**The Beat Still Plays On And On &&Open

[Lisa Mitalka]

That beat goes boom boom boom
I've got to keep it together
I've got to keep it together
I've got to keep it together
Watch the crazy people dance

Everything still looked the same the day she had left. And that wasn't a good thing, because there was dust galore everywhere.

Still, Lisa was extremely happy to be back at Crescent Hill Academy. The familiar faces of the students that had come back, the familiar sights, the familiar sounds, the familiar foods, everything. Mickey was happy to be back in New York as well, as the two had been staying with Lisa's friend in Texas while Lisa was trying to work to get the school re-opened and teaching at a Middle School in Austin. The girl had just called her mother a few minutes ago, telling her about how happy she was that she was back in the same boarding school she had went to in Manhattan and that all of her friends there were extremely glad she was back.

Well, can't put it off any longer, Lisa. Sighing, she grabbed the cloth she had brought along with her, the bottle of some sort of chemical that was supposed to get rid of dust, and set to cleaning up the room. The instruments, thankfully, had been given to another school, but they were giving them back, as they were not in need of the extra ones. But, the chairs, the stands, the desks, and pretty much everything else still needed to be cleaned off. She began to wipe off each of the chairs, then proceeded to the stands, hearing the door open as she did so. She turned to face whoever had entered, and said, "Hello."

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[nina o'riley]

The undersides of Nina's Vans clacked against the floor as she made her way down the hallways, unhurried. It was unbelievable. A miracle. A deed done by the hand of God, even. She was back at Crescent Hill, as a student, wandering the music wing, just as she had before...the incident. Just like every other, Nina had been shocked, appalled and terrified by the closing down of the school, and of course the death done by the hand of a student. But now, thanks to Miss Mitalka, most of Nina's fellow peers were back at the academy, ready to learn, and eager to let the past slip into the forgotten.

As she turned another corner, she let a slight smile loose. If any teacher would have strut up to the board, demanding the school to be re-opened, it would have been Miss Mitalka with no question (her or Miss Taylor). For only a short while, Miss Mitalka had been Nina's mentor, helping her with her music, so Nina could further chance her probability of getting signed. Sadly, nothing had happened as of yet. But Nina wasn't giving up, no way in hell was that happening.

She couldn't help but wonder if Miss Mitalka would recognise her. In the large gap from which the school closed down to it re-opening, Nina had changed many physical aspects of her appearance. For one, she'd restyled her hair, a straight fringe stretching across her brow, many layers allowing her hair to fall around her shoulders with natural flicks and waves. She'd grown a little taller, and shed a couple pounds with the competitive soccer she'd gotten back into the swing with.

Finally, she came to the music room. That fated music room in which she'd met Dallas, where she'd fallen on her face and met numerous others. The door handle was a little dusty, but a section of the greyish particles had been wiped off. Someone had, or was inside. Nina didn't really mind, she'd be more than happy to have a chat with anyone, new or old. Everything was good. She was back.

She opened the door and stepped in, greeted by a welcoming "Hello" from the one person who she'd been wanting to see. Nina flashed a quick smile before stepping into the room. She wiped her hands on her jeans in a quick brush and greeted her old teacher warmly. "Hey, Miss."

[Lisa Mitalka]

That beat goes boom boom boom
I've got to keep it together
I've got to keep it together
I've got to keep it together
Watch the crazy people dance

She smiled at the person who had come back in. "I believe you should remember that I prefer Lisa out of class, Nina," She said with a small laugh. Nina was truly one of her favorite students, out of all of the ones she had taught in the past. She'd change in the break from the school though, as many of the students had; was she really that tall now? "Welcome back to CHA," She added, still smiling.

She resumed her dusting off of the stands, knowing that it would have to be done before classes started in the next two days. She'd be plenty busy tomorrow getting all of the instruments unloaded from the truck they were coming from, then getting them issued out to all of the students. The clean-up of the room needed to be finished today, that was for sure. However, Lisa was a born multi-tasker, and so she could still enjoy a conversation while she did so. "So, Nina," She said, pushing a stand aside to start on a new one. "If you don't mind me asking, how have you been for the past year?"

She wiped off the stand quickly and pushed it aside as well, starting on a new one while she awaited Nina's answer.

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