The day after, Skye's friend, Lee, invited her over to her house to look at some paintings that she has done in a late past. Skye consented the invitation and Lee drove her over after school in her blue SUV. After five minutes, Lee opened the door to a person-less house.
"Where are your parents?" asked Skye.
"They went to the supermarket," Lee answered. "They'll be back in twenty minutes."
"They text you?"
"Yep."
Lee walked upstairs with Skye following. She walked through the long hallway with a just-as-long blue carpet until she opened a door which led to her bedroom. Skye was amazed how Lee's bedroom looks similar to her own bedroom, only "cooler". She gasped once she saw a big Marilyn Manson poster taped above the purple sheeted bed.
"You got a Marilyn Manson poster in your room?" she asked, dropping her skull-printed backpack on the floor.
"If it's here, it's clear," said Lee.
"How big is it?"
"I think it's 48 by 84 inches."
"Oh, that's a lot of inches. I've been wanting to order a poster like this for my room but I think my friends would be afraid of it."
"Marilyn is a scary man."
"Yeah, but I love him."
Lee opened the closet door and dragged out a backwards canvas. "So, you're ready to see the magic?"
"Bring it on, magician."
Lee picked up the canvas and turned it over, revealing an explosion of bold colors that made a face.
Skye was stunned. "Whoa, that looks awesome."
"Thanks," Lee looked over the painting. "I worked on it for four days."
"Four days are all you need. What are you going to call it?"
"I shall call it, 'My Boyfriend'."
Skye crossed her arms. "Really?"
"Yep."
"Why would you call it that?"
"I don't know. It just felt right."
"I agree."
"It feels good to go do something different, you know?"
"Yeah, I get it. So you're totally not a lesbian. I mean, Lee! Leez-bian! Les-- Lee-- Leez-- Leez-bian. Leez-uh. Lisa! Leah! Lee!"
Lee stared at Skye, confused. "What the freak was that?"
"I'm sorry. I have the hiccups!"
"Well, you got weird hiccups."
"Yeah, I'm taking a special medicine for it."
"Good to know."
"What I meant to say -- before I was interrupted by hiccups -- was that your art doesn't say 'Leah' or 'Lee'. It says something more than that. Like you're more than a name; you are art itself."
"Wow, that was sweet."
"Well, you're a special girl."
"Thanks, Skye."
Skye sighed and turned around. "So have you thought about hanging up your artwork since you--" She turned around, only to be quickly interrupted by Lee, who grabbed her neck and crashed her lips against hers.
Skye resisted, pulling out of Lee's grip. She backed up a foot and stared at Lee in shock. Lee looked back at Skye, confused.
"What are you doing?" Skye asked, breathless.
"I'm kissing you," replied Lee.
"Yeah, I know! Why?!"
"I don't know! I thought you liked me!"
"Yes, I do. Not in that way."
"Oh, why is so hard to find a good lesbian--"
"Lesbian! Hold the phone and twirl on the wire, I am not lesbian."
"Really?"
"Yes, really!"
"But you're so... butch."
"Butch? Look at you!"
"Oh, now you're insulting me?"
"No, I'm--"
"We're supposed to be friends."
"We can't be friends if you want to be kissing me."
"Oh, is that right?"
"No, I didn't mean it that way. Lee, I like you, just not in that way. Can we-- can we just forget about this?"
Lee sighed. "Fine."
"Good. So... can I look at more of your art?"
"Sure."
"Good. So..." Skye turned her head to look at the poster. "48 by 84 inches, huh?"
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Meet My Girlfriend (Chapter 3)
After a week, the girls had lunch in the cafeteria at school together normally. They ate their homemade or school-bought lunches as Madeline started the conversation.
"Are you drinking the mineral oil, Lizzie?" she asked.
"Oh, I forgot about that," replied Lizzie.
"You forgot?"
"Actually, I remembered. I just don't want to drink it."
"Why not?"
"It's gross."
"It barely has a taste."
"Well, I don't like the thickness."
"If you can drink smoothies, than you can drink mineral oil."
