I leaned down to my locker, bending my knees so I could stack some books into the narrow space. Unluckily, I had a bottom locker this year – which meant along with the glory of getting trampled in the hallway and ruining my pants with dirt marks when I sat down, I had to bend down every time I wanted to reach my books. Fun. Someone pulled on my hair, which I had been wearing in a high ponytail with a few colorful clips to hold up my bangs, and I looked up at Wes standing over me.

"Good day?" I asked as he plopped down next to me, spreading his legs out as he leaned against the locker.

"Well enough. But I'm starving. You want to go get something to eat?" The bell rang then for the end of school and a few people began walking into the hall, casually talking.

"Yeah, I'm hungry too. Where should we…" My phone rang, and I glanced at the caller id. "It's Kristy."

Wes grabbed the phone and flipped it open.

"Hey, its Wes. We were wondering if u wanted to go eat somewhere? I'm starving."

I pushed in my last textbook and glanced at them – each binder and book had a clear label across the top of the binding, marking my name and the class. They were lined up perfectly, and each label had the same neat print. I had done that the first week of the summer, already preparing for school - I could hardly remember it, though. I sighed and slammed the door shut.

Wes was still on the phone. "Sounds good. By now, ill eat anything." He looked at me and rolled his eyes – Wes never had patience for long conversations on the phone about nothing.

"Ok, so ill see you there in five minutes. Bye."

I snatched my phone back from him, throwing it in my backpack. "So, where are we going?" I said as we walked to the parking lot, leaving the flood of people behind until it was just us, side by side.

"Some new place Kristy's friend knows. She and her friend are coming from somewhere downtown so it wont take them long."

"She's already replaced us, I guess."

"I know. Harsh."

When we arrived to the tall skinny building with red bricks and ivy growing up the wall Wes looked over at me. "Well, I guess it's somewhere different." I laughed as we got out of the car. "Well I'd never think that you would ever put foot into somewhere like this."

"Yep, I'd have to say that Kristy's friend is definitely different then us. I wonder how much the food costs. I only have a few dam bucks. A 20 at most."

We walked into the building, and air conditioning hit us like a wave. Inside, the room was just as frilly and European; the tables were set with neat white tablecloths and the waitress's outfits were black and neat compared to the colorful ugly ones we were used to seeing at the Pancake House. We spotted Kristy at a booth with her friend.

"Hey! Macy!" she said a bit loudly, waving her hands over. I saw a waiter look over with a scowl. "Had fun at school?" she said when I finally reached their booth in the back.

"It was amazing. Best day of my life," I said sarcastically, sliding in across from her with Wes by my side.

"Guys, this is Bethanie. Bethanie, my friends Wes and Macy."

"Hey," I said, as Wes gave a cool nod. She was wearing a turquoise tube top with a silver pendant hanging from her neck. And I saw why she and Kristy were friends – they both stood out like models. Bethanie's hair was blond waves that hung angelically to her elbows, and her eyes sprung out like cats' – they were large and sea blue, erupting on her face. She reminded me of a sea nymph, a gorgeous perfection.

"So isn't this place cool?" she said, lifting up her hand to take a menu from a waiter with a groomed moustache. She was wearing a few silver bracelets on her wrist, pieces that looked expensive and antique. What was I doing with this girl? I looked over at Kristy but she looked happy, unaware at how clashingly different we all were.

I sat back in my booth, remembering this would only be one day. I picked up a French fry and popped the first one in my mouth. At least the food was good. And even better, she wasn't eying Wes throughout the meal – no awkwardness. My phone rang.

"One sec," I said, sliding out of my seat and pacing halfway across the room. The whole restaurant was empty now, an elderly women I had seen before gone.

"Hey?"

"Macy? It's mom. I was just wondering where you were – it's a Monday night, remember? It's almost five thirty by now."

"Just having lunch – to celebrate the end of the first day and all. But I probably should go – the food just arrived."

"Don't you have homework? I like you having friends, but I don't want you slacking at all this year."

