Play song when I say
"Jenevive, breakfast!"

I gently pull my sweatshirt sleeves over my wrists. "Coming mom."

Once I'm at the landing between the first floor and second floor, I practice my fake smile and laugh for mom. She can't ever know. "Morning mom!" Looking at my plate, I see two breakfast tacos. My favorite. "Aww mom, you didn't have to!"

"Of course I did Mija! It's our first day of school! You need these to give you the courage to make new friends!" She kisses the top of my head and I smile.

"Thanks, mom." Quickly, I take a few bites of one and trap the other in my lunch box. "I don't want to be late. Have a good day at work!"

Mom smiles and waves at me. Once outside, I pull my hood up and brush my hair over my right eye. Head down, I think about every possible thing that could go wrong today.

As I'm walking along, I crash into something and fall forwards, hands out to break my fall. But they land not on the cement, but on a person's chest.

"Um hello." He looks up at me, black eyes sparkling with amusement. "Nice to meet you."

I blush and scramble to my feet, fixing my hood and my hair. "Watch where you're going."

He chuckles. "That's funny. You bumped into me. What's your name, by the way. I'm Aaron Lycan." He sticks his hand out.

I take it grudgingly and shake his hand. "Jenevive Green." I grab my notebook from the pavement, sighing when I see it's bent. "Great. Now I have to start again." I open up to the middle, resting on a picture of a hand with scars all over it.

"Wow, that's really good!" I snap my notebook closed and whip around to see Aaron standing there.

"I- why were you looking?!" I feel my face burning red, the embarrassment that someone saw my drawing searing through me.

"Because I wanted to see why you were so upset about it. But that was a pretty accurate representation of scars on a hand. Where did you get the inspiration?"

Myself. "Oh, online. Now if you'll excuse me, Mr. Lycan, I need to get to school." I break into a run and push my way through the doors into the building of Phoenix Drop High.

What class do I have... "Chorus. Of course..." I walk to the room, where I'm blown away. Pianos, guitars, flutes, violins... all the instruments you could imagine..."

"Ah, Miss Jenevive, I presume?" The music teacher, a slender brown haired woman with striking blue eyes glides toward me. "I'm Miss Elle. Welcome to chorus." She turns back to the students and claps her hands. "Please welcome Miss Jenevive to our class. She will be singing a song for us."

I step back. "Singing?" Damnit of course singing. Just my luck.

"Yes dear. Take a seat at the piano if you like and show us how wonderful you can sing."

I hesitantly sit at the piano and press one of the keys. It emits a wonderful G. In an instant, I know what to play. Play now!

"Say something I'm giving up on you
I'll be the one if you want me to
Anywhere I would follow you
Say something I'm giving up on you

I am feeling so small
It was over my head
I know nothing at all

I will stumble and fall
I still learning to love
And starting to crawl

Say something I'm giving up on you
I'm sorry that I couldn't get to you
Anywhere I would follow you
Say something I'm giving up on you

And I will swallow my pride
You're the one that I loved
And I'm saying goodbye

Say something I'm giving up on you
I'm sorry that I couldn't get to you
Anywhere I would follow you
Oh, Say something I'm giving up on you

Say something I'm giving up on you

Say something..."

I play the last note and stand up, quickly retreating to the back of the classroom, where i pull out my notebook and begin to doodle. A note lands on my page, and I pick it up, unfold it, and read it.

Wow! What an amazing voice! Say, do you think you'd want to join me at the daycare one time after school and sing with me? The kids love sad songs and stuff like that, and you sounded like you poured your heart out in that song. Jenevive, wasn't it? Well then Jenevive, text me at (NOT A REAL NUMBER) 749-107-6492. Just put me as... Handsome ;)

Anyways, good job. Looking forward to that text!

-Handsome.

I look around and see a boy with brown hair and brilliant blue eyes smiling at me. I feel a real smile creeping on my face. The first in forever. Quietly, I pull out my phone and hold it up for him to see, putting a finger to my lips to signal to put it on silent.

Hey

I smile. Something about him...

Hey, beautiful.

I blush. No one's ever called be beautiful before...

What's your real name?

Laurance.

Laurance, eh? Nice name.

And your name, miss Jenevive, is prettier than a thousand lilies silhouetted against the dying rays of the sun.

I type out a message, but the bell rings before I can send it. I throw my phone and notebook back into my backpack, which I then scoop up. At my locker, I spot Laurance heading my way and wave to him.

He leans against my locker and smiles. "Hey, Jenevive. Want to have lunch with me and my friends?"

I look at him. "Uh, I guess. But please don't get mad if I'm antisocial and don't talk to you guys." I walk away, not giving him a chance to respond. I mean, I'm fine with people, but this is my first day at a new school.

"Laurence!" I turn around and call him back. "It's the first day of school. Why are you inviting me, a total stranger to have lunch with you?"

He smirks. "How can I not ask a girl as pretty as you to join me for lunch?"

"Pretty? Me? Get your eyes checked. And I'm not gonna fall for your tricks. I'm smarter than that" I then turn away from Laurence, heading to my next class. I'm not going to put up with any of this friend bullshit this year. Last year was lesson enough...