Music Academy (An Ella James Novel) © 2014

Chapter Two - Lynn

Chapter Two - Lynn

“So, what did Mrs. Clayton want?" Shannon asks as soon as I step out of the classroom door, into the hallway with the rest of my classmates that are waiting for the bell to ring, so we can be excused to go to lunch.

Rolling my eyes and flipping a lock of my long, red hair over my shoulder, I reply, “Oh, nothing. She just wanted to discuss my grades for a minute, that's all."

Of course, you and I both know that is a lie. For a quick second, I debated with myself if I should just tell Shannon right there. I mean, what would it hurt? It is so tempting.

“Oh, okay," says Shannon, shrugging. Easily convinced people are the best. You can get away with telling them almost anything, and they'll believe you, even when it is obvious they should know better.

"Lynn!"

My head turns when I hear my name being called.

"Hey, James!" I greet one of my best friends, James.

James approaches me with a warm smile on his face. I smile back. Together, the two of us start making our way down the hallway, heading for the school cafeteria, even though we both know it is against the rules to leave before the bell rings.

"You know, I'm surprised we never get in trouble for leaving early," I comment.

Nodding, James replies, "I know. Like, everybody else gets in trouble but us. We never get caught."

"Hey, now you jinxed us!" I say, laughing.

"Yeah, probably."

"I'm starving!" I complain, as we sneak into the line just outside the door. The smell of the food lingers all over, making my stomach growl. I poke my head inside the open doors, quickly scanning the cafeteria to make sure the janitor-- Mr. Smith-- isn't anywhere nearby. If he catches us coming in before we are supposed to, Smith will make us wait outside while everyone else that has second lunch goes in. If we have to wait, we may as well not even eat. All five lines are going to be full, all of the good food is gone, and we would barely have time to eat before the sixth period bell rings. That is why I rush to get in before everyone else. Plus, I didn't have time to eat any breakfast this morning, so I had to suffer of starvation all day.

"Me too," James agrees.

Luckily for us, Mr. Smith is nowhere to be seen, so the coast is clear.

"Hey, line three is popcorn chicken. Do you wanna go there?" Asked James, pointing to the second furthers line away from us.

"Okay."

James sets his binder and book-bag on an empty table in the middle of the cafeteria as we swerve through all the tables.

I make it in line before James. We grab our trays, and wait for the line to move up behind the 'special needs' kids and their peer leaders. Only they are supposed to be here right now, but, whatever.

Just as the line began to move up, the bell rang. Other students swam in through the front door.

Finally, it is my turn to get my food. "Thank you," I say to the lunch lady in a hair net and blue scrubs as she hands me my plastic tray with the food piled on it. In return, she smiles.

I scoot up only a foot. I grab a bright, red apple that looks really appealing, and set it on my tray.

This line is so slow! I thought, irritated, just as it moves up another few feet.