Chapter 13: Moving On

A few days from the tour I was heading back to school for the first time since the sisters saw me standing up for myself in the front of my old one with those brothers. I was hesitant in going because I was afraid of the possibility of bullies like them. I also hated school because of them when I was a fan before I was orphaned

"I don't want to go," I began, "what if they transferred too, or what if any of my other abusive siblings go here? What if they're bullies there that are just as bad," I finished complaining as I stepped out of my room at the theater. The estimate for my room to finish was a little longer because the contractors found out that the wall my bed was on was fake so they're taking it down and repainting.

"Trust me hon," Renée began, "you'll like this one; it has a great theater production and good choirs. Besides, this school is where a lot of famous singers and actors got their start," she finished and I sighed. "Are you ready to go," she asked as I shrugged my coat on and closed the door

"Mentally or physically," I muttered jokingly before laughing and saying, "Yeah, I'm ready let's go."

After that we left the theater on the way to the school, Renée had talked to the principals and teachers to get me in for the second semester but she has yet to tell me what school it was. I was hoping that it was Sammy's school since I haven't seen her since I found out that Ric died and I was hoping for at least one person to know me here as a person rather than the adopted daughter of an actress.

Renée turned to me once the car stopped in front of the school, "Good luck and tell me all about it afterward. Do you have your phone," I nodded. "Okay I love you, now get going I don't want you to be late," she finished after giving me a big hug. Once I stepped out of the car she drove off, I took a deep breath and thought here I go as I headed to the office to pick up my schedule.

As I found out the hard way there are two offices at either end of the school and I was at the wrong end. After cursing my luck for Renée dropping me off at the wrong end of the school I walked into the correct office. "Good morning," I began, "I'm here to pick up my schedule," I said to the secretary

"Hello," she greeted with a cheery smile that I still wasn't awake enough for, "What's your last name?"

I hope this is the last time I have to say this, I thought before replying, "Stevens."

After looking through the schedules she found mine, "Rose Abigail Stevens-Goldsberry," she asked and I nodded too stunned to reply as I didn't know Renée did that.

As I left the office to look for my first class, I ran into someone, "I'm so sorry, are you okay," I said to the overly dramatic person I ran into

"You'd better be sorry," she began, "I could've broken a bone if you were running or had something heavy," she finished replying to the apology. "Wait a minute," she began, "I don't recognize you, what's your name and grade?"

"My name is Rose and I'm a Junior, I just transferred here," I replied nervously and excitedly

"Well," she began tossing her hair aside, "nice to meet you, Rose, my name is Brittany. I am a Senior here and Seniors like me and my boyfriend run this school," she said with her voice being a little snarky and I mentally groaned instantly knowing what kind of person she was

"I completely understand how Seniors like you run the school, the high school that I had some early classes back where I'm originally from is like that. I had a lot of Senior friends there; in fact, they were the same ones that I sadly had to leave behind for personal reasons. I'd rather not get on your bad side," I began with the façade that I was afraid of her. "Now if you don't mind, I'd like to get to my first class before I'm late," I finished as I started walking past her slightly bumping her as I did

"You're one of those feisty Juniors," she grumbled, "come here," she added before turning around to grab me by the collar. Before she could do anything, I twisted myself out of her grip and grabbed her shirt instead ready to punch her in the face.

"I may be a feisty Juniors," I began, "but I've been through a lot to the point where you don't want to mess with me. Do you get me," I asked and she nodded furiously, "Good now go," I said letting her go. At first, she almost fell but then she started running off as I resumed looking for the dance room. As I was looking at my schedule for the room number, I almost ran into yet another person as I rounded the blind corner. "I am so sorry, I just keep running into people all the time here," I said apologizing to the teacher in front of me

"It's fine," she began in a familiar sympathetic voice, "I'm just trying to get my choir together, what's your name, my dear?"

"Rose Stevens-Goldsberry," I replied to the teacher, "I'm looking for the dance room if you don't mind helping me."

The teacher sighed, "I wish we could help you, Rose," she began as I just remembered her name as she was Mrs. Adams who is the choir director at the high school that I went to for early classes. "We do miss you back home," she continued after she paused, "why don't you try this room right here? This is the choir room," she finished as I smiled looking at the room to our left.

"Thank you, Mrs. Adams," I said before walking into the room to find a teacher. Once I found one, I asked, "Excuse me," I began, "could you help me find the dance room?"

"As a matter of fact," he began, "I'm the dance teacher, we're not going to be dancing today since Mrs. Adam's concert choir is here to perform today. Is that okay," he asked but stretched out his hand before I answered. "The name is Mr. Michael by the way, what's yours?"

