Chapter One: The School Show

My name’s Jamie, and I’m a fourteen year old boy, born and raised in the suburb of Hinsdale, Illinois. It’s a really fun time in my life because I’m about to graduate 8th grade with high school on the lookout. All that separates me from the halls of Hinsdale East high school, is a long, fun summer…

However, there’s still a week left till our graduation ceremony. And everyone knows that in middle school, all you do in the last week of school is pretty much watch movies in class. It’s glorious! In Algebra class, we’re watching “Wreck-it Ralph”. A classic. To be honest, I wasn’t really watching the movie, but rather doodling. I was a big fan of doodling and did so throughout most of my classes. Look, I paid attention and got solid grades, but drawing was really my passion. We were watching the movie, and I was sitting right in front of my friend Annie.

“Jeez Jamie, you’re not watching?” she whispers to me.

“I’ve seen it before. No need to see it again.” I say, looking down at my drawings.

She sighs. “You’re missing out then.”

Annie is my best friend. We’ve been close since we were three years old, and I really don’t know where I’d be in my life without her. I’m a relatively introverted, reserved person, so having her frantic, outgoing attitude to cling on to was really useful for making friends and plans. Also, I’m an only child, so she kind of felt like my sister growing up – my loving but sometimes unbearably annoying sister.

Suddenly I felt something whip around and hit me softly in my face. Annie had grabbed my hair and thrown it in my face.

“C’monnnn! Watch the movie. I want to talk about it with you afterwards!” she said.

Annie really liked to bug me, as most friends do. But her main target was ribbing me over my straight, shoulder-length brunette hair.

Annie constantly told me how she wished she had my hair. I really didn’t care. I always kept it long because I think it looks kind of bad-ass. I mean, think of all the cool guys in the 80s with long hair. It’s a cool look that I think I totally pull off.

“I’ll just braid it then if you don’t watch the movie.” she said assertively.

That shot me up. One thing I definitely didn’t like was people braiding my hair, and she knew it. I always thought it looked too…I don’t know, girly. Not that I’m the most masculine fella around, but I hate being confused for a girl.

I stopped doodling, put the notebook away, and turned my attention toward the movie.

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About twenty minutes later, our teacher, Miss Gaspin, turned off the monitor and walked to the front of the class. She instructed a student to turn the lights back on.

“Okay guys, being the last week of school – and for you 8th graders, the last week at THIS school – we put a little surprise together for you all.”

The class fidgeted with excitement.

Miss Gaspin continued, “All I can say now is that we’ve got a special assembly just for the 8th graders. So at the end of the period, everyone’s heading to the gymnasium.

The entire class buzzed with excitement.

“Oooh an assembly! What do you think it’ll be?” Annie asked me.

“I bet it’s an ambush on the 8th graders, and they’ll tell us we have to repeat the grade.” I responded.

We both giggled.

Eventually, the bell rang and everyone funneled out of their classes and, slowly but surely, the gymnasium filled up with 8th graders.
Our gymnasium was basically a basketball court, but there was also a medium-sized stage that overlooked it. Rows of chairs were already set up facing the stage, split into three sections. Having got there earlier than most other students, Annie and I sat in the second row in the middle section; it was a great view of the curtain hiding whatever our surprise was.

Gradually, the 100 students in my grade found their way into the gym. One of those students, Chris Correa, sat next to me and Annie. Chris was probably my best male friend. We met in sixth grade, and he was also fairly peppy and outgoing. Neither of us had a ton of friends and were both into art, so it only made sense that we became close.

“‘Sup,” he said, “Any idea of what this is?”

“Literally none,” Annie responded, “Jamie thinks it’s a plot against the 8th graders.”

Chris laughed. “I actually heard a rumor that there is someone from the high school coming. Like a high school group here to perform, or something.”

This piqued our interest. Hinsdale East was a pretty big high school, and had a lot of student groups that did all sorts of performances.

At that point, the Principal, Mr. Winters, walked out in front of the curtain to address the students. He hushed the students.

“Welcome, welcome! I know there’s a lot of mystery surrounding the assembly, but we’re happy to say the wait is over!”

The students cheered.

The Principal continued, “All of your teachers and staff are so proud of what all of you accomplished over your three years at McMillan Jr. High, so we wanted to reward you with a fun performance. So coming all the way from Hinsdale East High School, I’m proud to introduce, ‘Toned’!"

