L. Trinity Michaels. Op. 17

Chapter 1

Orchestra is my favorite class. Especially now that we have started practicing for festival, a statewide competition taking place in Hershey Park. We play amazing music for a couple hours like professionals and then get to run around the park with our friends. Its really a win-win kind of  deal. But now it's two months beforehand in orchestra class in the middle of a high school. Some people would say it's too much to practice for hours for a competition two months away but I believe that is quitter talk. My cello is my world.

We are playing the newest song given to us. I play my part flawlessly, my intonation spot on and accents on the most perfect notes. I close my eyes and I can feel the emotion turning with every new section. It's beautiful. At the end of the song I open my eyes and can feel all eyes on me. That feels good.

My best friend, Gabby, a viola player, is the first to say anything, "Wow. Good job, Lana."

"Thanks," I reply, feeling my cheeks get hot.

My teacher, Mr. Forte begins to talk about the chords used in the song and how one person being out of tune will ruin the whole thing. Everybody I can see turns their attention back to him but I can still feel someone's eyes on me. I turn around and see one of the bass players looking at me.

His name is Ely Skyler. He's the kicker for the football team. He's in some advanced classes but none of mine. He has trouble with math, I think. My twin sister, Elizabeth likes him. I can see why. It wouldn't be hard with those gold curls and icy blue eyes.

I turn back around giving my attention to Mr. Forte but then see Gabby looking at me from behind him. She looks to Ely and then back to me then wiggles her eyebrows at me (almost nonexistent eyebrows - she's a redhead, and a very vibrant one so it makes her eyebrows ridiculously light). I just shake my head.

If Elizabeth likes him then he is not an option for me.

                                                                                                 ~~~

After class Gabby catches up with me as we head to lunch.

"Lana, we just got that piece last week. How can you have that down already?" she gushes.

I roll my eyes. "It's called practicing."

"For how long? That was perfect!"

"A long time. It's not important."

"It is to you, apparently."

"You know orchestra's important to me."

"And I think I know somebody who things you're important."

We sit down at our regular table for lunch with a couple other girls from our classes. I'm not really friends with any of them other than Gabby but I guess it's nice to have someone to sit with if Gabby's not here. Or at least that's what Gabby says.

I open my lunch box and take out my peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I also have pretzels, an apple with peanut butter and a brownie. Typical school lunch. Thanks, Mom. "I don't like him like that."

"Well, I think he likes you like that." Gabby swings her skinny jeaned legs over the bench and sits next to me. She's wearing a printed tank top and a cardigan over it. She has that picking-out-clothes talent that Elizabeth has. I think the genes skipped over me.

"Too bad for him."

"Oh, come on. He's not a bad guy."

"That would be why Elizabeth likes him."

Gabby looks at me for a second, obviously confused then says, "When did she start having anything to do with this?"

"Ok. I'm going to tell you how this whole sha-bang works. If Elizabeth likes someone she almost definitely dates them or at least goes on a date or two with them. It doesn't matter who else likes them even if it's me."