TRACK #2 MUSIC:

🎵 "Never Let You Go" - Third Eye Blind

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TRACK #2 - FALL

"Never Let You Go" - Third Eye Blind

Upon entering Bridgeview High to a nearly empty lobby, I realized that I was, indeed, late. I looked up between the floor-to-ceiling windows to see the outline of a huge, snarling bear staring at me from the center of a black faux brick wall. Even it seemed to mock my tardiness. I narrowed my eyes at it while it bore its teeth at me. Go Bears.

I dug in my jeans pocket for the folded-up paper that contained my schedule, and just as my strangely awful morning would have it, it was missing.

"Since it's the first day, we aren't issuing late passes." An official looking adult with a kind face approached me. I must have had "lost" written all over me. I silently hoped she really was as nice as she looked. "Do you know where you need to be right now?"

"Uh, no," I muttered, immediately turning my gaze to the tiled floor.

"Come with me. We'll find your counselor." She turned to walk down the hallway and motioned for me to follow her. "What's your name?"

"Aria," I responded softly. Why was I being so awkward?

"Pleasure to meet you, Aria. I'm Mrs. Taylor, one of the assistant principals here. What's your last name?" She led me to a small office where a short, curvy woman with curly hair and black thick-rimmed glasses typed feverishly on her computer.

"It's Gray. Sorry," I apologized timidly. Okay, I was ready to go home. Touring was probably easier than high school, after all.

"Mrs. Giuliano, this is Aria Gray. I believe she's assigned to you. Aria needs a little help finding her classes today," Mrs. Taylor explained. "She doesn't have her schedule."

"Oh, Aria! Lovely to meet you!" Mrs. Giuliano smiled warmly. At least the adults inside the building seemed pleasant enough. "Let me print your schedule for you, and I'll escort you to your first class."

"Thank you," I said gratefully, and luckily without a stammer, though the knots in my stomach continued to turn.

"Okay," she began as she stood and started walking. Instinctively, I followed her. "Looks like you have Physical Education first period. You'll want to make sure you purchase a uniform as soon as possible because starting next week, you have to dress in order to receive credit for the day. I'm told Mr. McMann is a lovely teacher." I stayed on her heels through the hallways while she led me to a set of wide double doors that opened to the gymnasium. The room was thick with humidity and smelled like an old sock. "Here we are. Please let me know if you need anything else! I hope you have a great first day!"

Mrs. Giuliano disappeared before I could even mutter my thanks. My eyes trailed over the contents of the gym as a sea of movement filled the room. My stomach turned. Not sure where I should go, I dodged dribbling basketballs to find an empty spot at the top of the bleachers. The scene before me was louder and more chaotic than most of the crowds we encountered on the road. The trill of a whistle echoed through the high ceilings. I sat like a deer in headlights, watching as people instinctively began to scatter.

"Everybody sit!" Mr. McMann, a tall, thick man with a no-nonsense gaze yelled. Everyone obediently took a seat on the bleachers. "Welcome to PE," he continued. "This a large, mixed-level class, as you can see, so we try to keep it as coordinated as possible and give everyone the opportunity to participate. Each day there will be two organized sports on the main floor, usually basketball and one other. You can choose what you'd like to do. If you aren't interested in either, your other option is to walk. If it's nice, you can do that on the outdoor track. If not, indoor walking. All students in this room must be dressed and moving to receive credit. I expect order and respect in this room. If you hear my whistle, you hit the bleachers. Understood?" The responding silence was confirmation enough for him. "Let's take attendance..."

I began to scour the crowd below me while Mr. McMann called names. I focused on each face to see if I might remember anyone, but no one seemed familiar. This didn't bode well for me making friends again.

"Gray, Aria," he yelled. I froze. My heartbeat quickened. "Gray, Aria!" Louder this time. I swallowed hard.

"Uh... here," I mumbled sheepishly.

"So I can hear you next time, please..." he chastised me before continuing the roll-call. I finally gave up on recognizing anyone, and tried not to doze off as he droned on through each name. I was hardcore zoning out when one name in particular woke me from my stupor.

"Walker, Noah," Mr. McMann called in a firm voice. Wait. Noah was in my class?

"Here," a voice answered from across the gymnasium. I searched the throng trying to locate the source. I couldn't believe Noah Walker was here. I mean, I knew it was a possibility that I could run into him, but in my first class? I hadn't seen or talked to him in four years. I wondered if he'd even recognize me.

My stomach answered my rhetorical question by grumbling lightly. I should have eaten breakfast. Nerves and hunger never mix.

"Alright, everyone, gym time! Hustle up!" Mr. McMann blew his whistle and waved his arms like he was herding sheep.

