Musically Problematic

Chapter 1: Roll Call

Sophie's POV:

I hate mornings...All mornings...especially school mornings. The main hall is always a sea of students, junior and senior. I squeeze through the gaps between all the small gatherings of people, just to get to my small locker. I try not to make eye contact with anyone for two reasons, I don't want to talk to anyone...I'm antisocial and I don't want to get called names. My locker just so happens to be across the hall from Penny Rose, who is the rudest and most popular girl at the school. I don't aspire to be her...or even to be friends with her. In fact, I would be disgusted if anyone compared me to her or even called me her friend. I check all around me for Penny thoroughly before making a mad-dash to my locker before she turns up...I can never be too safe when it comes to preparing for my first encounter of the day with humans. I twist the lock quickly and grab out the books I need for my first two periods which are; Science and Geography. Once I've got my books I find my way through the maze of people to get to Roll Call on time. The bell rings just as I arrive at my class room, before I go in, I close my eyes and take a deep breath to clear my thoughts and prepare myself for the day ahead. 

"Hey Sophie...My dear, dear friend!" Penny says blocking the doorway, "How's everything going? I didn't see you at your locker this morning."

"One, I'm not your friend, especially not a dear, dear one. Two, I was early. Three, get out of my way."

A guy in our grade with light brown hair and a very long fringe pushes past us, "Get out of my way!"

I immediately move to the side to let him through while making my own way into the class room, Penny sighs loudly and storms off down the hall to her own class. I go to take my seat in front row, where I usually sit alone, but today is different. The same boy that pushed past me and Penny, is sitting in my seat. As I'm not one to talk to people, I just back away from my desk and make my way to the only other spare desk, which is in the back corner. It's still isolated and alone, so I don't mind changing desks.

"Michael, you have a detention at first break." The teacher announces along with many other notices that I don't bother to listen to. I just like to find out who has detention...distance myself from them and make sure to never do a group project with them. As it turns out Michael is the guy that stole my desk...even more reason to stay away from him plus; he's ugly.

The long awaited ring of the bell sounds through the corridors, I get up to go to science.
"So Sophie...you, me how about it?" Michael asks me after he blocks the door way.

"No, no and let me think...NO!" I push past him and practically jog to science.

"You'll regret that!" I hear him call out and I just shake my head.

The rest of day passes pretty quickly...I spend lunch time in the library. No one goes there so I am safe from any further human contact. I rush home as fast as I can without running...because I don't run!
I have a job interview at Sanity (a CD\DVD shop) just to get some extra money for university. I know it means talking to people...but people my age all download songs on ITunes or off the internet, so I shouldn't have to talk to anyone from school.
I get changed into a pink and black sleeveless hoody, black tights and my black Vans. I rush to Sanity.
Apparently, I'm not the only person wanting to get a job here...
None other than Michael Clifford is in the store leaning on the bench.

"What are you doing here Sophie? Come to change your mind..."

"No, I'm here for a job interview."

I go to look at some Mariana's Trench CD's.

"So you're going to be my new partner...since Penny left."

He follows me over and takes the CD out of my hand. I move to the next isle and keep my eyes locked on the CD's.

"You don't talk much do you?"

"Sophie Sugg, are you ready?" The boss, Mr. Johnson, asks moving Michael aside and giving him more chores.

"Yeah, as I'll ever be."

I follow him through to a back room. It's dark and there's shelves all around the walls, there's a small round table in the center of the room with blue cushioned chairs on either side. Mr. Johnson points towards the chair so I do as instructed and sit down on it.

"So. Sophie, what's the deal between you and Michael? I'll just let you know now that I don't let couples work together...the work just doesn't get done."

"Oh, there's nothing going on between us in that way...in any way. We are in the same grade, 10. He's in a lot of my classes...unfortunately. But I'm sure I can deal with working with him. Am I allowed to request that I don't work with him often?"

"Don't worry about that, I won't have you doing many cross over shifts with him. He will be your supervisor and show you the ropes, for your first few shifts and then you will be on different rosters."

"Ok, thank you."

"He's right though, you're not very talkative. That will need to change, you need to make the customers feel welcome and leave happier than when they came in. Michael does a good job of that so you'll pick it up rather quickly, I'm sure."

"Ok. I hope so."

"Here's your roster, you only have 3 shifts this week. But I want you to hang around this afternoon till the end of Michael's shift, see what you can pick up in the next hour or so..."

"So this means I get the job right?"

"Sort of...I'm giving you 5 shifts are on trial. If you do well I'll set you more, we'll talk more about this when the time comes. Good luck."

"Thank you!"

He nods and opens the door wide so I stand up and make my way to see Michael...unfortunately I'll have to actually talk to him.