"I don't want to drink the mineral oil."
"Then buy actual laxatives," recommended Andrea.
"No way. What if I bump into the cutest guy at the pharmacy?"
"What is the cutest guy doing at a pharmacy?" asked Madeline.
"Buying laxatives," answered Skye. "You two would be perfect for each other."
Andrea giggled. "But Lizzie has a point. I don't want a gorgeous guy to know I have a pooping problem."
"If you don't want to drink oil, Liz'," started Debra, "you can try some exercises to help release your blocked bowels."
"Well, I hope you do those exercises on the toilet," said Skye. "If you do them now, it would be a bad day for you because you're wearing white."
Lizzie and Andrea snickered.
"That's gross," commented Madeline. "But in order to 'solve your problems', you got to drink the oil. Otherwise, buy some laxative tablets."
"I'll try," said Lizzie.
"Speaking of constipation," started Skye, "me and Lee are really hitting it off."
"What does that got to do with constipation?" questioned Andrea.
"Nothing. Uh, her and I have so much in common. We're going to a U2 concert next year."
"Aw, I like U2, too," said Madeline.
"YouTube has a concert?" asked Lizzie.
"Not YouTube," corrected Skye. "U2."
"I, too, what?"
"It's a name of a band. Letter U, number two."
"Speaking of number two..." Andrea looked at Lizzie.
"Heard of Bono?"
"Yes, your 'future' husband," Lizzie responded.
"Yeah, he sings lead in U2."
"Oh, so the concert is a way to be close to your dream hubby?"
"Pretty much."
"So you and Lee are pretty much the same person since you two like U2?" asked Debra.
"It's not just U2. We like the same movies, music, food. Everything we like almost compares."
"And Lee takes a liking to you?" asked Madeline.
"Yep."
"Well, make sure it's not too strong of a liking."
"What do you mean?"
"I expect that Lee told you."
Skye chuckled. "Told me what?"
"Well, isn't it obvious?"
"No."
"Lee's lesbian."
"No, she's not!"
"Uh, yes, she is."
"How do you know?"
"Because it's out in the open."
"No, you're making assumptions."
"Skye, I'm not blind. I mean she goes by Lee."
"Some girls go by Lee."
"What girls?"
"Uh, girls."
"Skye--"
"If Lee is a lesbian, how come she doesn't have a girlfriend?"
"Does every gay man have a boyfriend?" questioned Andrea.
"Maybe she has a crush on you, being why she's single," said Lizzie.
"Oh, please," said Skye. "Lee does not have a crush on me. We are too good of friends."
"Sometimes, the closest friends develop a better romance," said Debra.
"Tell that to Spongebob and Patrick."
"Why can't you accept the fact that Lee is a lesbian?" asked Madeline.
"Because I'm going to prove it. That's right; I'm going to have clear-cut evidence that Lee is just as straight as me and you all are going to be feeling like fools."
"Please, Skye, if you didn't like boys, you'd be lesbian," stated Andrea.
"That's the point of being lesbian," said Madeline.
"Okay, you don't know everything."
"Are you drinking the mineral oil, Lizzie?" she asked.
"Oh, I forgot about that," replied Lizzie.
"You forgot?"
"Actually, I remembered. I just don't want to drink it."
"Why not?"
"It's gross."
"It barely has a taste."
"Well, I don't like the thickness."
"If you can drink smoothies, than you can drink mineral oil."
"I don't want to drink the mineral oil."
"Then buy actual laxatives," recommended Andrea.
"No way. What if I bump into the cutest guy at the pharmacy?"
"What is the cutest guy doing at a pharmacy?" asked Madeline.
"Buying laxatives," answered Skye. "You two would be perfect for each other."
Andrea giggled. "But Lizzie has a point. I don't want a gorgeous guy to know I have a pooping problem."
"If you don't want to drink oil, Liz'," started Debra, "you can try some exercises to help release your blocked bowels."
"Well, I hope you do those exercises on the toilet," said Skye. "If you do them now, it would be a bad day for you because you're wearing white."
Lizzie and Andrea snickered.
