Scales (A young love story)

Chapter 1: Have I met you before?

I can't do this, I can't do this, I thought. I tried to smile, tried to look friendly, and pretend like I was happy. In reality, I was depressed severely. Today was the first day of middle school, and I dreaded every second of it. I had enrolled late, because my dad and I had just moved into this new house by the beach, which was a good mile or two from my school. I had been living with my abusive mother since I was in fifth grade, and I was so happy to get away from her. My dad had fought so hard in custody battles for me, and I tried to like it here, for him. Since I had a late start, I was stuck in the "stupid" classes, and had only a few accelerated classes. I hated those classes. I mean, I didn't belong there, with the bad kids. I had always been an A+ student, always being the top of the class. I had already talked to my counselor about switching my schedule, and she said I had to wait for one to open up, and so I waited.

Soon enough the end of the day came, and I found myself my the Viking stage, which was were all of the assemblies were held. I looked around, and saw a few kids hanging out here after school, and some selling P.E. uniforms. I decided to talk to them, and that's when I saw her.

She was wearing an A.S.B. sweatshirt, wore glasses and braces, and had her brown mousy hair in a pony tail. I had seen her before, but I had no idea where.

"Hi, I'm Rachel, have we met before? I have a feeling I've seen you... from somewhere," I said, trying to remember.

She said no, but then her friend told me that I must of seen her at the beach, where her parents own a frozen yogurt shop. And then it all hit me, I had seen her, last week actually, on the fourth of July. I had bought a large cup of pistacio frozen yogurt, and had talked to her, asking what she was selling. I found it so weird knowing she was a student at my school.

"Oh! Now, I remember! Wow, you look just like your mom!" I said. She smiled and blushed. Then, I turned around, and headed for the stage.

I have no idea why I did this, but I felt a burst of energy and got hyper all of a sudden, and I made a complete fool of myself. I walked up to the center of the stage, and started belting out to a Christina Aguilera song. Most of the kids in the bleachers clapped, and I had been used to this. Ever since I was a little girl, my dad had been taking me to karaoke since I was nine, when he had the weekends with me. I had been singing ever since then, and had gotten very good at it. Many people say I sound like Christina Aguilera and should audition for American Idol, and I will, when I'm fourteen.

Once the energy faded away, I walked to the side of the stage, to see a boy sitting there alone. There was something about him, that just drew me to him. I wondered if he heard me a moment ago. I decided to talk to him.

"Hi! I'm Rachel. What's your name?" I asked, sitting next to him.

"Yves," He said, looking up from his worksheet.

"Yves?" I asked, and giggled. What was that? French?

"Just call me whatever you wan-"

"No, I like it. Yves... Yves.. " I cut him off, he blushed lightly then turned back to his homework. It seemed like he was used to people saying something about his name.

"So, what are you doing?" I asked, trying to make conversation.

"Algebra homework, while waiting for my sister, " He murmured and nodded to the girl who I had just spoken to. I realized how much alike they looked. They were both thin, had brown hair, defined noses, small lips, light tan skin.They both looked like their mother who had served me yogurt that time. She seemed so nice, and warm, and motherly. She had a somewhat thick French accent, as did thier dad. No wonder I had been drawn to both of them. What a small world, I thought.

"But aren't you a seventh grader?" I questioned. What was a seventh grader doing taking algebra, a high school class?

"Yeah, I got a hundred percent on last year's CST and they put my in algebra, so I get high school credit. Next year, I'll be taking calculus," He bragged. I had to admit I was a little bit jealous. I mean, I was sure I was up to the same capacity if not smarter than this kid, and I had to be brought down by the dumb classes while here he is, taking a high school class, and in accelerated classes. Also, the fact that he was bragging, and looking down to me. I hate people like that. I decided to show him just who he was talking to. I pulled out my CST score paper which I had broughten to show my counselor that I didn't belong in those classes.

"I should be in there, too," I said, handing him my paper. My CST scores were actually very good, scoring advanced in all of the areas. He quickly glanced at it, then handed it back to me.

"I scored perfect in everything," He simply said. Not bothering to look at the paper again.

"That's nice," I muttered.

I saw an instrument case beside him.

"What do you play?" I asked, trying once again to keep a conversation with this kid.

"The clarinet, saxophone, and oboe, in advanced and jazz band, but in this case, is my oboe," He said, looking at me for a moment, waiting for me to be in awe, of his talent and knowledge and perfection. I just stared at him back and said cool.

A small smile curled up at his lips, almost as if he were amused. Then, he turned back to his algebra. I guess I got the cue that the conversation was over, and I walked away, to the front of the school.

There, I saw my dad in his golden Camry, waiting for me. I opened the back passenger side door, I would sit in the front but, the door won't open, my dad still needs to fix it.

"Hey honey, how was your day?" He smiled.

"Ehhr.. It was okay. I met a few people, but I'm sure they think I'm weird," I said staring out the window.

"You're not weird, you just have to warm up to them first, I'm sure tomorrow will be a better day," He said, pulling out of the school parking lot.

"I hope so," I whispered.

His face instantly lit up.

"Oh honey, I forgot to tell you. You're counselor called and she said a student was moving to L.A. and that a schedule has opened up. You will be getting all accelerated classes, and you start tomorrow!" he told me, waiting for my reaction.

"Really?! Yay!" I cheered, and smiled. Finally, I thought, I will be where I belong.

Though, somewhere in the back of my mind, I wondered if I would see that boy in my new classes....