The Semester

Chapter 1

As I entered the ugly brick building, my awful school years that I experienced flooded back into my mind. I remembered sitting at lunch with the few friends I talked too, being bumped into in the hallway, constantly overlooked and forgotten by everyone I met...being invisible.

I made it to my locker on the bottom floor and I heard footsteps behind me, they stopped but I could hear someone standing there. I turned around hesitantly; I wasn't ready for the bullying to start already. To my surprise I saw some younger girls, probably freshman, gathered around. They immediately started squirming and blushing when I looked at them. One in the front handed me a note and I smiled at her before they all walked away freaking out.

I opened the letter and grinned to myself as I read, "LUKE(:(: WE LOVE 5SOS AND WE ARE SO HAPPY YOU'RE AT OUR SCHOOL. PLEASE FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @cake__Feelz @CalumLarryMelody @Hemmings__97 @5sauceAsh" I put the letter in my back pocket and had a new wave of confidence about the whole school situation. Maybe I wouldn't be so invisible this time around.

I looked at my schedule that was on the front of my binder; first period PDM with Mr. Lynd. I found my way to the classroom that was on the upper level of the school and took a seat about five minutes before the late bell rang at 7:45. I sat two rows up from the back, and all the way over to the right so I could lean my head against the wall and sleep if I ever felt tired.

I pulled out my phone and texted Michael, a member of the band and one of my closest friends.

To Mikey (USA): Just sat down in first period PDM.. I think it's a type of math. American school is weird, but a group of fans already approached me.. idk I thought it was cool.. Well text me back whenever, I have seven hours of the day left.

I hesitated with sending the text because I was still furious at all of my friends for allowing my mom to send me here, but I didn't want to be trapped in an American school and not have anyone to call or talk to either.. so I sent the message; I also wanted updates about the album they were working on.

Right as I hit send I looked up in the classroom and noticed a group of girls and boys, all dressed in Sperry's and Polo or J. Crew whispering and glancing my way. One of the prettiest girls started to walk my towards me and I looked back at my phone. This girl was clearly popular and I didn't want her to humiliate me in front of the 'popular group' I assumed she was sitting with.

"Hi, I'm Cynthia. A couple friends of mine were just wondering if you were that famous guy that was transferring in? Everyone's been talking about it since they heard someone in a band was coming." I looked up at her; she had pretty green eyes and was wearing a very mom-like outfit that seemed to be the style around here.

"I wouldn't consider myself famous yet, but I am in a band." I laughed quietly...I never knew how to answer those questions.

"I knew it was you!! You should come out to lunch with me and my friends today." I smiled at her friendliness, even if it was only because I was 'famous'.

"Thanks for the offer but the principal wants to meet with me during my lunch."

"Oh okay, well another time for sure..... and by the way I really like your accent." She said her goodbyes and the bell rang. All through class I thought about what high school parties would be like or always having someone to say hi to in the hallway, or even just flashing a smile...maybe I would do school differently this time around, get out of my shell a bit.

When the bell rang Cynthia and her friend she introduced me to, Vanessa, started walking with me and asking about my band. I answered all their questions before they had to turn away to go down the stairs. I continued walking on the upper level.

I observed everyone around me, a bunch of people were looking at me because I was "the famous rockstar" that transferred. The majority of this school was extremely preppy but that's what I expected from a place located in the suburbs of Ohio and voted "Best Public Education System in America." I looked down at my ripped black jeans, Blink 182 shirt, and vans and realized how much I stood out. No wonder they could guess I was the one from the band. My phone vibrated in my pocket and I took it out and looked at it while walking in the clustered hallway.

From Mikey (USA): I remember school...not my best days. Any hot girls to set us up with yet? Make sure you call us tonight with the full report!! and it was good to hear from you.

I smiled to myself as I read the text, and then I felt my body colliding with a much smaller frame. She was walking in from the stairs and neither of us were paying attention. I moved out of the hallway and into the stairwell to apologize. She took out her headphones and started speaking before I could.

"I'm so sorry! That was completely my fault." I smiled at her and leaned down to help pick up some of her books.

"No that was my fault, here ya go." I handed her a binder and a text book and she smiled at me. I stood back up and offered her my hand, she grabbed a hold and I helped her up. I noticed her hand first; she had short nails that were painted black and wore tons of rings... they were cool rings not the Tiffany & Co. that most of the girls had on. I looked at her feet that also had a few toe rings on that peaked through her Birkenstock sandals. She was wearing jeans with a few rips in them and a vintage-looking, grey University of Cincinatti shirt that didn't cling to her body. Her hair was tossed up effortlessly in a messy bun, and it was a pretty light brown color. She carried around a Nalgene water bottle in the pocket of her black Northface backpack.

I couldn't help but smile at her casual and not preppy at all style. She noticed my staring. "What, do I have something on my face?" She laughed nervously and I shook my head.

"No no I'm sorry.. you just seem different than anyone else I've seen today." She cocked her head.

"Today? Is this your first day?" She asked while we both made our way into the hallway where we continued our conversation.

"Yeah, I went to school in Australia and then I was sorta home-schooled but I was forced to come back for a year.. but you don't need to hear about all of that."

"Australia? Wow I didn't even pick up on the accent before. Don't worry you haven't missed out much this school year.. we just came back from summer two and a half weeks ago." I nodded.

"What's your name?"

"I'm Casey."

"I'm Luke." She smiled at me and I could see her perfect teeth come into view.

"Well hopefully I'll see you around here sometime soon." I nodded my head as she started to turn into a science classroom. I stood by the door frame as I replied.

"Yeah me too, you've already made this day more interesting." She furrowed her eyebrows.

"Oh yeah, what exactly did you mean by 'I'm different'?" I laughed and she looked confused.

"I just meant you don't dress like a soccer mom or a sailor." She smiled again and began to giggle as she walked away and into the classroom.

I immediately pulled out my phone to respond to Michael as I walked down the hallway and into my English classroom. I sat near the back and looked down to type.

To Mikey (USA): A couple babes here, haven't got to completely survey out the land yet though (-; There's one superrr pretttyyyyy girl who seems cool and I'll give you the details tonight. Most people already know who I am though and it's weird... This time around I'll make more friends than you and Cal. You guys can come to parties with me though sometime!! Ayoooo

I hit send and put my phone in my backpack as two pretty girls waved at me from across the room. I smirked and winked back. High school wasn't all bad but I couldn't let my mom get that satisfaction. All I wanted was to be with my band, but a break could be useful.