Nellies' Thursday morning passed quickly enough, though PreCalc was agonizing for her. She walked to the cafeteria by herself, she hadn't seen and of her new friends yet today and figured they had already gathered at the lunch table. She walked in the direction of the table they'd sat at yesterday, and saw four heads bobbing up and down. But only two of the heads were familiar. Their hair was dark, curly, and untamed; Eliza and Charlie. The other two heads were blonde and were moving with excitement at the conversation. Eliza was laughing at something one of the blonde boys said, her head thrown back, and then she spotted Nellie. She gestured with her head for her to come over. Nellie did.
"Nellie!" Charlie was the first person to greet her. "You came back! With all of the craziness yesterday, I didn't expect to see you."
Eliza elbowed him in the ribs. "Nellie, meet Adam and Luke, percussionists extraordinaire." She said and pulled her down to sit. "Guys, this is Nellie. She's new, so don't freak her out too much."
"Rats. I was looking forward to showing someone new my spewing nose!" One of them said, grinning. Nellie figured he'd be short if he were standing. He had floppy, sandy-colored hair, pale skin, hazel eyes, and freckles. He looked young and sweet, but she was a little scared of him at the moment.
"They don't nose-spew usually." Eliza told Nellie, much to her relief.
"Who says today is a usual day?" The other boy said mischievously, raising his eyebrows at Eliza. "We tend to act unusually when we are around such ladies as yourselves." He grinned at Nellie. He was tanned and looked to be taller than the other boy, with deep brown eyes and full lips. His unruly, honey-blonde hair was a mess of short curls.
Eliza turned to him. "Adam, today can be an unusual day without involving spewing."
"As you wish, Liza." He replied easily and smiled boyishly at her. He was cute it a sporty, punk way.
"So where is everybody?" Nellie asked, glancing at the empty half of the table as she opened her lunchbox.
"Emergency glee rehearsal," Charlie answered, throwing some French fries into his mouth.
"Glee?" Nellie asked, her ears perking up like a dog's.
"You know, the joyful feeling you get while singing show tunes and dancing simultaneously?" Charlie asked. "Most people think that glee is just the dancing and singing bit, but I think it really is the raw emotion of joy you feel during the preforming process."
"That was beautiful, Charles." Luke said, holding in a laugh. He shoved a gigantic forkful of spaghetti in his mouth to cover.
"All of your friends but us are members of the glee club?" Nellie asked incredulously.
"We're very gleeful people," Eliza told her. "Out of yesterday's group, I'm the only one who's never been in it."
"Really? Why not?" Nellie asked. When she and Eliza met the other day the other girl had admitted that she liked to sing.
"Because she has far too many instruments to keep up, a job latter to climb, a beautiful figure to maintain, feelings to express, and crazy but exceedingly attractive friends to keep in line." Adam answered for her and winked at Nellie. She smiled as Eliza rolled her eyes.
"Have I told you you're an arrogant prick today?" Eliza asked him tiredly.
"No, and I've missed it." He shot her a grin. "Hey, George and the other guys are here now, so were going talk to them." He told her and gestured to a table where a group of soccer boys were sitting down.
"Yeah, see you later Liza, Charlie." Luke got up. "Nice meeting you, Nellie, even if I didn't get to show you my talents."
"See you later, Lady Elizabeth. Bye Nellie!" He waved as they walked away. Eliza rolled her eyes but smiled after them.
"Charlie, you were in glee club?" Nellie asked as she took a bite of chicken.
"Oh yeah," he said, nodding in remembrance. "It was fun, despite my creativity getting stifled."
Nellie looked up at him with concerned, dark eyes. "They stifled your creativity?"
"Charlie, aren't you forgetting something?" Eliza asked him calmly, raising her eyebrows.
He sighed. "Well, they didn't stifle my creativity exactly, but there was talk of it, so I quit." He told Nellie haltingly.
