Tangled in Notes

Chapter Three

School off: 3:00 pm

Qualitea: 12:30 - 2:00 pm

Toy Empire: 4:00 -5:30 pm

Moose Rabbit: 6:00 – 8:30 pm

"Are you sure you can manage? Because an hour will only cost you twelve bucks."

I nodded at the man in front of me deliberately. I can do this. If I want to live then I have to at least have jobs for a living. "I'm hard-working, sir. You can ask my current bosses about my performance during my shifts. You can trust my abilities." I confidently stated, and thankfully, he seemed to believe me.

"You don't have a boyfriend, do you? Because I'm sure having one won't be a good idea."

I shook my head with a smile. "None sir.” I answered. Rest assured I won’t be having one anytime soon, as well. “I don't personally prioritize that."

"Good.” He nodded in approval. “All you have to do is clean tables that were used. After the shop closes at eleven, you can leave. Clear?"

I nodded. "Yes sir. Thank you so much!"

"You can ask for a day off per week. If you’re absent for two, you're automatically out. Our shop doesn't want tardiness and disloyalty."

Kouma Beans: 9:00 - 11:00 pm. A tough schedule, for now. I don't even know if I can physically manage all that with school. I just wanted to add another part time job so that I can earn more especially now that I’m going to school. I need to have extra cash for things I need. After I achieve that goal, I can resign.

My eyes scanned the cafeteria I just entered at. I was lost. Ever since I got here in MESPA this morning, I was a loner and no one even glanced nor talked to me. I don’t think the students even realized they had a new student.

Where is Armin?

When I don’t need him, he shows up like a mushroom, if I do, he doesn’t.

I did tell him to accompany me today, but I couldn't see him anywhere. I was carrying a tray in my hand, and I can recognize some students who were in the same class as me. If they were nice, I could've sat next to their vacant seats. But I was shy and I felt, well, unwelcomed.

“Julia!”

I turned, hearing that familiar voice calling me. Finally. I heaved a deep sigh in relief. I can’t believe I was able to endure not talking to anyone for the entire day.

"You look lost."

When I turned, I almost dropped my tray when I saw a scary looking guy with Armin. His jaws were a bit long - maybe too long for him, and his hair was blonde. He looked scary at first glance but the more I stared at his face, the less scary it was.

Next to him was a better-looking man with slightly long, curly, black hair. His jaws were just as sharp as Min’s. For some reason, he looked way more attractive than him. At least, for me. Min stood next to an equally tall man who had a fairer complexion. His eyes were small. I could be wrong, but he must be Asian.

The guy who last spoke waved at me with a terrifyingly, creepy smile. I looked down at his name plate and it read: Sed.

"Sorry. I should have picked you up a while ago but I was running really late. So, I couldn’t." Armin explained.

"No need. I can handle waiting thirty minutes outside for nothing." I sarcastically answered.

He laughed anyway. "Oh. These are my friends, Alder," It was the long curly man. "Sed," the guy who waved at me which I already figured his name was. "And William,"

I shook hands with all three of them. It was awkward. I wasn’t used to meeting people, and if I do, I always end up feeling uncomfortable even if I know they’re harmless.

"This is my friend," Armin moved next to me, wrapping his arms around my shoulders. "Julia Burton. Ju-li-a."

“Dude, we get it.” Alder tilted his head, confused why Armin had to repeat my name per syllable. “We heard you the first time. You okay?”

"It's nice to meet you, Julia. You look pretty." I blushed when Sed suddenly leaned closer to me. It was the scary guy I acknowledge to be less-scary after first look. I just smiled as a response and fought the urge to push his face away out of respect.

I smiled awkwardly. "T-Thanks, I guess…”

“Messing up with another student, I see."

I turned and saw another curly, blonde. His eyes were small too—like William’s. He walked towards our direction, hands over his pockets. I felt like I was being ganged up by school bullies. I would have thought that if Armin wasn’t here smiling with them.

"As expected."

Wait.

I turned around, and another group of boys approached. I unconsciously stepped back in tension. There were too many of them that my eyes couldn’t keep up.

My eyes were too confused of who to look at. I was starting to feel lightheaded from what was happening. It felt suffocating being surrounded by this many boys. My head ached off the sight.

"We weren't messing with her.” Sed defended. “Armin introduced us to her. Right, man?" Min nodded to back him up.

Are these groups enemies or something? They were glaring each other like they were fighting for the last pudding in the cafeteria. My knees were getting weak just thinking about being involved with bullies. I hope Armin wasn’t fighting these people. I’d be so scared for my life and his.

"A transferee?" The blonde, curly one asked again.

"Yup."

"In that case," He raked his hair to the back and flashed a smile, leaning closer to me offering his hand. "Hey. I’m Sean."

Okay…

Deep breaths.

I was about to shake them but Armin suddenly pulled me to his back as he shook his head at Sea. "Not her, Sean. Not my best friend." He glared at the blonde, and I blinked. I was used to Min being protective of me but if he was friends with him, I don’t see any problem with it.

Sean snapped his fingers as he looked away, clicking his tongue. "Why don't you eat with us, miss…” He prolonged when he realized he didn’t knew my name. “Miss Mingyu's friend?” He smiled. His eyes grew smaller. It was cute.

I laughed. "Julia."

He was funny.