"That's gross," commented Madeline. "But in order to 'solve your problems', you got to drink the oil. Otherwise, buy some laxative tablets."
"I'll try," said Lizzie.
"Speaking of constipation," started Skye, "me and Lee are really hitting it off."
"What does that got to do with constipation?" questioned Andrea.
"Nothing. Uh, her and I have so much in common. We're going to a U2 concert next year."
"Aw, I like U2, too," said Madeline.
"YouTube has a concert?" asked Lizzie.
"Not YouTube," corrected Skye. "U2."
"I, too, what?"
"It's a name of a band. Letter U, number two."
"Speaking of number two..." Andrea looked at Lizzie.
"Heard of Bono?"
"Yes, your 'future' husband," Lizzie responded.
"Yeah, he sings lead in U2."
"Oh, so the concert is a way to be close to your dream hubby?"
"Pretty much."
"So you and Lee are pretty much the same person since you two like U2?" asked Debra.
"It's not just U2. We like the same movies, music, food. Everything we like almost compares."
"And Lee takes a liking to you?" asked Madeline.
"Yep."
"Well, make sure it's not too strong of a liking."
"What do you mean?"
"I expect that Lee told you."
Skye chuckled. "Told me what?"
"Well, isn't it obvious?"
"No."
"Lee's lesbian."
"No, she's not!"
"Uh, yes, she is."
"How do you know?"
"Because it's out in the open."
"No, you're making assumptions."
"Skye, I'm not blind. I mean she goes by Lee."
"Some girls go by Lee."
"What girls?"
"Uh, girls."
"Skye--"
"If Lee is a lesbian, how come she doesn't have a girlfriend?"
"Does every gay man have a boyfriend?" questioned Andrea.
"Maybe she has a crush on you, being why she's single," said Lizzie.
"Oh, please," said Skye. "Lee does not have a crush on me. We are too good of friends."
"Sometimes, the closest friends develop a better romance," said Debra.
"Tell that to Spongebob and Patrick."
"Why can't you accept the fact that Lee is a lesbian?" asked Madeline.
"Because I'm going to prove it. That's right; I'm going to have clear-cut evidence that Lee is just as straight as me and you all are going to be feeling like fools."
"Please, Skye, if you didn't like boys, you'd be lesbian," stated Andrea.
"That's the point of being lesbian," said Madeline.
"Okay, you don't know everything."
Monday, December 29, 2014
Meet My Girlfriend (Chapter 2)
The next day, Skye became really good friends with her physics classmate, Lee. She decided to walk with Lee to lunch and introduce her to her best friends. Once the two got inside and close enough to the girls, Skye immediately regrets her decision when she hears Lizzie say:
"I am so constipated!"
Skye stopped, making Lee stop. "I was wrong," she said. "You shouldn't meet my friends."
Madeline heard Skye's voice and turned her head. "Hey, Skye."
"Hello," Skye replied.
"Who's that?"
Skye walked closer, making Lee walk closer as well. "This is my friend, Lee."
"Isn't Lee a boy's name?" asked Lizzie. "Not to be rude."
"Yeah," Lee responded. "But it's short for Leah."
"Oh, that's cute. Come sit with us."
"No!" Andrea shouted. She stood up and waved her arms. "No sitting! We made a mistake last year and we're not going to make another one again. I swear that taped picture still haunts my dreams."
"What is she talking about?" Lee whispered to Skye.
"It's a long story," Skye said. She turned her attention to Andrea. "Andy, this one is clean so there's nothing to worry about."
Andrea sat back down.
"Sit, sit," Debra ordered nicely.
Skye sat down next to Debra with Lee sitting next to her.
"Nice to meet you, Lee," said Madeline. "Sorry about Andrea. She's... something."
"I'm sorry," Andrea apologized. "I just thought I had to whack another weirdo who might stalk me later."
"Is she a bully?" Lee asked Skye.
"No," Skye answered, "she's just rude. We're going to fix her."
"So, Lee," started Debra, "where do you know Skye from?"
"I met her in physics," answered Lee. "I never really talked to her because she doesn't talk to anyone."