"You're too melodramatic," Eliza told him and sat up to talk. "This is what happened: Charlie is a bit spontaneous and crazy when preforming," Nellie's eyes widened but she was smiling. "The piano player, Brad, was a little freaked out by him. Brad mentioned this to the teacher, who then mentioned it to Charlie, who then left the club."
Charlie shrugged. "I wanted the guy to feel comfortable." He said good-naturedly. "So I decided to give him some space."
"You stopped preforming so the accompanist could have some space?" Nellie asked disbelievingly. She would never give up preforming.
"If I really, really needed it I would have come back already. But I still sort of view it as a leave of absence. I might return someday." Charlie told them. "But in the meantime, I get to hang with Eliza, who needs someone to keep her company on glee days." He poked Liza in the arm.
"Huh." Nellie was impressed with Charlie's selflessness. "So you all can sing?"
Eliza nodded. "You do too, right?" She asked Nellie, who quickly looked suspicious. "Don't give me that look. I would have become friends with you even if you were tone deaf; it was your sparkling personality that made me reach out to you. And all of our friends who are in glee have this lunch period so they can practice when needed."
"We have other friends who can't sing," Charlie added. "Like Luke." Nellie looked mollified.
"If you were making friends by singing you would have heard me by now." She smiled at them.
"We'd like to hear you now," Eliza said temptingly, wiggling her eyebrows and smiling.
"I'll be happy to sing for you, just not it the lunchroom." Nellie replied, laughing.
"What's wrong with singing in the lunchroom?" Charlie smiled innocently as he asked Nellie. "I do it all the time." With that he stood up and began singing. "I walked across an empty land," He started out, walking in place. "I knew the pathway like the back of my hand," He dramatically raised his hand, then pulled it down slowly. A group of girls walked passed on their way outside and giggled. Charlie winked at them. "I felt the earth beneath my feet," He tried to moonwalk and tripped on a chair leg.
Nellie, who was blushing and laughing, caught him before he fell and pulled on his arm. "Come and sit down."
Charlie obligingly sat, but he didn't stop singing. "Sat by the river and it made me complete." He made little wave motions with his arms.
Nellie and Eliza were falling over into each other laughing. "I think after that impromptu serenade," Charlie told Nellie, "You need to make an agreement to sing."
Eliza put her arm around Nellie and smiled kindly at her. "We can go outside to a private section of the campus if you want." She suggested. "But only if you want to sing."
Nellie shook her head and smiled. "No, no," She said. "I'll do it. Here," She reached her arm across to Charlie, "I'll even pinky-swear."
"Do you solemnly swear to sing for your friends tomorrow?" Charlie asked her seriously.
"I do." They shook pinkies. Charlie whooped and launched into a story about the graham castle in AWB. By the time lunch was over Nellie had forgotten all about her homesickness and evil PreCalc homework.
"Nellie, did the guys freak you out?" Eliza asked her worriedly. They were back in AWB, the same spot they were seated the other day. Eliza was working on her sketch while Nellie sorted through a stack of developed photos, making notes and arranging them. The sky overhead was clouding over.
"Adam and Luke? No, they were funny." Nellie told Eliza truthfully.
"I'll give you a quick backstory on them so you can use it against them if necessary." Eliza told her. "Luke loses or breaks everything he touches; he even broke a kazoo in the first hour he had it."
"How do you break a kazoo?" Nellie asked amusedly.
"By pouring water down it." Eliza said. The girls shared exasperated looks. "Long story. But he's this amazing musical talent and is goofy and honest. He's also the school's mascot, which I love him for doing." Eliza elaborated, smiling at the thought.
Nellie smiled, too. "They reminded me of my friend Lana's brothers. She has three. What about Adam?" She dimmed a little at the thought of Lana. But if Charlie, Luke, and Adam were younger and red-headed they would definitely pass for the Kendal brothers.
