After wasting a whole half an hour perfecting my hair and makeup, and another half an hour trying to locate the school, I finally arrived at McKinley.

I walk into the school tugging on my red knit sweater, my tattered sneaker wedges hitting the ground, clunking with each step I take as I direct myself to the main office.

Clunk, clunk, clunk.

I mentally kick myself for not wearing classier shoes to school, but get over it as soon as I pull on the glass door, opening to the office. A few students sit in the chairs and I wonder if they're new students or if they managed to get in trouble within the first period of the first day of school. I settle on them being new, trying to keep my thoughts high, just for today at least.

I take a deep breath and walk to the desk, my hands gently landing on the smooth wood that the secretary's pristine computer sits atop. "Excuse me," I say softly, adjusting my worn out leather purse, that doubled as an excellent school bag.

The woman looks up her kind brown eyes, boring into my bright blue ones. "Hello, welcome to McKinley. Are you a new student?"

I nod. "Yes ma'am,"

She smiles and gestures to the seats where a few girls and boys are already seated. "Principal Figgins will take your file soon, and then Ms. Pillsbury will help you become accustomed with our school,"

"Thank you," I smile gently and look up to the chairs.

I sigh and awkward walk past a few student, and sit in between a girl and a boy, both look to be around my age. The girl with a sweet, gentle looking face, and long flowing light brown wavy hair and soft gray-blue eyes. The boy with side swept feathery light brown hair, and a sweet nervous looking face, and gentle brown eyes. I couldn't help but notice that he was extremely attractive, but as soon as I do, I remind myself of the heartbreak my family has gone through.

I reach into my bag pulling out my phone, and earbuds, sticking only one in, just to be sure I don't miss anything.

"Psst, psst," I look in the direction of the whisper and meet eyes with the girl beside me. I blink a few times before realizing she was trying to get my attention. I tug my ear phone out and look back at her. She smiles softly, and gestures to my phone.

"Greece is one of my favorite musicals," She says and I blink a few times before I realize she was talking about my music. I nod and smile.

"Mine too," I sigh giving her a soft smile in return, to which her smile grows.

"Really? Are you thinking about auditioning for th-"

"Samantha Julia Cartwright, Mr. Figgins will speak with you now," A woman says from another set of glass doors. I give the girl apologetic eyes and stand up, dropping my phone into my bag, and walking into the office, that smelled of Indian Curry. I crinkle my nose and sit down in the leather chair.

"Samantha Carwright, correct?" He asks his accent hitting me full force. I nod and swallow nervously.

"Yes, sir," I say softly, my voice not giving me the confidence I needed for a first day, a fresh start. He sticks out his hand expectantly and I reach into my bag, pulling out the file with my name printed across it.

It had all my test scores, and notes from my other school counselors and even bosses inside. It held the key to my future, and success. It wasn't much, nothing comparable to the other kids at this school, and my old one, but it was mine. I wasn't proud of it, but it was one thing I knew wouldn't disappear.

He reads through the notes with a blank face. I have always been good at reading people, but he was giving me nothing to work with. His fingers drummed on the desk, giving me the feeling he wanted to be here as much as I did, which wasn't very much. He finishes and hands the file to a secretary, who goes to her computer.

"She will have your schedule provided, and then you will see Ms. Pillsbury with the rest of the children," He says simply. "You may go,"

I nod smiling a small barely noticeable smile, and walking back to my seat beside the pretty girl who likes Greece. She opens her mouth to ask me the question when a name is called, and she sighs walking into Mr. Figgins office, and my schedule is handed to me.

Geometry

Physics

Health

AP Literature

Physical Education-Soph.

Lunch

World History

Study Hall

I sigh and fold it, sticking it into the side pocket of my bag, and zipping it back up. The boy who is seated beside me's chair squeaks as he moves back. I turn and look at him confused and he turns his eyes piercing into mine. I feel a blush creeping on my cheeks, and he smiles gently.

"We have World History, and Study Hall together," He says simply before looking back to his lap. I give him a curt nod, not caring much, and tucking my knees up.

The time drags on as Mr. Figgins meets with other students, and schedules are printed before the short ginger walks into the room, a smile plastered on her face.

"Hello everyone, I'm Ms. Pillsbury," She gives us a small wave, and I blink a few times not moving. She makes a hand motion for us to stand and we slowly do and follow her. "I'll give you the tour of the school,"

I walk behind her falling instep with the boy who sat beside me. The girl, no where to be seen, so far. I look around at each of the faces, quickly concluding we were definitely not all the same age here.

"Wait!" I hear a pleading call and turn to see the girl who sat beside me running to catch up with the group. We all slow down, barely, and I stop to wait for her, causing the boy to stop too. She gives me a thankful smile and walks beside me.

I look around as Ms. Pillsbury blabbers on about each of the classrooms and hallways, and I honestly could care less. I don't listen much to adults, its always been easier for me to figure things out by myself.

"Marley Rose," I hear her whisper and turn to the girl, who had her hand stuck out to mine. I take it in mine and shake it while saying.

"Samantha Cartwright, but I'd prefer if you called me Sam," I tell her. She smiles and nods.

"Its nice to meet you Sam Cartwright," She smiles and glances at Ms. Pillsbury as I do. "Anyways, I was just asking if you were thinking of auditioning for the New Directions,"

"Whats that?" I ask looking at her through my fallen hair.