"Skye, are you an 'isolator'?" asked Lizzie.
"I don't think that's a word," Skye replied.
"It's going to be if you keep being that."
"No, Skye is usually quiet," Madeline said to Lee. "But gladly, she has people like us to break her shell."
"Yeah, I used to be a snail, now I'm a slug," Skye joked.
The girls giggled.
"You got to love Skye for her dry humor," commented Lizzie.
"I do," said Lee. "She's really funny."
"You seem nice, Lee," said Debra. "Tell us about yourself."
"Well, I'm a painter. I make portraits and sell them on the internet. I'm also a member of an anti-bullying campaign online where I post self-made videos. You should join one day, Andrea."
Andrea chuckled smugly before sipping her bottle of chocolate milk with a straw with frantic eyes.
"But frankly, I just skateboard during the weekends and work at a video game store every day after school."
"That sounds interesting," said Madeline.
"Are you good at skateboarding?" asked Skye.
"I mean I do a little 360 kickflips, kickstands and long-term grinding," Lee boasted.
"I do not know what all of those were," admitted Lizzie, "but it sounds like you're a good skateboarder."
"Thank you... I think."
"Where did you get that hat?" asked Andrea.
"From Hot Topic."
"Oh."
"A bunch of beanies are on sale at that store."
"Oh."
"Are you a beanie person?"
"I wear a little here and there."
"Well, somebody has good taste in fashion."
"Thank you."
"I thought I had good taste in fashion," said Lizzie. "I got to get a beanie. Do they make them in red?"
"Any color really," answered Lee.
"Alright! This must be my lucky day."
"I like your friends, Skye."
"Thanks," Skye responded. "Maybe someday, I can meet your friends."
"Hopefully, they aren't more fabulous than us," Madeline flipped her hair.
"Actually, they're all super rich," said Lee.
"Oh, then they're better than us," said Andrea, scratching her head.
"I am so constipated!"
Skye stopped, making Lee stop. "I was wrong," she said. "You shouldn't meet my friends."
Madeline heard Skye's voice and turned her head. "Hey, Skye."
"Hello," Skye replied.
"Who's that?"
Skye walked closer, making Lee walk closer as well. "This is my friend, Lee."
"Isn't Lee a boy's name?" asked Lizzie. "Not to be rude."
"Yeah," Lee responded. "But it's short for Leah."
"Oh, that's cute. Come sit with us."
"No!" Andrea shouted. She stood up and waved her arms. "No sitting! We made a mistake last year and we're not going to make another one again. I swear that taped picture still haunts my dreams."
"What is she talking about?" Lee whispered to Skye.
"It's a long story," Skye said. She turned her attention to Andrea. "Andy, this one is clean so there's nothing to worry about."
Andrea sat back down.
"Sit, sit," Debra ordered nicely.
Skye sat down next to Debra with Lee sitting next to her.
"Nice to meet you, Lee," said Madeline. "Sorry about Andrea. She's... something."
"I'm sorry," Andrea apologized. "I just thought I had to whack another weirdo who might stalk me later."
"Is she a bully?" Lee asked Skye.
"No," Skye answered, "she's just rude. We're going to fix her."
"So, Lee," started Debra, "where do you know Skye from?"
"I met her in physics," answered Lee. "I never really talked to her because she doesn't talk to anyone."
"Skye, are you an 'isolator'?" asked Lizzie.
"I don't think that's a word," Skye replied.
"It's going to be if you keep being that."
"No, Skye is usually quiet," Madeline said to Lee. "But gladly, she has people like us to break her shell."
"Yeah, I used to be a snail, now I'm a slug," Skye joked.
The girls giggled.
"You got to love Skye for her dry humor," commented Lizzie.
"I do," said Lee. "She's really funny."
"You seem nice, Lee," said Debra. "Tell us about yourself."
"Well, I'm a painter. I make portraits and sell them on the internet. I'm also a member of an anti-bullying campaign online where I post self-made videos. You should join one day, Andrea."
