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The Adventures of a Teenage Highschooler: Final Semester
Episode 1: “Transfer Students”
Dear Diary,
It’s been a week since the beginning of the Spring Semester. So many things have changed in the last half-year, and not all of them for the better.
Egor is still a humungous pain in the a**, but the “Snob Squad” is no more. It’s really kind of strange seeing him stomp through the hallways all by his lonesome. It seems just only yesterday when he had his flunkies surrounding him after every period…
Miley and Jake are happy together. They bicker, but they truly do care about each other. They’re talking of going on tour during the summer; Miley seems really excited. Jake is a spectacular manager and I’m sure they’ll be successful.
Marina and Cara mostly hang out with Sam and Nathan now. They don’t like each other—you know, “like” like—but it appears that the four of them can never thinking up ways to prank Egor. I truly fear for society with that group on the loose.
Joe and Alicia are going strong, despite the fact that Joe keeps drooling at every girl he sees. I can’t understand how Alicia puts up with him; she is more patient than I am.
As for me…I am a shell of what I once was. Life seems to be grayer now than it did before. There’s a simple explanation for that: Francesca transferred. She’s completing her senior year in Maine.
She and I…we were close. She understood me more than my other friends did, partly because she is the only other person to have read your pages. But we were so attuned to each other; it was like we were destined to be together.
At the End of Semester Dance, we did share a kiss…but the relationship ended the next day when she told me the news. Now…my heart is shattered, and I don’t think I can pick up the pieces.
Among the other students who left were Derek, Lily, and Oliver. Derek I’ll probably miss the most; he was always up for a prank or a game. He was a barrel of laughs, the light of our little group.
There is one variable to this year: rumor has it that we have a busload of transfer students coming. Also, there’s apparently a Karaoke Contest at the end of the year, on Prom Night.
There’s first bell. Have to go now. I’ll see you soon.
* * *
Gregory Henry slipped his leather-bound diary into his backpack. He was sitting on the concrete steps of East California High School. It was a perfect California day: not a single cloud was in the sky as the sun shone.
He sighed heavily and tossed his black hair, feeling the wind blow through his strands. He knew that he was pushing it; he had already been late twice this semester, and his teachers were getting more and more annoyed. If he kept this up, he would probably start gathering detentions.
Greg shouldered his heavy load and made to enter the double doors, but stopped as he heard the screeching of a bus behind him.
Just as he turned around, the doors rattled open and people began disembarking. There were a total of four bodies: one female, three male. But something was wrong; there was no way these people could be here.
The female was, simply put, stunning: she had black-brown hair that cascaded down her shoulders. She wore black short sleeves and denim jeans, and a leather jacket was draped over her shoulder. Her skin seemed pale against her clothes, but they only enhanced her beauty.
The shortest male had curly black hair and his face seemed cheerful, despite the lack of a smile. He wore a white dress shirt that was unbuttoned as to reveal a white shirt underneath. He wore blue jeans and carried a black trunk in his left hand.
The tallest of the group also had curly black hair, but he had sideburns to match. He seemed overly serious, but his eyes glinted with mischief. He had a guitar slung across his back.
The final boy lacked the curly hair; instead, his black hair was wavy. He too looked serious as he scanned his surroundings. He also carried a guitar case.
Greg just stood rooted to the spot, gawking at the new arrivals. I can’t believe it…
Four pairs of eyes locked onto him. “Hey,” the wavy-haired teenager called, “is this East California High?”
Greg slowly descended the steps, his eyes still trained on the three teenage boys. “No way…” he breathed, “you’re the Jonas Brothers!”
The youngest boy—Nick Jonas—shifted his feet. The tallest—Kevin—shrugged guiltily. “You know us,” Joe Jonas, the wavy-haired teenager, observed, “but we don’t know you.”
Greg started and held out his hand. “Gregory Henry, senior. I’m guessing you four are the new transfer students?”
The girl nodded. “We’re supposed to be greeted by the principal,” she replied.
Greg turned his gaze to her, and his jaw dropped. Seeing her up close, her identity was apparent. “Demi Lovato?!”
