Category: The Teenage Monologues.

Band class has really been the highlight of my school days lately. Every other class just feels like time doesn’t move, yet band always feels like there’s never enough time.

It’s probably because of these days, the only time I really get to see Sophie is in this class. My dad and Jennifer have been on my case about the whole Principal-warning-thing. I don’t understand why they care so much about my dual major status, but sometimes it feels like they care more about their son holding that title instead of acting and listening to their son and what they may need. But whatever, who cares anyway?

I sit in my assigned seat in the percussion area, taking out my notebook before the class begins. I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket, in which I immediately took it out in hopes it was Sophie telling me she’s on her way to class.

leesophie: Hey, Milo! I'm not in school today. I was sick this morning. 😦 Let me know if anything exciting happens in band, kay? (:

Well, fuck. I signed and put my phone into my book bag, disappointed that the one good thing about school isn’t even in school today. Before I sat back up, I see a pair of legs standing next to me. I rolled my eyes, knowing exactly who it is. I sit back up and see that it’s Aaron, waiting to get by me so he can get to his seat. I really dislike this guy; he never has anything nice to say and he thinks he’s better than everyone else in our classes. Like dude, you are in level 1 band for freshman and level 1 vocal for freshman; you aren’t that great.

“Where’s Sophie?” Aaron randomly asked me. I could feel my ears get hot. Why the fuck are you looking for Sophie?

“Why?” I asked, trying to make it as unbothered and neutral as possible. I don’t know if he bought it.

“Because I always have to kick her out of my seat,” he answered. “I was relieved to not have to break her heart today.” Aaron laughs and reaches into his book bag. Nothing this guy says or does is funny.

“She’s not here today,” I answered, trying to end the conversation there. I guess it walked since he didn’t have anything to say after that. Mr. Harrison walks into the class and quiets the class. He looks at us before beginning the class.

“Good almost noon, class. As you guys know, the October Fest is approaching us, and we are going to prepare something fun and festive to showcase.” Mr. Harrison flips through papers and begins to hand them out. “The seniors will also be paying tribute to one of our faculty members who is retiring, so I will also be asking a couple of you to accompany the senior band to do just that.” My eyes widen; the senior band sounds like they came straight out of a soundtrack for a motion picture. I can only hope that’s how we will sound when we get to that point.

“Mr. Harrison?” Aaron called out as he raised his hand. “Mr. Harrsion looks at him to acknowledge Aaron, as well as everyone else that turned their heads when his voice was heard.

“Yes, Aaron?”

“Is their a specific section of the orchestra you need for this senior tribute?” I scoffed under my breath in disbelief. This guy is so fucking full of himself, I swear.

“The senior band has to have a mock rehearsal before we can determine what it is that we need.” Mr. Harrison answered and continued to pass around the sheets. I couldn’t help but look over at Aaron just flipping through the sheet music. I still don’t know what’s his deal. What school did he even come from?

“I don’t roll like that homie,” Aaron said as he looked at me. “Either you need some notes or you just have a staring problem, dude.”

“I don’t need, nor want anything from you, Serrano,” I spat back. I wanted nothing more than for this day to be over; specifically this class.

“Whatever you say, Kamalani. Us dual majors gotta stick together,” Aaron said, as he began to make markings on his sheet music.

“Yeah, no thanks,” I rolled my eyes and responded. “Literally would rather work with anyone else but you–“

“Mollie, or Sophie?” Aaron interrupted me and asked. I looked at Aaron, not really understanding where he was going with this. Mollie? How does he know–

“I guess there’s more dual in your life than just your major, huh?” Aaron mocked back at me.

“Dude, you really need to shut up and just–“

“Kamalani! Serrano!” Mr. Harrison called out. We both looked up front, nervous that we were about to get in trouble. “Since you both love talking during my class, we can all have a chat after class as well.” I squeezed my eyes shut as Aaron sighed. I never hated anymore more than Aaron Serrano, and that’s saying a lot considering I hated Simon Hempstead back in middle school.

…

The bell rings and Mr. Harrison dismisses the rest of the class, while Aaron and I stand up front next to the teacher’s podium. I looked over at Aaron, who was typing away on his phone. He looks visibly annoyed, which I don’t get since he was part of the reason why we are both here. Once the rest of the class left the room, Mr. Harrison closed the door and had us sit in the desks in front of his.

“You both know better than to be disruptive in class,” Mr. Harrison began. This was starting to feel a lot like my last encounter in vocal with my dad; you should know better. I began to shake my leg in my seat, worried that this was the last straw and that I was going to get my dual major status revoked. I feel like a shitty President or something, one that gets into office but completely destroys everything in his sight because he doesn’t know how to be a good President. I believe Sophie told me that due to the constitutional law, it’s–

“That behavior is unacceptable for dual majors like you both, which brings me to my next point,” Mr. Harrison pulled out more papers from his desk draw and handed them over to Aaron and me. “I want you two to accompany the senior band for the tribute. Rehearsals for that begin after school on Wednesday.”

