Juleka Couffaine stared at the mirror, pinning a clip to her bangs before taking out the clip.
"You should go with the clip, so people can see your eyes," suggested her brother, Luka from the bed as he tuned his bass. Juleka tried the clip again, successfully pinning her bangs away from her face. She admired her face for a moment in the mirror before panicking again.
Tomorrow would be her first day in high school, and she already found it hard to make friends with her family moving around so much. She should just try to learn as much as she could, and not worry too much about friends.
She removed the clip and put it back in the drawer with all the other hair accessories she owned.
"No clip," her brother asked?
"Why bother, mom will probably have me switch school again next year."
Her brother sighed, reaching over to a stand and pulling out a guitar. He handed it to his little sister who took a spot on her bed next to him. Luka strummed some notes on his bass, Juleka following along on guitar.
"You need to stop worrying so much. You know if you like this school enough, mom won't have any problem trying to stay here."
"I guess, but what if I can't make any friends? What if everyone already knows each other from middle school and they…" Juleka trailed off as her fingers stopped strumming your guitar.
"Then maybe find a club, I'm sure they probably have a band club, or maybe join an art club. You see how much fun I have with Kitty Section?"
Juleka nodded. His band members had been pretty nice when she met them when she and her mother would visit his university.
Luka stopped playing as he reached his arm across his sister's shoulders in a hug.
"Try looking for some clubs, it'll probably help."
Juleka nodded, leaning into the hug. Hopefully her brother would be right.
Her brother was dead wrong, clubs were intimidating. Clubs members were already outside the school when she showed up, vying for new student's attention. It was a bit overwhelming. Juleka hurried inside the school, not bothering to try and find her locker as the locker halls were packed with returning students. One blond hair boy was even crying over a girl in pigtails after being separated for summer, while the people around them laughed as she patted his head.
"Adrienette is back this season," cheered a couple girls hiding behind some stairs as Juleka quickly passed them. Must be some weird cult or something.
She took out her schedule, searching for Freshmen English. Kids were already taking seats when she arrived, a couple students already talking to each other. Juleka took a seat near the back.
"Excuse me, is anyone sitting here," asked a short girl whose blond hair was braided with different colors, held back by a bandana.
"No." The girl smiled and took a seat beside her.
"My name is Mylene Harperle, are you new to this area?"
Juleka nodded.
"Well, welcome to the 21st arrondissement and Francois Dupont. I know a couple people here from middle school but they're in a different class."
Juleka smiled, hoping the girl might stop talking, but she kept going.
"Are you going to any clubs? My father was hired to direct the theater this year, so I'll probably join that."
"Do you know if they have a band club?"
Mylene looked up, trying to think, "I don't know, we could check with my father. He did mention there are a lot of music clubs at the school."
"Alright, everyone, take your seats," called out the teacher, students hurrying to their desks.
"My name is Ms. Bustier, and I will be your homeroom and literature teacher for this year. A lot of new faces this year, so I look forward to getting to know each of you as we start your high school journey together.
"A quick announcement before we take roll, the clubs will be having showcases today at lunch and after school, so be sure to check the bulletin board for the different clubs. A couple of mine I oversee are the music club, mediation, literature club, and light music club. I will no longer be overseeing the theater club, but you can come to me if you have any questions."
Juleka felt her bench move, and looked to see Mylene wriggling happily in her seat at the mention of theater club.
"I look forward to seeing many of you visit our clubs."
Ms. Bustier turned to her desk and picked up a clip board.
"Now, let's start with roll call."
Juleka followed after Mylene to the theater club. She really had no interest in theater, but maybe Mylene's father could give her a better idea on the types of music clubs she could visit after school, since the bulletin board was too crowded to see the club lists. And there were weird people dressed up in cat costumes loitering around the area advertising something for the afternoon.
"I'm glad we have all our classes together," confided Mylene as she opened the door to the theater. "To be honest, high school seemed really scary when my dad brought me to visit last year. I was just trying to be brave when I asked to sit next to you. But you are a really nice person to be around Juleka."
Juleka blushed at the honest compliment.
"Thanks. You're nice too Mylene."
Mylene smiled, walking down an aisle in the middle of the gathered freshmen. Returning seniors sat on the edge of the stage talking to a tall man in a bowler hat.
"That's my dad," Mylene whispered as they took a seat.
Juleka looked around the room, the theater rather large for a high school. Her brother had taken her to a Jagged Stone Concert before in a similar sized hall.
"Good Morning everyone, or should I say afternoon now," greeted Mr. Harperle, turning to the new students.
"We're going to get started as a couple more people make their way here. My name is Fred Harperle. You can call me Fred or Mr. Harperle. If you choose to stay that is."