Demi grinned. “Nice to meet you too”
Greg shook his head, still dazed. “Man, first Miley, now you four…”
Nick gave a start. “Miley’s here?”
Greg nodded. “She’s actually one of my best friends.”
“When can we meet the other students?” Kevin asked.
Greg slapped his head as he remembered his predicament. “Shoot, I forgot! First period’s started! I’ve gotta go!” He turned to go, but Demi grabbed his shoulder.
“Easy,” she soothed. “We’ll cover for you.” She turned to her friends. “Right guys?”
Joe nodded, and Nick replied “It wasn’t your fault that you’re late.”
Greg breathed a sigh of relief and led the group into the school.
* * *
At lunch, Greg was cornered by his best friends Joe, Sam, and Nathan. “What is it guys?” Greg asked slightly testily, his sandwich halfway to his mouth. “I’m kind of busy…”
“We need to talk” Nathan interrupted firmly. Joe sat across from Greg, while Sam and Nathan covered Greg’s flanks.
Greg dropped his meal dejectedly. “What about?”
“You” Joe replied pointedly. “You’re different this term.”
“Ever since Francesca left, you’ve been distancing yourself from everybody” Sam added.
“It’s like you’re cutting yourself off from us,” Nathan added, “We’re your friends; we can help you through this.”
“Through what?” Greg asked, feigning confusion.
“Greg, don’t give us that crap,” Joe shot back, “you’re heartbroken, and you should be! You’re girlfriend just left you and moved away! It’s normal to act like this!”
“But cutting yourself off isn’t solving anything,” Sam continued. “It’s making it worse.”
“Miley, Cara, Marina…they’re all worried about you.” Nathan put in.
“I’m fine!” Greg growled. “Once Francesca comes back…”
“She’s NOT!!” Joe shouted, attracting stares from other students. “She has left you for good! She probably already has a new boyfriend by now!”
Greg shook his. “She wouldn’t do that!” he protested.
“How do you know?!” Joe demanded. “You can’t know that! She has moved on, Greg. It’s time for you to grow up and accept that!”
Greg stood up, his eyes fixed on the table. “I have to go…” he muttered, trying to hold back the tears. “Gotta get ready for next period.”
Nathan opened his mouth, but Greg had already left.
Sam sighed. “At least we tried.”
Joe shook his head. “This is eating him alive,” he muttered. “How can he live through it?”
“He’s gonna fall apart soon,” Nathan agreed. “We just need to make sure we’re there to pick up the pieces.”
* * *
Greg punched the wall in the hallway, finally letting the tears fall. Slumping against the wall and sliding down to the floor, he stared aimlessly at the opposite wall, his mind conjuring painful images of him and Francesca.
I can’t stay here… he realized. It is too painful. All my memories of Francesca are here. Everything we shared…we shared it here. We met here. We said goodbye here. Our whole history is HERE. I need to get out, just run away from this…nightmare.
Besides, maybe running away wouldn’t be all bad. I’d get to go to Maine and be with her again. I need to be with her, he realized. I can’t live without her…I love her…
Surrounded by these tormenting thoughts, Greg distantly heard a melodious voice. Raising his head, he looked around and saw a slightly open door in front of him, which led to the auditorium.
Struggling back to his feet, he stumbled forward and pushed open the door, revealing the spacious room filled with maroon cushioned seats descending towards a stage, upon which was a piano. Demi was sitting at the bench, her fingers effortlessly gliding over the keys.
Greg silently took a seat in the back row, arms folded as he stared down. Demi began to sing again:
“This is real, this is me
I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be now
Gonna let the light shine on me!
Now I felt who I am
There’s no way to hold it in
No more hiding who I want to be…
This is me.”
Demi played a couple high notes before ceasing. Greg clapped enthusiastically; her voice had banished any sense of sadness from his mind. He even had momentarily forgotten Francesca.
Demi looked up in surprise. “Greg…I didn’t know you were there!” she exclaimed, rising from the bench and walking towards him
Greg rose and walked down towards her. “I just popped in,” he replied. “You were amazing!”