Andrea chuckled smugly before sipping her bottle of chocolate milk with a straw with frantic eyes.
"But frankly, I just skateboard during the weekends and work at a video game store every day after school."
"That sounds interesting," said Madeline.
"Are you good at skateboarding?" asked Skye.
"I mean I do a little 360 kickflips, kickstands and long-term grinding," Lee boasted.
"I do not know what all of those were," admitted Lizzie, "but it sounds like you're a good skateboarder."
"Thank you... I think."
"Where did you get that hat?" asked Andrea.
"From Hot Topic."
"Oh."
"A bunch of beanies are on sale at that store."
"Oh."
"Are you a beanie person?"
"I wear a little here and there."
"Well, somebody has good taste in fashion."
"Thank you."
"I thought I had good taste in fashion," said Lizzie. "I got to get a beanie. Do they make them in red?"
"Any color really," answered Lee.
"Alright! This must be my lucky day."
"I like your friends, Skye."
"Thanks," Skye responded. "Maybe someday, I can meet your friends."
"Hopefully, they aren't more fabulous than us," Madeline flipped her hair.
"Actually, they're all super rich," said Lee.
"Oh, then they're better than us," said Andrea, scratching her head.
Sunday, December 28, 2014
Meet My Girlfriend (Chapter 1)
After lunch, the girls head to their next classes. Skye went to her physics class, completing a drill with her classmates. After going over a couple lessons, the teacher declared some instructions quickly.
"So, class, what you're going to be doing is finding the acceleration of the toy car. To do that, you will be setting up a ramp with the wooden board at a desired angle using the ten wooden blocks at the laboratory tables. As you do that, you will have to find the coefficient of friction provided by the toy car. Make sure to weigh the car and use a calculater to solve the coefficient of friction. Remember to convert numbers to their proper measurements. And use the equation provided on your papers when you record results. Now any questions?"
One of the male classmates raised his hand. "Yeah, can you repeat that?"
"Joshua, if I repeat that one more time, I'm going to have to whack with my meter stick."
The guy paused. "Wait, did you say 'meter'?"
"Just get up and go your labs!"
The students scooted out of their seats and quickly paired up with their desired friends. Skye did not immediately pair off with anyone, seeing that her friends of the class did not want to work with her. She looked around before being tapped in the shoulder.
"Hi, do you want to be partners?" asked a girl with short black hair hidden in a gray beanie.
"Sure," Skye shrugged.
The girls walked over to an empty counter with a wooden board and a miniature sports car. Skye slapped her blank piece of notebook paper on the table.
"I'm Lee," the girl introduced herself.
"Skye," she responded.
"Is that short for something?"
"Yeah, Skylar."
"Cool. My name is short for Leah."
"Cool as well."
"How come we've never talked?"
"Don't know. I'm just quiet."
"I could've sworn I have seen you boisterously speak to a group of people before in the hallway."
"Oh, those people got to be my friends. I only talk to them."
"Oh. Are you 'clique-y'?"
"Oh, no. Oh, God, no. I hate cliques. They're just my best friends. They hang out with other people, too, but we hang out with each other a lot."
"Okay. I am not a big fan of cliques myself. That's how bullying starts."
"I know, right? I'm joining an anti-bullying campaign on the internet."
"So am I. Which one?" Lee picked up the toy car and placed it on the metal scale on the counter.
"'1World, 1Heart'."
"I'm joining that as well."
"Really?" Skye drew lines on the paper to make a chart. "What's your username?"
"LeatherBunny603."
"I'm MarryMeBono."
"No way! I read your report on your childhood experience with bullying. I 'hearted' it."
"Thank you. And did you post a video on how little kids should report bullies to teachers?"
"Yes, I did."
"I watched it. And loved it. I wrote a comment on the video."
"Oh, I don't read my comments."
"You should. Mine was really nice."
Lee smiled.
"What's the weight?"
"0.63 kilograms," Lee read the scale.
Skye wrote the number down on the paper. "What angle do you want the board at?"
"Whatever works."
"Forty-five degrees?"
"I was just thinking that."