“Why do you need two people in percussion?” I asked, not really amused that I have to spend rehearsals with people I don’t know, and Aaron.

“Well, I know you two play instruments outside of percussion, so I want Milo to accompany percussion, while Aaron accompanies the bass.” I scrunched my eyebrows, a little annoyed that Aaron gets the chance to play other instruments outside of what he plays in this class. I know how to play other instruments, and probably a lot better than this douchebag. I look over at Aaron who is writing inside a notebook. Does this jerk ever give it a rest? Mr. Harrison got up from his seat, escorting us out of his class politely. “I’m not rewarding your bad behavior by giving you guys this opportunity, so by all means if it continues in class, you will be kicked out from the tribute and the showcase. I expect nothing but excellence from dual majors.”

I walked out the classroom while Aaron tried to pass me first. Aaron power-walked away from the classroom and into the hallway. I stood there, annoyed and in need to get chill until the day is over. As I walk further into the hallway to go to my next class, I take out my phone to text Mollie.

milolani: you're free at lunch 2day? 

Before I reach my next class, my phone vibrate in my hand.

mcastro: sorry dude, i gotta tutor this kid in vocal 😛

I was confused. Sure, Mollie and I haven’t hanged out in a while due to everything else happening in my life, but I didn’t know she was out here tuoring kids, yet alone in a performing arts high school.

milolani: in vocal? who? 

Before I can send the message, my teacher for my next class called out for me to get her in her class before the late bell went off. I deleted it, annoyed that this day has literally gotten me nowhere with anyone. I wish Sophie was here today.

A month into school, I’ve already made it a habit to be late to my classes every morning.

Milo and I used to walk to school together in the mornings, but since he got that one time in detention, Jennifer takes him to school. I only know this because Milo is constantly fucking complaining about how he’s in high school, yet his step-mom takes him to school because he’s been grounded for talking back to his dad in vocal class. I mean, Milo has been dead silent in that class since, but it’s definitely weird to go to our vocal class and not get my best friend anymore. His mind has definitely been in other places, but hey; that’s what happens when he’s a dual major in this school. They’ll work you like a dog.

I ran into school Wednesday morning, hoping to slide by the front desk security guards. I’ve been getting pretty good at being undetected by them; the last thing I need in my life is for my mom to be on my case about being late to school. I can’t help that the only person to get me to school on time got himself in trouble.

While the security guards talk to each other and do not pay attention to the front door, I slide into the cracked back door, leading to the auditorium. When I get into the school, I run up the auditorium to get out of it, just in case someone catches me in there. It’s kinda sad just how good I’m getting at this.

I looked at my phone for the time while I kept walking until I bumped into someone. Fuck, I’m done for. I quickly get up from the floor, beginning to apologize, playing it off just so that the teacher doesn’t tell the main office a student is roaming the halls.

“I am so sorry, I was trying to find my class,” I said as I tried to see the person I bumped into. The person picks their things up from the ground. It was not a teacher as I thought it was; it was another student. It was Aaron. My body immediately relaxed. “Oh shit, hey! I’m sorry about that.” Aaron pulled his wavy hair away from his face and smiled at me.

“No worries, Mollie,” Aaron replied. After getting myself together, I noticed that Aaron is holding two big binders in his hand. I nodded my head towards the binders, not really thinking about the words coming out of my mouth.

“Damn, what’s with the big-ass binders?” I pointed out. Aaron laughed out loud, so loud that I thought we were going to get in trouble for being out in the hallway.

“It’s kinda my whole school life in these binders,” he answered. “One for band class; the other one vocal.”

“Sheesh,” I began to say. “What are they teaching you; the first ever instrument to make a sound or some shit?”

“Oh Nah, nothing like that,” Aaron answered. “We covered that already. That’s in the first two binders back at home.” I laughed at his response. Homie got jokes.

“Well, on the plus side; you guys will easily be the most fit people in this school but the time we’re seniors,” I said. I looked at Aaron, realizing that he was more relaxed than most freshmen in this school. He’s also really confident in class, which most of us do not have yet. “Unless you are a senior already.” I spat out, again not realizing the words coming out of my mouth.

“Are you secretly a senior?” Aaron asked. “Because your talent screams ‘experienced and too advanced for a freshman’.” My face got hot; am I fucking blushing? I tried to wipe my face hard enough to make it seem like I made my own face red. I just hope he buys it. After that, we don’t really answer each other’s questions; we just hear the bell ring, which meant I missed my first class.

“Fuck,” I said more to myself than to Aaron. “I’m totally gonna fail my algebra class.” Aaron looked down at me when I spoke and started to walk down the hallway, now becoming more crowded with other students passing by.

“Do you need help passing algebra,” Aaron confidently asked. I looked up at him, kinda confused at where he was getting at. “Maybe we can help each other out.”

“You need my help with something?” I asked, a bit surprised that anyone would ever need my help with anything.

“I actually need some help in our vocal class,” he confessed. I scoffed, not believing him one bit. Aaron Serrano, the dual major, needing help in one of his majors?

