Prologue

The beginning; Middle school & Matriculation

Disclaimer: I OWN all rights to this story. Why? because these characters are my original characters. My original settings and based off actual real live events.

x3Anling's Author Note: This story was originally all pictures with short "captions" and was never meant to be fully written out and put up on fanfiction. However, my friend told me to write it out because She read it like a book and claimed "there wasn't much detail to it" and that she wanted to know more of what happened. So I started writing it all out. This was originally suppose to be the first chapter but I wanted to set up all the past stuff first. Yeah. It's a pretty long Prologue . It's kind of like a pre-chapter thingy. A long pre-chapter thingy. Anyways, I hope you enjoy it. R&R please? :D

Summary: Lin Xiao was a 3rd seat 1st part Clarinetist in the prestigious Mariwaki Middle school concert band. Alex Lao was a loud and annoying 7th grade boy. 1 year difference though some how the 2 built a close bond...In middle school! Will their friendship last throughout high school or crumble to the ground? A story based off real and personal High school events however, many settings, names, events, and "letters/messages" have been tweeked/changed.

I remember when everyone in middle school wanted to grow up. I remember when everyone all thought Pre-algebra was the hardest class. That Band students were the coolest kids you ever knew. When Everyone wore Uniforms. When there were no such things as cliques. When everyone had a myspace instead of a facebook. Yes. Those were the days. The simple days. The innocent days.

But It changes after Matriculation. The graduation of the school's 8th graders.

It all started in my 8th grade year at Mariwaki Middle school. The school had three "houses" or "teams" for each grade. I was in the second house of 8th graders; 8-2. I remember times when students would think the first house had all the geniuses in them, Third with the idiots, and the Second with the 'in-between' students. Honestly, they were all put into random order though I never bothered telling that to anyone.

My final year at Mariwaki was most memorable from all its ups and downs. I was one of those popular band students that almost everyone wished they would have been. A 3rd seat, 1st Part clarinet player was my spot in the concert band. Everyone looked upon us like a prized possession of the school. That's the only thing that's worth going to Mariwaki. The concert band was amazing. Though the popularity and cherished feeling from being in the band came second to my next activity; The Asian club. Yeah. Weird name for a club right? Mater of fact, I never really considered it as a club. All we did was sit around in a classroom with the so called 10 or less members who signed up and watched movies or ate food or whatever. It was unorganized and the President? Ugh. Don't get me started on her. She was a pretend wanna-be of me. A fake.

So what did I like about this club? Why did I love this lame dump of a club over the prestigeious concert band? For starters, it wasn't because of what we did but because of the people who joined. Sure, the president was horrible. Sure the tresurer was complitely disorganized and the vice president wasn't even IN the club half the time (probably with her boyfriend or something). But the other members? Yes. They were worth staying in that dumb Asian club.

There was only one person who slightly got on my nerve a bit. He wasn't a jerk or anything and he didn't anything bad to me. He was just really irritating and loud. His name? Alex Lao. To be more specific, His real name was Li Rou. But everyone called Him Alex (and he preferred to be called Alex Lao instead of Li Rou).

There wasn't much to say about Alex Lao. Well, anything nice that is. He was loud in class. Immature. And was pretty Ignorant. What could you expect from a 7th grade boy?

I could list you everything I practically knew about him. One, He pretends he knows everything. Two, He was short; shorter than me by at least 5 inches (considering I'm only about 4,11 I think 5 inches less than me is pretty tiny.) Three he's got the worst cropped hair cut I've seen. Its like someone shaved off his side burns or something and he usually left the top of his hair styled with gel. Not the best thing to do when your hair is short and cropped. Four, He's pretty thin and lightweight. I mean, I'm thin too but I think he's much thinner than me. Five, he's got oval glasses that DO NOT frame his face well. not to mention they are tinted when they hit the sunlight. Really? I think that's pretty lame. I mean, I have pretty bad eye sight to but at least my glasses frame my face nicely. Six, his teeth are crooked. Like, jagged rocks or something. Parents to poor to afford braces for him?

