I looked at my schedule and smiled. Orchestra! I made my way through the crowded halls of Wind Brook High. It was my Sophomore year and I was already in the top Orchestra. You could say that's pretty amassing. To tell you the truth, it's nothing really. Seriously. I hardly did anything.
Mrs. Fishburn was at the orchestra room door welcoming the students back to school.
"Ah, Jennifer!" she cried as soon as her eyes spied me. "Good to have you back. Did you have a good summer?"
"Fine," I responded, blushing. Everything made me blush. The orchestra room looked the same. I smiled. Home.
"Alright!" Mrs. Fishburn boomed. Everyone took their seats. "Welcome back, ya'll..." and off she went. It was her First-day-of-school-correct-classroom-behavior talk. Fun.
"This is Chamber, may if remind you. We expect great things!" Then she trotted to her office for handouts.
Everyone immediately started talking. Everyone except me. I sat in my chair looking around at the happy group. Then I spotted a new kid. He was tall and handsome with Sandy colored hair that was cut neatly at his neck. I gaped at him. He was the most gorgeous thing I had ever seen! Then I remembered. Earth to Jenni! Earth to Jenni! Wake up! Look at who you are. Need I remind you?
Oh yeah.
I had no chance with a guy like that.
"Let's take out our instruments!" she cried. Yes! I was the first one at the violin rack. I couldn't help but grin as I ripped open my case, fixed my shoulder rest, cradled the violin between chin and collar bone, placed bow on string. Peace on mind. It's sound was rich. Automatically I zoomed into my favorite piece. The rhythm flowed beautifully. My left hand shifted back and forth with notes, and quivered as I did vibrato. My bow stroked with a velvet sound.
"She's such a show off," someone whispered. Then I realized who I was, where I was, and what I was doing. Everyone had their eyes on me. Some with unhappy faces. My cheeks blazed as I set my violin in my lap, and hung my head in shame. Tears snuck into my eyes. This was horrible. The one place I feel safe I don't even belong. People still thought I was weird.
"Wow, that was good," a voice said above me. I looked up to see him. He was smiling the most gorgeous smile.
"Thanks," I mumbled, my blush deepened. He stayed there as if waiting for me to say something else. "What instrument do you play?" The first thing that popped into my mind. What? Why would you ask that!
"Cello," he replied, simply. "Oh, got to run."