A couple students laughed nervously.
"I've been working in the theater business since I was about your age. Granted I worked behind the stage, but for the past decade I have been part of a traveling theater troupe working both as an actor and backstage technician.
"The goal for this club is to make your talents shine as theater incorporates many interests. You can design sets, costumes, lighting, sound, direct, and act all in the theater. With me are our two student directors, our head of lighting, head of costume, head of sound, and head of backgrounds and props." The students waved as their specialty was called. "If any of these areas interest you, please talk to one of our student heads. If you want to act, talk to me or one of our student directors. Thank you for your time and we hope you'll join the theater club."
The student politely clapped as Mr. Harperle bowed. A lot of the students left their seats to talk to the senior students.
"Come one," urged Mylene, pulling Juleka after her.
"You were amazing Dad," congratulated Mylene, approaching her father.
"Well, I had my lucky charm here to cheer me on," he teased, Mylene giggling. "And who is this?"
"This is my friend Juleka, she's in my classes with me."
"Thanks for taking care of my baby girl."
"You're welcome." Juleka looked at the floor and blushed, not used to receiving so many compliments in one day.
"Are you both going to join the theater?"
"I think I will. Juleka is looking into music clubs but doesn't know which ones to try."
Mr. Harperle nodded, resting his chin on his hand.
"Well, we often work with the orchestra club, there's a wind ensemble, marching band, choir, and the light music club. The light music club is performing here this afternoon if you want to see. Otherwise the other music clubs are in their club rooms."
"Light music club," asked Juleka?
"They're more like a pop band. Just started last year and Caline Bustier is overseeing them. She's the freshmen and senior literature teacher, so you'll probably meet her."
"Oh, we have her for Homeroom."
"Perfect. She's really nice, from what I've learned at the staff meetings."
"You want to talk to Ms. Bustier, or do you want to visit the other music clubs," asked Mylene, looking up towards Juleka?
"I think I might want to see the Light Music Club."
Mylene smiled, bouncing in place.
"Well, be sure to come back early, the Light Music Club already has a large fanbase from what I've seen," warned Mr. Harperle.
Juleka nodded.
"We'll be sure to be back. I'll see you tonight dad."
Mr. Harperle waved goodbye before returning his attention to the student directors who were talking to the students interested in acting or directing.
"Light Music Club sounds fun," commented Mylene as they left the theater.
"We'll see. Maybe I'll join the theater with sound or something."
"Oo, that would be so great if you did," cheered Mylene, giving Juleka a side hug.
As they left the theater, they were bombarded by a girl running with a stack of flyers.
"Oh sorry, I wasn't looking," apologized the girl, picking up the papers. Juleka and Mylene started gathering the papers as well, Juleka taking the chance to read one.
"Afterschool Tea Time Performing at the Francois Dupont Theater Afterschool ;)" The rest of the posters had hearts, tea sets, band instruments, and a cat decorating the border.
"What's Afterschool Tea Time," asked Mylene as she handed her stack over to the girl.
"Only the most wondrous band this school has ever seen!"
"Are you in the band," asked Juleka? The girl had blond hair in a pixie cut and was dressed entirely in pink. It wouldn't be too far to suggest this girl may be in a pop band club.
"Oh no! I'm head of their fan club, or more like the Adrienette fan club."
"Adrienette?"
Mylene looked up to Juleka, both equally confused by the name.
"The most beautiful couple, not yet a couple, to grace this school." The girl spun around before gesturing to the side in a dramatic pose.
"Marinette Dupain-Cheng, the shy bassist who has bravely written music that bares her passionate emotions to the world. A princess of a character!"
The girl spun again before gesturing to the other side of the hallway.
"Adrien Agreste, her knight in shining armor and pianist. His declarations of love are well known throughout the school, but masquerades it all as friendship in hope of winning his lady love!"
The girl clutched the papers to her chest.
"In order to keep the band together, they must hide their feelings for each other until they can be certain their love will overcome any obstacles the band may face! But the Adrienette club will see it in our lifetime the love these two share come to fruition."
The girl paused her melodramatic speech before taking the stack of papers Juleka was holding.
"Until then, we cheer them on from the sidelines and help them out if we can. They're setting up their equipment in the theater, so I offered to pass out their flyers."
Mylene and Juleka both nodded.
"Are you in the theater club," asked Mylene?
"Oh no, as fun as that would be, I have my hands full with the Adrienette club and scrapbooking club. Scrapbooking club meetings in room 203 if you want to join."
And with that, the girls skipped back down the hallway.
"I'm amazed she's not in the theater club, she would probably do quite well," commented Mylene as the girls resumed their walk.
"I would be terrified if she was in the theater club."
