dinohigh, no humans allowed!

I walked through the school halls; it was massive. The architecture was a mix of rainforest and gothic, with wooden and stone pillars and arches. It was all so intricate. It was damp and moody from the fog machines, and neon lights made a little light dance around us in an ethereal way. The whole building echoed the school's philosophy; it was the rules of the jungle here. Everything you can take. You take. And I was about to take my share in this world. I look around for directions.

Everywhere around me were the achievements of past students; their posters littered the wall with a lot of famous and rich people. The school focused on producing ruthless people who could change and alter the world around us.

It was really what they said. Your life began and ended in high school; any fuckups or mistakes here will follow you to the grave. And lose any chance of elevating yourself in life. Your diploma was everything. And I know what you're thinking—no, it's not? Well, the school produced politicians to have the laws changed so that they are. Your diploma was literally everything. It would haunt you for the rest of your life or be your easy road to the top. They wrote down everything. All the embarrassing moments, all the times you were humiliated, and all the enemies you made. And you can believe that those same enemies will follow you after your graduation and get their revenge. Yes, it was amazing just how much academics has imbued itself into the politics of the country. It first started with college lodges but moved to high school clubs. It was even beginning to seep into middle school, but I came from a small town, so no one knows me here. So I'm basically a ghost.

No one knows me. I can be whatever I want and be whoever I choose. And everyone else had dirt on them for their previous records in prestigious academies before they got moved to this one. It is not uncommon to receive new students in the middle of the year. A lot of slots were full. But many opened up due to accidents. And tragedies, and just generally, people going missing or dying on campus. Due to youthful conflicts.

Was the colorful way of fighting to the death. Murders and, i mean, struggle snuggles. Aldo, shhh, that doesn't happen here at all. Winky face. I think a journalist asked someone about that if it happened, and they denied it wholeheartedly and instantly received $100 million from school donations, so I have been practicing my reporter answers in case that fortunate question is asked of me. I'll take my reward in cash. Thank you very much.

My mental daydreaming aside, I look around me to see who I need to worry about. There are various dinos of all species around me. They are all interacting with each other, some positively, some negatively, and some are just hanging around waiting for the opening class.

There was a girl, a very graceful-looking stegsaur, with painted spine plates and a row of them on her head, one facing upward, like it was tied there rather than growing on it. She had a missing backplate for where her bra strap rested on her backless dress, so maybe she replaced it on her head. It was decorated with various company logos, and her head piece had a recognizable family on it. Huyanga roar, oh? She was a huyangasaurus-type stega. Wow, weren't those Asian? I had mixed feelings about Asians. On the one hand, I respected their culture and media. On the other hand, I didn't like how smart they were; they could easily see my act because they were also acting like everything about them was fake. To fit into western culture. In short, we were very similar, but we were competitors and should steer clear of her. She was putting up a poster of some giant bullfrog with horns. Vote PEPE for president. It was one of the schools older students from many years ago, now some old grizzled CEO. As a megacorp running for president, he was one of the few non-Dinosaur candidates to run, and he was very popular among the youths. I was included for his overly insensitive posts on the social media website and during the news interview, but he was also a fierce defender of the school's reputation and one of their biggest donors.

He was popular both among people with forward and backward thinking. Because he said a lot of the things we thought about the other species of dinosaurs. But he also advocated for more archosuars and reptiles to be allowed in here since he only got here since his parents bought up a huge share of stock. He is also the main reason I was allowed to even attend; otherwise, the voucher would mean nothing when the old principle would just deny me for being a human.

The stega huayangosaurus. She waved at other non-Dino students who waved back, chanting the slogan. It feels good, man! The presidential candidate's slogan. They all chanted half-heartedly, only doing it out of obligation, and she chanted with fervor in her voice. She smiled with her heart. She was clearly proud of the work he did here. Maybe her dad was part of the company? She has a company for her species written on her head. Maybe she's a model? Or even the daughter of the CEO. Well, I guess I better make a good impression, but also because I felt genuinely thankful for being allowed in here.

It feels good, man, I say with a true and genuine conviction. She widens her eyes a bit in surprise, quickly recovers, and says it back, squinting her eyes happily. Finally, someone else felt the same amount of enthusiasm. About

Replacing dinos. Geez, what a sucker! I don't know why these Dino allies think we are on their side. What are they stupid? I internally chuckled. And she mistakes it for a genuine laugh, and she laughs along with me. Have a wonderful first day at school! She says bubbly. But I can see it in her eyes. Upon realizing I was a human, her smile fades, and she forces down what looks like vomit welling in her throat. Her eyes look disgusted, and her voice catches on itself. But she forces herself to remain composed. I hated people like this.

You too, and I smile back. Mumbling. Weirdo.. Under my breath.

It amazes me how there are still people who are fake. It was clear to me, with all the advertisements tattooed on her literal body parts, that she was only doing this for some ulterior motive. She was one of those companies that could be bought and sold allegiance-wise. But still, it was nice knowing all you needed to do to make people stop being racist toward you was be rich. Another reason why I strived hard to get out of this ditch I was born into. But it didn't feel right for all my views on friendship. As cynical as they would become. I still knew what I was doing wasn't right. But I could find no one else who felt the same. Sigh—a big sigh of misery escaped my mouth.