Kim woke up from her sleep. The snow from the night before was still falling, giving her hope of no school. She suddenly jumped from her bed and ran over to her laptop. She logged into her school’s website and went to the emergency section, where they would post delays and closings. Sadly, she didn’t notice it wasn’t sticking to the streets. Her face dropped as she saw no announcements for a school closing. Kim got dressed in a baby tee and jeans, but then pulled a giant black hoodie over her slim frame. She grabbed her back pack and her iPod mini and headed out the door.

She walked through the snow up to her bus stop, last one like always. There were three guys waiting for her. One was Mike, one of her first friends. He was the one she could trust for anything, from secrets to help on the history homework. There was Andrew, her neighbor, and the one always to make her laugh. And there was Jon, the rich, and well....short kid. She wasn’t exactly friends with him, but if he was nice to her, she was nice too. She got up to the bus stop, and called over to them, “Hey guys!”

The guys turned over to her and waved back. “Hey Kim,” Mike said. “Sucks, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah,” Kim sighed, “I was looking forward to a nice 10-hour nap...” She pretended to snore loudly as the others laughed.

“Well, I wanted to finish the history notes,” Andrew said.

“Shoot! We had history notes?!?!” Jon shouted.

“Wow....for once, I did the notes and Shorty here didn’t,” Kim laughed. She saw Jon panicking, which didn’t make her feel too good. “Hey, you can use mine, ‘kay?”

Jon looked up to her and said , “Thanks.” He turned away, facing the other guys, and started cracking up. Kim knew he was faking it, so she decided to give him last week’s notes. She knew he wouldn’t notice. The bus came and through the whole bus ride, she listened to Simple Plan. The bus stopped at Hanson Middle, and the four got of with everyone else, and headed to their lockers. Kim headed to hers, and her friends, Mayra and Sally, ran up to her.

“Hey Kim! Wait till you hear this!!!” Mayra screamed.

Kim pretended not to hear her, and suddenly poked them both in the side, making them squeal. Kim was the one known to act insane and not care about how everyone thought of her. Maybe that was one of the reasons why she had so many friends. “So, what’s up?” Kim asked.

“Well,” Sally started, “the thing is...”

“She got asked to the dance by Jack!!!” Mayra screamed.

Kim laughed. One of her friends, Jack, had this huge crush on Sally, who also had a crush on him. Somehow, Kim was the only one who noticed this, and helped Jack to ask Sally out to the Valentine’s Day dance. “Congrats! When did ths happen?”

“Over the weekend!” Mayra said. “She wouldn’t tell any of us though!!!” She pretended to cry and the other two laughed. “So Kim, did any one ask you yet?”

“Nope! I don’t think anyone has a crush on me or anything. Besides, I want to go with you guys!” Kim smiled and caught up with Mike, Andrew, and Jon, who were going to History.

Mayra sighed. “She doesn’t notice, does she?”

Sally shook her head, and the two walked to their classes.

Meanwhile, the other four chatted their way to History. Kim just watched the other three argue about something random. She was real glad that they were all friends. After all, they all had the same schedule for the whole year. She plopped herself in her seat, which was luckily in the back. Class started and Kim started making little paper stars. She folded them and pinched the sides. Her mind went away from the class, and she was startled by the bell. She gathered her things and ran to her locker. She threw in her history binder and grabbed her music folder and skipped over to Mike’s locker. Mike was obviously having trouble with his locker, because he was slamming his fist against the locker door. “Hey Mike! Great day, isn’t it?” she cheerfully said.

“Oh yeah,” Mike said sarcastically, “I love it when my locker gets jammed!”

“Okay Mike, what’s your locker combo?” Kim asked.

“12. 36. 29.” Mike said.

Kim slowly did the combination, and pulled up on the handle. Mike sure did jam that locker. But she knew that he never tried hard enough. She pulled harder on the handle, and sure enough, the locker opened, and all Mike’s stuff fell out. Kim laughed as Mike took his music folder and put the rest of his stuff in the locker. “Well, come on!” Kim squealed. “Andrew and Jon are gonna beat us!” She ran off, and Mike ran after her.

They got to the orchestra room with time to spare, so they went to their “mini lockers” where they kept their instruments. Kim got out her violin, and went to her seat in the second row. She wasn’t exactly the best violinist, but she could keep up with everyone. Mike walked up to her and started to talk to her. “Hey Kim, since you know my locker combo, you gotta tell me yours.”

“Awww....” Kim pouted. “Do I have to?”

“Yes.”

“Grrr...” She pulled out a sheet of paper and wrote something on it “I’m gonna get you for this.” The teacher walked into the room, and Mike went to his seat. Mike opened up the note. Its said “HAHA u really think im givin u it?” He shrugged it off and the class started practicing for the spring concert. After that, Kim put away her violin and was about to leave when the teacher pulled her aside.

“Kim, I know that you’ve been working very hard. You’re one of the few people that do more practice than required” the teacher started. “And I’ve noticed that you’re much better than where you’re placed. I am considering placing you as second chair, or possibly first chair.”

Kim was shocked. She didn’t know she was that good. But then she remembered that Mike was first chair. But she was too excited that she could be first chair. “Do I have to do anything, Miss Anderson?”