Liza sighed and swung her head over to look at Nellie. "I've known him since preschool, when he was just a little curly-haired thing." She told Nellie with a slight smile. "He's as brilliant as Michael, maybe even more, but he's also a soccer and baseball star. So he's popular, not to mention a huge flirt. But he's really dedicated to music, though." She continued. "He likes to sneak up on me in band and scare me, and scrounge food off of me." She finished, erasing some of her sketch.
"So why were they here today?" Nellie asked her. "Did they see you and Charlie all alone?"
"They probably did, but they come and hang whenever they want to, no matter who's there." Eliza told Nellie. "But they really wanted to talk to me about practice, which brings me to another important subject." Nellie looked up the show Eliza she had her attention. "I'm in a band with Adam and Luke, outside of school."
"That's really cool." Nellie said, imagining Eliza and her boys rocking out in a garage somewhere.
"Thanks." Eliza gave her a smile. "We have a gig on Friday at this funky restaurant downtown, and the whole gang comes along to eat and dance and participate. After we play, Michael does a set. He's the head liner." Nellie was surprised by this, but she smiled at the idea. "After the show, we congregate at Charlie's house for dessert. We were wondering if you'd like to join us." Eliza finished hopefully.
Nellie was torn between being delighted and overwhelmed. "Eliza, I'd love to hang out with you guys, but I don't know if I'm going to be up for it." It had been a long week.
Eliza nodded understandingly. "It's your first week here. If you just want to unwind, that's cool, though we'll miss you."
"I really want to go." Nellie said adamantly. "It's just-" She faltered. "Could you tell me more about it?"
"Of course," Eliza said hopefully. There was still a chance. "Our band is called the Telephone Birds, and we play covers. Usually fun stuff that you can jam to." She explained to Nellie. "It's me, Luke, Adam, and our other friend George. We're kind of like a house band."
"A house band?" Nellie asked. "Like on SNL?"
"Yeah. Some of our other friends play instruments." Eliza said, gesturing with her hands. "We can have a horn section, strings, add more drums and auxiliary, Michael and Blake can be extra guitars, and everyone is good for backup singing." Eliza explained. "Any of our friends can sing lead with us, as long as they told us what we're playing ahead of time."
"Like who?" Nellie asked as she arranged a photograph on the grass. This was beginning to sound really fun.
"Abraham's going to this time, and Shanna and Blake might as well." Liza told her. "They're pretty easy going though, so I'm not worried."
"And Michael plays after you?" She was really curious about this. I mean, she'd only met the boy once.
Liza smiled and nodded. "He's been preforming ever since he was little, and he's great." She said honestly. "I mean my bias aside. But he does best when he's in the moment. And the people just love
him."
Nellie liked the way Eliza talked about Michael. She didn't really know him, but she wanted to. "It sounds amazing," Nellie said truthfully, "I'll have to talk about it with my parents."
"Alright." Eliza said with a hint of a grin.
"Hey, Eliza," Nellie had had a thought. "Why are you really not in glee club?"
Eliza looked out across the grounds thoughtfully. "To give Michael some space. I mean, I love and adore him," She glanced down at Nellie, "but most teenage boys don't want to spend every waking moment of the day with their little sister." She shrugged her shoulders and picked up a piece of charcoal. "Ever since freshman year, when our friend groups collided and combined, we've had to be around each other all the time. And he handles it well, but sometimes I think he needs an Eliza break."
Nellie thought about this. "But you don't need a break from him?"
"No, when I need a break, I need a break from everyone." Eliza replied. "But I don't have girls hanging on me and difficult math to teach to them." The bell rung and the girls hastily picked up their stuff.
Nellie looked out at the sky as she scampered inside behind Eliza. There were some very ominous, dark clouds in the sky. "Do you think it will rain?" She asked Eliza.
Liza paused in the doorway, looking over her shoulder. "I think it will." She replied.
"I didn't bring my jacket today." Just her luck. "Could I get a ride?"
