My parents let me sleep until I woke up the next day. They left with a note on the fridge that Dad had gone golfing and Mom had gone shopping, that everything should be fine and to get my clothes out of the washing machine before they got home.

It was Saturday, and school started Monday. My mother was probably out getting my school supplies. Band people never went to Open House, which was the Friday we were still in Pennsylvania performing. However, our parents went, explained, and got lists of school supplies. She was probably getting me clothes too- 'appropriate' clothes. Apparently a closet full of band shirts and jeans wasn't good enough. I had normal clothes too- they just didn't fit her standards, so she bought me new ones. I'd give them to Megan, like I always did. She'd come over for a sleepover with her stuff in a tote bag. Only, the tote would be empty, I'd stuff my unwanted clothes in there, and she'd leave the next morning with a new wardrobe, both of us happier. As long as my mother didn't find out.

I made myself chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast and turned on the television. We didn't have TV's in the dorms on campus, so I had DVR'd 'The Big Bang Theory', '90210', and 'American Idol'.

Content with playing catch-up on my favourite shows, my mother came in laden with bags. I rushed to the door to help her, and she smiled at me in thanks.

"You'd better use all of this stuff, or else I'm going to be very upset at your teachers. Half the stuff- like the paper towels and hand sanitizer- I already dropped off at the school. But here are binders and paper and all that new stuff that you'll need and soon destroy." I laughed with her and started to put things in my backpack. I was still in my pajamas, while she was in a nice pair of slacks and light coat. Apparently, even in August, it was a little chilly out. Even though I had on a t-shirt (it said "Sleep All Day" on the front and "Sleep All Night" on the back) and white Soffe shorts, I wasn't cold. My mother eyes me doubtfully.

"We should go shopping before school starts." Ugh, not this again. Every year it was the same thing. But this year, with Jacob and Courtney, maybe...

"What if I say yes Mom?" She looked up with hope. I was her stubborn daughter that she was trying to turn into a lady. This would be a major victory in her battle.

"Oh Nicole we'd have so much fun, and some good mother daughter time too. Topshop has a store based out of the US, and then we can see about Aeropostale and Abercrombie & Fitch..." She droned on as I packed up my bag. This would be way too much fun for her. But if it helped Jacob notice me, I'd let her have her fun, if only this once.

Never, in a million years, did I think shopping could take that long. But I was sufficiently armed with a fabulous new wardrobe. Since I gave in to my mother's desires, she let me pick a few things that I actually liked. Then she went around picking all the stylish and pretty things. We lugged the bags up to my closet and put them on hangers. Mom insisted on organizing them by colour.

While we were out, she'd asked me question after question. But one she got stuck on was, "What are you going to where on the first day of school?" I didn't know, so she'd gone into a panic and we'd searched and searched until finding something we could both agree on.

We'd come across a deep blue paisley lace peplum tee that we'd both swooned over. Paired with nude jeans, it made a really cute outfit. I'd snuck lace socks into the pile, which I thought were cute, and Mom had glared at me but smiled at the check-out clerk. It was worth it, and hey, she wanted me to buy things.

The week sped by, catching up on sleep and finishing summer reading. Then, on a cursed Sunday night, I found myself dreading the next morning. School: waking up early, homework, drama with friends, cramming for tests, working for hours on projects. Why didn't I quite school when I turned 16? Right, because I was Asian and had to be perfect and get a PhD in something, which required finishing high school. I called up Megan, hoping she could calm my cold feet about the new school year.

"Hey Megan, can you believe school starts tomorrow?" I heard her sigh on the other phone, and then her voice came from a distance, as if on speaker.

"I know, it's hard to believe, right? I'm searching for something to wear. Do you think that teal shirt from that you gave me over the summer would look okay? I have white jeans that I think would look pretty cute with it. What do you think?" I laughed a little. Why she was asking me for fashion advice, I had no clue. She was the stylish one, not me.

"I suppose that would be fine. You got that new necklace for your birthday just a few weeks ago, wear that. And don't worry; no matter what you wear you'll look cute." I could hear the smile in her voice when she spoke next.

"Thanks Nicole. I assume you either already have your outfit or you're just not going to worry about it until the morning. Please worry now, you can't bomb the first day." I laughed.

"Don't worry, I have something, and it's acceptable. My mother cleared it, so trust me. I'll see you tomorrow, okay? What locker number do you have, so we can meet up? I'm number 336."

"I have 227. If we can't meet at our lockers, we'll see each other in the band room to compare schedules. They really should change open house so we can run through where our classes our, but they won't. Anyway, I'll see you in the morning. You're driving, right?" I squealed and confirmed it before hanging up. I'd gotten my own car last year, which had been awesome. Megan would be riding with Travis, and I'd be alone, which I was okay with.

I woke up in the morning, tired from the early rise, and dreading the 180 days to come. Why, cruel world, did school last so long and for so many days? Mom came up to pull me out of bed before she left for work, saying there was bacon simmering in a pan downstairs. That would wake me up so I wouldn't burn my breakfast. I groaned and abandoned my mound of pillows and blankets. Wrapping a robe around me and pulling slippers on, I went downstairs, kissed my mother goodbye, and ate breakfast. Then it was back up to my bedroom to get ready, and I left soon after.

The school lot wasn't crowded when I got there, probably since I arrived half an hour early. I knew Mr. Sacket would be there and have the band room unlocked, so after figuring out where my classes were, I headed down.

He was there, a mug of steaming coffee on his desk and music strewn around his office. The band room actually looked (gasp) clean for once. It would stay that way, as I remembered it in May of last year.

"Hey Mr. Sacket," I greeted him, and he looked up and nodded before digging through another mound of music. The floor was covered, with little spots of floor showing so he could hop to the door if need be. I shook my head and left. If he had that much music out, he would prefer to be left alone in his little bubble.

Megan and Travis arrived a few minutes later, as people started to trickle in. I hugged her and greeted him cordially. She looked cute, and I hoped I did to. Jacob and Courtney walked in holding hands and he glanced at me with a wave before turning his attention back to her. She waved to as they made their way to the Guard Room. Megan glared at her perfect red curls, and Travis put her arm around her, leaning in to our little group.

"I bet he's only dating her for the sex. Everybody knows he's smarter than her, and once he graduates, he'll find somebody better at college, who will give him sex and who's smart. Courtney's not dumb, but she's in Accelerated classes, not Gifted and AP like he is. His lowest class is Honours Language Arts because he sucks at grammar. Right now, though, he's just going with her for the sex."

And that was how my first day of junior year came tumbling down.