I shook his hand, "Rose, Rose Stevens-Goldsberry," I began, "it's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Michael. That is completely fine, I'm pretty sure that this would be a day of dancing and introductions and I'm not much of a people person much less a multitasking person," I said as he chuckled with a nod

"That's completely fine with me," he began with a grin as he released my hand. "Why don't you sit in the auditorium and make some friends with the other dancers?"

I nodded before leaving the room to face the inevitable, introducing myself to people my age. I'm usually fine with it but with the first student I had the unfortunate introduction to, I was nervous.

"Look, it's the girl who stood up to Brittany," I heard a boy say from across the auditorium once I opened the door. I sighed, why do I have to get around so quickly?

One step into the room and I was surrounded by people even before the door closed. I was being asked questions like how I was so brave to stand up to Brittany who seems to be one of the biggest bullies of the school.

"I just did what I usually did at school to defend myself," I explained in short because my claustrophobia was starting to get the best of me

"What's your name, where are you from my name is John by the way," a boy with ginger hair and was slightly taller than me asked

I held my hands up, "My name is Rose, I'm originally from Ohio and before anyone else asks me anything can we please sit down? I'm a little claustrophobic so this is making me freak out a little," I explained as everyone nodded. Once I finished, they went throughout the auditorium to sit on the stage or in the house.

"Okay tell us about yourself," John said as I took my seat next to him on the stage with my bag at my left and my legs swinging off the edge

I sighed, "It's a long story but I took early classes at Arch High School when I was in sixth through eighth grade. I was in choir and dance classes there since I was so advanced in my classes at the K through eight school that when I went they decided to give me more high school classes. I'm in that fostering system and have been since I was eleven. I love to sing, dance, act, read, play games, watch anime, and write. What are your names? Oh, and I'm a Junior," I finished with one last sigh as everyone chuckled

"My name is John," he began as everyone looked at him, "I am a Sophomore and I also love to sing, dance and act. Steph you're next," he said with a smile as a girl with short black hair sighed

"Two things," she began, "one why am I always next and two you always forget the welcome," she paused with a sigh as she sat in the front row. "My name is Stephanie and I love to dance and act. Since this dimwit didn't include the welcome I will do so," she muttered before saying, "Welcome to Newberry High, I am also a Junior, Mark tag you're it," she said poking a man that had his black hair in a buzz cut. I smiled both at the playfulness and the fact that I'm at the same school as Sammy.

Mark stood up with a sigh, "Nice to meet you, Rose," he began gently, "my name is Mark; I am a Senior and I love to sing, dance, act, and read. You turn Marcia," he said nodding to the ginger on the other side of me who sighed

"My name is Marcia, I love to act, sing, dance, read, and write; you have now met the whole class," she said just as the door opened

I looked at the small group as the five-minute bell rang, some of the others are probably late so I'll meet them tomorrow. "Thanks, guys," I began, "it's nice to meet you all as well," I finished just as Mr. Michael came up to us

"I see that you met everyone, Miss Goldsberry," he said as I nodded with a smile. "There are more but as you can guess many of them get here later after hanging out with friends," he explained as I nodded once more. "You all should sit in that back corner over there with the whole class together," he finished pointing to the back of the auditorium as we all nodded and headed back there. Once seated more and more people came in as the announcements came on announcing the choir performance and that some of the students will be joining certain classes throughout the day.

"There's a lot of people here," I said as I leaned over to Marcia

She nodded before saying, "Imagine what it would be like during a pep rally with the whole school," she said then chuckled to herself. "Anyone who's speaking sounds like an adult from Peanuts," she added and I laughed

"I know what you mean," I began, "a teacher that I had at Arch said that same thing about pep rallies," after that we both ended up mocking the people in the room up until the lights went out which made everyone freak out. "Why are people so childish when the lights go off here," I muttered in irritation. ��The students at Arch did the same thing when I saw a teaser that my friend was in. They ended up bringing the lights back up as the principal and Mrs. Adams marched onto the stage saying how unacceptable it was and if they did it again that they'd cancel the teaser and send everyone back to their classes."

Marcia laughed, after which the concert started as the happy memories came back. They did the same rotation of songs beginning and ending with Christmas while mixing in some fall, as one of the other Christmas performances they do at a nearby church. The ending did catch me by surprise as my old director took the microphone.