Liza nodded contentedly. "Sure. Oh, but wait," She said, stepping into the halls. "I'm getting a ride from Adam because we're going to practice." She looked at Nellie. "It's okay, you can still get a ride, we just need to find Michael." They continued down the hallway. "You get your stuff, I'll go find him and send him your way."
Nellie nodded and rushed down the hallway. As Eliza bobbed and weaved her way down to the math wing, she couldn't help but smile.
"Hey, Nellie." Nellie pulled her head out of her lock to look at the person who called her. Michael was leaning against the lockers, jangling his keys and waiting patiently. He was wearing a navy shirt and khaki's, as well as a pair of rectangular glasses.
"Hi." She gave him a quick smile before diving back into the jumbled mess that was her locker to extract her backpack. "Thanks for giving me a ride. Your car can fit my bike, right?"
Michael nodded his head. "We'll make it work." He said casually, and then he met her gaze and smiled at her. "And you can ride with me anytime." He grimaced. That sounded like a terrible retro pick-up line. Nellie was smiling though. She shut her locker and came to stand with him. They started walking down the hall.
"How was glee practice?" Nellie asked him.
Michael was mildly surprised. "You know about that?"
"Liza said." Nellie adjusted her backpack straps. "That's where you guys all were, right?"
Michael nodded. "It was good, I suppose. Very intense because we have a competition coming up," He told her as they walked out the doors.
"Do you like it?" Nellie looked sideways at him as they reached the bike rack.
"I like the preforming aspect and I like the challenge," He looked over to her, where she was unlocking her bike. Her face was scrunched up in concentration. "But I like being with my friends most of all."
Nellie nodded wistfully and looked up at him from where she knelt on the grass, a little sad she wasn't considered a friend. She began to roll her bike in the direction of the parking lot. It was old and yellow, but she loved it.
Michael came up on her side. "Here, let me do that." He took the handlebars, his hand brushing hers. He looked at her kindly. "Speaking of which, Friday is a night with friends. Did Eliza tell you about it?"
"A little bit." Nellie said. Michael clicked his keys, and a blue station wagon flashed. He opened the truck and began to maneuver the bike inside.
"Are you going to come?" Michael asked eagerly as he shut the trunk. He then opened the passenger door and made a sweeping bow. "Your chariot awaits."
Nellie broke into a smile and colored slightly. "Thank you, sir. And I'm thinking about it." She slid into the passenger seat. Michael wandered around the front and climbed into the car.
"If you come, I promise you won't regret it." He told her as he put the key into the ignition. "And trust me, when you're friends with Charlie, you end up doing a lot of things you regret." She smiled. "We play at this restaurant downtown called The Grasshopper. It's like family-friendly diner meets snazzy, old-fashioned bar." He looked over at her with a smile. "Where do you live, by the way?"
"1708 Pennyworth Drive." Nellie told him automatically, and then inwardly gasped. She'd memorized her new address already! "Why is the restaurant called The Grasshopper?"
"You have much to learn, young grasshopper." Michael told her seriously as they stopped for traffic. Nellie laughed at him. "No, it was named after the ice cream, of course. But the owners decided to embody the insect anyway." Michael glanced over at Nellie as he turned the wheel; she was looking happier.
"Eliza didn't tell me about that." Nellie said with some amusement. "She told me about the musicians playing, including her band."
He smiled. "She's a fantastic multi-instrumentalist, much better than me. Did you know that Luke, Adam, and Liza all can play keyboards, guitar, and drums and they switch off?" He said fondly as Nellie shook her head no. "And she has this great voice."
Nellie turned and looked at him. Really looked at him. He was concentrating on the road, tapping the steering wheel with his hand. "That's what she said about you." She said finally.
Michael nodded. "Liza and I make a good team. I think she can read my mind." He smiled and Nellie smiled back. "I suppose I have more preforming experience than her, though." Michael said modestly.
"She said you'd been playing since you were little," Nellie eyed him curiously. "What's your story, Michael Weisman?"
