Chapter One: First Day

I've always wondered what it would be like to go to Hollywood Arts High School. Every day, I passed by on the way to my NORMAL school.

Today, my curiosity was put to rest. My best friend, Danielle Griffith and I drove to Hollywood Arts for the very first time. Our parents had enrolled us, as a birthday present. (Our birthdays are about a week apart.) I have to say, I think Danny is a little more excited than me. I mean, she's the artsy one.

We pulled into the parking lot of the performing arts school. There were groups of teens dancing and singing. Some were sitting at picnic tables with instruments and laptops. Some were just chillin'. I parked the car, and we got out. Danny took a deep breath and smiled.

"I'm gonna go find my locker." I told her. She squeezed my hand, and I walked away.

Locker 384… 384… Ah. 384.

My locker was plain grey, and looked to be freshly painted. Compared to the other lockers, mine was hideous. It was directly above a transparent locker, and to the left of one with a keyboard attached to it. I opened my locker and shoved my bag inside.

"Excuse me." A voice appeared behind me. I whirled around to find a tall, tan boy behind me. He smiled and pointed to the transparent locker.

"Oh, I'm sorry," I moved out of his way. He bent down to open his locker. "Cool locker." He looked up and smiled.

"Thanks. Are you new here?"

"Is it that obvious?" I asked. He smiled.

"A little bit. So, what's your name?"

"Scarlett Morgan," I said. "You?"

"Beck Oliver." I shook his hand.

"Hey, do you know where Mr. Sikowitz's class is?" I asked, pointing to my schedule.

"Yeah, I'm headed there right now. Come on, I'll take you." He smiled and motioned forward. He put his hand on the small of my back, and guided me forward.

When we got to Mr. Sikowitz's classroom, Beck still had his hand on the small of my back.

"Well!" A sharp, loud voice yelled. We both turned around. He removed his hand as soon as he saw who it was. She was tallish, very pale, and she had jet black hair with blue streaks running through it. He walked toward her and kissed her head.

"Hey babe." He said.

"What is that?" She asked pointing at me.

"This is Scarlett. She's new here," Beck said. I gave a small wave. "Scarlett, this is my girlfriend, Jade."

"Yes, Beck is MY boyfriend." Jade chimed in. She gave me a look, and I turned to Beck.

"Anyway, thanks for helping me find this class." I said to him.

"No problem." He smiled, and he and Jade sat down. I did the same, sitting in a random chair. I heard Jade angrily murmuring things to Beck.

Suddenly, the door at the front of the room flew open.

"Good morning, adolescents," A bald, shoeless man announced. "We seem to have a new student. What is your name?"

"Scarlett." I answered quietly.

"Hi Scarlett." The class said. I turned around to smile at Beck, who was already smiling.

After class, I made my way back to my locker. Beck was leaning casually against it.

"Hey," he said. "Sorry about Jade."

"It's cool."

"So… How do you like it at Hollywood Arts so far?" he asked, breaking an awkward silence.

"It's fun. I never thought I would be this into it."

"Good," he smiled. "So what are you going to do with your locker?"

"What do you mean?"

"You have to personalize or decorate it in some way." He patted his locker. "Like Mine."

"Well, how did you come up with yours?"

"I have no secrets, and neither does my locker." He smiled modestly.

"Wow. That's deep…" The bell rung a few seconds later.

"I gotta run. Have lunch with me?" Beck asked me. He raised his thick eyebrows.

"Sure." He smiled and walked away.

At lunchtime, I saw a trailer in the parking lot. It was labeled The Grub Truck. It had pictures of different foods covering it. A man popped his head out of the service window, startling me.

"Hello, body. I am Festus, what do you want?" He asked in a thick foreign accent.

"Uh, a burrito?" I answered cautiously.

"One Burrito!" He yelled into the truck.

I looked around in the crowd, until I found Beck. He noticed me and waved. I waved back.

"One burrito." Festus reappeared with my food.

"Thanks." I handed him the money, and walked toward the table that Beck was sitting at.

"Hey." I smiled at him.

"Hey Scarlett," He smiled back. There were others sitting at the table with him. "Everyone, this is Scarlett. Scarlett, that's Tori, Andre, Cat, and Robbie. And you've uh… met Jade." He looked down at his food awkwardly.

"Hey guys." I said to everyone.

A girl with bright red hair stood up. "I'm Cat. How do you like it here so far?" She asked. I took a bite of my burrito.

"Well, it's fun. Sikowitz is my favorite teacher so far, the people are nice," I stopped and glared at Jade. Beck chuckled softly. "And this burrito is amazing!" Everyone (except Jade) laughed.

"So, what's your talent?" Andre asked.

"I'm not really sure yet," I said. Jade scoffed. "My best friend Danny is the artsy one of us."

"This school will help you discover it." Beck said. Jade rolled her eyes.

"I have to pee." She announced. She stood up and grabbed her tray.

"Why are you taking your tray to the bathroom?" Beck joked.

"I'm done with my food… I'm gonna throw it away." She answered sarcastically.

She started to walk behind me, and then stumbled. Her food spilled all over my hair and back.

"Oops, I'm so sorry." Jade said smiling.

"JADE!" Beck yelled. I got up and he did too.

"Ugh!" I sighed and walked away. Beck followed. I pulled out my Pearphone and dialed my mom.

"What are you doing?" Beck caught up to me and asked.

"Calling my mom to pick me up," I answered. "I want to go back to my other school."

"Because of Jade?"

"Ya think?" I sighed.

"Don't leave this school." He almost pleaded.

"Give me one good reason not to." I cried.

"Because you're awesome, and I want to know you." He smiled.

"Well I have to go home now. I have coleslaw in my hair."

"Promise you'll come back tomorrow." He held out his hand. I looked into his chocolate brown eyes.

"I promise." I shook his hand.