• CHAPTER ONE - Willow High School
    Catalina's heart is racing when her brother pulls into his parking spot. Having a senior for a brother has its perks. Even though she spent the summer at the school with the Marching Band, Cat can't help but be nervous to see everyone else! David laughs.
    "Hey, sis, its alright. You already know half the upper class. Trust me, you'll be fine." Walking through the halls there are so many familiar faces she cant help but relax.
    "CAT!! I MISSED YOU SOOOOOO MUCH!!!" Catalina's friend Michelle comes out of nowhere to tackle her.
    "Hi! I missed you too, I guess." She says, freeing herself from Michelle's death grip. "I only saw you, oh, yesterday."
    "Shuddup. OH!! LACEY WAIT UP!!" And she's off again. Cat cant help but laugh and think to herself, I love my friends, High school is gonna be great. You see she has the advantage of already knowing where everything is, unlike half the freshman class scrambling around with maps. David gives her a nudge in the back and takes off to find his own friends to hang out with before homeroom. Catalina turns and sees none other than Josh.
    Josh is Catalina's 'boyfriend'. The thing is he didnt call her all summer, and honestly Cat is still a little miffed. Spotting her, he starts to come over, but Cat ducks to the side and hurries to the band room, leaving him in the dust.
    Safely avoiding him, and Cat has no idea why she should be the one running away,Cat stops for a breather.
    "Well you look positively guilty." Cat jumps, her heart pounding. "WHOAH!" T.J backs up pretending to be cower from her as she slaps him playfully.
    "What was that for?! You scared the crap out of me!"
    "Well, you shouldn't be hiding in the band room if you don't want to be scared." Cat has to admit he's right. The members of the marching band love to play pranks on each other.
    "Yeah, well you shouldn't be sneaking around behind people."
    "That's probably true. Wells. I've gotta run, but I'll see you at practice?"
    "Course. Hey, don't we have band class today?"
    "No tomorrow, Today's P.E. See ya around."
    "Bye." I need to hurry up and break up with Josh, Cat reminds herself. She has had a crush on T.J ever since she moved to Willow in the sixth grade. The bell rings, snapping Cat out of her reverie, and she goes to her first class, gym with Mrs. Rolls.
    The usual first day routine follows: getting the loads of paperwork to be signed by parents, seeing which friends you have classes with, and which annoying bitchy populars you get stuck with, and so on. Cat drifts from Gym, to Drama 1 with Mrs. Wood, then to English with Mr. Scott, and finally to Algebra 1 with Ms. Wilson.
    At the end of the day, Catalina meets up with David before Band practice, and Marissa is complaining, again.
    "I don't see why you can't just let me drive the f-cking car home and pick you guys up later!"
    "Because it's my car, and Dad said so. Besides, we all know you're not gonna remember to come back."
    "Just gimme the keys, Stinky!" 'Stinky' is what a bully on the bus started calling Dave his freshman year, because Dave forgot deodorant on the first day of school, and he had gym first period. Marissa and Ally, Cat's older and younger sisters, never let him live it down.
    "For that, NO. Oh, hey Cat." They both spot Cat at the same time. Marissa turns on her heels and heads towards the bus lane. David simply smiles and says, "Well, that'll give me hell when we get home." And he turns and leads the way to the band room.
    Band is Cat and David's escape. Both are talented and dedicated. David marches sousaphone, but plays tuba in the concert band and trumpet in the jazz band, while Cat plays alto sax in all three. For the next three hours all of Cat's energy is put towards marching, learning her spots and memorizing music perfectly.
    At last the first day of school comes to a close. Cat takes her time putting away her instrument and chatting with friends as they wait for their rides to pick them up. David of course is waiting in the car.
    "Hey, you were good out there today." It's T.J. Why is it he can always make her pulse quicken and her mind freeze, her mouth dry out and her voice strain.
    "Uh, thanks. You too." Cat manages to squeak out. He chuckles and waves as he climbs into his mom's SUV. Damn that boy and his gorgeous green eyes and melting smile.
    "YO! Dolly Daydream, get your little but in this car! We're late." Sure enough, just about all of the other 367 members of the band were gone and the conductors were impatient for everyone else to leave. Cat hops into the car , buckles, and feels her phone vibrate. She glances at the caller I.D. Josh Pepper. Cat clicks the ignore button, and daydreams about emerald eyes.