuated, but ultimately didn’t feel the connection with Brandon Cole. Now regretful, she lost her virginity to the football player during this time.

Ashley looked at her watch and huffed as Zack pulled up. She hopped in the car with a few choice comments. He tried to defend himself but was clearly outnumbered. With a roll of his eyes, he sped towards the high school.

Despite the multiple conversations and gossip, Zack did his best to get through traffic on time. He parked the car and had a sigh of relief from being outnumbered by the girls. He was almost envious that Gavin had gotten his own car for his 18th birthday and only had to drive himself.

“Zackary Connor!...” “If I’m late to class I’m going to kick your ass!” Ashley exaggerated.

Zack chuckled at her threat. “while I’m sure your back handspring is terrifying… I think I’ll survive.”

“Don’t forget when I tackled you at my birthday party!” Ashley responded defensively.

“We were like 8 years old then!” Zack defended. Suddenly a smirk made its way to Zack’s face. “Some of us have grown since then…”

Ashley let out an exaggerated gasp, followed up with a discrete middle finger rubbing her forehead in Zack’s direction.

Before he could celebrate his victory, Chloe chimed in. “You better watch it Zack… It would be a shame for a rumor to pop up that you are our gay guy friend who does our nails and makeup on the weekends.”

“Don’t even joke about that!” Zack chimes. “Choose your words carefully!” Paris threatens, catching Zack even more off guard.

Zack puts his hand on his forehead before dropping it and giving it a shake. “I need more guy friends.”

“I think you’ll have plenty if this rumor gets out.” Paris laughs. Zack gives a scolding look to all three before the girls burst out in laughter. The mischievous look they all share finally causes Zack to stop and put his hands in the air.

“I concede! I know when I’ve been outclassed. And speaking of class we need to get going before we are late.”

While the four seemed to be at a cease fire for now, Paris throws a knowing glance to the remaining three. “Is it time?” The other three take a long but excited breath as they reach into their pockets all pulling out their class schedules. This has long been their tradition for the first day of school. A tradition that was started by Hannah Woodsen, Taylor Bishop and Peter Zander that was passed down to the younger siblings and their friends. They knew what classes they were enrolled in of course but they loved the excitement of waiting to see the exact schedule much to the annoyance of the friends outside of their circle.

“You better not have cheated either Zack. Knowing how you are you probably were dying to see how soon you could see Ms. Moreau.” Chloe said with an eye roll but slight smile to the blue-eyed boy.

“I will neither confirm nor deny…” Zack responded back to the three annoyed while also humored girls. He’s far from the only guy at school who melts in the presence of Mary Moreau. Mary is a 30-year-old English and literature teacher at the school. Basically, the only class that the guys want to attend even if they don’t hear a single word of her teaching as they all drool a puddle on their desks. Zack maybe the exception of being in complete awe and actually enjoying her teachings.

It wasn’t lost on any of them that Zack was a brilliant student. It almost came more natural to the boy. The tricky thing about Zack was that it was hard to typecast him. With his grades and advanced classes you’d say he’d be on the nerdy side but Zack had a confident, exciting side when he tapped into it. Being on the basketball team you might think he’d be jock-ish but that also doesn’t define him. While he enjoys its, it’s not his main focus and he’s only really clicked with a few guys on the team like Kevin Jackson and Jake Hayes. There’s a bit of mystery behind the non-assuming young Bishop that I’m sure more than a few girls want to figure out.

“Shit!” Zack all but shouts. “Mr. Ward first period. Is it too late to join the army?” Mr. Ward being the Chemistry teacher that has the polar opposite fanfare of Ms. Moreau, with the irony being that the two are a couple. You could have a record breaking blood drive if donating meant getting out of Mr. Ware’s class.

“Looks like I’m enlisting with you.” The normally chipper Chloe says in a defeated tone as her shoulders slump at the realization of having Mr. Ward. “Any others joining us in purgatory?” Chloe says trying to distract herself from being bummed before the first day of her senior year. While at times reserved, she too was curious of what could happen in this final year and if that what may include any boys. Chloe is currently a virgin but has long fantasized of having sex and possibly of who she would want it to be with.

“Nope. English first period, I’ll sell my schedule to you Zack.” Ashley joked as the boy couldn’t help but let out a groan. “History for me” Paris added. The four did have a few classes together later in the day that they were all excited by.

“This felt a little weird to do without Gavin” The redhead added. While true Gavin Westher was usually there in this tradition, he decided to skip it this year. Probably for the best as the anxiety it usually caused him. Gavin was the fifth ranger of the group but over time has found himself hanging out with more like-minded kids from the computer lab and science club. Zack still **** him out to socialize on occasion.

“I think the poor guy nearly had an aneurysm every time we did this.” Zack joked getting several giggles and nods from the group.

Across the parking lot Heather Ravers pulled which ever expensive European car she decided to drive that day into a parking spot. To say that she is wealthy would be an understatement as her family actually founded the town and still operates their company Ravers Enterprise in Azure Rocks. Add on the fact that she is the cheerleading captain and has a body that the guys would kill for and the girls envy, it makes her a pretty intimidating figure. For those that actually know her though, she’s grown bored of the typical social standards and maybe not consciously aware of it herself, longs to not be in the eye of attention at all times. Judging by her guarded and confident personality, it would be hard to know.

As she nears the school, she sees her close friend Ashley Woodsen hugging her friends as they part way to class. One of those friends being her estranged cousin, Zack Bishop. Heather focuses in on the two before separating suddenly wondering why she knows so little about her kin. Heather has long been told of the issues between their fathers and just assumes that’s the cause but also finds it dumb that she hasn’t looked further into it. Heather isn’t one known as a ‘rule follower’ and is suddenly finding an interest in getting to know this cousin of hers. As close as she is to her father, it’s time she finds out for herself if the bishops are all bad after all. The blue-eyed boy seems innocent enough and is very close friends with her own best friend. It suddenly seems silly to her to have taken this long to realize.

Heather hurries over to Ashley once they’ve both entered the school. Almost startling the young blonde, she smiles and embraces the brunette in a tight hug. “If you hug me any tighter, we could sell it on onlyfans.” The brunette smirked getting a huff and hard stare in response.

“I’ll never show affection for a friend again! You happy?” The blonde snapped back before laughter erupted between them both. The two cheerleaders continued down the hallway towards their first period class.

Mid stride the blue-eyed brunette casually commented “I think I have small project for you Ms. Matchmaker.” Ashley’s eyes instantly bugged out and she even squeaked as she turned to face Heather. “Tell me! Tell me!”

“Calm down half pint…” Heather dryly responded. A comment that would usually get a huff or eye role from the petite young blonde. But in this moment, she was far too locked on to the potential to care.

“Look not a relationship match, but I guess a friend match...” as Heather sort of stared into space sort of planning this as she goes. Ashley gives her a head tilt and squints her eyes trying to figure out what she means.

“I think I want to get to know Zack.”