Chapter 1

A Good Year

Before the Band

"You must be our new student Olivia White. Do come in." Mrs. Warden an older looking teacher with gray hair and noticeable wrinkles, called out to a young blonde girl in the door way. She slowly stepped into the class room, nervous as to all the other students staring at her. She looked down at her feet and moved a strand of hair out of her face and behind her ear.

"It's nice to meet you Olivia." Mrs. Warden smiled down at the 5 year old. Olivia was always quite ever since Kindergarten and was never the type to be the middle of attention, so she smiled at her teacher and nodded. "Olivia we have a nice seat right there next to Wendall for you." Mrs. Warden told Olivia in a high-pitched voice that she used while speaking to the children.

Olivia turned and began to walk to the seat she was given as she noticed every eye in the class following her. As she walked to the seat that was only steps away it seemed as if she was walking down the longest hall and everyone's eyes just kept staring at her. She didn't like the attention, she thought of it as if she was disturbing or distracting the class from the days lesson. Having so many eyes on her made her nervous like if she we're to trip or fall everyone would laugh at her and on her very first day at her new school she would already have been the laughing stock.

As she finally reached her seat she sat down her bag and for the first time looked over to the boy who sat next her. He had red-blonde hair, freckles, and a warm smile. Observing him she felt her lips curl into a smile but she didn't know quite why.

There was something different about him then any other boy Olivia had ever seen, she just couldn't define it. Soon when the boy -Wendall-turned to look at her he blushed and they both looked away quickly. The teacher was talking but for the first time ever Olivia couldn't pay attention to what the teacher was saying. Matter of fact she couldn't hear the teacher at all.

It was like she was in a whole other world with only her and the boy she didn't even know sitting beside her. Like a dream world that she couldn't understand. The dream world was suddenly interrupted by a loud bell. It made her jump. She guessed it could be a fire alarm but hopefully it wouldn't be. That would mean:

1. There was fire.

2. They would have to stand outside on a hot day in Arizona for numerous minutes.

and 3. Someone could get hurt.

Olivia had always hated any idea of someone getting hurt.

"C'mon students, It's time for lunch and recess!" Mrs. Warden told her class. Happy that it wasn't a fire alarm, Olivia followed behind the rest of the classmates making sure she was the last through the door. The lunch room was filled with children going every which way and Olivia tried as best as she could to follow the rest of the line to where the lunch lady was giving the food out.

Olivia was usually a clumsy girl so she watched her step very carefully as she stepped into the line behind a blonde boy. They had chicken that looked old and chili that smelled like rotten eggs. Olivia wasn't even really hungry in the first place anyway because she had eaten a huge breakfast with her mother and father that morning.

After getting her food she turned around to see the full cafeteria. She had absolutely no idea where to sit. She was never one to just walk up to someone and befriend them, she was more shy. If anyone came up to her, which they rarely ever did then maybe they could become friends. Olivia was one of the youngest in the class as she got into Kindergarten early and was always afraid other kids would think she was a baby.

Soon Olivia found an empty table and sat down. She pushed away her food tray and pulled out her journal from her bag and began to right. While she did so Wendall was on the other side of the cafeteria.

"Move it Wendall!" Said a blonde boy.

"It's Wen and No Ray! Find another seat." Wen shot back. Ray rolled his ice blue eyes and scoffed at the other 6 year old and walked away. At such a young age Ray was already a big jerk.

Wen saw the blond girl from earlier that day at the other side of the cafeteria. He smiled as she wrote quickly in what seemed to be a diary. He wanted to talk to her but didn't know what to say. Wen knew he couldn't just go up to a pretty girl and start talking, though he could do that to anyone else.

Olivia was her name and Wen thought it was a pretty name. He'd never seen any other girl with such pretty chocolate brown eyes and blonde hair. There was something different about this girl to Wen. She didn't need attention to stand out to him, she didn't need anything but her smile. All the other girls in their class would try as hard as they could do get anyone's attention, especially Ray who was very popular.

It was soon time for Recess and neither Wen nor Olivia hadn't eaten any of their food. It didn't bother either of them though because they each had a good time, Olivia writing about the boy she sits next to in class and Wen thinking of the girl with the chocolate eyes and the bright smile.

As the class hurried outside Wen lost track of Olivia. He shrugged and walked outside to his usual part of the playground.

Wen had always liked to play on the monkey bars opposite to Olivia who couldn't make it passed the second bar. So Olivia always settled for the swings instead. One thing they did have in common though was they both liked to watch the clouds.

Wen just continued going back and forth and then climbed on top of them and lied right on them watching the clouds, searching for shapes. As he found a clouds shaped like a bunny he heard something that caught his attention. Ray was yapping on, saying something about how lame the new girl was. What a jerk but it wasn't any of Wen's buis- His thoughts got interrupted by another thought.

New girl? Olivia was the new girl. Ray better not be messing with Olivia. Wen sat up immediately almost falling off the monkey bars. He looked to where Ray and his friend were standing next to Olivia who was on the swing. She was looking away from Ray, obviously hurt by his words.

"Look here, It's the new girl. Whatcha' got there?" Ray moved to the front of Olivia who was now closing her journal. Ray yanked the book out of her hands and started flipping through the pages. Olivia gasped. She struggled trying to grab the book out of his hands. Ray's ice blue eyes we're filled with hate and Olivia didn't like that.

"Can I just-" Olivia started but was interrupted.

"Look at this!" He pointed out a page to his friend and they started laughing. This made Wen furious. Wen jumped off of the monkey bars and over to were Ray was harassing Olivia.

"Give Olivia her book back." Wen said from behind Ray, almost yelling. Ray smirked and turned around "Who's going to make me? You, Wendall?" Ray pushed Wen making him almost fall onto the ground. Wen hated being called Wendall with the passion so this didn't help with his anger.

"Yeah, actually." Wen grabbed Olivia's book and pushed Ray hard. For a moment Wen actually felt bad for being so mean in front of Olivia but after what Ray had always put him through he deserved it. Ray rolled his eyes and walked away with his friend.

Wen handed Olivia her book and smiled "I believe this belongs to you!". Olivia smiled back at him grateful "Thank you so much. I thought I'd never get that back. " She giggled lightly. This was the first time at school anyone had actually ever stood up for her. Wen shook his head. "No problem Olivia. Ray deserved it, he's a jerk." Wen laughed and then Olivia joined in.

"Can I call you Livvy? Or Liv?" Wen asked nicely. Olivia nodded. "Cool."

The teacher called for the children to come back inside so Olivia and Wen stood. "Thank you, again Wen." Olivia whispered. "Your welcome." Wen smiled and they began walking. Before they got to the door Wen steeped aside letting Olivia go in first "Ladies first." He said. The only reason he knew to do that was because that's what his Dad always did to his Mom. Olivia smiled and walked inside.

Wen and Olivia knew this was going to be a good year. A very good year.