Lin finally decided to get up after waiting 15 minutes.  She stopped by her locker, 8…pass 17…17...rotate back…26.  She stared into her locker.  She had language first.  She had decided to take English, because she was already fluent in Cantonese, Japanese, Mandarin, and Taiwanese.  Min, Moon, and most importantly Sun had their clothes imported from various countries custom made.  So many of the employees spoke different languages and instead of asking for someone else she just learned that language herself.

After she found her English book she turned the corner to her class.  She was turning the corner when the door flew open.  BAM! It hit her forehead.  She fell backwards onto the ground, which made her back hurt too.  She dropped her book, and her hands flew to rub her forehead.

“Oh my god!  Are you okay?  I’m so sorry!” the person who had swung the door open said.

“Uh!  My head hurts so bad!  Is there a bump?” she asked trying to figure out who it was. 

“Um…no it looks fine,” the boy said, “Let me take you to the nurse’s office.”

“Um, thanks.  I don’t even know your name,” Lin said slowly taking his hand.

“I’m Ken.  I’m a junior.  First day.  Not exactly a good start huh?” he said laughing pulling her up.

“You’re the new kid?  Don’t worry every new kid knocks someone over on their first day,” she said sarcastically.

They both began to laugh.  Ken told her how his dad had got another promotion, and he had to move.  Seishun was the most expensive school they could find so they enrolled him in. 

All Lin could do was stare into his hazel eyes planted on his fair complexion.  His black hair flopped over his face, a little past his eyes.  He looked great in Seishun’s boys uniform.  Dark blue blazer, khaki pants, white collared shirt, blue tie, and dark blue tennis shoes.

When they reached the nurse office Ken opened the door for her.  She walked in, to be blinded by the bright lights.

“Uh-oh! What happened here?” Nurse Joy asked.

“Um…I sort of slammed the door into her face,” Ken explained.

“Oh.  Well we’ll put a bag of ice on it.  Then we’ll see how things are,” Joy said, “ What do you two have first period?”

“Uh…language…English…Mr. Wu,” Lin managed to reply.

“Okay I’ll call Mr. Wu to tell him you two will be late.  I want you…what’s your name?” Joy asked suddenly noticing she didn’t know his name.

“I’m Kenneth Wong.  My first day as a junior here,” Ken explained.

“Okay Ken stay with Ms. Lee,” Joy said leaving the room.

“So how’s she know your name?” Ken queried.

“This isn’t my first of second visit.  I’m here a lot from sports injuries,” Lin said adjusting her ice pack.

After, Lin felt better it was already lunchtime.  She had to get to tryouts.  Lin was trying out for soccer, tennis, volleyball, basketball, baseball, and cheerleading.  All the coaches knew her and said she didn’t need to tryout, but she did anyway.

“First up…Lee…Lin,” Coach Hanamoto shouted.  Mr. Hanamoto taught both Science and P.E.  He was also the soccer coach. “I want you to try to score on me.”

This was easy for Lin because she had done it twice before.  Mr. Hanamoto was good, but Lindsay was better.  She mad five goals no problem.  Coach Hanamoto congratulated her.  She would be captain.  He put her in the goal so she could help with tryouts.  Things went fine until Sun showed up for tryouts. 

“Oh my gosh!” Sun exclaimed, “You’re trying out too?”

“Um…yeah,” Lin replied shocked, since she told Sun what she was trying out for.

“You must be Sun Lee.  Lin’s sister,” Coach Hanamoto introduced himself, “ I’m the coach.”

“Yeah I’m Lin’s favorite sister,” Sun said smiling.

“Okay try scoring on Lin,” the coach ordered.

Sun got on the field.   She pulled up her shin guards, bent her head, and took a kick.  Lin saw where it was going right away.  She darted for the top corner.  She smacked the ball back to Sun.  Sun tried to block it, but it her smack in the chest.  Sun started to laugh.  Laugh!  She fell to her knees.