“Vocal is literally one of your majors; how do you need help in that?” Aaron stopped in the middle of the hallway, which then made me stop. Oh, fuck. Did I upset him?

“I’m… not confident in vocal a lot of the times,” Aaron began to explain. “I keep fucking up the parts in our assignments and, well, Mr. Kamalani seems to trust you to always know all of your music.” I crossed my arms, amused that Aaron was asking for my help. I guess it made me feel good about my abilities, like I actually belonged in the program I’m in.

“So, you help me in algebra, and I’ll help you in vocal,” I stated more than asking him. He gently nodded his head as looked at me. Aaron always spoke directly to me, which I never had anyone really do. It felt nice to feel like someone was actually listening to me when I spoke.

“Are you busy during lunch today?” Aaron asked.

“You want to start today?” I asked, surprised at how last minute this was.

“We have quartets today, which I am scared as fuck for,” Aaron answered. His blunt answer made me giggle; it truly felt good to feel like I was good at something. I was still unsure; Milo and I always hang out at lunch together, even if there has been days where I was blown off by him because he was so busy with his band stuff. Oh, and Sophie; he spent all of his free time with Sophie in school, which pissed me off. Milo is my best friend, but it feels like I’m being replaced by Sophie as the days pass by.

“It’s okay if you can’t today,” Aaron said. I looked at him, wondering if he saw the look on my face. Maybe he felt bad for asking me. He shouldn’t, considering he’s been the only person to actually want to hang out with me, even if it was to help him with his vocal music.

“It’s okay, I can come and help with you that,” I agreed. Aaron smiled at me, and I returned the smile back. It wasn’t until a few seconds later that I heard my name being called from down the hall. I look down the hallway, and see Milo wave his hand up in the air.

“Cool, I’ll meet you by your locker at 6th period?” Aaron asked. I looked back at him and nodded.

“Number 618,” I said. He smiled and held out his fist in front of him. I gave him a pound, wondering when and how Aaron got so comfortable with me. I barely know the guy, but he talks to me as if we’ve known each other forever now.

Aaron walks down the hallway, opposite of the direction I walk to Milo. Let’s get this day started.

If there was one thing my parents hated that I did, it was leaving my book bag on the floor next to the front door. Today I didn’t care. I came home that day and slammed the front door shut and dropped my bag right near it.

When I walked in, Jennifer was feeding my twin sisters at the dining room table, and my little brother was on the sofa watching TV. Jennifer immediately turned around to see what was the cause of the door being slammed shut.

“Milo?” Jennifer questioned. I didn’t want to say anything to her, but the only thing that came out was just my anger.

“Where’s my dad?” I yelled out loud. Jennifer now has her entire body facing me, and she doesn’t look happy that I yelled.

“There’s no reason for you to yell,” she sternly said. She nodded her head towards the book bag that was on the floor. “Plus, you know better than to leave your book bag on the ground.”

You know better; just what my dad told me in class after he sent me to the Principal’s office.

“I don’t give a fuck!” I yelled in response. Jennifer got out of her seat and walked toward me. She was pissed off.

“Language!” Jennifer said loudly.

“Fuck that shit!” I continued to cuss in front of Jennifer and my siblings. It wasn’t until shortly after, I heard my dad walk down the hall and into the living room where we all were. He looked just as pissed.

“What is going on here?” my dad asked as he removed the glasses off of his face. Once I saw him, I immediately turned my body to face him.

“How could you do that in front of the class?!” I asked. “Seriously you couldn’t have just told me to be quiet or something?! You had to send me to the principal’s office?!”

“You sent him to the principal’s office?” Jennifer asked my dad.

“Milo, you spoke back to me in class,” my dad explained. “Plus, you were being disruptive. I told you I wasn’t giving you any special treatment.”

“I got a warning because of you!” I yelled out. “If I get sent back to the office, I get my dual major status taken away!”

“Well you shouldn’t have been disruptive in class while another student was presenting,” my dad said without a care in the world. It bothered me a lot; his carelessness for what he caused today. He was the one that fought so hard for me to dual major at Waverly, like he did when he was a teenager. He wanted me to go for both majors and now that I got them, he’s the reason I got a warning that it could be taken away from me? I should just allow the principal to take it away; maybe then I don’t ever have to see my dad’s face for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week in school.

“Well you shouldn’t have been on this power trip and show off to your class!” I spat back. He turns back around; clearly I hit some sort of nerve.

“Let me clarify for you, son,” he began. “Your behavior would be the reason you lose your dual major status, not me. You know how to act, and today you didn’t. You wouldn’t talk back to any of your other teachers, and I should not be an exemption just because I am your father.” He turns back around to go back towards his office, but stops before he does so. It’s like he wasn’t done trying to prove his point.

“Your grandmother called earlier,” he randomly said. I tried to act as clueless as i could, but I had a feeling where this conversation was going. “She said your friend was waiting for you there for a while.” Jennifer looks at both my dad and I, confused at what’s going on. My dad looked at Jennifer before looking back at me.

