As the three tones of the warning bell rang, I bolted out of the restroom and dashed for the stairs. Starting down, my socks slipped down my legs to bunch around my ankles. I lifted the strap of my messenger bag over my head before pulling a no-no for my school-jumping the last three stairs. Swerving a little, I ran inside the main building and sprinted towards the door at the end of the corridor. Just as the last bell began ringing, I skidded into the room and collapses in my desk.

“Just made it,” I gasped out, hearing the last tone.

My name is Naoko Hirumi. I’m sixteen and in the eleventh grade (that’d be a junior for those who don’t know) at Okaniwa High School. I’ve got fluffy black hair and dark blue eyes. With my shoes off, I’m roughly five foot four. I’m pretty short next to my friends (they’re all over six feet, except Jazz, who’s an inch under six feet).

“Naoko, do try to get here on time next week.” My sensei looked at me over her glasses. “This is the eighteenth time this semester you’ve barely made the bell.”

I hung my head in a sign of guilt. “Gomen nasai, Kanbara-sensei.”

She nodded and began erasing the whiteboard. “Ohayo, class. Today, since you’re ahead of the other periods, you may have a free period. Just don’t get too loud or do anything destructive.”

Immediately I had my best guy friends, Solastian and Josarian, next to me and my boyfriend, Sia, on the floor in front of my. My brother Runako wheeled himself over, his girlfriend Jasmine coming over as well.

“Bathroom again, Nao?” Jazz asked, perching herself on Runako’s lap.

Nodding, I opened my bag and pulled out my binder. “A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do. Now, since we have an extra hour to plan, we’d better get to work on our show dates and whatnot.”

The six of us are in a band called Broken Revolution. We’ve been together for about two years, and we’re just getting started big time in our career.

I’m the lead female singer, and I can play drums, guitar, and keyboard when needed. Solastian is the male lead singer, and he plays guitar also (only he’s on bass, I’m on acoustic). Runako is always on drums, aside from his song, Perfect. Jazz is the other female singer, and she plays acoustic guitar with me. Sia is our “scream singer” for our harder songs; the rest of the time he’s on synthesizer or keyboard.

Sia played with the key chains on my bag while I dug out my planner. “Did you get us in at the Cricket?”

“Sure did.”

The Cricket (Coffee Cricket, actually) is the coffee shop for teenagers around here. Each month they have a local band play three times a week, usually Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The band gets seventy-five percent of profits from tickets, while the Cricket gets the other twenty-five percent to cover the extra expenses. But the band gets free coffee while they’re there.

“I have us booked for next month, the usual days.” I pointed to Josarian the Cricket days (I always marked them with a little coffee mug in the corner) in my planner so he could copy them into his. “Next Thursday I have us to play at the Mixed Media concert a few times.”

Jazz smiled at the amount of shows we had. “At this rate, we’ll be able to afford that CD, finally!”

We all gave a small cheer at the idea. For the past nine months, we had been saving almost all of our money to get our first ever album professionally recorded. We had the studio use and the cover and everything, but to have it professionally done (our demo had been done in Solastian’s basement with his brother’s stuff), it cost big bucks. A couple thousand dollars. So we opened up a bank account, made a small initial deposit each, and then just kept putting more in after allowances and payments for performances.

Josarian looked up as he finished copying the dates into his planner. “The school and local papers want to interview us this week, too.” Checking his own notes, he continued, “The school has us tomorrow, and the local has us on Friday.”

“Friday? Me and Naoko can’t make it.” Runako’s dark eyes were sad. “We have some dinner party again.”

I groaned. How could I forget the blasted party Father was having? Another Hirumi spectacular. “That’s right. Father has some company business deal thing to work out, and his associates are coming over. And because Runako and I will inherit the company when he retires. we have to be there.”

“Well then, can we move the local interview to Thursday?” Solastian asked, looking over at Josarian.

The blue-haired male nodded. “The date wasn’t permanent anyway. I’ll call during break to reschedule.” He made a mark in his planner.

I should probably explain what Josarian and I do. We’re both sort of managers. I schedule gigs and order things for the band (like our special drumsticks and other stuff like that) and manage our money. Josarian handles our publicity things, like interviews, photo shoots, charity things, meetings, and also keeps track of everybody’s individual schedules. He’s also in charge of keeping track of our album work and our past, present, and future employers.

