“We don’t want you to hang out with us anymore.”  Catherine looked to Katie, then back at me.

“I knew that was coming.”  I scoff and stomp off, barely able to disguise the tears that threatened to overcome their bonds.  I barely manage to withhold my composure during Orchestra, my fingers moving monotonously on the fingerboard of my instrument, my eyes not reading the music at all.

How did I get to this point may you ask?  Well, at the risk of sounding cheesy, it all started at the beginning of 7th grade.  Middle school had dulled the friendships of our younger years and the friendship I shared with Jackie and Mary had dimmed and faded away gracefully.  However my relationship with Alicia had only grown.  We were constant companions, despite different classes; we always spoke in the hallway between our next lessons.  7th grade had dawned fresh and bright, a new start that I always cherished. I took my seat in my homeroom teacher’s class with a bright smile on my face, excited for the day to begin.  It was then I noticed her.  A pale blond girl, who had separated herself from the rest of the class, looking forlorn and frightened.  Against the nagging shyness that rang aloud in the back of my head, I walked up and introduced myself. 

“Hello…are you new?” I smiled as best I could, hoping she would return it.

“Uh…yeah.”  She looked up at me, meeting my gaze with a pair of fairly frightening blue eyes.

“My name’s Katie, if you need help, just let me know…” I smiled again, and was pleased when she returned the gesture.

“Thanks, I’m Catherine…” She grinned slightly, revealing a mouthful of braces.

The teacher strode in, and asked us to sit down. With a last smile, I took my seat.

Ms. Bunting was probably the sweetest teacher that I will ever have.  Recently engaged, she possessed an upbeat charisma that could make even the most bored student pay attention.  She had a wicked sense of humor, one that often got us in trouble with other teachers, and a hilarious chagrin that made her look our age.  A traditional mid-western daughter, she was short and thin, with pale blond hair, bluest blue eyes and a smile that often had even a dumb jock writing notes. 

“Welcome to 7th grade.  Though all of this is quite new to you, I would like all of you to help our newest students.  Catherine Nardozzi,” she waved a denim-clad arm at the blond, “and Katie Kassab.”  She gestured to the back of the room, to a short brunette with a round face and cheery brown eyes.  “ I would appreciate it if everyone would assist them in their new place.  Katie?” 

I didn’t look up, assuming she spoke to the new girl, until she poked me in forehead to distract me from the book I was reading.  I looked up with a startled glance, “since you share a common name with these two (my real name is Katherine) why don’t you assist them with understanding there schedules and help them find there way around the school?”

Awestruck, I nodded before thinking.

“Wonderful!  As for the rest of the class, free time, but keep it to a dull roar.”

Now, as I mentioned before, I am an extremely shy person, though I’m sure my friends today would say otherwise.  I shut the book I was reading sadly and turned to look at Katie.  She was immersed in a magazine, a small smile planted on her face.  I slowly climbed to my feet and trudged over to her seat.

“Hey…I’m Katie.”  I pulled out a chair and straddled it.

She placed down the magazine and regarded me thoroughly, “yeah so am I.”  With a laugh, she looked over my shoulder and motioned to Catherine, who had been watching us, to join the conversation.  She practically leapt from her chair.

“Hey…I’m Catherine.”  She grabbed a chair of her own and sat next to me.

I smiled and pulled out my schedule, examining it quickly. Katie and Catherine did the same.

“Get anyone good?” I asked before I thought about it.

“Not sure…how’s ms. Puente?”  Asked Katie.

I groaned when I saw I had her as well, “not so good, she spits when’s she’s mad and she usually is.”

“Yeah I got her too.  And Mr. Lye.”  Said Catherine.

“He’s alright, and his tests are pretty easy.” 

“Hey your name is Katherine!”  Catherine said suddenly, removing my schedule from my hand.

“Yeah...”  I smiled, and inwardly I thought it was fate.