To save a life: Chapter 1
To save a life
Life is hard enough as a teenager. I think we all know that by now. Especially through middle school. Which is where our story begins. In a small city in California, called Blackvale...
First day of school. At a new school. Meeting new people, having new teachers, and trying to find your way around a new campus. As if school wasn't stressful enough, the education gods in the sky had to go ahead and make it worse.
I woke up to a rude awakening from my alarm, feeling crappy. Normal for a school day. I reached over and switched off the infernal beeping device. Sitting up in bed, I groggily looked around my room, which looked like a war zone. Just the way I liked it. I went through my normal school routine of grabbing clothes, then going for a long hot shower.
By the time I finished my shower, I was mostly awake. I took a look in the mirror. I wasn't exactly sexy (or whatever the girls were calling it now) but I wasn't too bad either. I was 6'2", with shoulder length black hair and piercing green eyes. I wasn't a body builder or anything, but I had a fairly toned body. Overall, I was happy with my looks.
Deciding that I looked acceptable for school, I went downstairs for some breakfast. I was greeted by the heavenly smell of frying bacon and eggs. Sitting at the kitchen table, a plate of both was placed in front of me. "Eat up sweetie" my mother said, way too cheerfully for how early it was. How she managed to be so bubbly was beyond reason.
Before I knew it, my food was gone, and I was sitting in my mothers car on the way to school. "So, nervous about your first day back?" she asked.
"Not really, but I feel bad for all the poor 7th graders. They have to get used to a whole new campus." I replied
"True" she said. "We're here. Have a nice day. I'll be home by 8"
"Alright mom. See you tonight" I said, getting out of the car. 'That was a quick ride. Heh, I must be tired' I thought.
As my mom drove off, I was hit with that feeling that every kid hates. The back to school feeling. No more late summer nights out with friends.
Shedding a mental tear for the death of fun, I made my way to the office to pick up my class schedule and all the other useless papers that the schools education budget is wasted on.
Accomplishing that, I went to my homeroom. Classroom 20. A mixed class. Wonderful. I get to spend the first hour of every morning with a bunch of 7th graders, as well as the already annoying 8th graders.
Opening the door, I could instantly tell that this year was going to be interesting. We had the jocks, the preps, and the emo's already grouping together. I spotted my best friend Terry, a Fennec Fox sitting with the emo's, so I decided to join him.
"Morning Terry" I said to him, making him jump
"Oh, h-hey man. What's up?" he said
"Not much. Just got acquainted with the new, ultra bitchy secretary. What's up your end?"
"N-not much" he said
"Dude, are you OK? You seem reeeally off" I said
"I just haven't been sleeping enough lately. I-I'm fine, really" he said
I knew he was lying. Something had to be seriously wrong for him to be acting like this. He was normally such a happy person.
"Alright man, but remember, if you need anything, I'm always here" I said, deciding to drop it.
"T-thanks man" he said, shying away. He seemed like he was about to cry.
Figuring that I wasn't gonna get much more out of him right now, I took a look around at the group I was sitting in. There was a scrawny looking tiger wearing a black hoodie, black jeans, and black boots, a black panther wearing almost the same clothes, and then a tiny vixen sitting beside the panther. She was wearing a tight fitting, long sleeve black shirt, a short black skirt, tights, and black skate shoes. As I looked away, I noticed something: she was staring right at me. I made eye contact, and she instantly looked to her side, seeming kinda shy.
Interesting.... I thought.
My thoughts were interrupted by the new homeroom teacher. I didn't catch his name, but the short bald man had an aura of boredom radiating off of him. I could tell that this was gonna be a loong year...
And judging by what my lessons were like so far, it was gonna be brutal. None of my friends were even in any of my classes. I guess that was a blessing in disguise, since it meant that I got to make new friends. And lunchtime wasn't much better. Apparently, terry had gone home, and I couldn't find anyone else that I knew, so I was stuck on my own.
After a boring lunch, I want to my 5th and final lesson of the day: Music. Probably the only lesson I would enjoy this year. Terry was in my class as well, though he wouldn't be here today. At least I would be with other musicians. Hopefully people I could get along with.
