September 1st

Penny: Haha very funny

Mandy: I'm just sayin. New school. Anything could happen.

Penny: Well I'm not gonna meet "Prince Charming"

Mandy: Its a high school for the arts! "Prince Charming" could be there

Penny: Definitely not

Mandy: Bah! youre impossible

Penny: just realistic

Penny: gotta run ttyl

Mandy: l8r sk8r

I tossed my phone onto my bed and quickly jumped into the shower. I washed and conditioned my hair as fast as possible, not bothering with anything else besides face wash. I dried off quickly and put oil in my hair. I brushed my teeth and rushed into my room. I flung my damp towel onto the back of the chair in front of my vanity and pulled on a bra and underwear. I slipped a tank top on and sat in the chair. I clipped my bangs back. Clicking on the light to my mirror, I did my makeup, neatly winging my eyeliner and finishing it off with pink lip gloss.

I stood up and flipped my hair over and blow-dried it most of the way. I brushed it up into a neat ponytail and pulled my bangs down. I decided that my glasses would better suit my plain makeup so, I took my contacts out and put my glasses on. I glanced at myself in my full-length mirror and shrugged. I pulled on a plain sundress and pulled a denim jacket over top. I slung my backpack over my shoulder, grabbed my phone, a pair of sandals and my keys and dashed out of my room and into the kitchen.

"Well good morning to you too," My mom said, stirring her coffee. I opened the fridge and grabbed an apple juice and a bagel.

"Sorry mom I gotta run." I said. I held the bagel in my mouth and pulled my sandals on.

I sat in my car for a solid five minutes. Backpack in the passenger seat, apple juice in hand. My phone still in the dock. Breathe from In The Heights played through the speakers. I rolled my eyes and unplugged my phone. "Mmm, yeah, thanks Lin." I mumbled, grabbing my belongings and climbing out of my car. I let out a breath and entered the school. Which, by the way, was massive. The main office smelled of printer paper and old lady perfume. I followed one of the three secretaries back to one of the vice principal's office.

"You must be Penelope," He said cheerily. He sat behind a massive desk, which was littered with papers.

I nodded, "Yep, that's me."

"Okay well I'm Mr. Honch, I'm the vice principal for juniors and seniors." He said. "Now, I don't have your schedule or anything, I just like to meet with new students." He tapped a pencil against his desk, "Your last name is," He trailed off, obviously wanting me to fill in the blank.

"Takahashi." I answered.

"Takahashi." He said back. "Right your counseler would be Mr. Gibbs." He said glancing at a sheet of paper. He punched in a number on the phone on his desk and held the receiver to his ear. "Yeah, Matthew, I have a new student, Takahashi Penelpoe." he said. "Okay I'll send her out." he said. he put the phone back in its place. "Alright dear, Mr. Gibbs will be over from the guidance office in 15 minutes. You can wait out in the main office." He smiled at me.

I nodded, "Okay thank you." I tightened my grip on my backpack strap and headed out of his office, stopping before I was completely out the door. "Oh, it was nice meeting you." I said smiling.

He nodded and I made my way back out to where the secretaries were. A short guy with dark hair sauntered in. He had a pink slip in one hand and a book in the other. "Mr. Dawson." One secretary said, "Sit." She pointed at a row of chairs along one wall.

"Don't have to tell me twice, Susan." He said, dropping a worn out backpack on the floor and flopping into a chair.

"Don't call me Susan."

"You love me." The boy smiled.

"Just be quiet." She said back.

I cautiously sat in a chair, leaving one seat between me and "Mr. Dawson."

I set my bag on the ground and opened it up, pulling out my phone. A few loose papers came out along with it and fluttered to the floor. I sighed and picked up the few that were in reach. The boy quickly picked up the rest and handed me them in a messy stack. I felt my face get hot with embarrassment and I took the mess of papers, shoving them carelessly back into my bag. "Thanks," I said quietly.

"No way, you have a 3ds!" The kid said excitedly, reaching over and pulling the black ds out of my bag. The papers came out of my bag again and I quickly picked them up and shoved them in my bag. I grabbed my ds back from the kid and shoved it in my bag as well, zipping it up quickly to prevent further spillage of my belongings. I definitely didn't want my collection of mint wrappers and long lost lipsticks on the floor. "Hey!" He said as it took the ds back. "So you play pokemon too, huh?" he asked, smiling at me. He reached over to his bag and pulled a blue ds out. "Glad I'm not the only one." He smiled and dropped the system back into his bag. "Though I'm more of an Omega Ruby guy." He commented, referring to the Alpha Sapphire version of the game in my ds.

I just rolled my eyes in response.

"I'm Charles by the way." He held out his hand. I scrunched up my nose and felt my eyebrows draw together. "Yeah, I don't know why I offered to shake your hand," He laughed, putting his hand back in his lap. He leaned back in the chair, stretching his legs out.

"My name's-" I was cut off before I could finish.

"Penelope," A masculine voice chimed in from behind me.

"Yeah how'd you know?" I asked, turning to look at the person.

"I'm Mr. Gibbs." He said. "I figured you were Penelope because Charlie here isn't a new face in this office."

I smiled and looked back at Charles. He shrugged. "The teachers here don't get my artistry." He sighed. His hands were behind his head as he leaned back in his chair.

"Okay let's go get you set up for classes." Mr. Gibbs said. I nodded and stood up.

"Later Penelope," Charles said. I turned back and gave him a small wave as we left the main office.

"Okay, so that settles your schedule." Mr. Gibbs said leaning back in his office chair. "You'll start with second period choir in five minutes." He said. He stood up and I followed. He handed me a copy of my schedule and lead me out of the guidance office.

I didn't necessarily walk quickly to second period. Just fast enough that if I was in the wrong place, I might have time to find where I should have been. Though I just stood outside the choir room for five minutes, looking stupid.

"Ahhaha, new kid!" Someone laughed from behind me. I quickly turned around to see who was laughing. A girl with long hair was standing behind me, a tiny pink backpack slung over her shoulder. "I'm Jasmine." She said. "I'm assuming you have choir next."

I nodded, "Yeah, I'm Penelope." I said.

"Penelope." She repeated, testing my name.

"But you can call me Penny." I said quickly.

"Okay Penny. A word of advice, don't get caught on your phone in choir. Z will blow a fuse." She said. "And never chew gum."

I nodded and laughed a little, "Noted." The bell rang and students began to flood the halls. I followed Jasmine into the choir room. A few kids sat in the risers that filled most of the room. It wasn't a large choir room, especially for a school for the arts.

"Hey Ms. Z," Jasmine called as she plopped onto the risers, "Newbie."

A young woman came out of a room connected to the main choir room. "Ohhh," she took my hand and literally twirled me around. "Nice, nice," She said, "Part?"

"Oh, alto mostly." I said. I pushed my glasses up, "Soprano too I just like alto."

"I like you," she said, "altos sit over there." She pointed to the far side of the risers. A few girls sat in a cluster, facing each other. Two boys were with them.

"Okay thanks." I said. I walked over and noticed a bunch of bags on the floor. I set mine with them and approached the group of kids.