Skye collected two wooden blocks from the counter as Lee held up the board at a slanted angle. Skye slid the blocks under the board to hold it up. Lee grabbed a protactor from a plastic basket and held it at the end of the board to measure the angle.
"It is close to forty-five degrees," Lee stated.
"That's fine." Skye placed another block in front of the ramp-shaped board.
"Here's a timer." Lee passed a small stopwatch clock to Skye.
"Thanks. Hey, you like 5 Seconds of Summer?"
Lee looked down at her T-shirt, which had a 5 Seconds of Summer logo on it. "Yep."
"Me, too."
"But I'm obsessed with them."
"You can't spell 'obsess' when you're around me. I'd marry them all in a second."
"I thought you wanted to marry Bono."
"That's if he doesn't strongly love me enough."
Lee giggled. "So you're a fan?"
"Fan with a capital F." She started to sing, "You look so perfect standing there..."
"In my American Apparell underwear," Lee sung back.
Then the girls started singing, "And I know now that I'm so down."
"Hey, you're a good singer," Lee complimented.
"Thank you. I'm in a band."
"Seriously?"
"Serious...ly."
"What is it called?"
"A New Yesterday."
"Ooh, capturing."
"That's what I thought."
"Is your band famous?"
"No. But we have videos on YouTube."
"Do a lot of people watch them?"
"No."
"Oh. I'm still going to watch them. You sound talented."
"Thanks for assuming."
Lee placed the car on top of the ramp.
Skye turned on the clock. She pressed the button to make the time turn on. "Go," she said.
Lee let go of the car, making the car slide down on the ramp. Skye stopped the time as soon as the car hit the block on the end of the ramp.
"More than two seconds," read Skye. "I can't wait to do this four more times."
"Yeah, this is kind of boring."
"Yeah."
"But do you know what's not boring?"
"What?"
"U2 is pre-selling tickets for their upcoming tour."
"Really?! I didn't know they were selling tickets."
"That's because it's online."
"I hope the ones online are not sold out."
"They're about to be."
"Ugh!"
"But I was planning to buy one. Perhaps I can buy you one."
"Can you do that for me?"
"Of course."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive! I need someone to go with me and I don't want to bring my mom. She's frightening."
"Well, if you insist..."
"I do insist. I might be able to get the front row tickets so you can close to your husband."
"Seriously?"
"Serious...ly."
"So, class, what you're going to be doing is finding the acceleration of the toy car. To do that, you will be setting up a ramp with the wooden board at a desired angle using the ten wooden blocks at the laboratory tables. As you do that, you will have to find the coefficient of friction provided by the toy car. Make sure to weigh the car and use a calculater to solve the coefficient of friction. Remember to convert numbers to their proper measurements. And use the equation provided on your papers when you record results. Now any questions?"
One of the male classmates raised his hand. "Yeah, can you repeat that?"
"Joshua, if I repeat that one more time, I'm going to have to whack with my meter stick."
The guy paused. "Wait, did you say 'meter'?"
"Just get up and go your labs!"
The students scooted out of their seats and quickly paired up with their desired friends. Skye did not immediately pair off with anyone, seeing that her friends of the class did not want to work with her. She looked around before being tapped in the shoulder.
"Hi, do you want to be partners?" asked a girl with short black hair hidden in a gray beanie.
"Sure," Skye shrugged.
The girls walked over to an empty counter with a wooden board and a miniature sports car. Skye slapped her blank piece of notebook paper on the table.
"I'm Lee," the girl introduced herself.
"Skye," she responded.
"Is that short for something?"
"Yeah, Skylar."
"Cool. My name is short for Leah."
"Cool as well."
"How come we've never talked?"
"Don't know. I'm just quiet."
"I could've sworn I have seen you boisterously speak to a group of people before in the hallway."
"Oh, those people got to be my friends. I only talk to them."
"Oh. Are you 'clique-y'?"
"Oh, no. Oh, God, no. I hate cliques. They're just my best friends. They hang out with other people, too, but we hang out with each other a lot."
