My morning alarm was an extremely unwelcomed interruption to my sweet sleep.

At least when I am sleeping I can be someplace other than here in this house, in this town. At least asleep I don't have to feel this weight on my chest that I've been carrying since the moment I found out my brother was gone. I'm not sure how people get through this. Does the pain go away eventually? Or am I just supposed to wait until it just feels normal to be in pain?

I unlock my phone, silencing the evil little demon, then reluctantly get out of bed. Today is my first day at SHS. Woohoo. Go tigers, or bears, or what the flip ever this school's mascot is. I honestly couldn't care less. I probably attended a total of two whole football games at my old school, and that had only been because it was homecoming. I pulled on my trusty white denim skinny jeans and yanked a blue satin quarter-length-sleeve shirt over my head.  I opened my closet searching for the box that would have all of my shoes in it. I was happy that my box of converses happened to be the first box I popped open. I pulled out the blue high-tops and laced them up and headed for the bathroom.

I'm usually pretty easy to get ready. I don't care all that much, so that makes the process much shorter than other girls. Sometimes I don't even bother putting make-up on, or even brushing my hair. That's why god made beanies after all. Today though, I should at least pretend to give a crap. I pulled my hair-tie from my hair, letting the bun fall out and then turned my head over and shook out my sandy brown hair. I flipped it back up and let it fall in big, loose, waves around my shoulders. I sprayed some dry shampoo into the roots then applied some hairspray. I wasn't really feeling the make-up today but I put on some black eye-liner and a matte lipstick anyway.

As I walked down the stairs I could already hear my mother and father bickering. They seriously didn't even make it a day. "Cadence honey." My mom called in an overly chipper voice for 7 in the morning. "There is breakfast in here for you."

"I'll pass on the burnt toast mom, I'm late for school." I yelled back as I made a beeline for the front door. I wasn't even almost late, but I could not risk one of them thinking they should drive me to school. I would rather walk any day than to be stuck in a small space with them again. Yesterday was more than enough mom and dad time for this girl for a long while.

The walk to school took less than 10 minutes. I don't really mind school. Maybe I'm a nerd or whatever, but I make good grades, and I enjoy studying and learning new things. I've been an honor roll student since kindergarten, so I'm not overly worried about the school time itself. What I don't like is the people. I hate getting caught up in drama and pathetic little teenager junk. My friends back home used to call me mom sometimes because I get so annoyed by teens even though I am only 17 myself.

I walk up the front steps of the school and look around for a main office. I follow the signs down the sidewalk until I find a tiny little building boasting a proud 'SHS Offices' sign over the door. The door creaks loudly as I open it and I look around to see that the room is really no more than a glorified closet. There are two desks with fat little women sitting at them and a wall of file cabinets. Aside from that there is only about a half dozen inspirational quote posters littering the walls. I toyed with the idea of asking one of the women how they can stand to be cooped up in this room all day and not go skeeballs crazy but I decide against it. "Hi, I am Cadence James." I announced myself looking between the two women to see which one I should be going to.

The little round white headed woman on the left perks up in her chair. "Oh goody, our new student." She smiles warmly at me and I walk over to her. "We are just so excited to have you here Ms. James. It's not very often that we get transfers, especially not from all the way in California." She gushed. "How are you liking Swanford so far? Isn't it just the quaintest little place?"

I played nice with her since she seemed to be a genuinely happy person. It was still too early for that kind of perkiness for me though so as soon as I got my schedule and map I hightailed it out of there before she could talk my ear off. I had to stifle a laugh when I looked at my map. What was the point in even handing these things out? I have been to clubs bigger than this whole school before. What I didn't find funny was that my first period class is math. I may like school, but math and I still don't get along. I wasted as much time as I could on my way to class but it didn't do any good. I was still way too early. I walked out to a picnic table on the grass and pulled out my phone and headphones. Blue Foundation's 'Eyes on Fire' blasted into my ears and I began to relax a little. Music is my favorite thing in this life. I can't think of any other thing that can mellow out my emotions the way music can. It moves you, it's so powerful. The right song can make you have a perfect day.

I don't think even music is strong enough though to make this day not suck. After a few minutes other people finally started arriving. I tried to brush off the fact that basically every single person I saw stared at me like I was some kind of freak show. I grabbed my bag and walked back over to the classroom. I didn't want to be the first one in, but I certainly didn't want to be last either. I handed the woman in the front of the room my paperwork and she pointed out which seat wasn't taken. Starting a new school is bad enough, but starting a new school in the middle of the year is even worse. The last thing I want to do is piss someone off by sitting in the seat they have had all year. 

I got as comfortable in my desk as was possible and practiced keeping my eyes down, trying not to draw anymore unwanted attention than I was already getting. I pulled out a notebook and started sketching.

"That's really good." A familiar voice said over me.

I looked up and saw the guy, Garrett, who I had met briefly yesterday. "Thanks." I said simply and then went back to it.

Garrett sat down in the desk next to mine and leaned over to get a better look at my paper. "I wish I could do something like that." He commented kindly.

I looked over at him. "Seems to me you have your own talents." I said eying his obnoxious orange and red letterman's jacket. "Which team are you on?"

He followed my gaze to his jacket and then smiled that awesome full face smile. "Yeah I guess I do." He laughed. "Football. I'm the quarterback."

I rolled my eyes. "Of course you are." I said.

"Hey, now what is that supposed to mean?" He asked feigning offence.

I couldn't help a little smile creep onto my lips. "Nothing. Really, I think it's cool." I lied.

"So you like football?" He perked up.

"Not even remotely." I replied.

Garrett brought his hand to his chest. "Ouch." He said dramatically

I like this guy. "Sorry, I just never really got into it."

Garrett took his hand off of his chest and held it out to me. "I'm Garrett." He said. "We haven't officially met."

I took his hand, shaking it once. "Cadence, but I prefer Cade."

"I like that." He smiled still holding onto my hand.

"Two minute warning." The teacher called.

Garrett let go of my hand suddenly like I had shocked him or something and turned his head to the front of the room.

Just as I was starting to think that maybe math class wouldn't be so bad, the snarky princess from the boutique had walked in the door. Her beady brown eyes were narrowed in our direction. Natasha stopped to talk to another girl who was sitting at the front of the class and then she sauntered over to sit in the desk on the opposite side of Garrett. They exchanged a heated glance and then she turned it on me.

I don't know what I did to tick this chick off but I wish she'd just get over it. Natasha pointedly rolled her eyes at me and then crossed her long uncovered legs under her desk. Seriously I don't know how she isn't getting in trouble for dress code. The girls back in California dress in more fabric than that. I turned my eyes to the front of the class but I could still hear her talking to Garrett.

"Do you think Carrianne is going to be very happy to hear that you are schmoozing with the new trash?" She asked him in a whisper.

"What I do is none of your business so back off Natasha." He said back.

"Actually, as my best friend's boyfriend, you are my business." She snapped back. "Don't think I won't tell her."

"Don't think I actually care." He snapped right back.

I had to turn my eyes just a little to see that they were in the middle of a glaring match.

"Ms. Bekham, Mr. McDuffie?" The teacher singled them out. "Do you mind saving your little spat for after my class please? Some people are trying to listen in here."

"So sorry Mrs. Slesser. It won't happen again." Natasha apologized. Such a little suck up.

After what felt like an ungodly long 30 minutes the bell finally rang, releasing me to my next class. "Later trash." Natasha called to me loudly as she walked out. The other students in the room looked back to me with shocked looks on their faces.

Yeah, this first day is going just great.