Daily life

Morning sunlight washed over the small campus of Scott Valley Junior High as buses rolled into the parking lot. Students spilled out in loud groups, talking, laughing, and complaining about homework.

Among them walked Jacoby Morrison.

Jacoby adjusted the sleeve of his oversized black hoodie and checked his phone camera.

“Okay chat,” he whispered while recording. “Welcome back to another episode of ‘Surviving Middle School.’”

He turned the camera toward the school building.

“Today’s goal: make it through all seven periods without someone throwing something at my head.”

He paused.

“…again.”

He ended the recording and sighed.

Jacoby walked toward the entrance, boots softly thumping against the pavement. His outfit—black thigh highs, platform boots, eyeliner, and layered chains—stood out among the sea of hoodies and basketball shorts.

That meant people noticed him.

Unfortunately.

Near the entrance stood Carter and his usual group: Tate, Hunter, Frank, Rayland, Sarah, Maddie, and Max.

Carter noticed him immediately.

“Well look who it is,” Carter said loudly. “TikTok boy.”

Hunter snickered.

“Oh yeah,” he added. “Isn’t your username Jacobyurmom?”

Some nearby students laughed.

Jacoby kept walking, pretending not to hear.

Sarah leaned over to Maddie and whispered loudly enough for Jacoby to hear.

“I still don’t get why he dresses like that.”

Maddie shrugged.

“Attention probably.”

Carter smirked.

“Or confusion.”

More laughter followed as Jacoby pushed through the doors.

Just ignore them, he told himself.

Just get through the day.

⸻

First Period – Enrichment (Ms. Rompon)

Jacoby sat near the back of the classroom while Ms. Rompon organized papers at her desk.

This class was usually quiet.

Which Jacoby liked.

Students worked on homework from other classes or read quietly.

Jacoby pulled out his sketchbook and began drawing a little fox character wearing a hoodie.

He smiled faintly.

Foxes were cool.

And cute.

“Nice drawing.”

Jacoby looked up.

An 8th grader helping in the classroom had stopped by his desk.

“Oh—thanks,” Jacoby said softly.

The student nodded and walked away.

Jacoby felt a small boost of happiness.

Tiny moments like that mattered.

Unfortunately, that peace didn’t last long.

From across the room, Carter whispered loudly to his friends.

“Bro is drawing furries now.”

Hunter laughed.

Jacoby stared at his sketchbook again.

Ignore it.

⸻

Second Period – Physical Education (Mr. Forrester)

The gym echoed with bouncing basketballs and squeaking shoes.

“Alright everyone!” shouted Mr. Forrester. “We’re doing warm-ups first!”

Students began jogging around the gym.

Jacoby ran quietly along the edge of the group.

Behind him, Tate and Hunter started whispering.

“Bro runs like a cartoon character.”

“Maybe he’s practicing for his TikTok dances.”

They laughed.

Jacoby sped up slightly, trying to get away from them.

Across the gym, a few 8th graders noticed.

One of them shook his head.

“Those guys are annoying.”

Jacoby heard that.

And it helped… a little.

⸻

Third Period – English (Mrs. Murphy)

The class worked on reading assignments while Mrs. Murphy walked between desks.

Jacoby liked English.

Reading meant fewer conversations.

Unfortunately Carter sat two rows behind him.

A crumpled paper ball suddenly bounced off Jacoby’s desk.

He didn’t react.

Another one hit him.

“Target practice,” Hunter whispered.

Mrs. Murphy turned around suddenly.

“Is there a problem back there?”

Everyone went quiet.

“No, ma’am,” Carter said.

She gave them a suspicious look before continuing.

Jacoby stared down at his book.

Almost halfway through the day.

⸻

Fourth Period – Social Studies (Mrs. Murphy)

Same teacher.

Different subject.

Jacoby quietly took notes while Mrs. Murphy talked about world geography.

Behind him, someone whispered loudly.

“Does Japan have schools for people like him?”

More snickering followed.

Jacoby kept writing.

His pencil pressed harder into the paper.

⸻

Lunch

The cafeteria was loud.

Trays clattered. Students shouted across tables.

Jacoby sat alone near the end of a table, scrolling through his phone.

He opened TikTok and looked at his account.

Jacobyurmom

His videos actually got a decent amount of views.

Comments were mixed.

Some were supportive.

Some were… not.

But at least online people actually noticed him.

Across the cafeteria Carter’s group pointed in his direction.

Jacoby sighed and looked back at his food.

⸻

Fifth Period – Science (Ms. Rompon)

This class involved a small lab activity.

Students worked in groups.

Jacoby didn’t get picked for one.

Ms. Rompon noticed.

“Jacoby,” she said gently. “You can join my table.”

He nodded quietly and worked there instead.

At least she tried.

⸻

Sixth Period – Math (Ms. Rompon)

Numbers filled the whiteboard.

Jacoby worked quietly through the equations.

Behind him someone whispered:

“Imagine doing math in thigh highs.”

Jacoby pretended not to hear.

Again.

⸻

Seventh Period – Woodshop (Mr. Ben)

The woodshop smelled like sawdust and varnish.

Machines hummed as students worked on projects.

Jacoby liked this class the least.

Too many tools.

Too many loud people.

And unfortunately…

Carter’s group.

Hunter hammered loudly on a random piece of wood.

BANG. BANG. BANG.

Jacoby finally spoke.

“…Can you not hit random stuff?”

Hunter smirked.

“Why?”

“Because it’s annoying,” Jacoby said.

Jacob—another student nearby—suddenly shoved Jacoby.

“Then mind your business.”

Jacoby stumbled back slightly.

Something inside him snapped for a second.

The entire day’s frustration bubbled up.

The laughter.

The whispers.

The constant comments.

He clenched his fists.

Mr. Ben quickly stepped over.

“Alright, that’s enough.”

The class quieted slightly.

But the tension remained.

Jacoby stared at the ground.

He felt exhausted.

Seven periods.

One long day.

And tomorrow would probably be the same.

As the final bell rang and students began leaving—

Far beyond the clouds above the school…

A small glowing meteor streaked across the sky.

No one noticed it.

Not Carter.

Not the teachers.

Not even Jacoby.

But something was falling toward Earth.

And very soon…

Jacoby Morrison’s normal life was going to end.

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