“I forgot to tell my friend that I couldn’t hang out today,” I responded carefully. My dad nodded his head saying nothing else.

“Today was your warning, next time I will not be so lenient,” my dad said before finally turning back around towards his office. I took a deep breath, grabbing my book bag from the floor and dragging it towards my room.

…

Jennifer was away for a dance competition with her dance academy when I first got caught having Sophie in the house without any parents home. I was bored; Mollie was on that dance trip with Jennifer, and my younger siblings were staying with Jennifer’s family for the day. I told Sophie that it was fine if we hanged out in the first floor where Jennifer’s home studio was; technically it wasn’t “the house”.

I brought down some snacks and drinks from the kitchen into the studio. Sophie looked nervous; I was too, but I didn’t want her to know that I was also nervous about hanging out. I didn’t know when my dad was coming home, but he came home and saw the studio door cracked open to let some air come in. It was the first time my dad caught me doing something bad, like being home alone with a girl in the house. He promised he would never mention it to Jennifer, just because Jennifer would’ve made things completely worse. She is Mollie’s oldest sister, and although Jennifer is really cool and chill, she handles situations just as bad as Mollie does; angry and explosive.

A couple of hours later, there’s a knock on my bedroom door. The door slowly opens and it’s my dad. I really didn’t want to see him or speak to him after what happened today, so I didn’t bother facing him when he entered my room.

“Bud,” my dad sat down at the edge of my bed and said. It wasn’t angry or strict like it was earlier; it was soft. It was like he wanted to have a conversation with me, which also scared me since it means it must be something serious. In this moment, I would rather him just yell at me and call it a day. “I don’t like how you put Grandma Mona in the middle of this situation with you and Sophie.”

“Sophie and I always hanged out at the treehouse,” I emphasized. My family doesn’t realize that Sophie and I been friends for over a year. They think whatever this thing between Sophie and I was new. It wasn’t, so why is everyone making this a big deal?”

“Yeah, when you were partners for your middle school project,” my dad answered. “Grandma says you two hang out at the treehouse for hours on end every Tuesday–“

“So what? Friends hang out,” I finally looked at my dad, trying to prove my point.

“Bud, I don’t think Sophie–” I cut my dad off before he continued. I already knew where this coversation was going.

“We are friends, dad,” I try to emplant that into my dad’s head.

“Then why are we hiding this Tuesday hang-out session from Jennifer if it’s harmless? Why are you afraid of telling her where you really are on Tuesdays?” he asked. He was right, I told him to please keep this a secret from Jennifer, because if she found out, she would make this a bigger deal than it really is and then word will go back to Mollie and I do not want to deal with Mollie if she thinks Sophie and I are more than just friends. We aren’t though.

“Dad,” I sighed.

“Milo, Grandma had a daughter almost the same age as you, ” my dad started.

“Yeah, I know; it was mom. She met you and got pregnant with me at 15; blah blah blah,” I stated back at my dad. I don’t know when it began to bother me whenever my dad would bring up my biological mom, but it did. It bothered me that for someone who died 14 years ago still had this huge hold on my dad that it literally dictated how he treated me.

My dad scrunched his eyebrows together, clearly upset at what I said. “Yeah, 15 years old; just a year and school grade older than you are.”

“My god, dad, Sophie and I aren’t dating, so there’s no reason to think that we would do something as stupid as what you and my mom did,” I said with honesty. I never understand why my dad and biological mom did what they did at such a young age. Maybe he regrets doing it. Maybe she wouldn’t have died if she wasn’t pregnant with me.

“Good, keep thinking that it’s stupid,” my dad responded. “But that doesn’t excuse the fact that your grandmother is worried that you and that girl are doing stupid things in that treehouse.”

“Are you kidding me?!” I spat back. This time I was loud and I didn’t care if anyone outside of my room heard me. “Grandma told you me and Sophie do things up there?!”

“She doesn’t know what you both do!” my dad said back, trying to keep the conversation inside the bedroom. “My point being is… I don’t think you should bring Sophie over there anymore.” I was so angry at my dad. He knows that Sophie and I are nothing like how he and my mom were. For starters, Sophie and I aren’t in love. We aren’t professing our love to each other in ways that we shouldn’t. We are friends that enjoy each other’s company.

I am trying to be just friends with a girl that I enjoy company with because I don’t want to ruin the friendship.

“You know what dad? Fine,” I said as I got up from my desk and walked over to my dresser. I grabbed some pajamas and walked toward the bedroom door. “Tell Grandma that I won’t visit her anymore. As a matter of fact, you can even tell her to take the fucking treehouse down! I don’t want it and I don’t want to remember mom!” I walked out and slammed my bedroom door in anger.