"Not today. Don't worry – this won't become a habit. Ok? I'll see you in an hour."

"Fine, but only today. Bye."

"Bye."

I walked back to the table, glad I wasn't stuck at home wasting my time. It felt funny that Bethanie was the type of girl I used to be friends with. And I really don't try to classify, but she was exactly like the group I had to drop to be friends with Wes and Kristy – perfect hair and immaculate grades. But after a few minutes, I forgot about all that and started to have fun. Why was I making such a big deal about this anyways?

An hour and a half later I looked down at my watch.

"Shit! It's already seven."

"Got somewhere so important to be?" Bethanie chimed sarcastically.

"She wishes," Kristy said, already waving over the waiter to ask for the bill. "Her mom is a crazy work-aholic who needs little miss Marcy home every day before the sun goes down."

"My mum is like that too! Except, of course, she never knows anymore if I stay out. She happens to be in Paris with some boyfriend of hers for the summer and fall. So I'm free!" chirped Bethanie.

"Lucky. I'm dead meat." I said. Maybe my mom decided to go out to dinner and wasn't home. I hoped.

"Well I'll handle the bill, at least, since I kept you out so drastically late. Imagine! It's already seven you should be in bed."

"Oh, shut up." I said nicely, grabbing my coat. It was nice to already be able to tease a friend I only had met that day. And I had completely made a fool out of myself for thinking that we could never get along. No wonder she and Kristy were good friends already. "Oh, and thanks for the food!" I shouted as I left the building quickly, Wes almost running to catch up with me.

Pulling in front of my house, I kissed Wes and sadly said goodbye. "I really wish we could spend, you know, so more time, since I hardly got to see you alone today, but if I don't go in now I might be grounded for life.

"Will you talk to me tomorrow?"

"Of course. We can go out somewhere nice, just us two."

"Sounds good. Good luck with your mom!"

The door was unlocked and my mom was standing in the kitchen.

"What the hell were you thinking? First of all, you don't tell me you will be hanging out with your friends on a school day, and when I call, you say you will meet me in an hour and practically hang up on me. And here you are, an hour late – not even calling to tell me that. You promised me this would be the year. That it would be straight A's and an after school job or a team to show the colleges how dedicated you are."

"I really didn't mean too… I lost track of time." I said, glancing down at a stack of mail on the table. I noticed my mom had taken all the college pamphlets and put them to a side, in a neat stack.

"I just really don't think that you are dedicated enough. School should be your priority!"

"It is, it really is, but today there is no homework."

"I want you volunteering to tutor for these children at the elementary school a few blocks away. And this isn't optional. I let it pass that you quit your summer job. But now you need to get serious." She pushed a phone number towards me. "It's from three to five. This is the teacher's number."

"But…"

"Now go call her. I have work to do, and so do you." I watched my mom leave the kitchen and head to the office in the back. I felt bad for causing her more stress than she needed, so I pushed the cold buttons on the phone and just did as she said. After I called Kristy and told her the bad news.

"I can hardly dare telling Wes! All of my Sundays and weekdays are going to be eaten up, and I will most likely only get to see him on Saturdays."

"He is going to be devastated. And I will be, too. Are you sure that you have to do so many hours?"

"It's the only way not to get completely grounded. I know this shouldn't be such a big deal, but I hardly get to see him during the school day… and I'm used to seeing him every day, all day."

"That is tough. But you guys will get through it. You know he is completely in love with you, and you with him. Just be glad you have him."

I laughed. "This sounds like a cheesy romance novel. Just imagine the back page description: 'They are driven apart by the strictness of her parents, but are deeply in love… How can they keep their lives and stay together?'"

We talked for a while, and I called Wes too. I had to hide in my closet with the door closed so my mom didn't know I was talking on the phone. He sounded bummed. "I'm going to miss going places with you after school. I'll have to be dragged around by Kristy." I had to interrupt him. "I got to go. My mom just walked in and I can't be talking to you. I… I'll see you tomorrow," I whispered, and hung up the phone.