The morning of June 4, 2006, I was terrified of the phone. I dreaded it ringing, panicked when it was picked up and grew frantic over who might be on the other line.

I'm not crazy, at least not in that way. I was scared for a different reason.

I was scared because I knew that eventually that phone would ring, someone would answer, and on the other line would be the fate of my summer.

I'd known I wouldn't have the required amount of credits at the beginning of the year, but I didn't think it would matter. Yeah, I was so wrong. On the last day of school (which was yesterday), Mrs. Deffentale, my principal, called me to her office.

"Miss Stewart, it appears that you're short half a credit" she said to me from behind her desk.

"Oh. Whoops" I said nervously.

"You need to have full credits to go on to 11th grade", she said flatly.

"Oh…"

She sighed. "It means, you'll have to take another class this summer if you want to continue in your high school career".

"Do I really have to take another class? I mean, it's half a credit".

She looked at me for a long time. "Miss Stewart, you can expect a call to your house tomorrow. I need to discuss this with you're parents"

In other words, I was fucked.

So now I lay on my bed, trying to read a book, while praying that the phone wouldn't ring.

Which of course, it did less than 30 seconds later.

"I'll get it!" I screamed and leapt off the bed, sprinting towards the phone.

I skidded to a halt when I saw my mother had picked it up and was listening intently to the caller. A frown grew on her face and my heart dropped. I knew it was Mrs. Deffentale.

When the phone finally got hung up, my mom turned around to see my waiting in the doorway.

Act natural, I thought, act natural.

"Hey mom!" I called, a bit too loud, "What's up?"

She crossed her arms and looked at me. "Miley"

"Yep that's my name!" I yelled frantically. I ran to the fridge and threw open the door.

"Miley"

"So what's for dinner?" I continued, rummaging through the fridge.

"Miley, turn around and look at me"

I sighed and turned around, facing her.

Oh, God. She was mad. "Miley, why didn't you tell me you weren't going to have enough credits to pass this year?"

"I…I didn't know until yesterday" I said weakly.

"Well, I guess you know that you have to take a class this summer to make up for it".

I nodded.

"Good, because you start your class tomorrow".

"What?" I yelled. "But-"

"No buts, Miley".

I sighed. "Well can you at least tell me what class I'm taking".

She looked at me. "You get two choices. Science, or Photography".

"God, they both suck!" I shouted angrily.

She shrugged. "Take your pick".

"Ugh…" I groaned.

LIZZIE: Hey girlie, u wanna go 2 the mall 2mrrow?

MILEY: I can't :(

LIZZIE: y?

MILEY: I have 2 go 2 stupid summer skool.

LIZZIE: Srsly?
MILEY: sadly, yes. I don't have enuf credits so I have 2 take an xtra class

LIZZIE: Ugh that sux. Wat class r u takin?

MILEY: photography

LIZZIE: ugh why? That's the class that nick is taking

MILEY: r u kidding me? I hate him! He's so weird!

LIZZIE: yea!

MILEY: ugh well I only cud pick between that and science

LIZZIE: that sux soo bad!

"Miley!" my mom called, "Come in now, it's past 9:00!"

"Fine! I'll be right there!" I yelled back, in an annoyed voice.

I had been sitting in the old tree house in our backyard for close to three hours. Me and my brother, Jackson, had used to spend every night out here in the summer before we got to old for it. But even so, this place had become my refuge. This is where I went when one of my friends moved away. This where I went when my mom and dad got in a fight. This is where I went when I found out dad had cancer. This is where Jackson found me crying at dad's funeral.

And now here I was, faced with this situation. Even though I was texting Lizzie, I knew she wasn't much help. She was my friend but she couldn't give all that much support or comfort.

I sighed and set down the phone. I looked up at the ceiling of the tree house.

"I don't want to go to summer school, Daddy" I said.

No reply.

"What would you do? Should I just go?"

Silence.

"I guess I have to go".

No answer.

I sighed, and swallowed the lump in my throat.

"Goodnight, Daddy" I whispered, sitting up. I climbed down the rope ladder, and ran back into my house.

As I lay in bed that night, I tried to sleep, but couldn't shake the thoughts from my head. Nick Grey…was he ever strange. He kept to himself although he gave the rare sarcastic comment whenever someone made fun of him. He was the one person I'd never assumed I'd have contact with. Yet here I was going to be sharing my summer with him. How awful. I rolled on my side and closed my eyes, hoping desperately that the morning would never come.

SO what did you think? Next chapter Miley's going to her first day of photography class. I'm really excited about this story. I hope you are too!

Please Review!