Demi blushed and looked away, “Thanks…” she muttered.
Greg smiled. “Where did that song come from? Is it an original?”
Demi looked at him again and nodded. “Yes. It’s a promise to forever be myself. I strayed from that once, and I’ll never do it again.”
Greg nodded wisely. “I know what you mean. How do you like the school?”
“It’s so big!” Demi exclaimed. “My old school is half the size of this one! I’m getting lost all the time!”
“What about Joe, Nick, and Kevin?” Greg asked curiously.
Demi rolled her eyes. “Nick is hanging out with Miley, Joe is running away from his fans, and Kevin is fiddling with his guitar.” She snorted derisively. “Some help they are”
“I could…you know, show you around…” Greg offered quietly, dropping his gaze to the floor.
Demi opened her mouth, but then a snide voice cut in:
“Well, well, well…you’ve recovered fast.”
Greg spun around and glared at the blonde arrival. “Egor, shut up and leave me alone”
Egor smirked and continued to descend the steps. “Ooh, someone’s touchy today!”
Greg clenched his fists and scowled. “I’m warning you, Egor…”
“I thought you were obsessing over Francesca?” Egor continued, completely ignoring the threat. “Have you finally realized that b**** has dumped you?”
Greg made to leap forward, but Demi grabbed him first. “Don’t” she warned him. “He isn’t worth it.”
Greg let out a breath and began walking past Egor…then spun around and delivered a right hook.
Egor stumbled back, hit a chair, and fell over onto the aisle, blood pouring from his nose. Greg was massaging his hand and panting heavily. “Don’t…ever…call her that again!” he spat. “Next time, I’ll do worse!”
Egor looked up at him in fear, knowing that he was completely at his target’s mercy…
“What’s all this then?”
Greg looked up and saw a bald headed, bespectacled man at the door. It was Mr. Webb, the principal.
Egor leapt to his feet. “Greg attacked me!” he whined, gesturing to his nose.
Greg sighed and began walking towards the stern-looking principal.
* * *
Mr. Webb sat behind his desk and motioned Greg to do the same. However, Greg remained standing, still favoring his right hand.
Mr. Webb sighed. “What am I going to do with you, Mr. Henry?”
Greg stared straight ahead and didn’t answer.
“You’ve ditched five classes, you are being flippant and rude to the faculty, and now you’ve attacked another student.” Mr. Webb held up a hand to forestall any excuse. “I know Egor provoked you, I know he’s a pain in the a**, but that doesn’t mean you can punch him.”
“He insulted Francesca” Greg growled. “I wasn’t going to let him get away with it”
Mr. Webb looked at his pupil curiously, and then nodded in recognition. “That’s it: Francesca.”
“Sir?”
“You miss her” Mr. Webb sighed and mopped his brow. “I understand how you must feel right now: abandoned, alone, angry, sad…but that’s life. We all must accept change.”
“But I love her!” Greg protested.
Mr. Webb smiled sadly. “Unfortunately, life doesn’t stop, even for love.”
Greg opened his mouth, and then snapped it shut.
Mr. Webb took out a slip of paper and began writing. “I’m giving you the rest of the week off, for medical reasons.”
“I’m not sick”
“Your hand is swelling” Mr. Webb noted. Greg glanced down and noticed the growing purple color. It did hurt quite a lot.
“This is your last warning,” Mr. Webb continued as he handed Greg the pass. “The next time you break school policy, you shall be officially suspended. Clear?”
Greg nodded; this sick leave was a disguised suspension. He was toeing a fine line. He had to make sure he stayed on the right side. “Yes sir”
* * *
Greg slammed his locker door shut and locked it. He had taken his school things out and had managed to cram them into his backpack. He groaned as he shouldered the load. Why, oh why didn’t I buy one with wheels? Greg wondered.
“Clearing out your things, Henry?”
Greg snarled and turned to face Egor. “Actually, no. I’m getting the rest of the week off for medical reasons”
Egor snorted. “You mean you got suspended.”
“No. I mean I need to see a doctor for my hand” Greg held up his appendage, which was now twice its normal size, a purplish-black color, and throbbing horribly. “How’s your nose holding up?”