“Are you all right Sun?” Lin asked hesitantly

“Yup!  Sorry got to go.  Dance tryouts,” Sun replied standing up again.

Lin was worried.  If Sun told Min she would have to do laundry for a month.  Lin didn’t have time to worry for very long because she had to get to tennis tryouts.

Tennis tryouts were easy.  Coach Tran gave her the title of captain right after her serve. 

“Lin, I think you should join the boy’s regular team,” Coach Tran said congratulating her.

“Um…I don’t know coach.  Would they allow it?”  Lin asked

“Of course they’ll allow it.  I’m their coach too.”

Lin finished the rest of her classes and went back to the tennis courts.  She was trying out for the boy’s regular tennis team.  Best tennis players ever.  She watched the boy’s serve, volley, and smash. 

“Okay last tryout.  Mr. Kenneth Wong!  Step right up,” Coach Tran shouted.

Lin looked up.  She watched Ken step behind the baseline.  He tossed the ball up, brought his hand back and swung.  It landed smack in the middle of the left service box.  He repeated this four more times. 

“Good job Ken,” Coach Tran said as everyone stared awestruck.

“Thanks coach,” Ken said walking over to Lin, “Hey you’re on the team too?”
            “Uh, yeah.  I was captain of the girl’s tennis team, but the coach thought I’d be good enough to join the boy’s team too,” Lin explained.

“I didn’t know you played.”

“Yeah it’s my best sport.”

“Me too.  Oh my gosh.  Sorry I have to go,” Lin said packing up.

“Uh…bye…see you later,” Ken shouted after her.

Lin made the volleyball, basketball, and baseball teams easily.  Cheerleading was next.  She hated it.  She only tried out because getting a cheerleading scholarship was easier than any other scholarship.  That was another reason why Lin tried out for so many sports.  Min wouldn’t pay for Lin to go to college, and she didn’t want to spend her money on college if she didn’t have to.

Lin put on the girl’s P.E. uniform.   A light blue sports bra and an azure blue active skirt.  She went up to a mirror and tied up her hair.  She changed her shoes and put on her white Vans.  She walked outside to the soccer field.  She was first outside, so she decided to warm up.  She did a few cartwheels, handstands, and a few handsprings.  She found a seat on the bleachers.  After a few minutes girls started to come out of the locker room. 

“Okay, everybody gather up and I’ll explain what you’ll have to do,” June, the captain, explained,” You’ll have to do a double back handspring.  Then you’ll find a partner and balance them on your knees and vice versa.  After that find a group of six and attempt a pyramid.”

Lin did the double back handsprings easily.  Then she paired up with a senior and lifter her too with ease.  When she was lifted she arched her back to show her flexibility.  She joined a group of veteran seniors to perform the pyramid.  She was on the top.  She had a solid stance, until Mark (on the bottom) slipped.  Lin tried to break her fall.  She landed on Cameron.

 “What happened?  Is everybody all right?” she asked.

“Yeah we’re all right,” Cameron said lifting Lin off of his chest.

“Uh…yeah…Mark just slipped on a leaf,” Lin said on her feet.

“Well, I’ve got the roster,” June announced.

“All ready?” everyone asked together.

“Yes.  Candice, Sandy, Sarah, Hanna, Mandy, Kelly, and Lin are on for the girls.  The boys are Ryan, Parker, Chris, Jeffrey, Bryce, Alex, Ethan, and Cameron.  That’s all of them.  I’m sorry to those who didn’t make the team, but you guys just didn’t have enough spunk,” June reported sadly, “Practice is next week, by then I’ll have partners ready.”

Lin was proud of herself.  She had made every team she tried out for.  She was especially looking forward to tennis practice because Ken was also on the team.  He was just so hot.  She couldn’t stop thinking about him.  Her day was over.  She went out to the back parking lot.  She spotted Sun and Moon instantly.  She slowly trudged over.