Just at the sound of that, all the girls in the gym started to scream with excitement, including Annie. The lights dimmed and somebody began to pull back the curtain.

“I knew it.” Chris said under his breath, high-fiving himself for predicting that it was a high school group. Yes, he’s the type of weirdo who would high-five himself.

Still confused from the announcement, I turned towards Annie.

“What’s going on? What is ‘Toned’?”

Annie is about to speak up but is interrupted by Chris.

“Toned is the premier acapella group at East. It’s six guys who are really talented singers, super charismatic, and think they’re just the coolest jerks ever.” Chris’s comments dripped with jealousy.

Annie chimed in. “Well, Chris also forgot to mention that they’re all super cute. That’s why all the girls are so into them… and why he’s so jealous”

“I’m not jealous!” Chris said. I just kinda think it’s stupid that every girl digs ‘em. I mean, why do they get to be kings of the school, throwing cool parties and wearing dope shit all the time.

I turned back to Chris. “How do you know all this?”

"My cousin is the beatboxer in the group,” he responded. “And he’s the crown jewel of the family! So freaking dumb.”

The lights in the gym finally turned off, shading us in darkness. Then the stage lights turned on revealing six guys all in a line, sitting on stools. They looked almost angelic, the way the above head spotlights beamed down. The girls started to cheer, and all six members of Toned looked down upon the crowd, smiling. They really did look cool. There were all wearing super dope outfits in various styles, each one more fashionable than the last. I could see why they were so popular.

The boy on the far left, spoke into his microphone and addressed the crowd. “How are you guys doing this afternoon!”
The crowd cheered with excitement.

He smiled at the cheering. “That’s great! So your principal asked us to perform for you guys today.” Then the boy turned to his fellow singers. “We’ve got an hour of music, yeah guys? Y’all ready to have some fun?!”

Everyone cheered even louder, and the six boys all sat for a moment to collect themselves. One of them blew a pitch pipe for the key and began to sing.

The first song was “I Want it That Way” by the Backstreet Boys. Just at the first line of “you are my fire,” everyone – especially the girls – went insane.

Honestly, these guys rocked. The harmonies were on point, they looked like they were having fun, and the students seemed to know all the lyrics, so it was a great song to open on.

Annie turned to me with a huge smile on her face. “This is so awesome! And those boys are sooooo cute.”

“Yeah they actually are. Awesome…that is.” I responded. I really did mean awesome. “How old are they anyway?”

Once again, Annie was about to respond, but Chris interrupted her with the answer first. She made a face at Chris.

Well my cousin, the beatboxer, is a sophomore. Then from left to right there’s a senior, a junior, another junior, another senior, and on the far left is a freshman.

“He’s a freshman?” Annie said, stunned.

“Yeah, he’s the only freshman ever to make the group. He’s got some pipes on him.” Chris said.

“And he’s got some looks too…he’s the cutest of the group!” Annie said in a giddy tone. Classic 8th grade girl fashion, being head-over-heels for a boy she just saw.

Toned kept it going with a boppin’ rest of the set. They sang tons of popular songs and even some older hits to please the teachers and other adults in the room. Before I knew it, they were done. The same guy as before spoke up again.

“Thanks for being so dope! We’re gonna close out with one more classic song. I know the teachers know it, but I hope the students will know it too.”

Chris’s cousin started a beat, and they all started performing the song ‘L-O-V-E’ by Nat King Cole – a great one that I’ve heard my grandparents listen to before.

As they wrapped it up, the group leader thanked the crowd and the lights turned on.

“Wow! Wasn’t that great, guys?” Annie squealed. We both couldn’t help but agree with her.

'Toned’ started walking off stage and Annie turned to me saying, “Ahh, should I yell something out?”

Being this spastic, I knew Annie wasn’t asking for permission. She was gonna do it anyway.

She stood up and yelled ‘I LOVE YOU!’ to the group. A few of them see her and wave to her, including the one freshman.

She sat back down and turned to me. “Did you see that? The cute freshman looked at me!”

“Lucky you,” I said, humoring her.

But Chris noticed something. “Actually, Annie, he’s still looking at you.”

Annie and I look up towards the stage, and we see that the freshman boy is in fact looking at our row, definitely with a ‘checking-out-an-attractive-girl’ kind of look.

But just one thing was off. I think he was looking at…me.

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I've re-edited and picked this story back up after all these years. Look out for a new chapter every week or so :)