Just A Boy (ON HOLD)

Chapter 1

***Chapter 1***

The final notes of the piece faded away as I walked away from the music room. I was glad to be free from the stuffy room packed with bustling students.

Only a few moments earlier the school secretary had entered the music room in the middle of practice and said the principal needed me. Instantly my mind began searching for why I was needed. I hadn’t broken any school rules that I could think of, so I had no idea what it was. My heart beat quickened as I considered that something might’ve happened and as we reached the office I was terrified it might be something bad.

I tried to focus my frazzled mind on something else. I looked around at the white halls that were plastered with posters and the graffitied lockers, but there was nothing too interesting. It was just your everyday high school.

As I was about to enter one boy pushed past me arrogantly out of the office and didn’t spare me a second glance. I was used to that, I wasn’t really anyone here and I just blended in with the masses.

I looked up at Jason Parker, the stereotypical high school quarterback, the most popular guy in school. He had almost every girl fawning over him, but he was dating the head cheerleader, Daisy. I didn’t understand why they all liked him, he was good looking, yes, with his toned body and chocolate brown hair, but his personality definitely did not match that. He sent me a dirty look and stopped outside the door waiting for the second guy to walk through.

What confused me was the second boy courteously let me through the door before he left. I didn’t look up at him when I entered the office, but kept my eyes glued to the floor to avoid seeing the harsh face of the principal.

I sat on one of the uncomfortable hard plastic chairs eager to get back to practice and looked at the poster for the Winter Formal. I was on the committee, and I had helped pick the theme. I had chosen James Bond and to be honest I was quite proud of it.

I absentmindedly picked at a non-existent thread on my skirt and zoned out the babbly of the office. I checked my watch quickly and saw there was still half an hour before practice ended and then I needed to get to work afterwards. Maybe I could make the meeting quick, hear what the principal had to say and leave?

 “Go in now Katie.” The secretary told me kindly. I stood up quickly, eager to get the whole thing over and done with. My nervousness increased tenfold as I approached the door to the principal’s office.

I walked through the oak door, which was just as imposing as the principal himself and entered the office. He motioned for me to sit down in the chair in front of his desk. I scanned the room quickly, it was very tidy and everything seemed to be filed away in the giant filing cabinets that lined the walls.

“Hello, Miss Underwood.” He said after a short silence. “I’ve called you here because I would like you to look after a new pupil.”

A person I hadn’t noticed at first came forward from the other side of the room.

“This is Annie Clayton.” He continued.

Annie smiled at me. She had light blonde hair, brilliant blue eyes and was strikingly pretty.

“Hello, it’s nice to meet you.” She said, still smiling.

“I’m Katie; it’s nice to meet you too.” I replied.

“You two have the same first class and Miss Underwood I would like to see you before class to give Annie a tour of the school.” the principal said.

I nodded in agreement and was dismissed by the principal. Once I was out of the room I walked quickly back to the music rooms, but as I entered I saw everyone was packing away. I was glad practice was over and I was able to escape the hot room, but now I needed to hurry to get to work.

I went over to my seat and picked up my music and my flute and began packing away and left quickly. I walked out of school and towards the small coffee shop where I worked. I barely registered the rest of my work as I thought happily about the girl I was in charge of looking after.

***

I served the last customer and went round the back into the small staff room.

“You off?” Emma, my best friend, said.

“Yeah, that’s the end of my shift.” I replied.

“Ok, see you at school tomorrow.” She said before disappearing through the doors out to the shop.

I took off my apron and hung it up on my peg and pulled my hair out of the loose ponytail I had put it in. I was greeted by the familiar scent of coffee as I went back into the shop and waved at Emma, who was serving an old lady, before leaving. The small bell tinkled behind me and Lez, the owner, waved goodbye as I left.

I began the short walk home; the coffee shop was close to my house which was very convenient as I didn’t have a car. Most things in the small town I lived in were within walking distance and anything that wasn’t I normally asked Emma to drive me to.

A few small snowflakes landed on my head and I looked around. It wasn’t often that it snowed and if this one settled maybe we would get a day off school. I pulled my thick coat around me to keep in the warmth and quickened my pace.

I reached my house and opened the front door and almost ran inside to escape the cold.

“Katie? Is that you?” my mum called. I entered the kitchen and saw her by the stove. “Hello dear, how was your day?” she asked as she turned round to face me.

“It was good. The principal has put me in charge of looking after a new girl.” I said excitedly.

“Oh really? That’s nice.” My mum said before turning back to the food. “Dinner’s nearly ready, could you set the table please.” She requested.

I laid the table and hurried into the music room to put my things away. Then I went up to my room and dropped my bag on the carpet before going back downstairs for dinner.

***

After dinner I did my music practice. It was my after school ritual, to relax me almost, then I sat on my soft bed and began my mountain of homework. I couldn’t concentrate on any of what I was supposed to be doing, my mind was buzzing with the thought of tomorrow when I got to properly meet Annie!

I glanced around my room with the light blue walls and my eyes landed on my chest of drawers. The wood was old and stained and it seemed ready to crumple under the weight of all the things on top of it. I kept most things on there and the rest on my small desk, the room was only lightly furnished with the only other thing being the wardrobe built into the wall.

I went back to my bed and mentally kicked myself for getting distracted when my phone buzzed. The text was from Emma.

What’s up?

Not much, can’t focus on prep :( I replied quickly.

Me neither. Where did you go in band?

To the principal.

Why?!?

Haha nothing bad. He wants me to look after a new girl.

New girl? Exciting, I can’t wait to meet her!

Don’t scare her off!

I won’t, you have such little faith in me. Anyway I need to do my prep too. Byee!

Byee.

I threw my phone on the bed and picked up my calculus textbook. I had already given up on my English Lit prep; I would have to come back to it later. 

Hola chicos, I am back :) so I'm just going to put this chapter out and I'll try to upload the next few every Monday and Thursday. I know how nice of me! Two updates a week! I'm not promising it will happen, but I'll try. Oh and this book is named after the song Just A Boy by Angus and Julia Stone. Check it out now!

xoxo