Sunflower Symphony

Chapter One

"Clay Wilson?"

"Here."

A boy in the back says, raising his hand and smiling at his teacher who marks on her board with a pen. As she continues saying her students names, Clay turns to his best friend seated beside him.

"I wrote another song yesterday and I'm pretty proud of it. I'll show you tonight after we work on the project."

"Piano or guitar?"

Clay leans back in his seat and rubs a bit of sleep from his green eyes.

"Piano. I don't like guitar as much anymore, it's not my type of instrument you know?"

Nick nods, his attention being pulled away by the classroom door creaking open and a small brown haired boy shuffling inside.

"Mr. Davidson, glad to see you could make it before the bell for once. Take your seat please."

George nods and mumbles a faint apology as he speed walks to his desk in the back left corner of the chemistry classroom near the rows of sinks. Nick and Clay shrug the distraction off and continue their conversation,

"I'm starting another song tonight too. It's a heartbreak song."

Nick raises his eyebrows,

"Have you gotten your heart broken?"

Clay chuckles and shakes his head,

"No no but the people who come to my show this weekend might have. I want to write songs that not only speak to me and have meaning, but that other people can relate to and-"

"-feel like they're not alone. I know, you tell me every time you write a new song which is literally like everyday."

Nick chuckles and Clay rolls his eyes.

"Fair enough-"

The bell ring, silencing the eleventh grade class as their teacher begins talking about the biggest project of the year.

"Today I will be pairing you in groups of two, and you must write and present your project in one week. You have time in class and at your own homes to work on it. You will need to pick your element from the periodic table and then write a four paragraph essay on it, along with a diagram of its uses and forms. Morgan will hand out the packets of information you need. Before you ask, no you can not change or pick your partners. You lost that privilege last time-"

She glares at two chuckling bits near the front.

"Zak and Daryl, I know you two get along well so I'm pairing you."

The two boys shoot awkward glances at each other before nodding to the teacher as she continues,

"Dave and Alex, Morgan and Valerie, Tommy and Toby, Nick and Clay."

Clay and Nick high five and cheer silently, but the teacher wasn't finished..

"-and George."

The cheering boys freeze and look questioningly at their teacher.

"What?"