Chapter 1:
"Tommy! It's time for breakfast."
No, it was the time for sleep. The time to continue my purposeless dreams, continue my crazy adventures, slay the humongous dragon and save the damsel in distress. It most certainly wasn't time to face reality and realise that the summer holidays were over. There'd be no more sleeping in, no more hanging out with friends and going to the mall or having late night movie marathons. Now it was time for academics, study and hard work. Three of the worst possible things for me, Tommy Pickles.
"You don't want to be late for your first day of High School."
Of course my mother had to remind me of that. High School. The worst thing for any teenager. I truly am not prepared. I wouldn't say I'm scared of going, and I definitely wasn't anxious. It was just the fact that this will be all new and I just don't know what to expect. Sure I'd seen movies but who knows if that's what it's really like. Throughout the holidays I'd been asking countless questions to my best friend, Chuckie Finster, who was now starting sophomore year and yet I'm still not prepared.
One thing's for sure, I can't lie around here all day. I slowly rolled my way out of bed and stumbled down the stairs towards the kitchen.
"Oh finally, you're up." Mum sighed looking up from the stove when I walked through. I could distinctly smell the scent of blueberry and chocolate coming from the stove.
"Are those blueberry and chocolate pancakes?" I grumbled out while clambering on to the chair at the table.
"They certainly are. You need strength for today. It's a BIG day!" Dad exclaimed, looking over his copy of the newspaper. "We'll be going in half an hour son, you still need to get ready."
"I have plenty of time." I mumbled while sliding the freshly baked pancakes onto my plate and drowning them with maple syrup. My parents obviously knew that high school had been on my mind. All through the holidays I had chatted about everything and anything to do with the subject.
Mum, sensing my nerves, said "Don't you worry Tommy. Things will go great and you'll love high school. Besides, all your friends will be in the same boat as you."
After finishing breakfast I hopped up the stairs and got ready for the day. Funnily enough my cousin picked out my outfit for the day. On one of our 'family bonding days', Angelica had insisted she pick out what I was to wear for the first day. Her parting words were, "You'll never be cool, but if people EVER find out that we're related, then at least it looks like you have some amount of style." She of course thought she was the image of 'cool'. She was always sporting the most fashionable clothes, never a strand of her blonde hair was out of place, she was sociable with all the right people. It was going to be bad enough going to the same school as her.
Hopping into the car I donned my newly bought jacket and threw my backpack in the trunk. My friends and I had decided that we would carpool for the first day of school. This was excluding Chuckie as he already had a schedule for every morning and took the bus. These friends that we picked up were Phil and Lil DeVille and Kimi Finster, the friends I've known for the longest time. I can't remember a time when we were ever separated, even as babies!
There was Phillip DeVille, the twin of Lillian DeVille. His hair was a big brown mess sitting atop his head and there were strands sticking out in every direction, which of course he thought was awesome. We had the same humour and could relate with each other on many things. Sure we didn't connect on a deep level but he's a mate and always will be.
His twin, Lillian DeVille was quite similar to her twin in not just appearance aspects. She was fun and hilarious and great to hang around. To anyone she meets she's kind and gentle, but there's definitely a fiery personality behind that. Everyone knows not to get on Lil's bad side. She'd grown out of her messy phase from her childhood and now had wavy brown hair and fair skin.
And of course there was Kimi the fire cracker. She was so full of energy and always ready to do anything. She has always been a tomboy and just one of the guys and was a close friend and confidant. I could tell her anything and she'd know what to say. Truthfully I'd had a crush on her all throughout middle school, but she'd never shown any interest and with time the feelings disappeared.
Together we climbed out of the car and accepted my dad's good luck and now we faced high school together.
"Please tell me you guys are just as nervous as me." Lil mumbled looking towards us with wide eyes as we walked towards the entrance gate. "I've been thinking about this all holidays."
Phil laughed, "Gee don't be so worried, it's the same as middle school just a different place." He grinned. "I for one am very relaxed about this year."
Kimi sniggered. "That's probably because you slept your way through middle school." I laughed along and added in "Did you even know any of our teacher's names?"
His face scrunched up as he thought back to last year. "Sure I do ... Mrs Thompson, right? I was awake for the entire time thank you."
Lil wasn't concentrating on the conversation, but looking through all her textbooks in her schoolbag. She piped in half-heartedly, "That was the principal Phillip."
I laughed along with Kimi as we watched a flustered Phil mumble that he knew that but was testing us. "Good job, at least one of us will breeze through high school." I said.
"The point is, that high school is not going to be so different." He said.
I doubted that Phil was right, but who knows. Hopefully it'll be the same. Looking around I saw swarms of teens talking loudly and animatedly with each other. There were kids out on the oval tossing a footy, teams out playing basketball, people sitting around outside on benches and reading. All in all it didn't look that threatening.
I looked over to the other three to see that they were comparing time tables. I fished mine out from my bag and joined in.
"Oh look we have English and Maths together Tommy!" Kimi exclaimed pointing towards my timetable. "Oh and you have Sport with Phil last period toady."
I high-fived Phil and grinned, sport wouldn't be too bad. Lil was clutching her time table like it was a life line and was reading through it, probably trying to memorise everything.
"Oi Lil, do we have anything together?" I asked, trying to get her attention, though it seemed that despite my efforts the time table was still most important.
A sharp trilling sound broke out across the school and most students began to amble their way towards the class entrances, some stopping to speak with friends, some tripping over their shoes in a rushed attempt to reach classes. As I began to walk towards the building I was stopped by a tug at my shirt. Turning around I saw it was Kimi and she had gotten the attention of all three of us.
"You guys have to promise me something!" She exclaimed looking at us all as her expression became one of hope. Phil nodded for her to continue whilst looking around and coming to the realisation that most students were already at class. Not the best way to start your first day late. "I want you to promise that we'll always be together in this. That we'll always hold onto our friendship like we always have. That nothing will break us apart."
Phil chuckled and put his arm around Kimi's shoulders. "Don't get so emotional Kimi! We've always been friends and we always will be! We're too close to be pulled apart." He rationalised while walking towards the school.
Looking towards Kimi I could see she was still doubtful. "Don't sweat it Kimi! Why in the world would we suddenly stop being friends anyway? High School can't be that different, can it?"
A/N: Rented out the 'All Grown Up' DVDs and inspiration struck! Tell me what you think pleaaase. Will most probably only continue if I get some sort of response.