*2 months earlier*
Chase Tennyson woke up on a Tuesday morning with a sharp pain as he clutched his injured rib and let out a slight groan. He turned on his bed and took a look at his clock resting on the desk and wondered why it hadn't rang yet and he sat up to take a better look. To his horror, it showed 8:30am. His eyes widened as he came to the horrible realisation that he had slept through the alarm and that his first lesson was coming to an end in about thirty-five minutes which gave the chemistry teacher a good reason to keep him behind after school. He pushed away the bed sheets, staggered out of bed and headed for a quick shower, still clutching his side.
He left the shower as quickly as he could. As he was exiting the bathroom, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror: His bright blue hair had grown out, nearly covering his blue eyes. Even though he was 15, he still looked scrawny without a trace of muscle and a black bruise started to swell on his side, turning a dark shade of black.
He stopped staring at himself and headed back to his room to get ready for school. He put on a pair of blue jeans, threw on a plain white t-shirt and a dark blue hoodie. He chose his favourite sneakers and added a black belt to complete the outfit.
He tucked in his shirt and saddled his belt as he tightened his digital watch around his wrist. He grabbed his backpack and made sure that all his books were there before pocketing his phone and rushing downstairs for a quick breakfast, ignoring the constant pain in his ribs.
He quickly glanced at the time; 8:40. As he moved around the kitchen, he half expected someone to yell at him wondering why he hadn't left yet but luckily the house was empty. He made himself a quick toast and speed-walked to the door as he prepared to leave. He continued munching on his toast as he unlocked the front door and stepped out into the cold September weather.
Once the front door was locked and he had exited the house's gates, he speed-walked to school. The walk to school was normally meant to last 20 minutes but his injured ribs added another 10. By the time he arrived at school, it was already 9:15, making him 10 minutes late for the second period.
The school was immense and exuded wealth. The main gate was wide enough to fit two roads combined. The campus featured two full-sized basketball courts and four additional mini courts. The football pitch matched the standard dimensions but could be expanded fivefold with six movable goalposts. Nearby, a swimming pool was housed inside a gym. Adjacent to the gym was a tennis court, and a large shed, the size of a semi-detached house, stored all sports equipment.
The teachers were highly qualified, hailing from top universities and holding multiple master's degrees and other advanced qualifications, earning them significant respect in society. The school was always equipped with the latest and best PCs, provided to both students and teachers. Classrooms were spacious, accommodating over 25 tables each, and were equipped with touch-screen boards and the fastest Wi-Fi in the country.
As Chase approached the main gate, a muscular guard inside a booth spotted him from afar and opened up a pedestrian gate allowing Chase to enter the school.
"Late today, Chase? That's rare." The guard said in his deep voice as he moved aside to let the kid pass.
"I am sorry, I overslept, " Chase simply said as he passed the guard before thanking him for opening the gate. The guard tutted and was ready to give him a lecture, as he usually did to all late comers, but refrained from doing so as he saw that the kid seemed to be in pain.
"You alright there son?" He asked, closing the gate as he watched Chase slowly walk away. Chase slightly nodded and headed towards the school's reception to register his late arrival. The guard watched him for a second and went back inside the booth whilst hoping that the kid would be alright for the rest of the day.
The school's reception was the first thing that could be seen when you entered the school and a sign above it, in bold read:
WELCOME TO ACER HIGH
Chase sighed and headed inside the building.