Arriving in the class, I took one of the many seats available. The classroom was a large empty room with a circle of chairs, a few storage cupboards containing the cheap school guitars, and doors leading off to soundproof practice rooms. Looking around, I noticed that there weren't many people taking music this year. So far in the class it was me and the emo group I sat with in homeroom this morning. And that fox girl was still staring at me.
Before I could say something to her, our music teacher came in. His name was Mr. Skich, and he was probably the coolest teacher anyone could ever ask for. Looking like a business man, but acting a bit like a biker, only with a heart of gold.
"Alright class" he said in a gruff sounding voice "since its the first day back, there's no point in starting anything today. Instead, I want you to just sit and chat and get to know each other. After all, your final grade for this year is based off of how well you perform at the festival."
"What festival is that?" The tiger from earlier asked.
"Well, it hasn't been decided yet. It depends on what genre of music is most popular in the class. Judging from how you all look I would say rock or metal. Am I right?" Mr Skich asked.
Everyone in the room nodded.
"In that case, I know what festival it is. You're each going to be working with a different band on the bill, filling in for a member of the band you choose and playing a song with them. Then, as groups you're going to perform a setlist. I'll let you chose what songs. The only rule is that you must pick one song per band member. Since there's four of you, you're going to do four songs"
"Actually, there's five of us in the class, but someone went home earlier" I said.
"Then you're doing five songs. Try to keep to a similar style, that way you wont suck too much." He said. "Anyways, you should probably get to know each other since you're gonna be working together all year. If you need anything, I'll be in my office"
As our teacher left, we all just sat around awkwardly. Seeing as no one else was going to say anything, I decided to start.
"My name is Vex, I'm into any kind of metal as long as it sounds good, and I play lead guitar" I said.
"I'm Mitch" the tiger said "I do death metal vocals, and I like the heavier stuff"
"I'm Dave" The panther said "I'm a drummer. I play whatever really"
"I-I'm Elizabeth" The fox girl said "I play guitar, but I cant really do solo's"
"Seems we have a band ready" Dave said "We just need a bassist"
"Actually, we have one" I said "The guy who's missing today is a damn good bassist"
"Perfect" Mitch said. "I think everyone should start thinking about what songs to do"
"We need to pick a genre first" Dave said.
"How about death metal? Its got so many sub genres in it that everyone could pick something and be happy" I suggested.
Everyone nodded in agreement, then sat and thought about what songs they wanted to cover.
By the end of the lesson, we had most of our songs picked. Mitch chose Disengage by Suicide silence, Elizabeth chose Nemesis by Arch Enemy, and I chose Spheres of Madness by Decapitated.
"Do you guys mind if we did Facebreaker by Divine Heresy?" Dave asked.
"Can you handle that on drums?" Mitch asked
"Its easy for me" Dave replied
No one objected.
"Looks like we got our setlist. I'll talk to Terry tonight and see what he wants to do" I said.
Everyone mumbled in agreement.
Mr. Skich came back into the classroom to tell us that it was time to go home.
"Mr. Skich, you never did tell us what festival we're playing at" Dave said
"Well, you're in California. What's the only metal festival in the are?" He said.
Dave's eyes went wide
"Are you talking about Ozzfest?" He asked
"Damn right I am. Now go home, I got work to do"
We all walked out of the class in a bit of a stupor. Ozzfest was a big think. Like, Jesus big among metalheads. And we're scheduled to play it.
I was brought out of my thoughts by someone tugging on my shirt sleeve. It was Elizabeth.
"What's up?" I asked
"Umm...you know that song Dave picked? Well, I can't really play 7 string too well" she said shyly.
"I can teach you how if you want. After school or on the weekends or something I can give you lessons" I said
She smiled and looked away
"T-thanks Vex" she said quietly
If she didn't have fur, I'm sure that she would be blushing. This girl was either really shy or had an interest in me.
Maybe this year wasn't gonna be so bad after all.
Finally finished chapter one. I've been meaning to write this for a long time now. I hope you like it. Constructive criticism is always loved :D
NOTE: This story isn't really about school other than the music lessons. Its more about what being a teen is like for me. Also, don't expect any sex. At least not anything graphic ;)