"Thank you," she began as she sighed before continuing, "now I'd like to ask someone very talented to come up here. I didn't know she was here until I quite literally ran into her as she was looking for her class," she said as I glanced at my schedule and shifted my bag to Marica since she was in this school's choir too which was the next period. ���Some of you may know how talented she is from the news and videos; I would love to have her back as she was one of the greatest students to teach but she is now yours. Rose Stevens-Goldsberry, could you please come up here and sing something for us," she asked as my eyes widened a little. I was not expecting her to ask me to sing. Once I made it to the stage she smiled, "Now, I didn't know this until I ran into you but some alumni knew that you'd be going here and planned with the choir to get a parting gift for you," she added as she grabbed a basket from offstage. "You will see these people afterward but here is your gift."

Once she finished, she handed me a basket that had the school spirit wear, a yearbook, and a bunch of candy and cards. "Thank you," I exclaimed giving her a hug

While in the hug Mrs. Adams asked, "What will you sing?"

I replied with, "I'm Not That Girl, from Wicked."

She nodded saying, "Good choice," before taking the basket and stepping back to let me sing the song acapella. Once finished the crowd stood in applause as I stepped away from the microphone so the curtains could close. Before they did, Mrs. Adams said thank you to the audience one last time. Once the curtains did close, I was attacked by several choir members in dark blue robes.

I chuckled as people surrounded me to give me a hug, "Who knew that I was going to be here," I asked once everyone stepped back. No one answered as two blurs came running towards me. One of them had strawberry blonde hair while the other had red hair, "What are you guys doing here," I asked my two closest friends Maria and Cass

"We wanted to surprise you," Cass said plainly, "so we tagged along with the choir," she added

"I practically moved here after some help from your family," Maria said and I chuckled

"How did you guys know where I was going," I asked as Maria stepped back, "I didn't even know until recently."

Cass smirked, "We may have contacted Renée about that," she said as I noticed that they too were wearing the choir robes. "Not a word about this," Cass muttered as I chuckled

"I don't know why you don't like them so much," Maria said as Cass unzipped her robe. "Other than the fact that they're stifling hot they're comfortable," she said and I chuckled

"You should wear them hours on end then," I said as Cass nodded, "they may be a little comfortable but once you pair the whole outfit being worn for hours then you'd want to tear them off like a cap and gown."

The two alumni chuckled as the bell rang, "It looks like you need to go to the concert choir here," Mrs. Adams said as I nodded

"One more question before I go," I said as the two alumni looked at me with arched eyebrows. "Will I see some of you after the school day or throughout?"

"You'll just have to wait and see," a voice from the group of choir members said as I chuckled

"What she said," Maria said as I laughed a little harder, "get to the choir room you'll see us at the end of the day."

With one last hug and chuckle, I took the basket and left for the choir room, once I stepped in, I saw someone singing Hurricane. I joined in at the soprano part and kept going until the end with a few other people. The tenor looked at me in surprise

"That was good," he said, "with that solo, I thought you were an alto but when you joined in you sounded like a soprano like Samantha over there. The name's Matthew by the way," he said sticking his hand out

"I'm an alto-soprano," I began as I took his hand, "the name's Rose and where did you say this Samantha is?"

"Pleasure to meet you," he began, "it's going to be a little weird having a singer that can switch between the two. Samantha come meet Rose," he said just as I felt a hug crush me

"You did not tell me that you were going to go here," she said with the hug as I chuckled

"Sammy and I already know each other," I explained to Matt who only chuckled. "The reason I didn't tell you is that I didn't know until introductions with my first class," I said as she glared at me

A thought came across my mind as I looked at her wearing jeans, tennis shoes, and a school t-shirt with a jacket. I think I'm going to like this girl a lot

"Did you warm up before that," she asked me as I regained the breath that she knocked out of me

"No," I began, "I didn't even know that they were going to be here much less the school I was going to. I didn't have any time to warm up," I said as her eyes widened

"Did you have any powerful singers in your family," she asked and I nodded, "who?"

"My mother was in all of the choirs aside from one or two at that school," I began. "Whenever she had the time, she'd work with me on my voice since I love to sing. She was the powerhouse of her choir," I finished just as more students rushed in

"The bigger the voices we have the better the choir is," she exclaimed as I smiled before more people crowded me asking me questions about the solo. Some of them asked why I left and if I knew that Mrs. Adams was going to do that. Soon enough I was overwhelmed with questions and the circle grew to fill up the middle of the room. Some wanted answers while others wanted to see me in person, once the bell rang almost every choir member was surrounding me

"Give the girl some space and sit down," the director said as she came in, and soon, I was standing in the middle of the room next to the piano. "Good morning my dead, I'm Mrs. Diamond, I'm the choir director. This is the assistant choir director Mrs. Faye, and you are?"

"Rose Stevens-Goldsberry," I began, "where do you want me to sit, I am flexible with both vocal parts."