I took one last look to see if I could spot Noah, but couldn't pick out his face from the sea of students. Reluctantly, I stood up and slowly made my way to the bottom of the bleachers, preparing to walk. I certainly wasn't going to participate in anything organized. I kept my eyes locked firmly in front of me while I willed myself to put one foot in front of the other.

"Aria Gray!" a smooth soprano echoed over the crowd, followed by a set of loud giggles. I raised an eyebrow as I turned to see three people standing behind me– a pretty blonde girl, a chubby boy with a mop of dark curly hair, and a more mature version of the Noah Walker I once knew.

"What the heck, Emma?!" Noah shot the pretty blonde girl a pointed look.

"Noah?!" I croaked, eyes widened in disbelief. There he stood, the only person from Bridgeview I would have actually called my friend. When my parents made the decision to go on the road as a family after I finished sixth grade, I didn't bother to keep in touch. It was too hard to communicate consistently on the road, not having a fixed address or a cell phone of my own. Not to mention, the last time I saw Noah... well, it was a bit weird. Definitely not the goodbye I expected. I remembered the one time I was able to put a postcard in the mail for him. We were visiting the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, and I couldn't stop thinking about how much I wished he were there.

Other than Noah, I didn't have many friends. Everyone always seemed to get along so well, and I just never found my place. Noah was the only exception. We were both music aficionados, so we'd talk for hours and hours about all of our favorite bands. I wondered how his taste evolved, considering how much the rest of him had. He was much taller now and rail thin, scrawny almost. He had the same shaggy, dark blonde hair I remember, but it was longer. He wore it tied in a low ponytail at the base of his neck, strands falling around his hazel eyes.

"Uhhh... hey, Gray," he said uncomfortably before giving Emma a strong side-eye. I swallowed hard and released a breath I didn't realize I was holding. Hearing him address me by last name felt like a warm welcome home.

"Well, shit! If it isn't the infamous Aria Gray!" the chubby one said before closing the gap between us. Emma and Noah followed. "You're pretty! I don't know why, but I thought you'd be blonde."

"Who are you...?" I began before my voice was cut off by a loud whistle.

"Everyone who is walking– outside! It's nice today!" Mr. McMann's booming bass filled the space around me.

"Kody Jackson," the boy answered as he turned his body and guided the rest of us towards the exit. "This is Emma Stewart. And you know Noah, but he's not important right now. So, you're the girl who left school to go on tour with your famous dad? I need to hear all about this! Did you meet any celebrities?"

"You'll have to excuse Kody– he doesn't get out much." Emma grinned, her blonde high-ponytail swinging behind her while we walked towards the outdoor track. "Welcome to Bridgeview High! Is your first day going okay so far?" She stared at me with big, beautiful green eyes. I wanted to feel like her kindness was forced and insincere, but all I felt was genuine warmth radiating from her perfect figure. Maybe she really was just a nice person. Did those kinds of girls exist in high school? I didn't think that they did (at least, not from what I had read in books and seen in movies), but I couldn't ignore the immediate feeling of wanting to be her friend.

"It's been... interesting," I responded with the only word I could think of to describe it. I eyed Emma intensely before a realization dawned on me; I recognized her. "I think I remember you."

She smiled reassuringly. "I didn't want to presume. You probably recognize me from when you used to come to Noah's." It was hard not to stare at her; she was stunning.

"Yeah, she used to– well, still hangs out– a LOT, in fact– with Elijah," Noah supplied softly while giving Emma a teasing look. She shoved him away slightly. Recalling a few of the times that I had been at the Walker household, I could vaguely picture Noah's older brother. Maybe I had seen her with him before.

"Gonna need the 4-1-1 on why your morning was so interesting..." Kody interrupted our trip down memory lane.

"The what?" Did this boy speak only in code?

Kody snorted. "What planet are you from?! The 4-1-1... the details, the scoop, c'mon..."

"I was just... late. Then I got held up in the parking lot. Forgot my schedule. Now that I say it out loud, it isn't all that interesting..." I also watched someone get clocked by their father, but that didn't feel appropriate to share.

I saw out of the corner of my eye that Emma tilted her head in my direction before she nudged Noah forward. I felt disheartened at the idea that he wasn't comfortable around me anymore.

"Nope, boring." Kody stole my attention again while quickly dismissing the events of my morning. "Let's talk celebrities. Dish!"

"Uh, well, my dad isn't really in that kind of band..." I thought about it for a moment. Life on the road was not glamorous. Most of the time it just involved too much fast food and too little showering. There were spatterings of celebrity sightings here and there, but no one I thought they might know.