I haven’t heard from Milo since 8th period, yet here I am, sitting under his treehouse waiting for him to text or call or show up like he always did. Tuesdays were the days when Milo always hung out with me after-school; he would say it’s the only day of the week when he and Mollie don’t walk home together. It took me a while to finally understand Milo and Mollie’s friendship. When I first met Milo, I thought Mollie was his girlfriend since they always spent time together and she would get upset whenever Milo would hang out with me. Milo had to explain to me how Jennifer was Mollie’s oldest sister, so technically he and Mollie were family by blood. Their friendship was interesting, to say the least.

I looked down at my phone; still no message from Milo. I sighed and looked around some more. After a while, my phone vibrated on my lap. I thought it was Milo, but it was actually my mum asking what time I was coming home. I don’t answer right away because I don’t know when or if Milo was coming. I started to get worried.

I heard the front door of the house open, which immediately made me jump and get up from the ground and turn towards the door. Milo’s nan walked out and looked at me. I bowed to greet her. Sophie, this is America.

“Hi, Mrs. Mezzrow,” I said to his nan.

“Hi, Sophie; what are you doing here?” she genuinely questioned me. It didn’t come off as rude; she looked at me very confused to see me sitting in her front yard under her grandson’s treehouse.

“I’m sorry, I was waiting for Milo,” I answered.

“Milo’s not coming today, sweetie,” she answered back. “He had to stay after school for detention.” My face turned red. I wish Milo would’ve told me sooner, but it didn’t even click that his nan said Milo has detention. School just started a couple of weeks ago; what did he do?

“Oh, okay,” I said as I got my bookbag from the ground and place it on my back. “Sorry…” I nervously said as I walked out of the front yard. I wanted nothing more than just to forget the last 30 minutes of my life.

…

I dropped my bookag near the front door and took off my shoes. I heard my mum in the kitchen, possibly washing dishes. I walk into the kitchen and see her standing there against the sink. She has pink rubber gloves on with her kitchen apron over her outfit. She was most likely deep cleaning the entire house today; she typically would do that on her days off from work.

“Hi, mum,” I greeted her. She turned her head and smiled at me.

“Hey, Sophie; how was school today?” she asked as she scrubbed the dishes with the sponge. I stood next to her, helping her dry the freshly cleaned dishes to place them back in the cabinets.

“It was alright. We had a pop quiz in Trigonometry today,” I explained. My mum nodded her head, even though I know she doesn’t know what I’m talking about. She was never one to ask mundane questions; she kept all of her questions for things she either cared about, wanted to know, or appear present-minded. That’s where my mum and I were different.

“Did you see Milo after school today?” She asked. “You’re home earlier than usual on a Tuesday.”

“Milo had private practice,” I lied. I didn’t want to tell my mum that I waited half an hour for a boy that didn’t bother telling me he had to stay after-school for causing trouble. Of course, my mum nodded her head and didn’t question me further. She was definitely a little absent-minded today, more than she has been lately. She stopped what she was doing to look at me.

“Your father called today. He asked about you again,” she started to say. I know I should’ve told Milo I couldn’t go to Mrs. Kamalani’s studio for our band assignment last Saturday. I knew Saturday was one of the only days this month that my dad could freely use the phone for a longer period of time. All he wanted was to talk to me, but I’m simply not ready to talk to him.

“What did you say?” I asked my mum nervously. She sighed, more so annoyed than tired.

“I told him that you were in school,” she began. “He wanted to know if you’ve been keeping up with your violin lessons, which I told him that you were.” This time, I was the one nodding my head and becoming absent-minded. That’s one way my mum and I are the same.

“Sophie, I told him to call your cell phone number after 3,” my mom looked at me to say. My eyes widen and my eyebrows scrunched together shortly after.

“Why would you give him my cell number?” I asked, angry that she would do something like that without my permission. “There’s a reason why he didn’t have my cell number in the first place!”

“He’s your dad, Sophie,” my mom said, sternly. “He’s allowed to contact you when he can.”

“You gave him my cell number without my permission, mum!” I wanted her to understand that she did something wrong. She broke a boundary I set up so that I don’t let my father get close to me. She broke all the hard work I did and try to keep my distance from a person who broke my trust in almost everything and everyone.

“He hasn’t spoken to you in weeks,” my mum responded. “Every time he tries to call you, you make an excuse to not speak to him and I am not having that anymore.” I threw the dish towel on the counter and walked out of the kitchen. I can hear my mom calling out for me, but I don’t turn around.

I walk into my room and immediately start to cry. I was mad, sad, and anxious. I was mad that my mum would go out of her way and justify her actions by simply saying he was my dad and that I needed to speak to him. I was sad for being in the situation I was in with my family and felt like my father’s deportation changed our family’s lives forever. I was anxious because I didn’t know how I would react to seeing an unknown number come up on my phone and it was him on the other line. I don’t know my dad, and my dad doesn’t know who I am anymore. I miss him.

I look at my phone and immediately get nervous, thinking it was him calling. My heart felt at ease when it was Milo who popped up on the screen. I took a deep breath in and out. I closed my eyes while doing so. I answered Milo’s call with a smile on my face as if I wasn’t crying just moments ago.

“Hey, Trouble,” I teased Milo over the phone.

leesophie: After-school ritual?

