You are the Music in Me: American Idol

Late

"Oh crap!"

Gabriella Montez sat up quickly in bed. She looked slowly towards the clock, praying for a miracle.

No such luck.

"Argh!" Gabriella screamed as she flung the covers off the bed.

It was her first day of school and she was already going to be late. It was 7:03 and school started exactly at 7:15. East High was a dream come true for her. Every summer, Gabriella and her dad had moved from state to state because of his hectic job. They didn't even think they would find a school in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was in the middle of the school year and there would be a lot of schoolwork that Gabriella had missed. But that wasn't a problem. Not for Gabriella Montez, the genius from Georgia. Somehow, she carried the embarrassing title wherever she went. Going to school in 7 different states hadn't changed her a bit.

But she tried.

Gabriella debated whether she should take a shower or not since she was already going to be late. No, she decided. That would make her even later. She'd be teacher enemy numero uno.

She got dressed, swiped her toothbrush across her teeth, tried to untangle her long black hair, and hopped down the steps, grabbing a chocolate donut from the kitchen table.

Her father looked up and took in her appearance. He raised his coffee cup up to her.

"It's new, it's you, and I like it." He grinned and took a sip.

Gabriella rolled her eyes as she bit into her donut. Her father, Roscoe Montez, glanced at the clock. He knew she was going to be late. But he was laid back about it. It wasn't that he didn't care. He just knew it was beyond his control. He didn't go crazy over trivial little things like getting to school on time.

Ha! Trivial. Yeah right.

7:13

Gabriella shrugged into her new blue backpack. She headed toward the door calling a "Adios!" out to her papa.

"Hija.." Her papa said warningly.

Gabriella sighed, her hand inching towards the doorknob. "Si, yes, I know. Come straight home after school. Do not talk to strangers even though everyone at school will be a stranger. Do not pass go. Do not collect 1 million dollars unless it's absolutely necessary."

Gabriella smiled and her father nodded at her.

That was basically Montez speak for Don't do anything stupid. Don't get pregnant. Get good grades. Get your butt home ASAP.

Roscoe was not the one for showing his feelings. He'd just mention it in passing or use Montez speak. It was very useful.

Now Gabriella tried to clear her head of the impending doom and stress that was sure to befall her. She usually stressed out over things she couldn't handle. It was a trait passed down from her abuelo. If not for him, Gabriella would be on time and driving to school right now.

Yeah.

She didn't own a car.

Yea.. like that would've helped at ALL ..

Finally, 7:24, and Gabriella saw the school from a distance. She started to run for it. The school came in closer. Gabriella was an ex-track runner. The muscles hadn't disappear after all, Gabriella mused. Good to know.

She landed breathlessly on the steps, checked her watch. 7:26 and counting..

Gabriella let out a huge breath with a whoosh and entered the bright school. She just had to find her 1st period class, which was..

She pulled out her schedule from her book bag as her heart thumped theratically.

..Introduction to Theater

with Ms. Darbus.

Gabriella smiled and headed toward room 319.

Darbus

19 minutes into the new school year and the class still hadn't started. Everyone was up and talking. One kid even had his boom box playing in the background.

Gabriella's eyes widened as she took in the scene. Where was the teacher? At her old school, no one even sneezed without asking for permission. Here, a full-blown party was happening. Gabriella's papa would not be pleased.

"Hey, new kid! Come dance with me!" The frizzy haired kid with the boom box hollered, waving at her happily.

Gabriella's eyes widened as she pointed to herself. Me?

He nodded. "Yeah! You! You're the only new one around here. Except, Kylia. But sista's got it goin' on!" He grinned at the red head girl who was dancing hard to the beat. She twirled and Gabriella saw that she was a dark sister. She seemed to be very comfortable dancing in front of everyone. Gabriella would be terrified to dance in front of anyone except her papa.

Gabriella smiled shyly as she looked for a place to sit. She saw an empty seat by the boom box boy and she unwillingly took it. Looking around her again, she found the teacher. Ms. Darbus was knocked out on the desk, snoring all over the place. Gabriella shook her head. She didn't even look like a teacher! Her hair was full of crazy colors and she wore a short bright green skirt. She was not what Gabriella expected at all.

Maybe this school isn't for me, Gabriella wondered.

Gabriella's head whipped to the door. A bullhorn had just been sounded and she was surprised. Everyone seemed used to it and shut up quickly. Boom box boy turned off his music and slid in the seat next to Gabriella. He winked at her and whispered, "Happens all the time."