"Are you done touring now?" Noah asked. I could hear the uneasiness in his voice. Now that I thought about it, I didn't blame him for being uncomfortable. If he had moved away and given me the silent treatment, I'd probably be upset, too.

"Yes. My father needs to... rest," I explained. It was the vaguest answer I could give without needing to indulge anything further. The real reason we returned wasn't fit for casual conversation.

"Are you staying for good?" Kody asked.

I nodded. "At least until I graduate high school."

"Oh, good! We're friends now. A hot little number like you will advance my social standing in no time. I'll have exactly two boneable friends!" Kody jumped up and down, clapping his hands together. I furrowed my brow. I wasn't good with compliments, especially from someone I just met a few minutes ago.

"So, what does that make Emma?" Noah chided before receiving another playful punch in the arm by her. They grinned at each other, seeming at ease, flirty even.

"I promise you'll get used to Kody," Emma explained. "He just has no filter. This one, on the other hand..." She ruffled the top of Noah's hair, causing more of his dark blonde layers to stray from their holding.

"We only keep him around because of his sexy older brother," Kody quipped. Noah gave him a gentle shove just as Emma's face turned an obscene shade of red. I was sure there was a story involved, but I didn't press. I decided that silence was my best response, considering I had absolutely no idea what I was walking into. I felt like a fourth wheel on a perfectly balanced tricycle of friendship.

"HEY! Hey, you!" A strong tenor called from the center of the football field where a group of guys were playing touch football. As the voice neared, I recognized the owner as the boy from the parking lot. He really was good looking. Tall, muscular build with smooth skin and piercing green eyes. His disheveled brown hair revealed small beads of sweat on his forehead. I got lost staring at him while I wondered if he was talking to me. Maybe I was hoping he was. He yelled like he was reading my mind, "Yeah, you! Short girl with brown hair! Come here!"

"Oh. My. God. Is Brock Miller calling for you, Aria? Do you know him? He's so yummy." Kody shook his head in half-shock while he looked down at me. I'm not sure what shade my face was turning, but I decided to walk towards Brock before the trio could comment further.

"Uh... yeah?" I asked with an inquisitive gaze when I grew closer. Brock put up one finger while he crouched over, cradling the ball in the crook of his elbow and trying to catch his breath.

"Did you see that catch? Phew! I'm not usually a receiver, so that was wild..." he trailed off with a perfect smile, obviously proud of a performance I hadn't seen. I blinked hard, unsure of what to say. My stomach twisted as I noted that his face was surprisingly clear for someone who had been slapped just this morning.

"What can I do for you–?" my voice cracked, and my nerves tingled. What was this beautiful specimen of man doing talking to me?

"I just, uh... I wanted to catch up about earlier today. I'm sorry you saw that. My old man, he's a little rough sometimes, but he doesn't mean anything by it. I just wanted to see if we could... keep that between us."

A little rough? Yeah, okay. Even if I didn't agree with him, it still wasn't my secret to make known. "I won't say anything," I assured him. Besides, who did I even have to tell? I quickly glanced over my shoulder to see that Kody, Noah, and Emma were waiting for me in the exact spot that I left them.

"Are you new here?" Brock's question caused me to turn back to him. "I haven't seen you around..." he petered off again. I could feel his eyes looking me up and down. My skin felt hot, but somewhere in the pit of my stomach, I wanted him to look.

I nodded and swallowed hard. My throat was bone dry.

"MILLER! Let's go!" one of the guys from his impromptu game shouted. Brock threw the football to him, and I noticed over his shoulder that more people stopped to stare at us, including a group of girls that looked way too unhappy about our conversation. Actually, "unhappy" was an understatement. "Seething" was more like it, specifically from a gorgeous, long-legged redhead. Oh, God, this was getting really awkward.

"Um, I gotta go..." I turned to leave before my insides exploded. "I'll see you around." I quickly pivoted and jogged back to three pairs of curious eyes that seemed to be burning into my soul.

"What was that?" No-filter Kody asked in equal parts excitement and alarm. We resumed walking around the track that encircled the field.

"I ran into him in the parking lot this morning. It was a whole... thing, but it's fine. He wanted to apologize." I shrugged, trying to give an explanation without divulging the entire story. I didn't have any reason to share something that was obviously between him and his father.

"He must like you," Emma responded with a smirk and a playful raise of her eyebrow. My heart fluttered at the thought, but quickly turned to suspicion as I remembered Redhead's evil stare.

"I doubt it," I sighed. "And I don't think his girlfriend would want that either," I added with a jerk of my thumb towards Redhead and her crew.