And finally, Seven. He's never been in love. Never got his first kiss. I'm pretty sure almost 95% of the students here in Mariwaki middle school (6th, 7th, and 8th grade) have all been in love. Crushes, checking out, Flirting; some students are already getting boyfriends. Especially a small hand full of 8th graders. Some girls are already loosing their virginity.

But Alex? Yeah, you could say he is the weirdest and more annoying 7th grader in Mariwaki. Some people even question about his sexuality. He acts gay but he claims to be straight. I say he's gay. It's by the way he acts, it just throws everything together.
I never thought I would even come in contact with Alex about anything. He and I were on different levels of interest. I was a music person. He was a video techi-guy. Far different. So when I joined the Asian club here in Mariwaki, that's when I first met him. He was still loud, obnoxious. Crazy. That's all I could say about him at the first meeting.

During my time spent within the club, I found out so much about Alex. First of all, his nickname is Li, which is really similar to my name, Lin just without the N. We had the same prescription for glasses. I also found out that he was pretty strong. He lifted me up bridal style and swung me around like a feather. He gave me piggy back rides around the room and sometimes around parts of the campus. AND He's not gay. He's just flamboyant and is pretty feminine But not gay. He does like girls but never fell in love with one yet. I was surprised but so glad I found out so much about him that I never knew. And by the end of the first month of meeting, we were almost like best friends.

I trusted him and he trusted me. I told him who I had a crush on (Sen Mung). I told him my favorite flowers. Everything. I started to see the kindness this 7th grade boy had. And I started regretting everything I thought of him at first.

As my final middle school year wore on, it was only two more months until Matriculation (graduation from middle school). Time went by so fast and I was so oblivious to it all. I spent so much more time with Alex that he was almost like my best friend. And that's when everything ended.

The day of Matriculation, I walked the line to get my Middle school diploma. Everyone was looking at me and out in the crowd I saw Alex smiling at me, waving. I smiled at him back and took the diploma, heading back to my seat and waiting until the entire ceremony was finished. After it all, I went to find him in the crowd, only to see him standing there with a huge bouquet of flowers. He walks up to me and handed the huge bouquet of colorful roses, carnations and other unknown flowers that I didn't know the names to. He grew a bit, about 3 inches taller. He was at my eye level now.

"Alex, what are these for?" I questioned surprised.

He shows his crooked smile and brilliantly bright eyes at me. Then he hand me my backpack I had told him to get in the band room prior to the ceremony. "They're for you, Duh! I heard from Michelle's cousin that High school is pretty hard so these are to help wish you good luck!"

I grinned back at him and took a huge breath of the flowers. They were sweet and gave a humble smell. "You're so sweet. I wish you the best of luck next year as an 8th grader. One more year and you'll be in high school too. And then I'LL be the one handing you a bouquet of flowers to you at YOUR Matriculation."

"Ha! You'll be to busy with High school to come wand watch me graduate next year." He fought back.

"Hey! No I won't. Dude, you're like one of my closes friends. How can I forget your Matriculation?"

He shrugged his shoulders and gave me a comforting hug. His arms felt so secure around my waist and it made me feel so guilty to be giving him a one armed hug around his neck due to the fact that I had this bouquet of flowers in my other.

He lets go and eyes something, turning me around to make me see what he was looking at. "Hey, there's Sen Mung. You should go talk to him." He said quite blandly and gave me a little push.

I giggled and shook my head. "Nah. He wouldn't be interested in me." I said shyly.

Alex made a tisk tisk noise and pushed me even more. "C'mon Lin. You aren't going to get guys if you're so shy about it." He teased.

I rolled my eyes at him and sighed. "Ah fine. I'll do as you say, oh Mighty Alex Lao." I give him a final good bye and a very quick one armed hug before leaving.

And that was the last time I saw Alex Lao for Two years.