“So how did you guys do?” Lin asked her sisters.

“I’m sure I made every team,” Sun said quickly adding, “ Moon does too.”

After Min appeared Lin took the wheel while Min asked Sun and Moon how their tryouts went.  When they got home Lin went to the kitchen.  Min liked to share an after school snack with Sun and Moon.  Today they would be having cheng-fun.  All Lin had to do was roll them, because they had been slowly cooking all day. 

Next she went up to her room to do her homework.  Her room was nothing special.  She had a bamboo curtain for her entrance door and closet.  She took off her shoes on her mattress.  Min didn’t think it was necessary for Lin to have a headrest or anything special so she just bought Lin a mattress.  Lin took out a cushion from her closet and put it beside her bed.  She grabbed her book bag and took out her binder.  Mr. Wu had given her the assignments she had missed during lunch.  By the time she finished her homework it was already 5:45.  She put the cushion and her book bag away.

She headed to the bathroom.  She started the warm water, and undressed.  It had been a long day.  She sat there soaking for a few minutes.  Then she began to scrub herself.  After she was done she stood up and got out.  She dried herself off and put on her pajamas.  They were black with red buttons down the side.

The night passed quickly after Lin finished serving dinner.  She fell onto her mattress and fell asleep quickly.  Her dreams were filled with Ken’s worried face, replaying the moment they met.
           

“Oh my god!  Are you okay?  I’m so sorry!” the person who had swung the door open said.

“Uh!  My head hurts so bad!  Is there a bump?” she asked trying to figure out who it was. 

“Um…no it looks fine,” the boy said, “Let me take you to the nurse’s office.”

“Um, thanks.  I don’t even know your name,” Lin said slowly taking his hand.

“I’m Ken.  I’m a junior.  First day.  Not exactly a good start huh?” he said laughing pulling her up.

“You’re the new kid?  Don’t worry every new kid knocks someone over on their first day,” she said sarcastically.

Why had she said that?  He must have thought she was so mean.  What was done was done.  If only she could redo the moment.

Her dreams were filled with Ken.  Pictures of their reigning doubles team, holding up extraordinary English projects, and eating lunch together.  Her dreams were interrupted by her alarm clock.  TWIN started blaring on her speakers.  She hit the off button and slowly got up.  She ran to the kitchen and started the conjee.  When she got back to her room she laid out her school clothes, and took off her pajamas.  She zipped up her skirts, buttoned her blouse, slipped on her crisply ironed sweater vest, tied on her bow, placed the headband carefully over her hair, and slipped on her black heels.

After she was dressed she ran back to the kitchen, served the conjee into three different decorative bowls and placed them on the table.

“Breakfast is ready!” she called.

She went back to the bathroom and brushed her hair.  Replaced the headband and brushed her teeth.  She opened the make-up cabinet.  She brushed on mascara, put on a touch of eyeliner, applied a light coat of blush, and finally put on some lip-gloss and slid the rest into her pocket.

When she finally stopped staring at herself she went back to the kitchen.  She took out the chaseu baos from last night dinner and heated them up.  Two for each Sun and Moon to eat, and one for herself.  She placed a milk tea can with Sun and Moon’s lunch, but placed a green tea can with her own.  She got into the car and handed out the lunches.  If Min had been yelling at her she had completely ignored her every time.  She started off the road.  She found a compact parking spot in front of the school.  She got out and opened the doors.  First for Min, then Sun, and finally Moon. 

“Hey, Lin, I want to walk with you to English today,” Sun said smiling.

“Uh…thanks, but I have to go to my locker first,” Lin replied not seeing why Sun would want to follow her to English.

“I’ll go to your locker with you too then.”

“Really I’ll be fine. You don’t have to go to so much trouble.”

“It’ll be no problem.  It’s not like I want to go to Social Science with Ms. Tsuchi anyway.”

“Sure, whatever,” Lin said playing through all the possibilities why Sun would want to go to English with her.