Sia poked my leg. “Your sock is down, Nao.”

I pulled it back up. “Arigatou, Sia-koi.” Wiggling my foot, I sighed, missing the chains on my jeans. “I hate uniforms.”

“But you totally sexy in them, Sia replied. “I hate ours because they’re too tight. And we have to pull our hair back.”

Jazz and I giggled. Sia, Solas, and Josarian all have uber-long hair, and because of the dress code, they have to tie it back. Runako’s hair isn’t as long, only to his ear lobes, so he doesn’t have to pull it back. I have to tie mine back, too, because mine is past my shoulder blades. Jazz doesn’t because since she keeps her hair really short.

“I know you guys, but next year we’re free from uniforms and strict dress codes.” Jazz smiled. “And no more Okaniwa High.”

We’re all going to Yamashita Academy for Musically Gifted in fall to get a little more training before we head off on our own.

I looked around at my friends and brother, wondering what they’d look like once summer break starts.

Jazz will show off her multiple ear piercings and her eyebrow ring every day. Her ripped and shredded jeans and cut off shirts will make a comeback. She’ll more than likely spike her hair up in the back (or however she gets her cool do) and have her blue locks tipped with dark purple. Her pink eyes would be more vivid with her contacts.

Josarian will probably go get his nose pierced the day school is out. He’ll break out his super baggy pants and tight muscle shirts and beanies. His spiked collar would see sunlight again, and his long midnight blue hair would go loose. I’ll have to buy him a new pair of sunglasses too, since he despises his black eyes and I stole his last pair.

Sia would be my sexy bitch (I mentally giggled) with his tight leather pants and mid-drift shirts with chains. He would let me do his hair like Legolas from Lord of the Rings-braiding his black hair on the sides and pulling them back in a little ponytail. He’d start using his eyeliner again, too, making his green eyes seem brighter.

Solastian would fill his closet with every black hoodie he owned, and then go out and buy more black pants to go with them. I’d get to braid his hair, or his black main would go loose. And he;d get to wear his glasses again instead of his contacts. He had to wear the contacts to change his eye color (natual is red, with contacts they’re brown).

Runako would wear his shredded jeans with paint splatters and such along with his rock bad hoodie, rock t-shirts underneath since he gets sick if he gets too hot. He’ll probably steal our brother Kinta;s wristbands. He and I have the same fluffy black hair and dark blue eyes of our mother.

I’ll tear open the boxes in the attic and take out my black pants, sixteen different pairs, each one with colored stitching. My closet would be full of halter tops, and I’d buy every color bandana imaginable to go with them. My arms would be covered with jelly bracelets or arm warmers, depending on the weather. And I’d pull out my show boxes of my bajillion pairs of sunglasses.

“Hey,” Josarian said, snapping me back into reality. “It’s Pantal...”

I looked to the door where the senior was standing. He was looking around the room, more than likely looking for sensei. I rolled my eyes. Josarian has had a crush on him since out freshman year.

Pantal was, as I said, a senior. And he was Sia’s cousin, to top it off. Pan had long black hair (almost to his waist) and really vived green eyes, almost like a panther. Oddly enough, he was known at The Panther at Okaniwa.

“Jo, you’ve been crushing on him for nearly three years,” I stated. “If you don’t ask him out, I’ll go and do it for you.”

“Naoko Hirumi, don’t you dare.”

I grinned. “You didn’t use my middle name so I know you weren’t serious!” Scrambling up, I ignored Jo’s protests and pranced over to Pantal.

He looked at me as I stopped in front of him.

“Hi, Naoko Hirumi, nice to meet you. Listen...” I completely ignored his confused look. “My friend Josarian over there wanted to ask you out for the past three years or so but is too chicken to ask you out, and I know for a fact that you’re bi...”I paused for a breath. “So will you go out with him?”

Pantal stared at me like I had grown an extra head. “Actually, I was wondering if you wanted to go with me to the Dir en Grey concert Friday night.”

I blinked. “Okay, one, I have a koibito, and he’s right over there,” I stated, pointing to Sia who was, once again, playing with my keychains. “Two, my brother and I have to attend a business dinner with our father on Friday. And three, I was asking if you would go out with Josarian!” I stamped my foot. “Why don’t you take him to the concert?!”