"Its the show choir! Gosh, they won Nationals last year, you didn't hear about that?" She says shocked, but clearly enthusiastic about this. I hold back a chuckle as her eyes sparkle with passion.

"No, I'm sorry. I have a job, a-and prior commitments," I explain. "Now that I think about it, I think I did hear that one time or another. Good luck though,"

"Anyone who listens to music from Greece has to try out, please?" She begs her eyes shining. I can't help but chuckle as I shake my head.

"I really, really can't I'm sorry," I sighs and look down. "Maybe next year,"

That was always something I said. Maybe next year I'll get a nice car. Maybe next year, I'll get a great new wardrobe. Maybe next year, I'll get an amazing job. Maybe next year, I'll have a fantastic experience. But no matter how many maybe next year's I through out, they never happened.

"I've heard that excuse before, don't get your hopes up Marley," The boy from beside me says and I cross my arms. Marley sighs and I glare at him gently.

"Please. You think I won't audition next year?" I asks harshly. He shrugs and laughs slightly, his laugh beyond adorable.

"I don't think you'll audition this year, or next year, or our senior year," He says.

"Well you don't know me," I snap. He rolls his eyes.

"Prove it," He says teasingly. For some reason I grab onto this dare. Maybe I needed something like this, something to for myself. I cut a few hours down on the ice cream shop and we'd be fine.

"I will," I say and turn to Marley. "When are auditions,"

She gapes at the two of us before clearing her throat. "Friday,"

"Can you pull something together by then?" The boy teases I glare at him but look at Marley sweetly.

"I'll be there," I smile. She grins and hugs me, and I stick my tongue out at the boy, he rolls his eyes and we hear Ms. Pillsbury clear her throat as she leads us down a secluded hallway where a windowed office is with her name on a desk.

"Alphabetical order," She says and I slide down a the lockers sitting on the cold tile, one knee propped up the other in front of me.

Marely sits beside me, the mysterious, yet cute, boy on the other side. A few names are called before mine and I stand up leaving my bag to the safety of Marley and walk into her office.

"So, you're Samantha Cartwright?" She asks. I nod.

"Sam,"

"Well, Sam," She sighs. "You have quite the interesting file,"

"I do?" I raise an eyebrow. She nods.

"You lost your father, and have had consistent jobs since then. Very impressive, is there a reason you work so hard, so much?" She asks cleaning the desk a bit.

"For the twins," I sigh looking at my lap, my heart aching.

"What twins?" She asks curiously, and I can tell she actually cares.

"My Dad... He um, walked out on us when I was 7. The twins we're only a few months old. My little brother and sister, Maddy and Jack. They're 7 years old now, and I work so they don't have as little as I did when I was growing up," I admit. She nods sadly.

"What about your Mom?" She asks smiling again, eating a few grapes.

I chuckle and shake my head, suddenly choked up. "My mom moved us across Ohio for a bad paying coffee shop job, her first since Dad left," I explain. She nods and looks at me, her eyes gleaming.

"What kind of activities are you thinking of joining?" She asks smiling. I shrug and sigh then it hits me.

"I'm going to audition for the New Directions," I tell her. She smiles brightly and nods as a beeper goes off.

"Well it was nice to meet you Sam," She smiles. "Come and talk to me anytime," She says and I nod and stand, walking back to my seat.

"You okay?" A voice says beside me and I turn to look at the boy. I nod and look back at my lap as a name is called and he goes into Ms. Pillsbury's office.

I play with the thread on my sweater as Marley is called a few minutes later. I try to block everything out, but can't ignore the feeling of being poked in the side.

"What?" I snap turning to the boy.

"You're not okay," He says simply.

"Maybe I'm not, what's it to you!" I growl quietly. He raises his hands in defense.

"Just trying to be nice," He says frowning.

"Don't," I whisper.

"Look if you plan on making it here, you probably should't push away the only person taking interest in you," He says softly and I roll my eyes.

"Maybe I don't plan on making it here," I say simply. He sighs and shakes his head.

"You're impossible," He states. I smile.

"Thank you," I look away. He scoffs.

"Whatever," He looks down the opposite end of the hallway.

Ms. Pillsburry comes out as I turned about to apologize. She takes each individually to our lockers, and then tells us how to get to our last class. Luckily, I have study hall, which is practically free period.

Unfortunately I have to go with the boy who sat beside me. I walk over to his locker and stare at him until he notices me. He practically screams when he does.

"Jeez, I didn't even hear you," He gasps. I smile and chuckles softly.

"Silence is a gift," I say simply. He smiles and shakes his head laughing. "Come on,"

I walk beside him to out class as the other students slam into us. The boy was stronger, heavier, and definitely more muscular than me, and when people bumped into him, they bounced off and he walked with ease. As I'm bumped into though, I'm practically thrown across the hallways, and the boy found that rather amusing.

After finally reaching study hall, we both sit in the back, at a double desk. He plays games on his phone, and I listen to music. We both subtly sneak glances at each other, and I can't help but wonder what his name is, who he is.

After the hour passes, the final bell of the day rings and I stand to leave, I turn and bump into him, my face crashing into his toned chest. I make a face and step back, he smelled really good. He chuckles and pats my head turning to leave. I walk a few feet behind him and he pauses in the doorway.

"I'm Ryder by the way,"