Clary's POV
The following Monday is crazy hectic with our new schedule. I have everyone wake up as soon as the alarm goes off. I usually let them sleep in a little but not today. My goal is that everyone is exactly where they need to be on time. I planned everything out last night. I will drop the kids of at school at 7:30, Loge is already used to just hanging in his classroom for a bit and I know Mia will have no problem in reading something while she waits. Then I can be back home a little before 8 so we can be at the studio just a few minutes before 8:30.
Everyone is in their uniforms, except for Bree who is still in her pajamas. She has time to get ready when I take the others to school.
"Are you nervous to go to school without your sister?" Jace asks Mia specifically since she's the one who's always with Bree.
"I think it'll be fine" she shrugs putting a forkful of pancake in her mouth.
"You're going miss me" Bree sings, "you'll see".
"I doubt it" Mia smirks at Bree and they both turn back to their plates.
"Ok" I grab my purse and the car keys as the kids place their plates in the dishwasher and grab their stuff, "let's get going".
"Bye" Bree smiles from the bottom of the stairs.
"Double check that list of supply so you don't forget anything" I advice knowing that she can get distracted some times. "Please make sure she does check" I turn to Jace just in case.
"I'll take care of it" he smiles reassuringly. "I love you"
"I love you too" I lean up for a quick kiss before closing the door behind me and getting into the car.
Mia's POV
I wouldn't tell Bree, but being in school without her is actually kind of depressing. I mean, it's the exact same as before, just not as fun. Bree always keeps things interesting in one way or another. Class is quieter than usual, and I am not the only one that notices. Ms. Adler doesn't have to raise her voice to tell her to be quiet every few minutes, and she seems happy about it. The girls she usually talk to are not even speaking, as if Bree was the one who got them started. I guess it's nice for class to go so smoothly, but I also miss the ruckus.
When lunch time rolls around I find myself sitting in my usual table, but there's a spot empty across from me.
"Hey" I smile and the other girls just grin at me.
"Where's Bree?" Harper questions. How did I not see this coming?
"She switched to Hybrid Homeschool" I don't go too deep into it, "she'll be here tomorrow and on Thursday until lunchtime, but not in our class".
They immediately go back to talking about some tv show that aired last night and I just eat my lunch in silence.
After lunch, we head out to recess. I would usually go to the swings with Bree, Harper and Nicole, but after having lunch with them I just don't feel like hanging around.
"Can I go to the library for recess?" I ask Ms. Adler who is on recess patrol. I know we're not really supposed to be walking around school during recess, but I just want some quiet time.
"Is everything ok Mia?" She crouches down and places her hands on my shoulders.
"Yeah" I nod trying to smile, "I just want to read my book".
"You can go" she allows, "but be back in class when the bell rings". I nod and head of to the library.
I walk through the bookshelves in the Elementary Section looking for something to read. I stop at my reading level and reach for the first book my eyes land on, "James and the Giant Peach" by Roald Dahl. It looks interesting.
"It's really good" a low voice says from behind me and I jump slightly, "just in case you were wondering". It's another girl from my class who transferred in from St. Mary's School for Girls last year. She is a little taller than me, but that's not uncommon. Her chocolate brown hair is pulled into a high ponytail wth a navy blue ribbon tied into a bow. She's holding a couple of books, and I notice one of them is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which I have already read.
"Yeah, thanks" I shake my head, "what are you doing here?"
"I like to come here to read during recess" she explains placing the books she was holding into their respective place on the bookshelf. "Don't you usually hang out with Harper and Nicole?"
"I used to" I take a deep breath, "but they liked my sister more than me". She doesn't know what to respond to that, so I just change the subject, "so you read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?"
"Just finished it" she nods, "it was really good"
"I liked it too" I agree and we sit down on the floor with our backs against the bookshelf. "I read this one called Ivory and Bean. It was really funny".
"I haven't read that one" she tilts her head slightly as if she's analyzing me. "I'm Saddie by the way".
"Mia" I smile knowing that this is the first friend I have made on my own.
Bree's POV
Once mom comes back from dropping the others off at school, I am all changed into my ballet uniform and have everything ready to go. I even made sure that my computer was fully charged and still packed the charger just in case. All that's left is for mommy to do my hair. She braids the front section before pulling it into a high pony and tying it in a bun. And just like that, I'm ready for my first day.
"I love you princess" my dad hugs me before I leave the house.
"I love you too" I wrap my arms around his neck and squeeze.
He waves goodbye as we pull out of the drive way and the car starts going.
The studio is pretty much the same as when I did my audition. I walk into the reception with my mom, but this is as far as she goes.
"I'll come bring you your lunch" she pulls up the zipper on my jacket, "and maybe I'll stay and watch for a little while". I just nod. "Do you want me to stay for a few minutes now?" She asks worried that I might get nervous. Honestly, I'm just really excited.
"No" I shake my head, "I'm good".