“Naoko Sakura Hirumi, get back over here!” Josarian shrieked. He can be such a girl sometimes.

“Tell you what. Since I’m with the school paper, if your band does the interview today, I’ll ask him out at lunch.” Pantal held his hand out.

“Deal!” I shook it and hugged him quickly. “We sit out under the Sakura tree in the courtyard. See you then!” I skipped happily back to my desk.

Josarian glared at me. “I hate you...”

Smiling smugly, I plopped down in Sia’s lap, stretching my legs out in front of me. “Fine, if that’s how you thank a person who just got you a date with Pantal Friday night to the Dir en Grey concert.”

I was suddenly glomped by the blue-haired teen, sending me, him, and Sia into a pile, poor Sia on the very bottom.

“Arigatou, Naoko-chan! Aishiteru!” Josarian huggled me tightly, smiling so wide I thought his face would split into a billion pieces.

“Itai, Jo-baka!” I tried to wriggle free of his grip, but only succeeding in grinding lightly against the boy below and above me.

Sia grunted. “Josarian, get off her so she’ll quit wiggling.” He gasped as I was jostled by Josarian scrambling away. “Damn you...Nao don’t get off for a while...”

Jo and I both blushed darkly. I sat up so Sia wouldn’t be flat on the floor and we adjusted ourselves into a more comfortable position.

“Aaaanyway...” Jazz said. “What else did you guys talk about?”

“We’re doing the school interview today at lunch, instead,” I answered, pulling my socks back up. Damn things. “Jo, act surprised when Pan asks you out.”

He nodded hyperly as he climbed back into his seat. “I will, I promise!”

Runako ran his fingers through Jazz’s hair as he thought. “You know...Everybody at the dinner will have their spouses, fiancees, and what not...Nao, do you think otou-san will let us bring Sia and Jazz?”

Jazz looked down at me. “Do you, Naoko?”

“I have no idea. Sia, cover me!” I dug my cell phone from my bag and dialed dad’s office number, while Sia leaned down a bit on my other side so sensei wouldn’t see what I was doing. “Konnichiwa, otou-san. Hai...Iie, we’re behaving. I, well, both of us were wondering that since your business partners will have their kois if we could bring Jazz and Sia to the dinner. Onegai, otou-san? Iie...I’ll take them shopping for something to wear.”

Solastian made a face at me and I tried not to burst into giggles. Runako kicked him the best he could with his condition and Solas looked down, doodling on the desk. I reached back and played with a bit og Sia’s hair that had come loose as I waited for Dad to make his decision.

“Alright, Naoko, you can bring them.” I made the victory sign to my brother, grinning. “But they had better behave and not be dressed like they usually are.”

“Hai, otou-san. Arigatou, aishiteru.” I hung up and tossed the phone back in my bag. “Jazz, Sia, we’re going shopping later!”

Jazz cheered and kissed Runako on the cheek. Sia smirked and kisses my neck lightly.

“Are you going to wear your lavender kimono?” His breath tickled my skin and I shivered.

“No, I’m getting something new.” I purred softly as he nuzzled my neck.

Our friends just ignored us.

(Author’s Notes: Hey everyone! I’m bak again with this lovely little story. Well, not so little here with me. I’ve already gotten up to chapter five written down and edited. All I have to do is type them up. But the thing is, I write more than I type these days, and my hand is hurt as well, so it will take me longer to update.

Anyway, the story does get better that this, I swear. Even I hate this chapter. But I only started it right before Christmas, so gimme a break. And I’ve been to the hospital twice since then (hence the hurt hand...stupid IVs) and school crap going on. But that’s where I get the ideas for this!

So, I really hope you’ll check back for new chapters and keep reading. I really have fun writing this and I want to know if anyone else likes it as well. And if you don’t, then pfft. So what? I’ll keep posting and maybe somebody else will like what I have to, erm, type. -laughs quietly- Well, that’s it for now. Oh yeah, everybody (Naoko, Runako, Jazz, Sia, Solastian, Josarian, and Pantal) are mine. More characters to come, and while the characters are purely mine and mine alone, names are borrowed -blows kisses to her oniisan and nee-chan- Thanks guys.

Off I go, to maybe type some more of this...-notices the huge pile of homework waiting- or not...Thanks for reading this and I hope y’all (yes I said y’all) come back for more! -waves happily- Bye now)