The following year, I was a freshman in Mari High school. Classes were tough and if you thought Middle school was hard, you'd think High school was hell. SEVEN periods, Five classes each day. Three text books and 1 massive pile of homework to do over the weekend. It was like death was preparing you for when you get old. Not to mention the many extra curricular activities here. 5 times more than Mariwaki! So many more clubs and sports and electives. It was so hard to choose from them all.

I ended up taking Marching band as my after school activity. OH DEAR LORD! Having marching band pile onto my school work just made everything so much more harder.

Summer practice started at 8 and ended at 5 in the after noon. 9 hours in the Sun twice a week for a whole month. You think Mr. Wan would stop with the practices? Hell no! He gave us 3 weeks to learn and memorize 4 songs for our show. After those 3 weeks, he made us go in the sun and do basics. Then we started dotting down spots for our show. And every time I got home from practice, I would sleep and sleep and sleep until the next practice came up. It was sure hell.

When The the official school year started in September, Practices kept going on. However, instead of practice starting at 8, it started right after school at 2:30 and ended at 5. Same number of days every week which totaled out to 9 hours out in the sun per week. Sunburns and slightly darker skin had taken over my arms and legs, leaving me with a farmer's tan. Sometimes I forgot to do my piles and piles of homework when I got home from school and practice. It led me to low grades and I almost failed the first quarter of school.

After the Marching season had ended, I tried so hard to raise up my grades from very low C's to at least a high B or a low A. I stayed up all night and sometimes didn't sleep, just to finish and catch up with extra credit, projects, un-finished classwork and homework. I passed all my classes with A's and B's my freshman year and was so relieved to finally lay down and relax for the first time ever in so long.

Though I felt like something was not right. Like something was not yet finished. It was then one day when I was cleaning out my room, I found my old 8th grade Yearbook. Dusting the cover free from dust, I gazed at the hard cover book. It was blue and grey and a bright shade of pink. I liked the cover and the overall design of the entire yearbook. Opening up the cover, I read all the signatures from everyone who signed my yearbook. I saw many comments from people who either wrote how Asian I was, how I was a wonderful keyboardist/clarinet player or that I had a bad ass wardrobe with cool socks. I laughed at some remarks about me and looked at the photos, trying to think back to when these pictures were taken and what was going on. It was then when I found the Asian club photo. All the members were there and I was in the front row, smiling next to a little boy. Next to the picture of Asian club was a long message written in a florescent blue ink and neat hand writing. The message took over a whole page and as I scanned it, I read it.

Lin!
It was so cool meeting you this year! I'm really happy I joined Asian club and met you and all. Honestly you were the only reason why I stayed in that club. There were so many fun times together like the time I piggy backed you around the field or when we danced a tango together. We totally failed at that because 1. We didn't know how to tango or how to ballroom dance and 2. You were waaay taller than me. But we had fun right? That's all that matters. I really wish I knew you longer. Sometimes I wish I were an 8th grader too or you were a 7th grader like me. I wish I joined the concert band and played an instrument like you. Lin, you were someone who was looked up upon by everyone in Mariwaki. A 3rd seat first part clarinet player. You were one of the best and you were my role-model. A pretty and smart role-model and I wanted to be just like you. Heh, sounds like a 5th grader saying this right? But it's all true.
I should also tell you that I took your yearbook from you bag when you went to Matriculation today. You left it in the band room and you told me to go get it because it had all your stuff in here. I did. I watched the ceremony and I have a bouquet of flowers to give. You looked pretty in White. I hope you saw me wave at you. Just in case I don't see or you don't see me or can't find me after the ceremony, I just wanted to tell you good luck! High school is tough and I know you will be successful in life.
When I have my Matriculation, I want you to be there. I want to see your face in the crowd. Then You'll be the one giving me a bouquet of flowers. Haha.
Well Lin, Don't forget about me okay? And don't forget about my Matriculation next year. Have a great summer and I'll see you in two years When I become a freshman in Mari High.
- Alex Lao.

I closed the year book and sat in my room with tears stains on my cheeks. Yes. I was crying. I had forgotten all about Alex's Matriculation. No. I had completely forgotten all about Alex Lao since I left Mariwaki.