Gabriella's forehead crinkled as a middle aged woman entered the classroom with the horn. She wasn't as out there as the student but she was eccentric. She was dressed in thick flowing dark purple and green robes. She wore huge gemstones around her neck and she had these glasses that made her eyes seem bigger than usual in an eerie kind of way.

Gabriella expected her to take out a witch's hat.

This was Ms. Darbus.

The teacher poked at the student sleeping on her desk. The girl woke up and blinked, looking dazed. She looked up and cracked a crooked smile at Ms. Darbus.

"Sup, Wilhelmina?" She grinned stupidly.

"Up, Josephine. Out." Ms. Darbus hissed to her angrily.

Josephine gazed sheepishly at the students before slinking out into the hallway. Gabriella realized that this was the teacher's aid.

Some help.

Ms. Darbus clapped her hands together.

"Now that that's over with, we will continue with learning why the theater is so important to our planet!"

Gabriella sat up a little straighter. Boom boy noticed.

"You like this voodoo?" He asked, eyes trained straight forward.

Gabriella shrugged. "It's kinda fun."

He smirked. "Fun. Sure."

Gabriella offered up a timid smile and continued to focus on Ms. Darbus who seemed to be passionately explaining the reasons to pursue theater.

Boom boy's POV

I leaned back in the hard metal chair, frizzy hair everywhere, eyes drooping. Probably look like I was ready to conk out. This class is so meaningless to me. The only reason I'm taking it is because my mom thought I had a 'gift' for acting.

I snorted. As if I could act.

The new girl glanced at me, hearing my little outburst. That's when I realized I didn't know her name. She was beautiful too. She had long soft dark brown hair, brown eyes sparkling with intelligence, and a quiet almost shy demeanor. Not quite my type but I knew she was someone I could like.

"Hey," I started to say to her when Ms. Darbus started shouting out names for attendance.

That's just fine with me, I smiled.

"Hilary Mallory?"

"Present!" The energetic brunette suck up beamed. She was always perky and sickeningly sweet. It was like she was on a high that never went away. I had dated her once. And only once. I almost threw up when I got home. What a..

"James Monte?"

"Sup." A big, muscular guy on the football team. He had gotten used to the fame and swooning girls after a while. Before, the tiny raven haired had been a loser wanna-be. Mostly his dorkiness came from his name. James. What century did that come from anyway? But he quickly lost that reputation after showing off his awesome tackle techniques. Plus, he was super smart. The first football player who didn't need a tutor for every class.

"Gabriella Montez?"

"Here." Said the timid quiet girl sitting next to me.

"So that's your name," I smiled at her. I'm a basketball player and no girl can or wanted to resist my smile. Or so I had thought.

Gabriella nodded, her eyes trained on the notebook before her. She was too shy to look up, I mused.

"What's wrong Gabster? Darbus got your tongue?" I prodded her.

Yes! A glimmer of a smile passed on her face.

"No, Chad. I'm just focusing on the lesson." She glanced at my incredulous face.

"What? Dudette, you are seriously freaking me out. Who ever focuses on Darbus's lessons besides Hilary and the Evans twins?" I whispered, my eyes widening with each word.

I must have looked ridiculous because Gabriella covered her mouth to keep from laughing out loud.

Mission accomplished.

"I think she's a very interesting teacher." Gabriella hesitantly told me, not quite sure of the words herself.

"That's a frickin understatement." I muttered darkly, glaring at Darbus's bleached blond beehive hair-do.

Gabriella raised an eyebrow, deciding not to comment. I guess my behavior was a little questioning. And spiteful towards Darbus.

But she didn't understand how horrible detention was.

We actually had to do homework and pay attention. What kind of shit was that?

"Oh and by the way, welcome to East High."

Gabriella's POV

I think I'm going to like it here. Nobody recognizes me, yet. It'll only take a while for some geek to notice. But before that happens, I intend to make some friends. Maybe they'll accept me. Chad here seems to already be comfortable. I sort of like him with his wild brown hair and his sparkling smile. He made coming to a new school bearable.

East High.

Gabriella Montez.

Normal.

None of those words belonged in a sentence together. But here I am, saying it.

Gabriella Montez is normal here at East High.

I smiled widely as I ran it over and over again in my head.

Yes.