What happens in band, stays in band

When Ginger got over to me I didn't really notice because I was too busy thinking. Why was Ginger staring at me? Wait! Maybe he saw me first and tried to signal to me but I didn't notice... Yeah that's it.
I looked up and saw Ginger like right there. I almost fell out of the chair it scared me so much.
"Whoa Paige! You okay?" asked Ginger.
"Oh, um yeah... I'm fine." I answered hesitantly.
"Okay good. So... I was wondering if you wanted to hang out sometime this week?"
I sat there blankly for a second and ad I was about to answer Ms. Tolchuck called my name, "Paige Hall? Come get your book."
I couldn't help but whisper "Saved by the bell."
"What was that?"
"Oh! Nothing... But maybe some other time Ginger. I'm kinda busy unpacking right now."
"Yeah okay." he looked kinda downcast but I couldn't worry about that now.
I went up to Ms. Tolchuck's desk and as she handed me my book she said, "Hello Paige. You're new here right?"
"Yeah I am. How did you know?" I asked as I took the book.
"This school isn't very big. It's pretty obvious when someone new arrives."
"I kinda noticed this morning. Everyone was staring at me." I said a little nervously.
"It's just because you're new. They won't after a few days I promise." she smiled sweetly "So how do you like the Key Peninsula so far?"
"It's pretty but a little too green for my taste." We both laughed.
"So where are you from" she put her chin on her folded hands.
"Phoenix, Arizona"
"Why'd you move?"
"I think my parents tired of the city and the heat so the plunked us down in Washington."
"Good choice!" she smiled, "Well I better finish passing out books. I hope we can chat again Paige!"
I walked back to my seat and Ginger was still there. Weird.
"You were over there a long time. What'd she want?" Ginger quizzed me the second I sat down.
"She wanted to know how I liked the Key Peninsula. I told her I like it so far."
"Oh, okay." he frowned.
"Ryan Peterson" Ms. Tolchuck called from the front.
I breathed a sigh of relief as he walked away. Ginger was seriously freaking me out!
After Ginger there were only two other people to get their books.
Once everybody had their book Ms. Tolchuck bounded to the front of the room.
"Now that we all have our books everybody stand up and against the wall! We're making a seating chart!"
I couldn't help but hope that Ginger wouldn't end up near me. Ms. Tolchuck sat me close to her desk, but put Ginger at the back. I breathed a sigh of relief.
There were 3 other people at my table, all guys of course. Their names were James, Chase and Riley. (James was cutest!) The rest of the class went by in a blur; we did a few problems and got to know our group. The guys had lived on the Peninsula their whole lives and were best friends. I felt odd man out, but they accepted me with open arms. They told me about all the stupid things they had done together. Near the end of class I asked them if they knew Herb. They said they did and I felt very happy. I guess I thought it would be best if all my friends were friends.
Once the bell rang the guys walked with me to the hall where Herb and Ginger were waiting for me. Herb smiled when he saw who I was with.
"Hey guys! I didn't know you had math together!"
"Yup! Us and this little cutie!" said James and he ruffled my hair, I felt myself blush and I think I saw Ginger stiffen while Herb laughed. I decided to ignore it.
Herb looked at his watch and jumped, "Oh my gosh! C'mon Paige!" he grabbed my hand and we both ran.
"Where are we going?" I asked while we ran.
"We're going to be late for history if we don't hurry! It's in the portables."
We flew out the door and down the stairs, our fingers still in-twined. Herb wrenched open the door and we ran looking for the right room. It was at the end of the hall.
We burst into the room out of breath. I looked down, he still held my hand and I blushed again. Herb saw me blushing and looking down so he looked down too, then quickly dropped my hand embarrassed. We sat down at the nearest table not looking at each other until the middle of class when Mrs. Meranelli told us to fill out a classroom survey about the other students. Who's the tallest and such.
I ended up being the only one from out of state, Herb the only only-child, and we both were the only ones who could play an instrument. Once we got to that question I gasped and Herb looked at me quizzically.
"I forgot to talk to Nick after band!" I told him.
"Uh-oh, well you can talk to him tomorrow then. It'll be alright." Herb assured me.
"Okay." I sighed, "Will you come with me when I do talk to him?" I asked a little embarrassed.
"Sure Paige!"
"Thank you." I said relieved, "So do you have a big family?"
He laughed, "I'm the only only-child remember? It's just me and my parents. The rest of my family's huge though. What about you?"
I have one older sister. She's a sophomore at ASU. Me and my parents moved up here though.: I shrugged.
