Blandview High Musical

61. Serenade Me

On Monday morning, I walked downstairs to find that my mother and Frankie were packed. "Going somewhere?" I asked. "Yeah, we thought we'd go upstate for a few weeks." My mother said, giving me a beaming smile. "And what about the diner?" I asked. "I've asked a friend of mine to watch it. It can function all by itself. The schedules were set in advance, they knew we were getting married." "He basically thought of everything." My mother said, batting her eyes at him. I chuckled softly. "Alright, well...be safe and have fun." I said. I watched as my mother and Frank loaded their stuff up in a cab they had called. The yellow cab pulled off down the street. "Have a good time." I said to myself as I turned around and walked back up the driveway.

At school, Caylie was in the music room looking over some material that she was going to perform for the school play. Damien curled his knuckles, knocking lightly against the wood grain. She turned around. He was standing there with a single flower in his hand. She raised her brows. "What's the occasion?" She asked. He walked over to her, handing her to flower and giving her a smooch on the cheek. "Just my way of apologizing for being a dick this weekend...and also...I have something for you." He said. "What is it?" She asked. He shrugged his shoulders. "Just a little something I wrote for you." He said. "Well...when can I hear it?" She asked. Just then, the bell rung. "Maybe during lunchtime? We can sneak away and I'll perform it for you." He said. Caylie reached down, grabbing her backpack as the two of them left the room.

Jade and I were sitting in class talking. "You're late, Ms. Anderson." Javi said. "I know. I'm sorry." She said, stepping over the backpacks in the aisle to get to where her seat was. "Now, as many of you know, your end of semester exams are right around the corner. What we're going to do today is work on packets of the information that might be on those exams." He paused, handing the papers to someone in the front row. "As for last week's assignment...only two of you passed, which makes me very disappointed." He said. "Yeah well, we know who passed." Courtney snarled, turning around and looking back at us. "Turn back around, Miller. You're not wanted." Jade snapped. "Girls. If both of you don't stop, you'll get stuck in detention with me." "Tondre would love that." Courtney continued. "Shut your fucking mouth, Miller!" She shouted. "HEY! Both of you outside now!" Javi shouted, slamming the papers against the desk.

Jade got up from where she was sitting and walked down the aisle towards the classroom door. Courtney followed her. "I'll be right back." Javi said as he stepped out of the classroom. "Goodness. She's kinda moody today, huh?" Caylie asked. "She's hormonal. She'll be in tears by the time lunch time comes around." I said, taking the packet set from Caylie and passing it to the person sitting in front of me. "So...I couldn't help but notice you and Shayne getting comfy at your mom's wedding." Caylie said. I chuckled. "I wouldn't call it that. We're just hanging out with each other." I said. Caylie just rolled her eyes. "That'll just be our little secret then." She said, winking at me.

Courtney came back into the classroom, looking like she'd been chewed up one side and down the other. "What's going on with you?" Javier asked. Jade folded her arms over her chest. "What do you think? I'm sore all over and it feels like you've been avoiding me." She growled. He sighed, softly. "I'm not. I just got back yesterday afternoon and I wanted to sleep. You can't do this here." He said. "Now go back in that classroom and I'll see you at lunch time." He said. He opened the door and she walked back inside, coming over to where we were. "What the hell?" Caylie asked in a hushed voice. "I'm just having a hard time. Give me a break." Jade said, flipping through the packet that was on her desk.

I saw Shayne next period and the atmosphere was different. As we were leaving second period, Billy stopped me. "Can I talk to you?" He asked me. Shayne hung back for a second. "I'm good. Just go on." I said. He walked away. "What's going on?" I asked Billy. "I just need some advice." He said. There was a long and unnecessary pause. He reached up, tugging down the aviators to reveal a black eye. "Did your dad do that to you?" I asked. He looked down, nodding. "I just—I don't wanna tell anyone else because it's embarrassing. I can stand up for myself, but—" "Billy...that's your father." I said. "I know...that's why its such an issue." He took a deep breath. "I guess what I'm really asking for is what do you think I should do?" He asked. "I think I might know someone who could help with that problem." I said. "You do?" He asked. "Oh yeah. I don't know if it'll work, but it's worth a shot." I said.