Horace Green High School grade 10 English classes. Also known as the bane of my existence

Next to me sits Summer who even though she's a friend of mine is also one of the most irritating, annoying people I know. She knows everything and is insanely bossy! Her voice can be nails on a chalkboard. At the moment her hand is raised high in the air ready to answer the question.

Behind us sits Zack who's probably scribbling down song lyrics instead of doing his work as per usual. He's one of my best friends but sometimes he's such a band geek!

Also Behind me sits Freddy Jones tapping his pencil to a consistent beat. He's always drumming something. Given he is a drummer and his nickname is Spazzy McGee. Freddy and me are always arguing! He's obnoxious and loved to bug people.

Were all part of a rock band. I'm on bass, summer is band manager, Zack is guitar and vocals, and Freddy is drums. Oh and Lawrence is keyboard! Our band, school of rock started in 6th grade with a substitute teacher named Dewey who used to be lead vocals until Zack's voice matured then he decided it'd be better if he was more of s mentor then a part of the band. And he still gives us a place to practice! We were just starting to gain popularity. We won battle of the bands last year and had won 20,000 dollars! It was pretty insane! We were hoping to be signed by now but it still hadn't happened. We'd won battle of the bands twice now and had played countless gigs at restaurants, concert halls, and schools and yet we still hadn't been signed

Anyway Ms. Parker is always writing on the board and hardly ever turns around to see if anyone's paying attention (which were not) so you can get away with almost anything in that class. This is basically giving Freddy a chance to tortured me.

"Katie! Pssst!"

I whip around to see Freddy smirking. I roll my eyes.

"What Jones?"

"You coming after school?" he asked in an interested voice. I scoffed. Why was he even asking me?

"Have I ever missed practice before?" in a slightly annoyed voice.

"No" he said, "just wondering no need to get upset. Not trying to annoy you or anything."

"That's exactly what you're trying to do!" I said in an exasperated voice "tell him to leave me alone Zack!"

Zack sat up straighter at the mention of his name. He let out a small cough. Both Freddy and I looked at him expectantly wondering who's side he would take this time.

"I think I better just stay out of this one" he said and cleared his throat again. We were always putting him in these situations.

"Yes!" Freddy cheered, "He's taking my side!"

"Is not!" I said angrily

"is too" he fired back

"is not!"

"SHHHHHHHH!" summer hissed. "I actually care about my grade in this class now could you both please shut up!"

We both rolled our eyes. I huffed as I turned around with an over-dramatic sigh of annoyance

"Someone's on her you know what." Freddy whispered to Zack. Zack let out a small laugh.

I whipped around. "Really? A period joke. You are the most annoying, ignorant person I've ever seen and heard! So immature!"

"Relax!" Freddy insisted as if I was the one who was always starting it.

"SHUT UP!" summer practically screamed. We both glared at her but didn't say anything. She was kind of scary.

"Finally!" Zack sighed, "thanks summer." I saw summer smirk happily.

Class ended soon after our debacle. I'll never know what we learned that day. The day was finally over. The days were so long here.

I met summer outside. Summer is very proud to be the only driving sophomore She drives the band and me to practice. She's the only one we trust to drive us. Alicia, Tomika and Marta the backup singers were already they're gabbing away. They never paid me any attention.

Luckily summer had a large range rover that could fit backup singers, the three Freddy, Zack, Lawrence, and me. Unfortunately that meant everyone else had to get their parents to drive them there. The band isn't just the band members though. We were much bigger then that. There were groupies, roadies, the stylist, and the security. It's a class reunion every time we meet after school. And I'm happy that were all still close.

Freddy, Lawrence and Zack appear. Over the years Lawrence had become less awkward and more comfortable in the band.

Summer pulls up the car and rolls down the window. " Hurry up we're going to be late!"

The backup singers piled into the back. Lawrence and Zack got into the middle, while me and Freddy both rushed for the passenger seat.

"Ladies first!" I said trying to open the door. He pushed it back though. Ever since he got taller then me over the summer he thinks he's so cool. I'd always been taller then him until this summer when he grew 5 feet to his now 6ft height. I have been a little vertically challenged since 5th grade when in was the tallest girl in the class. Now I'm tied in height with summer and she's tiny!

"Fine!" I huffed giving up before he made fun of me for my height and overall weakness. "You can sit in front"

"wow two wins in one day! I'm on a roll!"

"That one earlier was a tie!"

"Shut up!" everyone in the car yelled

"well!" Freddy and me said in hurt unison

Suddenly the Beatles lady Madonna flooded over the radio. We all started to simultaneously hum along. Zack began naming the chords. Tomika started singing the harmony because she had the best ear for that kind of thing. Marta and Alicia backed her up. In the front Freddy drummed with his spare drumsticks that he carries around everywhere but has been banned from playing them in class. I look over at Lawrence who is playing a metaphorical keyboard. Were all such band geeks!

We rounded the corner to the school of rock headquarters. Summer parked in her reserved spot and we all piled out of the car.

I saw Eleni and Michelle waiting for Freddy. They were way to big of groupies. I mean they didn't sleep with the band. Or at least not yet. They flirted with Freddy and Zack constantly though. Sometimes even with Lawrence. But mostly Freddy, which was extremely annoying to me for some reason.

We went indoors where everyone else was hanging out and talking. By everyone I mean Gordon, Marco, Frankie, Lenard, and Billy.

"You're late!" Dewey bellowed. He wasn't angry though. He was the nicest most exuberant person that I knew. He was a friend, father figure and mentor to all of us. "Spazzy, Zack attack, Mr. Cool, posh! Let's get started!"