"Julia!" He clapped his hands together. The guy standing next to Sean was called, Charlie. The other two I’m yet to find out. "Anyway! How about you come to our table?" Sean gestured me in an escorted way. Very respectful, I must say.

"No way!” Sed exclaimed, pulling me to their side. My eyes widened in shock. “We totally asked her first and besides, she's Armin’s friend so she should sit with the cool kids of MESPA High."

"Cool kids?" Sean repeated, and I raised a brow. "The only cool kids I know belong to my team."

I frowned. Team? What team?

"Ha-ha. Not until you have the heartthrobs of MESPA High." Sed added, and I stood between the two in utter shock.

“Oh…” Sean flapped his hands in the air. “Like, you mean, everyone else in your team except you?”

Sed scoffed in disbelief—same feelings. I don’t even know why they were arguing about something so petty. “Let’s face it. My team has the most charisma out of everyone.”

“Talking about my unit?” Sean fired back, smirking victoriously.

Sed marched closer to Sean before fixing his necktie for him. “Did you not hear me say my team, buddy?”

It was weird because they all seemed to know each other yet they were acting like they were rivals. I thought they were all friends. The more they fought, the more I thought they weren’t.

"No one's sitting with anyone's unit."

We all turned to the speaker, and I saw a pretty girl in her uniform, walking towards us. "Ysabelle Nelligan. Student Council and Theater Club President.”

Woah.

“Julia Burton, correct? The new student?"

I nodded.

"Hey… Ysabelle…” The boys waved at her nervously. They were all so confident three seconds ago, and now, they were flashing fake, nervous smiles in front of Ysabelle.

"Why are you boys messing with someone new? Come on. You can sit with us." She grabbed my wrist, and I turned to Armin, asking for help but he just smiled, gesturing me to call him later.

The other students inside the cafeteria all looked at me with a discomforting glare. "Did they do something bad to you?" She asked and I shook my head. "They're always like that. They just couldn't stop themselves."

I remained quiet.

“It’s like they’re all drugged by sugar all the time. So hyper, those boys.”

I can clearly see that.

"How much do you know about MESPA?" She asked again.

"I don't really know anything about the school except that I can learn music here."

She chuckled. "Okay. What about you and I go to the study hall after lunch, so that I can give you a little background about the school and a tour!"

I nodded with a smile. "I'd like that. Thank you."

"Tell me. What exactly is something you love to do?" She suddenly asked and I remembered the time dad gave me the snow ball.

"I was planning to join the Music club."

"Oh. You're into dancing? Or singing? Rapping, maybe?"

I shook my head. "I want to learn."

"Well our school is divided into clubs. The Music club, Arts and Craft club, Theater club, Varsity team and the Student Council. It all depends on what club you want to choose for the rest of high school."

I nodded. We were both seated next to each other in a two-person table. "Okay?"

"Arts and Craft. You’ll see here people who are passionate in drawing and sketching. Painting. All the crafty stuff. Theatre club, my club, we do stage plays, movies, shows. Acting, in general. Varsity team is where the school players are and the cheerleaders. You don't want to be softball, player do you? Because you don't look like a person who could even catch a ball."

I chuckled in agreement. "You’re right, I can’t catch a ball to save my life."

"The Student Council, my priority club. This is where you find the facilities and the board of student governance to help improve the school and the very last—" she paused and I stared at her in anticipation. "—the music club. It's where those guys are. You see, the president of the whole music club is run by Jared Clay Vesey.”

Jared Clay Vesey?

“Students refer to him as Red because of his feisty nature, but he’s good. He’s a good leader. The Music Club wouldn’t be the most successful club in the campus if it weren’t for him. He divided the club into units, so they have like a sub-club within their club.”

Jared Clay Vesey. My jaws dropped. Units. So that's what it was. If ever I choose music club, will I be given a certain unit too?

"Hip Hop Unit. Performance Unit and Vocal unit.  Each of those units has co-presidents. Jared for the vocal, Sean for the performance unit, and Sed for the Hip Hop team. Some usually quit because they couldn't stand their president but believe me, he's not really mean like what they describe him to be." Ysabelle shook her head, trying not to scare me off.

I looked at her confused. I was wondering how she would know. "Where you a part of that club before?" I suddenly asked and she giggled.

"No, but," she paused with a different smile. Almost like she was in-love. "I just know. But of course, we still have our basic subjects. We have Research, General Science, Mathematics, Literature and Technology Empowerment."

I nodded with a sigh. "Now, I'm completely clueless of what to choose. I feel like I’m not fit for any of those units."

She giggled. "Silly. I didn't say that to scare you. Music club is nice. You can try it out. You can always back out, you know, but the music club has a different system when it comes to recruitment. Jared doesn’t just let anyone in their club. Chosen members go through an audition to qualify, and to say the least, the standards are pretty high."

I looked down and accidentally saw my watch. It was already 12:17.

12:17?!

I jumped in fright and grabbed my bag from the chair.

"Hey. Are you okay? Why are you in a hurry?"

I stepped back and turned to Ysabelle. "I need to go. I have some stuff to do. Thanks for the information you gave me. I really appreciate it."

She smiled. "No problem. I'll see you around then. You look like someone I can hang around with."

I smiled and turned to leave. I ran out of the campus and grabbed a taxi. "Qualitea please." I said to the driver, and he drove away. Now, I really need to think this through.