Dear Diary,

Hey diary so today when I was at lunch we were talking about nose rings again. And I think Kelly and Lowell had a fight because they were sitting on opposite sides of the table from each other. Well when I say opposite, Willis and I were sitting next to each other Steven was across from him. Kelly was sitting next to Steven on one side of the table while Lowell was sitting next to me on the other side of the table. Basically they were as far about as they could be and still be part of the group.

“So you’re all ready to get that nose ring right?” Steven asked me as he was munching on the apple he stole from my new skull-print lunchbox.

I’ve thought about this long and hard diary but I really don’t want to get a nose ring. Not just because of the needle but I don’t like wearing jewelry in general. And besides Mom would freak out if I came to dinner one day with a piercing. But I couldn’t just tell them that. They would think I’m a freaking wimp or something worse, and I really didn’t feel like being berated at lunch.

Lowell took a break from staring daggers at Kelly to say something, “Yeah we can go after school if you want or we could just skip and go now.”

And again they suggested something that I can’t do. Any infractions and I could get kicked out of girl scouts and besides the big orchestra competition’s coming up and I really want to go. It won’t be in Olympia but a trip will be really good. Just to get away from everything, you know diary.

Again I couldn’t tell them why I really didn’t want to go, though so I had to think of something quick. But luckily for me I’m a master of excuses. The trick is to never lie, but instead say something that is kind of true.

“Sorry I have to go to girl scouts after school today guys,” I told them.

Willis chuckled, “It’s okay just bring us a box of cookies instead.”

I laughed along with him like I was planning to bring them some cookies, but we all know I can’t do that. Well I don’t think they know I can’t do that, but I really can’t do that. Every Wednesday night Ms. Aveline counts all the boxes of cookies and makes sure that no one steals any. Even Evelyn isn’t allowed to count the cookies at night, that’s how worried Ms. Aveline is of theft. But it’ll be fine, by tomorrow they’ll have forgotten that they even wanted cookies.

The rest of lunch went smoothly but I sweat a little everytime Steven mentions what he’ll do with the cookies tomorrow. But he’ll forget, I know he’ll forget, he has to forget.

Once lunch was over it was time for orchestra. And I was actually excited about it today. Like I said the regional competition is coming up and no one cares about anything else other than winning. Like the mood in the practice room has completely changed. From the sort of quiet, laid back, we just want to learn our instruments and play the zelda theme song occasionally, to we are dedicated and serious and Beethoven our lord and master will bless us with his music to win. It’s almost funny in a way, how competitive everyone is.

In between practicing our pieces for the actual competition we were also learning what we’re going to play for the fundraising dinner on Friday. Amelia and I are the only freshman viola players so we usually sit together. And today was no different.

“You’re really into this fundraising piece, huh,” she said to me.

We were on a break while Mr. Lemmons, our orchestra teacher was critiquing some of the bass players on what they were doing wrong. But Amelia and I didn’t need a critique, we were playing beautifully.

I laughed, “Less the piece and more the fundraiser. I think my mom is coming so I need to master this before then.”

“Alright that’s fair but save some of that enthusiasm for the actual competitions okay?”

With a playful roll of my eyes I answered, “Yeah don’t worry I think Brain’ll hit me with his case if I mess up during the competition.”

“Yeah he’s getting really intense about all this,” she told me, then as a bit of gossip, “I heard he’s skipping Jessica A’s party’s to go and she’s really mad at him.”

“Gosh maybe you’re the one who needs to ramp up your enthusiasm Amelia,” I told her with a laugh, “I mean if you’re not missing your girlfriend’s party to play at regionals are you even committed?”

We both laughed but before she had the chance to say something in response Mr. Lemmons had us playing again, and again, and again for the rest of the hour. During our breaks it was all both of us could just to rest our fingers and rub our sore shoulders, let alone get back to chatting. But I’m not mad, the fundraising dinner will be amazing and I’ll practice for hours to make sure of that. Oh and regionals, I guess that’ll go smoothly too.