Mylene giggled, "Well, luckily not all theater students are like that though. But what do you think about the Light Music Club now."
Juleka shrugged.
"I guess we'll just have to see how they play."
Inside though, Juleka was having doubts. Honestly the theater club sounded like a lot less drama than the Light Music Club.
"Make sure to have your guardian sign your Experiments Permission Waiver," called out their science teacher as the freshmen packed up for the day, Juleka stuffing the form with the dozens of others her mother would need to sign.
"Do you want to stop by the lockers first, or head to the theater," asked Mylene as she closed her backpack.
Juleka shrugged, "I don't know, maybe lockers first?"
Mylene nodded, the two girls leaving the classroom. The locker halls looked fairly empty, as they walked down the stairs, but crowds were gathering around the hallway leading to the theater.
"On second thought," started Mylene, Juleka nodding in agreement. The girls made their way to the line, more students following after them.
"Dad wasn't kidding when he said they were popular," mumbled Mylene, noticing most of the attending students were not freshmen. Juleka nodded as they slipped inside the theater, standing room the only thing available.
Juleka could see the instruments waiting for their owners on the stage, recognizing a guitar as one of them along with a bass. She wondered if either member were as good as her and her brother, shrugging off the thought. She would learn soon enough.
Girls giggled in front of her, chatting about Adrienette, and how cute they were today. And something about beach photos. Dear Lord, this club was sounding dossier every minute.
"I can't see," grumbled Mylene, jumping to see past the people blocking her view.
Juleka looked around, spotting a large boy sitting on a pole connected to a spot light. There were rungs acting like a ladder for him to get up. Juleka stepped towards him and poked his leg.
The boy looked down, almost glaring at her.
"Um… excuse me, could my friend, stand on," words failed her as she pointed to the rungs. Mylene took notice of the situation, looking up at the boy. He nodded before looking back at the stage, adjusting his headphones. The girls smiled at each other, Mylene stepping on the rungs as the lights went out, the crowd applauding as the silhouettes of the band members came on stage. The larger boy turned his light on, illuminating the band members as they readied themselves at their instruments.
They wore odd costumes, the girls dressed as cat maids and the boy at the piano dressed as a cat butler. The boy at the drums had some sort of fur suit tied around his waist and wore a black tank top and black snapback cap. Not what Juleka had expected for a pop band.
"Hello Francois Dupont! Welcome to another school year," yelled the boy at the piano, the crowd going wild. "We look forward to another year with you and for those whom we haven't met, we're Afterschool Tea Time! We hope you enjoy our show and please consider joining our club!"
The drummer started clapping his hands in the air, the audience joining along as the other instruments began playing to the beat.
"When I look at you, my heart always goes doki-doki
This shaking feeling is fluffy-fluffy, like a marshmallow"
The lead singer started playing, and immediately, Juleka was hooked. She leaned closer to the stage, mesmerized by the band's performance. She hardly noticed Mylene looking over at her with a smile before looking back at the performance.
The song seemed to end all too soon, the crowd erupting in thunderous applause. Juleka tried to be certain her clapping was louder than anyone's.
Juleka learned from Ms. Bustier that the Light Music Club met in the Second Music Storage, the teacher was clearly excited, but promising not to say anything. With a wish of good luck from Mylene, Juleka walked down the music hall at lunch the next day, the clubs working with their new students. The blond girl and the costume had been a bit strange, but their music was so amazing, they probably practiced really hard and had fun with costumes to liven up their performance. Maybe they were inspired by Japanese pop. And maybe that whole Adrienette thing was just the close bond of band mates.
Everyone was probably over exaggerating.
Juleka stopped at the end of the hall, the room silent from inside. Maybe they were eating lunch? The only reason she could tell it was the right place was the sign in the door reading Light Music Club, along with a picture of a cat. Maybe they had a cat as their mascot?
Juleka opened the door, expecting to see the band members talking about their performance yesterday and where they could improve while eating lunch.
Instead, a blond haired boy sat in a chair wearing cat ears, being served tea by a pigtailed girl also wearing cat ears. The boy had his eyes closed and bloodied tissues up his nose as the girl asked him if he would like a macaron too. The other two band members, or whom she assumed were members, were fighting over one of the cat costumes the other was wearing, the wearer popping off the cat head as the girl tried to shove it back on him.
The group realized they weren't alone, turning their heads slowly to the door.
The cat suit boy smiled as he yelled, "Welcome to the Light Music Club!"
Ok, I promised that was the end, because I had run out of ideas at least to make it until the next Christmas performance. And now I came up with five more chapters. That will come out, eventually. Of course we want to know what with happen with Juleka and the Light Music Club.
So stay tooned for more!