CHAPTER 1

Walking down the corridors. The bell just rang. My group's behind me. Then there, i saw Summer Grant. Talking with a bunch of kids. Her straight long hair hang loosely in her back, with her treasured guitar. She really loves bringing that around, like wherever she goes, she's having a concert and always ready for it. They're talking, laughing and giggling very loud and that's not allowed in corridors because they're disturbing classes.

I stopped infront of them when we happen to pass them. I cleared my throat. They stopped talking and looked at me.

"Minimize your voices please. You're disturbing classes." I ordered. Part of the student council duty.

"I'm going guys." Summer said and walk past me. She didn't even glance at me.

I cleared my throat again. "That's all, and go to your classes." I said to the rest. I continue on.

"Hey Skyler, do you have to do that all the time?" One of my friends tapped me at my shoulder.

"Yeah, part of the duty. And guys, I need to go. Principal called me." I said.

"Okay, see ya later."

"yeah, see you guys at lunch." I said then go to the principal's office.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"You're late." The principal said as i closed the door behind me.

"Sorry. Got to reprimand some students at the corridors." I walk to the front of his table. "What do you call me for?"

"I have a task for you. If you succeed then i'll let you pursue your dreams. And i'll help you to it."

"Really?" My mood brightened. "Surely I can do it. Whatever it is. Spill it out already." I got excited. "Wait, is it academical or not?"

"very academical."

"say it already."

"bring Summer Grant to the right path. Make her graduate with appropiate grades."

And my dream just fall out in front of me. The excitement fades in just a blink.

"that's ridiculous!" I snapped. "i can't do that. That's her life and i don't have anything to do with it. She have to fix it herself."

"you need to help her."

"she doesn't need help dad! She chooses her path and that leaves to her."

"fine, then don't expect you'll achieve your dreams. Stop dreaming."

"fine! I'll do it. But what if i already did everything and she's still lost?"

"that only means you haven't done everything you could. You just said you can do everything and this is something you can. So you can go already. Here's the late pass." I take the late pass and approached the door emmediately. "and wait!" He called as i was to get out of the room. I turn.

"what?"

"start as very soon as possible. This morning she just skipped class again. And i think she skipped this period too."

I didn't answer and just walk out.

How the hell would i do this task?! She doesn't even respect me and we haven't talk to each other, ever. She's the school's bad girl and i'm the good student here. I'm sure she knew me and i knew her. Only on the outside.

I scooted to my class already which is i'm thirty minutes late. I gave the late pass to the teacher. She just smiled at me. Everyone does. But not the bad ones.

As i sit myself at my position, i roamed my eyes around. Exactly, just as my dad said. She skipped this period. We're classmates in this class. What could she be doing when she skip her classes? Sleep? Work? Drugs? Drink? Party? Sex? Having a gig? Skate? Oh, as if i know. But sure it's one of them.

The period ended and there's no Summer Grant who showed. Students stood to get out first and rush to the cafeteria for lunch. I hear the teacher's sigh as i'm the last one who walk out of the classroom.

At the cafeteria..

As i walk in, many students giggled, most are girls. I ordered directly and walk to my circle of friends at the center table. We made hand greetings and tappings everytime seeing each other.

"what would Summer sing now?" Michael asked as i sit beside him.

"whatever it is, i'm sure it rocks!" Said Ryan across me.

"no man." Trim butted in. He's beside Ryan. "she's the one who rocks!" He said it with a rock 'n roll hand gesture.

"hey, you have a crush on her?" Asked Lilah at the right end of the table. She's in cheerleading. The captain.

"i don't. Just.. Um--okay. I have a crush on Summer." He admitted. "but don't tell this to anyone."

"but i heard it." She said in Trim's left ear. Summer just popped out of the blue. We didn't see her coming because we're busy talking. Everyone on our table looked at her.

She's showing on a smirk.

Trim turned red. He's like a tomato. I bit my tongue to resist myself in laughing. I nearly choked in what i'm eating.

"i'm not eavesdropping." Summer said. "just happen to pass when my ears caught it." She gave a small smile to Trim and walk away.

"whoa, what was that?" Jessica said in disbelief. She's in the right side of Trim.

"you just made a confession." Said Michael beside me.

Then i burst out laughing. "you've turn into a tomato." The rest of us laughed but Trim remained silent. Embarrassed.

"shut up guys." He mumbled.

We stop laughing when we heard someone singing. She's singing while strumming her guitar. Well, i think this is what almost everyone waits, just almost. It is like a session here once or twice a week every lunch. Summer's performance. She had that dynamic voice. That can be rock, rnb or anything. She's amazing, i admit it. But she just have this attitude and reputation as the school's bad girl.

Then i just remembered my task. My task! My damn task!

After the performance, everyone applaused and even whistled at her, except me and her antifans maybe. This is more like a foodcourt than a cafeteria.

Now, how should i start? Damn! I don't even know how to start. She started to exit the cafeteria. When she's out the door, i stood up directly. "i'm done, i need to go." I said to the group.

"where are you going man? We still have 20 minutes left." Said Trim, looking up at me.

"uh, just to talk to someone. I'll catch up you later." Then i ran out from the cafeteria.

Looking sideways to find her. And there she is. Eating with her own group of bad ones here in school. I haven't talk to her yet. Not yet. She's still busy eating. And flirting with her boyfriend i think, they're too close. But i approached to their area.

"excuse me, but P.D.A's strictly not allowed here. Very disgusting." I said to them. They looked at me. Summer stood up. She's done eating.

"then don't look." She stated. She's straightening her guitar and ready to leave. I try to stop her but one of her guy friends stood in my way. The one she's been kissing earlier.

"don't make a move, West." He said with a hard face.

"back off, Flint. Don't have to protect me. I'm not afraid of him." Summer said cooly behind him.

"you heard your girlfriend." I stated.

Summer pulled his arm and she stoods in his spot. I look down at her. She's my eye level. "i'm not his girlfriend." She said, narrowing her eyes.

"you're kissing earlier."

"can't friends kiss each other?"

"it's more disgusting now."

"i don't care." She said and walk out on me.

After that, i just realized how hard to fix her up. It's our first time talking and it turns out like that. Well, good start Skyler West. A very good start.