I'm posh spice. Zack is Zack attack. Mr. Cool is Lawrence. And Freddy is spazzy McGee. All of us have nicknames though. It makes the band fun because when were there were ourselves.

"Dude! I wrote the most amazing chord progression," said Zack. "And amazing lyrics! It could be a hit. It's kind of Beatles meets... ACDC, it going to be epic and-"

"that's great." Dewey said interrupting him. "Show it to me latter! Now how about we do an old one to start off with. Let's do our anthem!"

We played Zack's first song a lot in the old days but hadn't played it in a while since we'd written new songs.

We all smiled and began to play. I looked around the room. We'd all changed so much since 5th grade. It was amazing.

Zack's voice was actually pretty good now I realized. He sounded pretty professional. I found it amazing that we'd started of not being able to play any rock instruments but now we were a band! I remembered in 5th grade when I'd told Freddy he didn't have rhythm and smiled continuing to play the song.

"Baby we was making straight A's,
But we were stuck in a dumb daze.
Don't take much to memorize your life.
I feel like I've been hypnotisized.
And then that magic man; he come to town.
Whoo wee!
He just spun my head around.
He said, "Recess is in session.
Two and two make five."
And now baby, oh, I'm alive.
Oh yeah!
I'm alive

and if you want to be the teacher's pet,
Well baby you just better forget it.
Rock got no reason. Rock got no rhyme.
You better get me to school on time."

Zach started his guitar solo. But was soon interrupted.

Summers phone began to buzz as she paced bopping around the room. I watched her check who it was and her eyes began to grow wider until she screamed.

"Oh my gosh!" she said "everyone stop! Stop!" we all stopped and looked at her confused.

"It's the manager for the summer set!" she said holding up her phone in pride.

"Oh my gosh! I love that band," Marta screamed "she's got rhythm is amazing!"

"I know! Everyone shut up! This might be our chance!" Summer hissed.

Everyone shut up. We were all nervous though. A big smile started to spread across my face. I quickly reminded myself that it might not be good news but I smiled on.

"Hello, summer band manager of school of Rock how can I help you?" she said using her business voice. She paused waiting for his answer "oh right! Yes! Oh..." pause "really? I'll talk to band and get back to you. Okay... Okay... Okayy... Bye!"

We all waited expectantly staring at her. She looked down at the phone then back at us with an expressionless face

"So?" Freddy yelled his eyebrows raised high and waiting for an answer

"Yeah" said Dewey from where he sat across the room lounged across a couch. "What's the news?"

"They want us as an opening act for their summer tour!" summer blurted out excitedly. Usually she was cool and composed but today she looked like a mad women so drunk on excitement.

We all screamed. And loudly. I stood there shocked. A summer tour? Us? The school of rock? Impossible! And yet it was happening. We were booked! And this could lead to a recording contract!

"Oh My Gosh!" Zack high fived Freddy.

"No way!" I cheered, "This is amazing!" I went to go give Lawrence a hug and then Zack. I smiled at Freddy.

Everyone was gabbering away in excitement. Eleni, Michelle, Marco and Frankie crowded summer asking her questions while Leonard, Gordon and Billy part took in some strange dance chant screaming, "were going on tour!" over and over again as loud as possible.

"You guys!" yelled summer. "It's a good deal! Even I think so! It's 15 states in 2 months for a price to be determined He promised us good pay though and I'll make sure everything is perfect!"

"Good job you guys! This is amazing!" said Dewey "I can't believe you're here but you've earned everything!"

"You're coming with right?" asked Alicia It wasn't really a question though. We all waited.

"Well... I don't... Abso-fricken-lutley!" he screamed. We cheered and clapped and jumped around excitedly for about a half hour.

"Okay guys simmer down!" said Dewey. He was just like one of us though. His eyes were wide and he was beaming the largest beam ever. "We have a lot of practice to do if were going to be ready!"

We all nodded still high of laughter and excitement. I made my way over to where Freddy sat talking to Zack. Zack made an excuse to leave right as I got there

"they have a girl drummer." I told Freddy sitting next to him.

"I know. She's ight... I mean no match for me but..." he said cockily popping his collar

"dude!" I said playfully shoving hem. I rolled my eyes. "You are such an idiot!"

"I know you are but what am I?" he asked.

"Did you really just use that one?" I asked "desperate" I mimed in a singsong voice.

"Yeah deal with it!" he joked. Shoving me a little harder then he'd meant to. When had Freddy gotten so strong?

"Whatever" I said "congrats on the summer tour. You're a great drummer." I smiled a little.

"Yeah you too." he said. We sat there in silence for a moment watching everyone else talk.

"Well I better go talk to summer and. Congratulate her on the award." I mumbled nervously. Why was I nervous?

"Award?" Freddy said confused "you're losing it posh!"

"You know what I meant spazzy! See you later." I smiled and started walking away.

"Posh!" he yelled from behind me.

"Yeah?" I asked,

"I know I'm a great drummer." he said

"oh shut up!" I said throwing a pillow at him. He ducked as the pillow sailed over his head colliding with a picture frame that crashed to the ground.

He laughed "nice one posh."

"Oh your so charming!" I said with attitude. I also rolled my eyes for dramatic effect.

"You know you want me." he said with a sly grin wink that would have made Michelle and Eleni faint.

"You wish." I shrugged trying not to let it consume me that I was kind of having fun rejecting him.

"No you wish." he assured me.

"Whatever spazzy. See you later." and with that I turned to go talk to summer. I turned around once more and saw him smiling and looking at me.