Egor snarled as he gently fingered his bruised nose. It too looked swollen. “You’ll pay for that”
“Threatening a student, Egor?” a new voice asked.
Egor turned, and Greg looked past him and smiled as he saw Demi and a brown haired, brown eyed female. The latter wore blue jeans, a pink tank top, and her hair was in a ponytail. “Hey Demi, Miley.”
Miley Cyrus grinned and fingered the Hall Monitor badge that was pinned to her shirt. “Egor, I’m going to have to report this if you don’t clear out”
Egor narrowed his eyes and stormed off, making sure to flip off Greg as he did so.
Greg sighed. “Such manners”
The two girls approached him. “You okay?” Miley asked.
He shrugged. “My hand hurts”
Miley didn’t smile. Instead, she searched his eyes worriedly. “You know you can talk to me about anything, right?”
“I know, don’t worry” Greg soothed.
Miley grasped his uninjured arm for a second before walking off, leaving Demi and Greg alone.
“How come you’re here?” Greg asked.
Demi shrugged. “Funny thing, actually. Apparently my parents called and asked me to come home and stay there for the week.”
“And where is ‘home’?”
“About a block from here” Demi replied.
The two began walking towards the double doors and they naturally fell into step. “You want me to walk with you?” Greg asked.
“Actually, you’re going to be staying with me” It wasn’t a request.
“What?!” Greg yelped, coming to a dead stop.
Demi turned and looked him in the eye. “Mr. Webb talked to my parents, and he thinks it’s a good idea for you to stay with us.”
“My parents—”
“Mr. Webb has already cleared it with them” Demi interrupted before cracking a smile. “They say that you are a perfect gentleman and that I shouldn’t be worried about you making any unwanted advances on me.”
“Oh, that’s lovely,” Greg grumbled, “did they break out the baby pictures again, like they did with Francesca?” After completing his sentence, Greg snapped his mouth shut and looked away.
Demi maneuvered herself so that she was looking him in the eye. “What happened between you and Francesca? Everybody keeps talking who the two of you were inseparable, how you were perfect for each other…but then everybody tells me that it’s your story to tell.”
Greg didn’t answer for a few minutes, then began “Francesca was—is—an amazing girl. I love her with all my heart and soul. I thought…I thought she cared too” Greg’s eyes began to water and his shoulders shook with suppressed sobs. “But now…she’s gone”
Demi, upon hearing her new friend’s lost voice, did the first thing she could think of: she wrapped her arms around him and pulled him into an embrace. “Let it out, Greg. Don’t keep this bottled up, let it all out.”
Greg tried to retain his composure, but he eventually flung aside all pretenses and cried uncontrollably into Demi’s shoulder. With each tear, he felt the weight on his heart become smaller and smaller until it became manageable. Then the tears stopped, but the two still held each other.
“Thank you,” he muttered, feeling slightly embarrassed to have poured out his sorrows onto a person he hardly knew.
Demi rubbed his back soothingly and whispered, “Greg, I know I cannot replace that lost space inside your heart, but I swear that I will find a way to mend your shattered soul. I will make sure you feel happiness again.”
* * *
Unknown to them, a group of four was watching them from afar. “Wow…” Joe breathed.
“I never knew he had that in him” Sam muttered in awe.
“No wonder he punched Egor!” Nathan exclaimed. "He needed to release all those emotions!"
Miley was staring at the entwined couple. “You know, this may be perfect for Greg.”
Joe glanced at the famous singer. “How do you figure?”
“He needs female companionship” Miley explained.
“You’re a girl” Sam noted.
Miley shook his head. “No, not the kind he needs. I’m just his best friend. He needs someone who can be an anchor and a beacon, someone who can keep him sane. Demi is the perfect one for that role.”
The four resumed their silent vigil until Greg and Demi dropped the hug and walked out the double doors. When they clanged shut, Joe blurted out “Bet you fifty bucks they start dating by the end of the year”
Sam and Nathan rolled their eyes and, as one, slapped Joe upside the head.
End of Episode