I smiled at my phone reading Sophie’s text. I was exhausted from the long day I had; that’s one thing they don’t tell you as a dual major. Your days feel like full-time jobs on top of all of the other bullshit classes you have to take. Maybe that’s why the school only accepts a handful of them, but fuck, sometimes I wish I could’ve gone for just band. Maybe then I could focus all of my attention on that class and Soph–

“Yo Milo,” Mollie sat in the seat next to me. It would be the last week that we’ll get to sit with each other since we’re all getting assigned our positions in this class. “Are you free to hang out after-school?”

I looked at Mollie, not immediately giving her an answer. Mollie knew me well enough to know what I was trying to say, and she rolled her eyes as a response.

“Sorry, Mol. Aren’t Tuesdays your thera–” Before I continue, Mollie hits me on the arm to shut me up. Fuck, Mol!

“Wanna tell the whole fucking class, dude?” Mollie asked, annoyed at my carelessness. She sighed and continued talking. “I don’t have an appointment today, so it would’ve been cool to hang out with my best friend on the one day I can…”

“I have plans with Sophie,” I looked down at my phone, ready to respond back to Sophie’s text.

“Whatever, Milo; forget that I even asked,” Mollie turned away from me, looking forward toward the class. I looked at her; I feel bad for not hanging out with her after school, but Tuesday afternoons with Sophie were important to me.

“I’ll make it up to you, Mol,” I said to Mollie. She being her classic self, ignored me. I rolled my eyes and faced forward; the class was about to start.

“Good afternoon, everyone,” my dad said to the class. “We have about 5 of you left to present to the class, so who wants to kickstart it today?” The class was quiet until my dad looked toward the back of the class. “Mr. Serrano; thank you for volunteering.”

I turned from my seat and saw Aaron walking towards the front with a guitar in his hands. I can’t help but laugh to myself. Of course, typical hype boy.

“I mean, Mollie can’t be the only one in this class who’s brave to go first,” Aaron commented.

“Asshole,” I said to myself, but loud enough to let Mollie hear me. I looked at her when I didn’t hear her reaction, which was weird. Her eyebrows were cocked up, looking at the hype boy in front of the class.

“So, this is an original I wrote not too long ago; this song is called “Hard Secrets of Orpheus,” he said. What kind of stupid ass song title is that? Before I could even pay attention, he starts playing his guitar and begins to sing. He has a rasp in his voice, but it doesn’t feel like he is straining it. It’s natural, which catches me off-guard the most. It ages him like he’s been doing this his entire life. And his guitar playing; it’s not bad for someone that’s in the percussion section of band class. He has a decent voice and he plays decently on an instrument.

I look at Mollie. She looks forward to Aaron and I can see it in her face; she’s focusing so hard on his performance and analyzing it in her head. Maybe she’s also thinking the same thing I am thinking: Hype boy went first to not even set the standard high for everyone else.

I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I took my phone out of my pocket and tried to look at my notifications with it under my desk.

leesophie: Let me know before school ends so I can let my mum know!

As I’m about to text her back, I feel a voice call out my name. Fuck.

“Mr. Kamalani,” my dad said as he looks at me. I looked up quickly at him. “Sorry if your classmates’ performances are boring you, but please try to respect them as they do despite your personal opinions.” The class bickers a bit and my face instantly turns red. I’m more than angry at that point; I’m pissed. Why would my dad just out me out in front of the entire class like that? He could’ve just come to my desk and told me to put my phone away, but instead, he just has to make my life a living hell in this class.

“Well sorry if this assignment sucks,” I said without even realizing it was loud enough for him to hear. He looked back at me.

“Excuse me, Mr. Kamalani–“

“It’s Milo,” I corrected him, not caring that I was talking back. He was pissing me off, and I wasn’t going to let him treat me like this. For fuck’s sake, I’m your son.

“Mr. Kamalani,” my dad sternly said louder. “If you’re not going to respect your classmates, then you can kindly leave class and go find something else to entertain you.” I don’t move from my seat. It’s literally the first couple of weeks of school and my first incident is with my own dad? He wasn’t letting this go, and I was upset that he was doing this.

“Mr. Kamalani, that wasn’t a suggestion, that was an order,” he said as he walked towards the front door to open it. Fuck this.

I grabbed all of my things and got out of my seat, angrily walking towards the front door. As I got closer to the door, he leaned close to me to whisper something.

“You know better,” he said. I didn’t say anything back. I just walked away from the classroom, towards the principal’s office.

It’s the day we all go in front of the class and out-sing each other like it’s a fucking talent show. I’ll be honest, I did not prepare for this assignment like everyone else has. Everyone else came in costumes, with accompanying instruments and all of that. Me? I showed up in my converse, an old t-shirt from the bottom of one of my drawers, and some jeans. I see Milo setting toning some of the strings on the piano in the front. It wouldn’t be Milo if he didn’t go over the top and beyond with his assignments.

I walked over to him and sat next to him on the piano bench, watching him do whatever the fuck he does to make it sound good.