"Oh. Do you miss her?"
"A little, but I get to see her every holiday." I smiled, "and now I have my own room."
We laughed. "Yeah that's always a plus." said Herb, "So how long have you guys been in Washington?"
"We've been here about a week. I'm still unpacking."
"Do you want some help? I'm not doing anything today."
"Oh! Sure why not."
"So I'll meet you by the buses after school?"
"Okay."
"It's a date!" he said excitedly while I blushed.
"Wait... don't we have P.E. last anyways?" I asked.
"Oh yeah! Well then I'll meet you outside the locker room."
"Okay then."
The rest of the period passed by in relative silence. When the bell rang we went our separate ways, I went next door for English , and he went to Ms. Tolchuck for math. I waved goodbye to him and walked into English. I sat down in the back and waited for class to start. I watched people come in, there was an even number of guys and girls this time. One of the last people to come in was James. He scanned the room, saw me, smiled, and sat down next to me.
"Hey it's the cutie! Awesome!" we high fived.
"Why do you call me cutie?" I asked puzzled,
He shrugged, "Because I think you're cute and I don't care who knows it."
"Well aren't we just... spontaneous."
"You got that right! So you're now the one and only girl in our group! It's been just us five guys for years." he smiled and gave me a one-armed hug, I blushed.
Just before the bell rang the teacher wrote on the board. When she moved I saw that it said we had second lunch. When the bell did ring the teacher began the normal start of the year speech.
"My name is Ms. Mills and this year should be fun if you guys are committed to getting projects in on time. The rules of the class are blah, blah, blah." we looked at her in surprise, she had actually said that. She laughed, "I hate making speeches so I try not to. Anyways I don't like essays too much so we'll mainly do projects. Sound fun?" there was a chorus of yeahs, "All right, now for your seats... All of you write your name a on a piece of paper and put it inside the hat!"
Once everyone had put their name in she reached in, grabbed four names, called them out, and gestured for them to sit at the front table.
She continued to seat us in this way until everyone had a seat. Me and James were on opposite sides of the room, but facing each other so it didn't matter too much.
Ms. Mills clapped her hands and said, "So what do you think we should do until lunch? Hm... How about we play a game. Let's play heads up 7 up! I know it's a little kid game but it's so fun! Ok first seven hands up can be up first." The first kinds up were all people I didn't know, but everyone else did. Once again I felt odd man out.
We all put our heads down, and our thumbs up. I heard people walking around but, thankfully, no one picked me. Someone called out that we could look up now. I looked at the seven people standing up around the room. James was one of them.
The six other kids guessed wrong but James guessed right. When he was at the front I saw him whisper something to the girl next to him, and she nodded. I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. James saw and smirked.
We put our heads down and I felt someone tap my thumb, I put it down and waited.
Ms. Mills said, "Heads up!" I reluctantly stood up. Ms. Mills asked everyone who had tapped them, this time three people guessed right. Then Ms. Mills turned to me and asked who tapped me. I thought about it and pointed at the girl James had whispered to. "I think it was her, I don't know her name."
"Yeah it was me. My name's Crystal by the way." she smiled at me and sat down. I walked up to the front and stood next to James.
I whispered, "Ha your plan failed. I figured out who it was."
"Maybe I wanted you to figure it out. Did you think about that?" he whispered back.
"Uh... no." I admitted embarrassed.
Ms. Mills called "Heads down!"
I walked around the class and tapped the thumb of a brunette girl with pink streaks. I walked back to the front of the class and asked James "Who's the girl with pink in her hair?"
"That's Heather. She's super smart but she loves to put weird colors in her hair. She's had gray before. It made her look old." he wrinkled his nose.
"Okay. Thanks James. By the way you look cute when you do that." I smiled.
"Do what?"
"Wrinkle your nose silly."
"Oh okay." he wrinkled it again and I giggled.
The seven kids stood up. Heather looked at me quizzedly. I waved to her.
No one guessed right this time. As we were about to start another round Ms. Mills said, "Okay! No more! It's almost lunchtime, and remember you need to be back here in 30 minutes! Have a good lunch." she waved and walked out the door.
Me and James looked at each other. "That was... odd." I said.
James shrugged. "She's an odd teacher. Always has been and always will be."
"Well... shall we go to lunch?"
"Indeed. Now milady grab your lunch while your escort waits."
I shook my head as I went to my backpack and grabbed my lunch. He held out his arm and I, laughing like crazy, took it.
"So where is the commons?"
"You'll see."
With a puzzled expression on my face I let him lead me out the door and down the hallway.