"Ok then" she sighs and smiles, "have a great day". She wraps her hands around me and I let her hug me for a few seconds before pulling away. I don't want to be late for class.
"Bye" I half whisper before turning away and walking through the glass doors and into the den.
I walk through the crowd of girls and boys older than me who are talking or stretching in the den before going into class. I can already hear music coming from one of the large studios. It's probably the level VII. Then I go into the girl's changing room that's also filled with younger girls. I find the cubby with my name on it and place my bag in it.
"Girls" Ms. Kira walk in and all the girls who were distracted talking turn their head. "I'd like you to meet Sabrina". She walks to my side and I smile, "she just joined the program". She looks at me intently and I realize she's waiting for me to say something.
"Hi" I smile with a nod, and the girls gather around.
"I'll leave you girls to mingle for a few minutes before class" she leaves the room.
"So are you all level I?" I ask sitting down on the bench while I take off my shoes and leggings and put on my slippers, leaving my jacket on.
"Level I and II" one of the girls answers for all of them. She's slightly taller than me, but I'm not that tall. Her caramel hair is pulled into a tight bun, like the rest of us, and she is wearing sweater pants and just her white leotard on top. "I'm Addison" she continues, "I'm in level II".
"I'm Meghan" another girl smiles from a little further behind, "I'm in level I".
The girls continue to introduce themselves until Ms. Kira calls us into the studio for warm up. All the level I and II warm up and stretch together and then we split up for our own ballet, and contemporary classes. We all see each other again when we head to the den to start our school day. Everyone is in different school programs, but the girl from earlier, Meghan, is also in Bridgeway like me. She is a year older than me, so she takes a moment to help me with some math I was having trouble with. We stick together for the rest of the day. After a couple of hours of school and lunch, we go back to the studio for pointe and then voice lessons. By the end of the day I am ready to drop on my bed, but at the same time I am so happy. Tomorrow I'll go to school for a few hours and then I'll have conditioning, tap, and acting.
"Maybe we could have a sleepover this weekend!" Meghan insists as we walk out to the reception. It's about 5 in the afternoon when we head out.
"Yeah!" I agree when I spot my mom coming down from the gallery, where people can watch the classes, with Logan and Mia.
"I didn't know you could sing" Mia teases since I was just in voice lessons.
"Shut up" I shake my head. We both got my dad's voice, but Mia's is just a little better than mine.
"You were great honey" my mom encourages.
"This is Meghan" I introduce her to my sister, "she's also in Bridgeway and in level I".
"Hi" Meghan smiles and Mia does the same. "I have to go, my mom's waiting outside. I'll see you tomorrow".
I wave goodbye and we start making our way out as well. "So?" I nudge Mia slightly, "how was school?"'
"It was..." she smiles peacefully, "interesting... in a good way".
"You missed me didn't you?" I tease and she grins letting me know she did even the tiniest bit, "you did!" I wrap and arms around her neck and she shoves me off playfully.
"I missed you Breeny" Loge adds and hugs me right before we get into the car and go home.
Grayson's POV
Uncle Magnus drops me off at home late after dinner. I had lacrosse practice and stayed at Raf's house to "do some homework". He told me I could join them for dinner and they'd drop me off since my mom had been really busy today and my dad was getting ready for the first concert after the hiatus this weekend.
Since I've been working on my music with my dad, I've been thinking about how much I missed it. I have always loved playing and singing, but then I started doing a lot of sports. Raf, some friends and I have this small band but it's mostly to hangout and play songs we like. I know Raf is more inclined to sports than music, but maybe i'm meant to go after music like my dad.
I head up to my room after saying hi to my mom and change into some more comfortable clothes. I tale out the homework I was supposed to do at Raf's house and realize I haven't seen Bree today. I walk into her and Mia's room and she's on her bed with her headphones on and looking at her laptop. Mia is in the shower by the sounds of it. She doesn't see me standing by the door, soI run in and lie on top of her and she starts squirming.
"Gray!" She whines from underneath me, "stop it". She kicks and pushes until I get up and sit besides her. "You're so annoying!" She throws a small pillow at me and the pen continues to look at her computer.
"What are you doing?" I place the pillow back where it belongs.
"Just finishing the last class of the day" she slips the headphones down from her head to hang on her neck. "What's up?"
"Are you going to the concert in Saturday?" I ask
"I guess so" she shrugs, "are you nervous to perform?"
"No" I half lie, "I'm just not sure about the whole thing"
"Why?" She frowns crossing her arms.
"We did this thing today at school..." I start, "and they asked us what we were planning to in 10 years, and I kind of realized that I have no idea".
"You're good at music" she grins, "and sports".
"Then I'll just be a singing soccer player" I laugh trying to get over the subject. I love talking to Bree, but she's just 8. There's no way she's going to understand this now.
"Sounds like a plan to me" she laughs before putting her headphones back on