"Oh, that's Brittany Jenkins," Kody answered. "She's a senior, captain of the color guard and dance teams, and leading lady of most of these high school boys' nightly rub and tug–"

"Kody!" Emma warned while Noah let out a quick bark of laughter.

"What? It's not like everyone doesn't already know it, including Brittany," Kody stated matter-of-factly. "All I'm saying is that you want to steer clear of her. She isn't dating Brock, but she has been trying to get in his pants ever since his last girlfriend graduated. Jury's still out on why he hasn't sealed that deal yet." I visibly deflated. There was a brief pause in our conversation as our feet continued to scuff against the synthetic surface.

"Brock never talks to underclassmen," Emma said kindly as she placed a hand on my shoulder, somehow sensing that I was troubled. "Since he talked to you, it has to mean something! Trust me, I'm in guard too, and I see him all the time at games. He's never said one word to anyone who wasn't a senior– Oh!" Her eyes lit up, and she suddenly had a spring in her step, like she had just had the most brilliant idea. Noah narrowed his eyes at her, clearly concerned about what scheme was going to come flowing out of her mouth. "You should come to a game! They're a lot of fun, and you can see our halftime show! We really are the highlight of the evening, aren't we, Noah?" Emma raised her voice at the end of her sentence, her hip bumping into his almost as if she were willing him to concur.

"Definitely," Noah obediently agreed with a nod of his head. He smiled bashfully at me, and my cheeks tinged.

"Count me out." Kody dismissed the thought immediately like he had something better to do, even if it was nothing at all.

I turned back to Emma. "So, this is going to sound really lame, but I wouldn't have anyone to go with, and I'd be so mortified if I had to sit there by myself." Instinctively, I lowered my head and bit my lip as I pretended to study the track.

"That's an easy fix," Emma assured. "Come towards halftime, and you can just watch the show for ten minutes by yourself. Then I can get changed and come join you! Guard members don't have to stay for the entire game. We can sit behind the band and throw things at Noah and the rest of the drumline, since they're stuck there the whole time to play the fight song." Emma laughed, pulling an extra hair tie from her wrist and shooting it right at Noah. He caught it with an effortless flick of his wrist.

"Holy reflexes," I said before I could even stop the words from coming out of my mouth. They all laughed at my word vomit as two quick and piercing whistles filled the air; first period would be ending soon.

"So, you'll come?" Emma asked, looking at Noah for back up while we slowly made our way back into the gym.

"I mean, you really should. I'm pretty awesome on the drums," Noah added with a hesitant laugh. He pushed some stray strands of hair out of his face. I couldn't help but notice that he had grown to be quite handsome. He had a certain boyish charm that was endearing. He had come a long way from his sixth-grade bowl cut.

I smirked. "As long as you can promise me that you're a better drummer now than before I left." Emma and Kody howled so hard that the rest of the class actually quieted down. I felt my cheeks flush and wondered if Noah wouldn't appreciate my sarcasm. To my surprise, though, the corners of his lips were turned upwards.

"Still feisty, I see," he commented once the noise level resumed, a smile remaining on his face.

Emma jumped back in, not accepting no for an answer. "So... that's a yes, then?"

"It's Wednesday. Can I let you know by Friday?" I asked, feeling incredibly nervous and non-committal. I mean, I had other things to do, didn't I? Chat rooms to invade, board games to play...

"Yep! We go out to eat after the game, too." Emma began packing up her stuff just as the bell to end first period rang. With a smile, she placed a ripped sheet of paper in my hands. I opened it to reveal her AOL Instant Messenger screen name and phone number in perfectly neat loopy writing. When did she even have time to write that? I blinked up at her. "So you can tell me that you're definitely coming earlier than Friday," she added with a wink before heading towards the door, waving to Noah and Kody as she walked away. She made it sound as though she had made my decision for me already. Huh. Pretty and persistent.

I sighed before I, too, gathered my bag. Looking back up, I noticed that Noah had approached another boy, taller than he was, but undoubtedly related to him. A giggle cut through most of the noise of students filing in and out of the gymnasium, demanding the attention of all three of us. Emma was in the arms of a boy with dark hair, a wide grin plastered on his face as he gently grabbed her chin and pulled her in for a deep kiss. I glanced over at Noah, assuming he wouldn't appreciate the display, but was caught off guard when I noticed that it was the older blonde that held sadness in his eyes.

Confused, I descended the bleachers and said farewell to Noah. I smiled awkwardly at the boy who stood next to him, but he was too entranced with Emma lovingly bidding farewell to the dark-haired boy. I began my exit while I tried to process all of the events of the morning. Thoughts raced through my head, and I stopped to take one final look at the clearing gymnasium. To my surprise, I was immediately met with the lingering gaze of Noah Walker.

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