Chapter 1

I stared out the window of my family's van for the last time at the neighborhood that had been the building blocks of my childhood. Being that I was now 15, like the years of my childhood, I hoped to never forget this place.

The sun was at its highest point in the clear blue summer sky; the warm wind wisped through the deep green leaves of tree limbs. I heard the sound of my family's French Bulldog, E.T, pouting again to be released from the confinements of her kennal followed by her scratching the wired door with her fore paws. I felt sorry for her, having to be shut away like she was an inanimate object without feelings.

I turned in my seat enough so I could see her. Looking at her the familiar image of a young brown wolf with sleek fur, that made him look even younger, and piercing amber eyes that were bold yet gentle for close companions. Suddenly I was swamped yet again into grief for the animal as if that wolf was a true part of my family.

No one would ever believe me even if I was crazy enough to tell them, but last winter he had been. Last winter everything had changed and it all started with a simple birthday present....

I entered my school with my usual sly smile on my face. Scanning the hallway I quickly located my best friend, Rosalina Tai, taking out books from her locker with her back turned in my direction. I quickly took on the opportunity and silently crept up to her from behind. I slipped one hand onto one of her shoulders quickly and said, "how's it cracking little lady." She whirled around with a surprised look in her eyes which was quickly overcome of how angry she was at me. "Nat," she yelled at me in a low voice, "aren't you suppose to be an 8th grader now?" I chuckled, "yeah but it doesn't mean I can't have a little fun now does it?"

She opened her mouth to give me another one of her smart remarks but closed it again as one of her teachers past us. It was a black haired woman about Rosalina's height. She was wearing a red shirt with the school's name printed on it in big orange lettering and a long kaki skirt. I caught a glimpse at her nametag which read, 'Ms. Kevin'. Ms. Kevin looked at me and at Rosalina then walked away.

"Weird," I said once the teacher had rounded the corner. I felt a hard hit on my shoulder. "Owe!" I turned to Rosalina who was playing her angry face at me again, "you could've gotten me in trouble!" I shrugged, "yeah…could've but I didn't." She gave me a long glare then went back to taking books out of her locker.

I recognize the purple cover of the 10th grade science book quickly (and not just because it read 'Science'.) "So what are 10th graders up to in science?" I asked. It wasn't like I cared or anything. I rarely cracked open my own science book when it came time to studying for a test unless it was a major grade or something. "We have a midterm coming up," she groaned, "right before the holidays, this is just great!" "I think we have midterms too," I replied with a smile, "maybe we can study together?"

She rolled her eyes, "yeah right; what does 10th grade physical science have to do with 8th grade earth science?" I smiled at what instantly came to my mind and with a laugh I replied, "well together they make chemistry."

"You wish! It so does not," Rosalina said. "Does to," I argued back. She gave an irritated sigh then closed her locker, "I'm not arguing." I could tell by her face she did mean that. I nodded knowing when Rosalina said something like she just did you better stop because when Rosalina gets mad she didn't play.

I helped her gather her books from the floor then offered to walk her to class. "You're gonna be late," she reminded me. "Don't care," I groaned looking at the door of Rosalina's first class. She sighed, "So what are you doing for the holidays?"

Suddenly the door of the classroom swung open. Inside a tall woman with brown hair tied up in a bun with glasses handing off her nose was staring down at us. "Miss Tai we're waiting on you," she said.

I quickly gave Rosalina her text books then began to make my way for my first class of the morning. I already knew I wouldn't get to my part of the school until at least a few minutes after 8:00, which is the time we're suppose to be in class. "I haven't even gone to my locker yet," I muttered to myself suddenly remembering I hadn't bothered to take my back pack home the night before. Boy, did Mr. Lou have it in for me!

I rushed to my locker and got the stuff I knew I needed for my first 3 periods then went down the hall to my math class. I took in a deep breath before entering that classroom this morning and when Mr. Lou turned around to handle me I already knew what was coming, "Detention Mr. Wolff,"…exactly. And that's how I ended up here.

I looked around the old computer lab, which was now the Detention Classroom, and laid my head down on my desk. I had finished my homework, and I think by the way that I did a pretty good job on my essay, 2 full pages! Now after that I am bored…out of my freaking mind!

Sometime later I must have fallen asleep because when I opened my eyes again my dad was standing right in front of my desk. He was giving me a hard look with his eyes staring straight at me. I sat up instantly back in my seat. Now I could see, Mr. Scott, the teacher in charge of detention for today, behind him.

I bit my lip expecting to see my mother somewhere in the room. Sighing of relief I saw she wasn't there. "We have a lot to talk about when we get home Nathaniel!" Of course it was my dad speaking. He and my mom were the only people I allowed to call me Nathaniel. With them actually when they got mad it didn't make any difference, either way I knew I was gonna get it. I just think to them being able to call me Nathaniel, when they know I hated it, gave them more power over me which they enjoyed, a lot.

My dad gave me another long hard look then said, "Your mom and brother are out waiting in the car go join them." "Oh great!" I thought but dared not say. I was in enough trouble as it is without what my dad called 'Back-talk'.

Trying my best to avoid the sound of my dad and Mr. Scott talking about me until I was out of earshot, I went out into the parking lot and got into my family's mini van. I slid open the door unwillingly; I knew I was in for it. Getting into the van I was greeted by, "Nathaniel Marvin Wolff, this is the fourth time we've had to come pick you up from detention in the last 3 weeks!" and of course that came from my mom.

I looked at my mom. She had a stern look on her face. She says she had long hair once that hung loosely over her shoulders and streamed down her back. I guess that would be believable, but now she always had her dark brown hair cut, confounded to the length to her shoulders.

I looked away and took my seat next to my younger brother, Alex. He waved at me and smiled but didn't speak. I guess he knew if he even said a word to me right now mom would have his head. I fastened my seat belt and leaned back in my seat, listening to my mom's nonstop scolding.

"And all I can ask is, why," she was saying, "why is my oldest son who used to be a little angel getting in so much trouble?" I'll have to say this and hope I don't sound conceded; when I was younger I literally rarely got into trouble. I was the sweetest boy alive; I'm not saying I'm not good now but….

I heard a car door open and my dad got into the driver's seat. He didn't even look at me as he started the car and he began to pull the van out of the parking lot.

….well according to my parents I'm not anymore.

I think I should tell you a little about myself. First of all, I'm in a band with my brother called the 'Naked Brothers Band'. (We were really little when we came up with the name.) I'm the leader and he's the drummer. We both write music, I'm not bragging, but I've written a lot more songs than Alex and that's the truth. My mom's a producer, how cool is that? She wrote and produced a movie for my band back when I was only 9 years old. So my mom's pretty awesome, when she's not yelling at me. She's currently writing a series of our band that runs on a television network; some things in it happened in real life and some didn't, but I wish they did.

Moving along to my dad and brother; for starters, my dad was once in a band as well. To bad it wasn't a rock band because it would have been so cool to say you had a rock star as a father, am I right? But to bad; I guess he's saving that for me one day. Anyways, my dad's was in a blues band. Yeah blues, lucky for me really because he helps inspire some of my songs using blues music. He also helps get Alex's and my songs onto albums with help from Columbia Records. It's so awesome, but even though Alex and I are inheriting the famous gene I still think of myself as a normal kid.

Dad drove the car into the garage and we all got out. I tried as hard as I could to keep my eyes low to avoid the hostile glares from my parents. Going inside I got to my room as quick as possible. Not even 10 seconds after I had entered I heard my dad call me from downstairs and he said, 'Nathaniel.'