High school was the one place I hated. The only reason I hate school is that there is a social hierarchy here, and if you are not towards the totem pole, your life here will be miserable. Can you guess where I am? I walked through the empty halls making my way to the music room. My mom tends to drop me off at school early because she has to drive me to the firm. I usually take the bus, but there was an incident of me cutting school. So I took the train into the city and spent the day on Broadway checking out the orchestra. I didn't come home at 3 am, which gave my mom a heart attack, so my punishment for that is my mom will drive me to school to make sure I go to school. So I made it to the music hallway walking down to the last door at the end of the hall. So I opened the door, looked inside, and smiled at my best friend facing me, pressing keys on the piano. I approached her, sliding my headphone off, reaching over, pressing a key, and making her jump spinning around, ready to attack.

 

"Don't do that. I could have killed you," Tia said, turning back to the piano.

 

"And I believe that you could, but you won't because you love me," I heard her huff, and she lifted two hair ties nudging them at me, telling me to tie. So I smiled, taking the ties and grabbing a handful of braids on one side.

 

"So what made you late this time," Tia asked.

 

"Just the usual. Mom is telling me how I should dress," I grumbled, moving to the other side of her head.

 

"You know, maybe she is onto something," she said, shrugging.

 

"I'm sorry, what," I said, dropping her braids and finishing her pink tails. She whipped around, tilting her head at me before looking at me up and down, shaking her head before turning back to the piano.

 

"Well, I am not saying you should dress up in a three-piece suit. I am just saying that maybe give your oversize sweaters a break. It is like you are trying to hide," Tia said, pressing the keys. So I slid onto the seat next to her, giving her a slight push.

 

"I am not trying to hide. It just makes me feel comfortable," I said. Tia went to open her mouth, but there was a knock on the window that made us jump. I looked out the window, and my heart stopped. At the window was the most popular guy at the school Caleb Post. Caleb is the school's star quarterback. He is the guy every guy looks up to and every girl wants to be with… including me. Oh, did I mention that I had the biggest crush on Caleb? I am such a cliché. I sucked in my breath, watching him waving at the two of us. Tia groaned as she slid off the chair, strolling over to the window and sliding it open.

 

"Thanks," Caleb said, climbing inside.

 

"Do you know more conventual ways are coming into school," Tia said, closing the window.

 

"Yeah, but I remember you said you come here every morning before class. Also, with this route, I will be able to make it to class on time without being stopped," Caleb said, leaning against the ledge.

 

"Oh, poor you, it must be so difficult being popular," Tia said, rolling her eyes, and my heart skipped a beat when I heard him laugh.

 

"When did you change this?" Caleb asked, taking some of her red braids in his large hand.

 

"Well, I changed it yesterday," Tia said, snatching her hair out of his hand.

 

"Well, I like it," Caleb said.

 

The color or the style?" Tia asked.

 

"Both," Caleb said, smiling at her.

 

"Well, you can thank Steven because he put it into the pink tails," Tia said, and I swear I felt time stop when our eyes connected. I swear those grey eyes are mesmerizing that I missed what he said. I realized I was staring too long because his eyebrows were scrunched in concern.

 

"I- I'm sorry, what," I said, blinking myself back into existence.

 

"I was saying you did a great job," Caleb said.

 

"Oh, um yeah, thanks," I mutter, staring at the keys.

 

"No problem Steven," Caleb said. God, I was such an idiot. So why can't I say anything to the man without sounding like an idiot?

 

"So are you staying here or," Tia spoke up.

 

"Oh yeah, I gotta go. Thanks for letting me in. See you later?" Caleb said.

 

"Yeah, I guess," Tia said, shrugging, and Caleb smiled and started heading to the exit.

 

"Bye, Steven," Caleb said, touching my shoulder, and I managed to squeak out a goodbye before turning to watch him leave. Then, as soon as he was gone, I turned back to the piano and slammed my head onto the keys, and I heard Tia laughing, making me shoot my head up, almost giving me whiplash.

 

"Explain everything," I demanded, and Tia shrugged, leaning on the piano.

 

"Simple, his cousin just joined our gym," Tia said. Tia is an undefeated third-degree black belt, and she trains daily. That is why she is the best in her division. So she tried to get me to take up martial arts. Still, the answer will always be the same: I prefer music over any form of physical activity.

 

"So he goes over there to pick her up?" I asked.

 

"Well, that and to pick her up. She lives with him," Tia said

 

"Okay, how do you know that, and when did you become so close," I asked.

 

"Well, it is because I just talked to him," Tia said.

 

"So what else did he say?" I ask, and Tia falls silent.

 

"No, if you want to know anything about him, then you should talk to him," Tia said, and I huffed.

 

"No, he is too perfect. I can't even say anything to the guy without imploding," I said.

 

"Honey, he is just a normal guy. If you talk to him, you will be pleasantly surprised," Tia said.

 

"You sucked," I said.

 

"Yeah, but you love me. Come on. We have ten minutes before class. Play me something," Tia said, slipping on the bench.

 

"Fine, this is something that I have been working on," I rested my fingers on the keys lightly and began to play. I felt Tia rest her head on my shoulder as I played the keys with a sweet melody letting my emotions be expressed through my music. As I played, my thoughts drifted to the boy with an amazing smile. Caleb Post will be the death of me.