"Sit in the second row in the Soprano section in front of Samantha," she said and I nodded as I took my seat

"Lucky that you're sitting next to me," Marcia said as she slid my bag to me, "great job with the solo I didn't know that you sang that well."

I chuckled, "I didn't even know that I sang that well," I said which made both and Sammy laugh. After that choir zoomed by and before I knew it Sammy was showing me where my AP English 3 class was.

"It looks like Brittany is in it," she said as the bully stepped into the classroom, "can you handle it? Usually, when she's in one class her boyfriend's in another," she said and I nodded

"Yeah, I can handle it," I said, "thanks though," I said as she smiled then nodded

"I'll see you around," she said before turning around and walking into a classroom

I sighed and walked the rest of the way to my classroom, once inside I was tackled to a wall by a guy. There's the boyfriend, I thought while mentally rolling my eyes

"Rumor has it that you messed with my girlfriend before first period," he began with a growl as I took his face in. Too bad he's dating someone as stupid like her, "Let me tell you something brat, if you mess with me, you're going to see me after school. You got that," he finished saying in my face as I mentally groaned as my back was against the wall and his arm pinned one of my ways out as he leaned on it

"Get out of my face, punk, you have no idea what I've been through," I growled almost blurting it out

"Do you know who I am," he asked with a murderous glare if only looks could kill

"I'm a new Junior what do you think," I asked him through gritted teeth as I was getting irritated and afraid which is not a good combination for my first day

"Well," he began with a smirk, "consider this your first lesson," he took a breath. "I am the ever-famous James Reynolds, captain of the football team," he said while beating his chest like a stupid gorilla and that would be an insult to any gorillas. "My girlfriend that you messed with is the captain of the cheer squad," he finished as he pointed out his mate

Stupid is as stupid does, I thought as she stuck her tongue out at me before laughing. "Well good for you two, now if you will excuse me, I would like to find a seat," I said sarcastically as I tried to slip past him. Before I knew it, I was being held up against the wall

"You'll never have that kind of attitude with me," he grumbled as I groaned in my head once more

"As a matter of fact, I will," I began nonchalantly, "now you should put me down unless you want to be singing soprano for the rest of the year."

After that, his face went slack, he put me down then walked to his seat where his snotty girlfriend sat, picking at a cupcake. "That was brave, what's your name," I heard a voice say as I picked up my things

"Rose," I answered looked to my left to see a kid that looked like a mix of Lin and Daveed

"The name's Samuel but you can call me Sam," he said, sticking his hand for me to shake. "It looks like we're going to have a few more students from Arch," he said nodding down the hall

"Hey Rose," Charleen Thomsen asked as she helped me pick my things up, "you okay?"

"Yeah," I said as more choir members stood behind her, "thanks," I added before looking at the time. "Let's get a seat," I said before stepping into the classroom.

Once we all sat in the back the bell rang as the teacher walked in, "Good morning class, new students and Arch students," she began. "May I give both Rose and the Arch students a warm welcome to Newberry. How much do you remember working on in your past schools," she asked looking at me in particular

I began telling her what I was working on in the last few schools I've been to while the choir members took turns telling her what they've been learning. Soon enough it was fourth hour as Sammy and I were walking to the lunchroom before a show choir class

"Have you been in a class like this before," she asked me as I looked at all the Arch students who waved at me

"I almost was at Arch," I began, "but I was forced to move here before my freshman year even started."

"Hey," a voice yelled throughout the cafeteria as we entered, "it's the newbie," it yelled, and the next thing I knew there was a milk carton thrown at my head.

I picked it up, shook it and smiled, "Thanks, I was going to need something to drink," I yelled back with a grin as Sammy and I continued walking to a table that held choir members further down

"I was expecting you to go off on them," she said putting her things on the table

I shook my head, "I can't go off on someone I can't see that's just cruel," I began as I put my bag in the chair. "Let's get some food, I'm starving," I said and we went into the line. Once we got back all of my things were out of my bag and on the floor. "Okay I tolerated the milk but not this," I yelled out into the cafeteria as I set my tray down to grab my things with help from Sammy and some choir members from both this school and Arch. As soon as most of my things were back in the bag, I felt a foot on my back pinning me to the floor

"That's what you get for threatening me," the voice of James said in my ear

"You think it's a threat," I said before kicking straight back as hard as I could. After that, he got off quickly as Charleen helped me up

"That was something," Sammy said once I took a seat at the table

"Yep," I said, brushing myself off, "That'll tone it down a little but I think I'm going to have to deal with them throughout the year."

"You'll have help," Sammy said with a smile while nodding to the choir members down the table. "Let's eat before time runs out," she said and I nodded

After that, the rest of the day flew by without a problem and I found myself back at the theater with Lin asking me for some help.