I don’t go to school on Monday, or Tuesday, or Wednesday. But I was

better by Thursday, and mum allowed me to go back to school.

“How are you feeling?” Bianca asks as I sit down next to her on the tram.

“Alright. How about you guys?”

The other girls shrug and start telling me about this new guy at school,

Raymond, or Ray.

“He’s so hot,” Carmen giggles. “He’s pretty tall, tanned skin, gorgeous

blue eyes and brown hair.”

Carmen has a tendancy to 'stretch the truth', so I turn to Gina wo nods, confirming Cramen's words.

“You can see him for yourself at school,” Bianca smiles. “He’s been

hanging out with James and Ben.”

I nod. “He sounds cool. But if you try to set me up, I swer I'll kill you.” I direct this comment to Carmen, who sighs and puts her hands up in defence.

"Fine Kara, I won't try anything."

Carmen sighs and changes the subject. “Are you guys coming to the

hockey match on Friday?”

“Are you kidding?” Gina exclaims. “We wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“Good. I have a good feeling about this match. We’re playing Balwyn, and

I’m pretty sure we can beat them.”

“Of course you will.”

We’re having such a great time talking about nothing in particular, I don’t

realise we’re at school until the bell goes.

“There he is.” Carmen points out the new guy. She was right. He’s tall,

tanned and has blue eyes.

I walk over to my locker. The locker next to me has a lock on it, which is

weird, because it’s always been empty. I’m just closing mine when

someone opens the one next to me. I turn, and it’s the new guy.

“Hi, I’m Ray.” He smiles.

I smile back and stick out my hand. “Karaleen, but I prefer Kara.”

Ray nods and shakes my hand briefly. “I haven’t seen you before Kara.”

“I’ve been sick.”

We make small talk before Bianca, Gina and Carmen come over to collect

me.

“Well, bye Ray.”

“Seya Kara.”

When we’re out of earshot, the girls start quizzing me. “How hot is he? Do

you like him? Was he nice?”

I laugh and sit down in the classroom. “Guys, guys! Calm down. Yes, he’s

hot, yes, he’s nice. No, I don’t like him in that way. You know I don’t.”

The bell signalling the start of class goes and we start. Ray is sitting at the

back, with James, Gina's boyfriend, and Ben, one of Carmen's ex's.

Half-way through the lesson Bianca’s phone starts vibrating. Our teacher is

half-deaf, she he doesn’t hear it, and Bianca opens a new text. It’s from

her English guy. Carmen and Gina turn around.

“What does it say?”

“It says, ‘just about to go 2 bed. Miss u heapz. Luv, Will’.”

Bianca, a master at sending quick texts, replies without the teacher

noticing.

“So can you look at my laptop tomorrow?” Carmen asks as we walk to the

tram stop after school. It’s just us two. Bianca stayed back for a drama

rehearsal and Gina had a dentist appointment.

“Sure, bring it to school and I’ll check it out during lunch. We’ve got IT

tomorrow, anyway.”

I have a love-hate relationship with our IT class. I love technology and

fixing electrical appliances (which I’m surprisingly good at for a 13 year old)

but I can’t stand our IT teacher. She’s old and doesn’t even teach us. She

lets us do whatever we want as long as she doesn’t get disturbed. We

spend most of the time on MSN.

The rest of the day passes quickly. IT is the first class. I talk to Ray at

the lockers again.

“I heard you’re a whiz when it comes to computers?” He asks.

“A bit,” I say. “I’ve always loved playing around with technology. Why?”

“Oh, so do I.”

I smile and slam the door shut. My friends aren’t in sight, so Ray and I

walk to IT together.

It turns out Ray and I love a lot of the same music.

“You have the new 50 album?” I ask, amazed. “It’s not due to come out

for another week.”

“I know. My dad somehow managed to get a copy for me.”

“Can I borrow it and upload it onto iTunes sometime? It’ll save me, say,

$20.”

Ray nods as I push open the computer room door. “Sure. I’ll bring it

tomorrow.”

“Thankyou so much.”

“No problem.”

We separate and I sit down with my friends.

“Omigod! You were talking to him again!” Carmen exclaims, grabbing my

sleeve. “Do you like him? What did you say? What did he say? Did he ask

you out?”

I laugh. “No Carmen. We were just talking about music. He somehow got a

brand new album, and I mean brand new. It’s not supposed to come out

until the end of next week, and he agreed to lend it to me.”

Carmen looks as if she’s in heaven.

“Kara, do you know what this means?”

“He has good taste in music and his dad had connections?” I guess,

laughing.

“No, no. Well, maybe, but it means he likes you. When a guy agrees to

lend you a precious item it’s a really good sign.”

Bianca, Gina and I all laugh. “Car,” Gina gasps. “It’s just a new album. It’s

not a bar of gold or anything. Just an unreleased album.”

“So? If it’s such a great album Ray would really love it. And if he really

loves it, why should he give it to Kara here?”

I roll my eyes and log onto my school account. The teacher has entered the

room and is calling out names. People are shouting so they’re not marked

as away.

I log onto msn and a message from Carmen pops up. It’s Ray’s email

address. I quickly type thanks and add it to my contact list.

Ray starts a new conversation, first asking who the hell I am. I laugh and

reply, telling him I’m 50 Cent and I want my album back. He figures out it’s

me and we start a long conversation about music, music and, guess what

else… MUSIC!