“So, you’re ready?” I asked. Milo got up and looked at me stressed out. I couldn’t help but raise my eyebrows in shock.

“I literally just had a similar assignment in band class during 6th period,” Milo spoke as he fixed the piano strings. “Literally it’s like the whole school got the same assignments planned for the same day.”

“Well, that’s what you get when you’re dual majoring,” I teased. I always threw the dual major thing in his face. I told him to just pick a damn major; nope, he wanted to be the next best thing and go for two. Milo looked at me, still not amused. Mr. Kamalant walks into the classroom and everyone goes to sit in their seats.

“Alright, class,” Mr. Kamalani starts. “We have a lot of people to get to, so the sooner we start, the sooner we can move through everyone. Who wants to go first?”

No one raises their hand; it was like everyone was scared all of a sudden. I looked at Milo, who looked towards the ground so that he doesn’t get called. I couldn’t help but sigh loudly. I raised my hand as Mr. Kamalani looked in my direction.

“Ms. Castro,” he called. I got up from my seat and walked towards the front. When I look out towards the class, everyone has their eyes on me. Fuck, I’m now nervous.

“Hey, I’m Mollie,” I started. I looked towards Laurie, giggling with her new minions in the corner of the classroom. “I’m going to sing a song called ‘Quiet’.”

“Yeah, can you be quiet, please?” Laurie called out and started laughing with her new friends. Before I could say anything back, some other kid towards the back of the room looks over at Laurie.

“Can you shut up and just let her sing?” he said. Laurie looked offended, and Mr. Kamalani broke up the talking.

“Mr. Serrano,” he called out for the boy. He put the palms of his hands up as if he’s trying to say “you got it, teach!” I was relieved someone said something to that bitch. Without any other interruptions, I sing.

The truth is vocal wasn’t my first pick when I got into Waverly. I am a dancer, and I’ve been one for most of my life. Why didn’t I come to Waverly for dance then? Because dancing was something personal to me. I got into dancing to get away from everyone and their drama. I didn’t want to ruin it in high school where most of the girls trained in ballet since they were born. I didn’t want to be around dancers like that, but like the ones in my sister’s academy.

My family was excited when I told him I was thinking about going to Waverly. They all were so happy that I was going to be following in my older sisters’ footsteps and going into the vocal program. Singing was cool, and maybe a bit more tolerable than dancing, but my heart is in dance. Being in vocal s to just make my family proud of me for once.

I sing the song and while I sing, the rest of the classroom is dead silent. I don’t know if that was a good thing, but when I stopped singing, the class clapped for me. It felt really good to see a bunch of other singers actually clap for me. Mr. Kamalani stood up and looked in a notebook that was in his hands.

“Well, I think you knew exactly what your vocal range is,” he started. “I think you will be great as a first soprano.” I smiled, excited to be singing some of the highest parts in the choir. I went back to my seat and Milo gave me a hi-five. Maybe I do belong here.

…

Today, Milo isn’t at lunch with me, and I’m a bit bummed since he’s really the only other friend I have, despite Ronnie who’s been home sick after eating something even too questionable for me. Anyway, Milo ran off to a practice room to help Sophie with her assignment for their band class. I don’t care what he says; they are totally dating, and if not, he totally likes her. Whatever though, I don’t really care.

I sit at my usual spot in the lunchroom by myself, probably just gonna eat and scroll through social media or something. Anything to pass this boring ass lunch period.

“Anyone sitting here?” a voice says to me. I look up, not expecting anyone to sit with me, let alone Aaron Serrano.

“Nope,” I answered. He then sat down across from me with his lunch tray. I tried to not pay him any attention, but it was kinda hard to since he kept looking at me.

“You have an amazing voice by the way,” Aaron randomly said. “Deadass one of the best voices in that class.”

“Who, me?” I asked. I almost didn’t believe him when he said that. Was he just being nice to me for the sake of being nice? He smiled at my question.

“Yes, you,” Aaron answered. “You really have mad talent.”

“Thanks,” I politely said. “Also, thanks for saying what you said when Laurie tried to make fun of me.”

“Who’s Laurie?” Aaron asked. I laughed.

“The girl that tried to have the last laugh in vocal,” I answered back. Aaron’s eyebrows went up; I guess he remembers who I’m talking about.

“The blonde chick that was sharp for half of her song?” he said. I nearly choked on my chocolate milk for laughing.

“That’s mad funny,” I couldn’t help but feel hella relaxed talking to Aaron. He was cool. I crossed my arms and placed them on the table, now talking to Aaron. “You’re ready to present today?”

Aaron sucked in a breath; he looked nervous. “I’m a little nervous. I’m more of an instrument player than a vocalist. Like, I just had to present for my band ensemble; it was a piece of cake. Vocal? I definitely get worried.”

“Wait, are you a dual major?” I asked. Of course he fucking is, Mol; he just said he had this same assignment in his band class! Aaron nodded his head.

“I am,” he answered. “Band and Vocal.”