I was so tired after practice that the day seemed to just swing by and before I knew it I was walking to the main doors. But before I could even get halfway there someone stopped me.

It was Michal, and he grabbed my arm. I looked down and his hand was on my arm. He was holding my arm, that was weird right. And I felt super uncomfortable so I must have a crush on him right, diary? I mean everyone has a crush when they’re in highschool, and when I noticed that Michal dragged my arm I felt uncomfortable. So what I said to the little girl scouts must not have been a lie. So I guess it’s official diary, I have a crush on Michal.

Anyway the reason he grabbed my arm, right, so…

“Hey there’s a door over here that’s closer to the bike rack.” he told me, finally letting go of my arm after what seemed like forever, “Come on I’ll show you.”

That was actually really nice of him. Before school started I thought about going out of one of the side doors but since everyone goes out the main doors I go out the main doors. But I wouldn’t not take the opportunity to go out different doors so I followed him.

“I heard that you’re going to be helping out at the orchestra dinner,” That’s what people with crushes do right? Try to spend as much time as possible with their crush? Sorry if I’m fumbling here, diary, I’m new at this.

“Yeah, I need some volunteer hours and I think it’ll be fun,” he said, “I sort of wasted my entire summer with the group so now I’m scrambling for hours.”

“Oh,” That was all I could say.

But I think he realized his mistake because he turned around, Walking backwards facing me, and absentmindedly he ran his hand through his hair. And his hand emerged slick with gel.

“The group’s cool through you should totally stick with it,” Then as he wiped his greasy hand on the leg of his khakis, “Just remember to not make it the only thing you, or else you’ll end up short on volunteer hours like me.”

That hair-hand thing was cute right, diary? Either way I made myself giggled before I answered, “Yeah I’ll be sure to keep that in mind.”

He showed me through the side door and that cut the time it took me to walk to the bike rack by about eight minutes, which was good because I had lots to do this afternoon. Michal didn’t ask me to walk with him again, but I really didn’t have time to think about that as I furiously pedaled home. I needed to be at the elementary school in like forty-five minutes to tutor some of the kids, as a girl scout. So I needed to rush home, change, then bike back to the elementary school. It was going to be a tight fit, but I could make it if I hurried.

Since I wasn’t biking for long the song pool was a bit limited today but here’s the lyric of the day…

I’m floating away over the coooooolors, I’m floating away glowing in starduuuuuust. - StarJumper//Bad Suns

I love the elongated vowels in that clip diary, it just makes everything seem more floaty, you know?

I didn’t even bother parking my bike when I got back home, I just rode it into the grass and got off. Once I changed I would need to get right back on it so there really wasn’t any point. Just remind me not to schedule important schooling sessions so soon after school diary, I really don’t want to have to peddle that hard again.

When I got in the front door Nathan and Derrick were talking in the foyer and I just went sprinting up the stairs. But they still managed to catch me before I went into my room though.

“Hey Naomi we need your help with…” Derrick started saying.

“No!” I yelled back at him, he already knew I had girl scouts there was no point in him asking. But still before I opened the door to my room I paused, waiting. When I didn’t hear Mom berating me for disrespecting her husband I went inside. I’ve always got to be careful being blunt with Derrick, you never know when my mom’s around to berate me.

It took me a few minutes to change into my girl scout uniform. Making sure my sash was straight and my skirt wasn’t inside out that kind of stuff. But when I was done and looked in the mirror, almost by instinct, I put on some black lipstick. And I know that sounds weird diary but I swear it was like my mind was acting on its own. I had put the tube of lipstick in my bedside drawer and without even knowing it I opened the door and swiped the tube over my lips. Not quickly though, I did it slowly and carefully. Actually I was on my bike, riding to the elementary school when I realized I had it on. I was actually a bit anxious that I wouldn’t be let into the school, but then I tried to convince myself to not care.

When I got there I got to park my bike right outside the door, something I hadn’t done at a school in months. Today I was tutoring a bunch of third graders and since I had gone to that elementary school when I was younger I already knew the way there. 

Continued in Part 2...