“I just need you to participate in the Solo Ensemble with someone and get a 4 (for those who don’t know, 4 is highest rating). Here are the forms. I’m sure you’ll do a fine job.” Miss Anderson started to prepare for the next class while Kim dashed to Science. She loved science, because all they did was watch stupid “Bill Nye” videos. No one really paid attention to it. Kim spent the whole time reading manga. She did the same in drama, while everyone else was giving their speeches. Finally lunch came, and she sat with Mayra and Sally.

“Guys! Guess what?” Kim shouted. “I might go up to first chair in orchestra!”

“Oh my god, really? How’d that happen?” Mayra asked.

Kim and the other two chatted while the three other guys overheard what she said. “Hey Mike,” Jon said, “better watch out for her.” Andrew and Jon laughed.

“Whatever,” Mike said. “I can probably keep first chair. She still has to work out som-”

“DON’T FORGET TO BUY TICKETS FOR THE VALENTINE’S DAY DANCE NEXT FRIDAY!” the intercom blasted through the cafeteria. Kim looked up and sighed. She forgot to bring her money to buy a ticket for herself. And she only had a couple more days before the tickets were gone. They guys however, all looked over to Kim. They all wanted to ask her to the dance, but they never had the chance because one of the others would interrupt.

As lunch ended, Kim talked about Sally’s date. “Sally! How do you feel about finally having ‘him’ asking you out?” Kim laughed, as she pretended to hold up a microphone.

“Shut up! It’s nothing!” Sally giggled.

“What’s nothing?”

The three girls turned around to find a boy standing behind them. Kim smiled, “Hey Jack! We were just talking about how you finally asked Sally out!” Mayra and Kim laughed, as the other two blushed.

“Well, thanks for helping, Kim. You know,” Jack shrugged his thanks ,and he left.

As he left, the other two girls looked at Kim in shock, who was now trying to sneak away quietly. “Kim!” Mayra whined, “Why didn’t you tell us?”

“Because, then it would spoil the surprise!” Kim said.

“Why couldn’t I help?” Mayra said.

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP

Kim rushed out. She quietly muttered her gratitude as she ran to P.E. There, she knew they could get her, but at least they were still in the same classes. She backed slowly into the wall... or at least she thought it was the wall. She turned around to find herself in front of Steven, the most brattiest, annoying guy in the school. He wasn’t a bully, but he was snobby. He was one of the most popular people and he was the best athlete in the school.

“What are you doing?!” he snapped.

Kim, unsure of what to do, kicked him in the shins, and as he was down, she ran over to where Mike, Andrew, Jon, Jack, Mayra, and Sally were. Kim quickly hid herself behind Andrew, one of the tallest ones, while the others stared at her in confusion. “What’s going on, Kim?” Mike asked.

“Steven’s after me!!!” Kim squealed. She saw him coming closer to their crowd. Steven saw Kim hiding behind Andrew.

“Hey, Andrew, step aside so I can get that brat.” Steven said.

“You know, why don’t you just back off?!” Andrew yelled. “I mean, she didn’t even do anything to you!”

“Oh, did I touch a nerve?” Steven smirked. He replied sarcastically, “I’m sorry, I’ll leave you two alone now.” He walked away, and Kim came out from behind Andrew.

“Thank you Andrew! You’re the best!” Kim hugged the lanky boy, as Jon and Mike glared at Andrew.

“Alright! Get into your uniforms!” the coach yelled. The girls separated from the boys to head over to the girl’s locker room. After five minutes, Kim walked out first, in her uniform. She sat there, waiting for everyone else to come out. She was utterly excited. Today, they were going to start their tennis unit, which was Kim’s favorite sport. She had even brought her own racquet to use. She twirled the racquet as more people seeped out from the locker rooms. After a while, Kim found herself in a sea of gray and blue. After warming up inside with laps, they went outside, where she caught up with everyone else.

“Kim!” the coach yelled. “You’re up against Steven in singles!”

Kim cursed under her breath as she walked over to the court with Steven. “You’re dead,” Steven smirked as he went over to his side of the court.

“Your serve,” Kim said, ignoring his comment.

Steven served, and when Kim returned it. The ball went straight at Steven. Steven crumpled from the pain that had hit him in the leg. Kim, ran over to him, panicking. “Steven, are you alright?! I’m sorry!”

“Shut up, I’m okay.” Steven tried getting up, but fell over.

“You shut up, you’re not okay. Hold on.” Kim ran over to the coach, and after a couple minutes of talking, she came back with a slip in her hand. “I’m taking you to the nurse’s office, you hear?”

“What if I don’t want to?”

“You’re going to, okay?!” Kim quietly hissed at him, as she helped him up. “This is my fault, so I’m taking you.” She took Steven’s arm around her neck, and put her arm around his. “Do you think you can walk like this?”

Steven nodded, and Kim helped him to the clinic. Kim sat in the waiting chair as the nurse looked him over. “Don’t worry,” the nurse confirmed, “He just has a bruise. You can go back now.”

Kim nodded and left, while Steven thought about what had just happened. “Maybe that girl isn’t as bad as I thought...”