Prologue
It was a Friday afternoon the day the letter arrived. Warm and sunny with summer getting ready to turn into fall. Sarah Wenham had been waiting for this particular letter to arrive for some time and yet, now that it was here, she couldn't quite bring herself to open it. She'd walked in the door after yet another long day at work ready for her weekend off to begin and there it was, just sitting on the table. The big envelope with the words 'Spencer Academy' printed in glossy ink over the top of it.
She debated calling her friends to come over and be with her when she opened it until she remembered she hadn't told them she was even thinking about transferring, much less to the prestigious school in Ipswich. She took a deep breathe, slit the packet open with a knife and pulled out the letter. She'd gotten in. She couldn't stop smiling and it showed in her voice when she pick up the phone and dialed the six different numbers of her friends asking them to meet her at the pizza place they spent so much of their time at.
It didn't long for them to get there. The last one to arrive was Marty who had taken the bus. They chose a round table towards the back, their usual booth was taken. Sarah sat with her back to the rest of the restaurant. Next to her was Max, one iPod bud still in her ear. Next to Max was Syler, his nose in a book. Then was Lucas who never seemed to stop air banding. Next to him was Carisa, who rolled her eyes in Lucas' direction before turning to look at Jack. Jack was very much the gamer of the group and never went anywhere with out his PSP or Nintendo DS, today it was a PSP though. And once Marty had arrived he took the last remaining seat on Sarah's left.
"Hey guy's," Marty said as he sat down. "Sorry I'm late, damn busses. Did you order yet?"
"Of course, what makes you think we'd actually wait for you when we've already been sitting here for thirty minutes," Lucas commented, still looking at his invisible guitar.
"Shut up Luc," Carisa looked over at him. "You've been later, to a gig no less."
Marty smirked in Lucas' direction before looking over at Sarah. He didn't notice Lucas giving him the finger. "So, what's the big news? Why'd you call us all down here when you know we've got valuable lazing about to do?"
"Well," Sarah pushed a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear and pulled the acceptance packet out of her bag, setting it in the middle of the table. "I didn't want to tell you guys, because I wasn't even sure I'd get in, but I did so, I'm transferring to another school this year."
"What?" Carisa exclaimed. "But it's our last year! We've been together since middle school, you can't leave us now."
"Sorry guys, but do you know what going to this sort of school could do for my chances at Harvard?" Sarah looked around the table at their various expressions, some were of shock and mild hurt, other seemed indifferent and only one was grinning.
"It'll help you get in, that's for sure," Max spoke up. She pulled the packet over to herself and begin flipping through it. "But did you really have to choose a boarding school sweetie?"
"It was the best on the east coast," Sarah nudged the pink haired girl. "Besides, I can come home on weekends. And you guys can come visit me, we both know you don't have an issue skipping class."
"Pfft, yeah but then we'd be interrupting your day," Sylas muttered, looking over the top of his book at the packet.
"No, not if you call first," Sarah looked around at them. "What do you guys think?" she looked directly at Jack, Lucas, and Marty.
"If it gets you out of this hell hole, I say go for it," Lucas said, not looking up. "At least you'll be going somewhere."
"Oh and we aren't?" Marty looked shocked and mildly offended at the red heads comment. "We've got a first class band here –,"
"The best!" Max lifted her drink in acknowledgment. "Oh, sorry."
"As I was saying," Marty rolled his eyes and looked back at Lucas. "We're gonna be fine, we're about to be picked up by a record company any day now. And Sarah, babe, I'm with Max –,"
"Oh, we're a couple? How come no one told me about this?" Max asked putting on a smile and batting her eyelashes at him.
"And me," Sylas put an arm around the drummer. "I'm not so sure I'm ok with that."
"You guys suck," Marty flipped them off and looked back as Sarah, not noticing the tow of them making faces at him before high-fiving. "But yeah, I think it's great you're gonna go."
"Thanks," Sarah leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "I think it is too."
"So, when are you leaving us?" Jack looked up from his game.
"Um, soon actually," Sarah said, surprise washing across her features as she pulled the packet away form Max and looked at the date. "Apparently they start Tuesday."
"Tuesday?!" Max nearly choked on her Dr. Pepper. "But that's so soon! We'll have absolutely no time to hang out."
"No time?" Sarah laughed. "We spent the entire summer together!" she leaned over to hug the girl. "Besides, I will be back to visit, I promise," she pressed her lips to Max's cheek as well before reaching for a slice of the fresh-out-of-the-oven pizza that had just been place on the table.
The seven of them spent the last weekend together, crashing at Sarah's house, watching movies and helping her pack. She left on Monday morning for her senior year at Spencer Academy. She had no idea how eventful it would be.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything recognizable herein. Nor do I own Syler Jaxton, Carisa Eiler and the yet to be introduced OC by Dunamess. They belong to their respective owner's switchbat (Syler) and Draco's Secret Lover (Carisa) and they have very graciously let me borrow them for my own personal use. THANKS GUYS!!Author's Note: So, I've decided to take a stab at this plot bunny since it just won't die. Also, just an FYI, I will not be retelling the film, the first chapter will pick up at Spencer's gradation. Reviews are both wanted and appreciated, thoughts, suggestions and constructive criticism are preferred but all is welcome. Thank You!