His mouth quirked into a small smile at the question. "I got hold of a guitar and I was goner," His smile grew. "Chicago is a great place for music, and I just loved it as soon as I witnessed it. Then I started making it, and I loved the way I felt when I created it. Like I was being heard. Friends of my parents are the owners of the Grasshopper, so they let me start playing there when I was twelve." Michael shrugged his shoulders and gave her a goofy smile. "I'm just a kid who jams out with his friends on Friday nights. It would make me happy if you came and jammed along. It's dinner and a show!" He cocked his head and looked over at her hopefully.
Nellie glanced at him shyly. How can I say no to that smile? She thought. "I have to talk it over with my parents," She said, "But I'd love to go."
Michael grinned at her. "There will be ice cream." He bribed.
Nellie's eyes widened. "What?"
"I know I told you that the Hopper is named for its sundaes, but tomorrow we're doing something even more special." Nellie gestured for him to continue. "After the music we're going to Charlie's house, where Abraham, the others, and myself will be conducting campaigns for the best unconventional ice cream topping. But the contest is really between Abe and me."
Nellie laughed. "What is Abraham's topping of choice?"
"Licorice." Nellie and Michael shared a look before he turned back to the road.
"Interesting." She said. "You?"
"Peanut Butter." They smiled at each other. "So if you want to see how it all plays out, you'll have to come and taste for yourself. We need a tiebreaker anyway."
"Can I have a title?" Nellie asked him, some of Michael's silliness rubbing off on her. "Like "Ice Cream Executive"?"
"Of course." Michael replied, happy she agreed to come. "Nellie Veitenhiemer, Resident Ice Cream Expert."
She smiled. "Hey, are you going to be at lunch tomorrow?"
Michael eyed her, wondering why she was asking. "I was going to be tutoring, why?"
"Eliza and Charlie talked me into preforming." Nellie told him hesitantly.
"I'll definitely be there then." He smiled at her. "Christina will just have to survive the unit test without me."
Nellie smiled. She was slightly nervous about tomorrow, but for some reason the idea of having Michael there calmed her. "What do you tutor anyway?"
Michael turned onto her street. "Any type of math, but my favorite is Calculus." He parked the car on the side of the road in front of her new house and hopped out.
Nellie unbuckled her seat belt and followed him around to the back. Then she stared at him.
Michael started pulling Nellie's bike out of the trunk, concentrating hard. He glanced at Nellie and saw her stunned expression. "What?" He asked. He wondered if he'd somehow managed to get stuff on his face.
She blinked herself out of her stupor. "Do you think you could help me? I can't pay you, but this PreCalc class is farther ahead than my old class and it hasn't exactly been a picnic." She grabbed the bike's handlebars and looked at Michael anxiously.
He shoved his hands in his pockets. "I work for free." He told her, leaned against the car, and smiled.
"Really?" Nellie stared at him in such a way that Michael was tempted to take all of her homework for the year and do it all. She was so shocked she let go of the bike, which crashed to the ground. "Thanks, Michael!" She exclaimed as she hurriedly picked it up. It was drizzling now; Michael's shirt was getting speckled. "For the ride, for everything!" The sky grumbled loudly.
"What are friends for?" He began to make his way to the driver's side. Michael grinned and waved at Nellie, who waved back as she ran inside. He got back into the car and sighed, staring at the house. It began to rain harder; he turned the windshield wipers on as he drove away. He wished it rained every day.
Hey Guys! Thank you a ton for the reviews, they really do make me happy, so don't stop now. Sorry for the late update, I've been busy. However, this is the longest chapter yet, I believe. I'm very happy Blake won the show, I do love him, but I'm sad it's over now. Somebody asked me if I would include other cast members like Aylin, and I do plan to, you might just have to be patient. I'm open to suggestions for the most part so feel free to give me ideas. Thanks, and I hope you liked this chap! The characters of Luke and Adam are actually based on two of my friends, one of whom has actually broken a kazoo by pouring water down it.