“That’s dope,” I said, taking a sip of my chocolate milk.

“Are you as well?”

“Oh no,” I quickly answered back. “That’s twice the work you gotta put in.” Aaron laughs and scrunches his nose up.

“Ouch,” Aaron says while holding his heart. I can’t help but laugh. “Seriously though, I thought you were as well because you’re crazy talented in singing.”

“And you’re probably just as crazy talented if you’re in here for two majors,” I added. Aaron smiled.

“I guess it takes one to know one,” Aaron responded. Sly as fuck.

Milo yanked my arm down the street, not answering any of the questions I had for him. The violin case on my back hits against me every time Milo pulls my arm a little too far from where the rest of my body is.

“Milo,” I tried to call out for him again, but this time I made us stop. He turns around when he notices my hand is not in his anymore. “For the last time, where are we going?”

Milo smiled. “You’ll see,” Milo answered. “We’re a couple of blocks away, Scout.” He wasn’t wrong. A couple of minutes later, we stopped in front of a building, a storefront of some sort. I looked up at the sign that reads, “Castro Dance Academy”.

“Why are we here?” I asked MIlo as I looked at him. He rings the doorbell of the studio, and to my surprise, Mrs. Kamalani opens the front door.

“Hello,” Mrs. Kamalani smiled and greeted us. Milo walked into the studio without hesitation; I on the other hand was terrified at being in a dance studio with his step-mum alone.

“Hi, Mrs. Kamalani,” I greeted her, yet was so nervous that when I said hi, I bowed to her out of respect. I immediately turn red, realizing that doing so isn’t normal in American culture. I immediately shot up and corrected myself. “I mean, hi Pep.”

Mrs. Kamalani smiled as I greeted her. I looked over to Milo, whose face was even redder than mine.

“Hi, Sophie! I’m glad to see you and Milo here working on your assignments,” she said as she walked further into the studio. The studio was spacious and decorated to seem fit a dance studio. I stood in the middle of the dance studio, watching Milo come in and out of a small storage closet.

“So, we have to get busy, so…” Milo said to Mrs. Kamalani. She nodded.

“Gotcha, you want me out of your hair. Well, we have to leave by 4 since I have to pick up the girls from Grandma’s,” Mrs. Kamalani walked towards an office room and closed the door behind her. Milo turned around to look at me, smiling.

“You like the surprise?” Milo asked.

“I feel honored to practice in a real studio,” I answered, looking around the studio. Milo took the liberty to take my violin case off my back and set it down next to a folding chair next to a music stand. I blushed at the gesture.

“So do you have any idea what you want to play for this assignment?” Milo asked. I shrugged my shoulders before answering.

“I was going to play the piece I did for the audition,” I answered. Milo didn’t look amused.

“Scout,” Milo began. “Your audition piece was bomb, but that was middle-school Scout. She’s definitely a better player now than that audition.”

“And what were you thinking of doing for the assignment?” I asked back. Milo smiled his infamous “I got confidence” smile. I hope to one day have confidence in my craft the way Milo does.

“I was going to actually make a song,” Milo said. He took out his laptop and began to play a beat. He then took out his drum sticks, in which he began to play over the beat with his practice drum. I’ve heard Milo play in the past, but something about his music playing these days just feels different. I feel like I am sitting in front of a celebrity when I hear him play. It makes me smile to think that not many get the chance to be in a studio playing with Milo Kamalani: one of the school’s fewest dual majors. When he’s done, I clap like an audience member witnessing magic on the Carnegie Hall stage.

“That. Was. Amazing!” I said, really excited for Milo. “You make this assignment actually look like a piece of cake.”

“It is,” Milo stated. “And I know that you’re gonna make it look easy too.” My smile fades away, now having to think about what it is that my assignment will look like. I can’t lie; I still feel like I shouldn’t be in this band ensemble because of how many few girls are in it. I feel like the boys in the class look at me like I’m in the wrong classroom. There was a lot of talent in our band ensemble and sometimes, I feel more like a viewer than an actual participating member of the ensemble.

“I still don’t know what I should do for this assignment,” I said a little more defeated than I intended. Milo’s smile fades until he gets an idea.

“How about a cover of a modern song?” Milo suggested. I look at Milo as if he had five heads all speaking a different language.

“I’m sorry, what?” I asked. Milo goes into his bookbag and pulls out a book of sheet music. After bookbag has a small keyboard in it. I’m amazed at just how prepared he is. He flips through the book and stops at one song. He begins to play the keyboard to a song that plays on the radio. Naturally, I play the violin along. I didn’t know I was capable of just jumping into it. I was always taught that you should always have music to play to, and you should always follow it. Milo has time and time again shown me that it’s okay to break the rules.

“Now that was even better than bomb,” Milo complimented me. I smiled and shared a comfortable silence with him until my phone rang in my bookbag. I walked over to it to see who it could be; it was most likely my mom just asking when will I be home. I looked down at my phone screen to see a blocked number from the UK. Dad. I immediately mute my phone and put it back into my bookbag.