"Okay. I am not a big fan of cliques myself. That's how bullying starts."
"I know, right? I'm joining an anti-bullying campaign on the internet."
"So am I. Which one?" Lee picked up the toy car and placed it on the metal scale on the counter.
"'1World, 1Heart'."
"I'm joining that as well."
"Really?" Skye drew lines on the paper to make a chart. "What's your username?"
"LeatherBunny603."
"I'm MarryMeBono."
"No way! I read your report on your childhood experience with bullying. I 'hearted' it."
"Thank you. And did you post a video on how little kids should report bullies to teachers?"
"Yes, I did."
"I watched it. And loved it. I wrote a comment on the video."
"Oh, I don't read my comments."
"You should. Mine was really nice."
Lee smiled.
"What's the weight?"
"0.63 kilograms," Lee read the scale.
Skye wrote the number down on the paper. "What angle do you want the board at?"
"Whatever works."
"Forty-five degrees?"
"I was just thinking that."
Skye collected two wooden blocks from the counter as Lee held up the board at a slanted angle. Skye slid the blocks under the board to hold it up. Lee grabbed a protactor from a plastic basket and held it at the end of the board to measure the angle.
"It is close to forty-five degrees," Lee stated.
"That's fine." Skye placed another block in front of the ramp-shaped board.
"Here's a timer." Lee passed a small stopwatch clock to Skye.
"Thanks. Hey, you like 5 Seconds of Summer?"
Lee looked down at her T-shirt, which had a 5 Seconds of Summer logo on it. "Yep."
"Me, too."
"But I'm obsessed with them."
"You can't spell 'obsess' when you're around me. I'd marry them all in a second."
"I thought you wanted to marry Bono."
"That's if he doesn't strongly love me enough."
Lee giggled. "So you're a fan?"
"Fan with a capital F." She started to sing, "You look so perfect standing there..."
"In my American Apparell underwear," Lee sung back.
Then the girls started singing, "And I know now that I'm so down."
"Hey, you're a good singer," Lee complimented.
"Thank you. I'm in a band."
"Seriously?"
"Serious...ly."
"What is it called?"
"A New Yesterday."
"Ooh, capturing."
"That's what I thought."
"Is your band famous?"
"No. But we have videos on YouTube."
"Do a lot of people watch them?"
"No."
"Oh. I'm still going to watch them. You sound talented."
"Thanks for assuming."
Lee placed the car on top of the ramp.
Skye turned on the clock. She pressed the button to make the time turn on. "Go," she said.
Lee let go of the car, making the car slide down on the ramp. Skye stopped the time as soon as the car hit the block on the end of the ramp.
"More than two seconds," read Skye. "I can't wait to do this four more times."
"Yeah, this is kind of boring."
"Yeah."
"But do you know what's not boring?"
"What?"
"U2 is pre-selling tickets for their upcoming tour."
"Really?! I didn't know they were selling tickets."
"That's because it's online."
"I hope the ones online are not sold out."
"They're about to be."
"Ugh!"
"But I was planning to buy one. Perhaps I can buy you one."
"Can you do that for me?"
"Of course."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive! I need someone to go with me and I don't want to bring my mom. She's frightening."
"Well, if you insist..."
"I do insist. I might be able to get the front row tickets so you can close to your husband."
"Seriously?"
"Serious...ly."
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
The Bad Breakup (Chapter 5)
It was a new Monday and lunchtime at school had started. The girls had to wait for Lizzie once again. They stared at the door to watch if Lizzie would enter sooner or later.
"Do you think Lizzie is coming?" asked Madeline.
"She's been pretty much ignoring us," said Andrea. "So who knows?"
"I hope that talk went well," wished Debra.
"Just remember that the idea was yours, Debbie and Maddie," Skye reminded.
Madeline stared at Skye.
Finally, Lizzie had entered the cafeteria with no tears in her eyes. The girls looked at her until she sat down where she usually sat at their table.
"Hi, Lizzie," Madeline greeted quietly.
"Hi, Maddie," Lizzie looked down. "Hi, girls."
The rest of the girls greeted her back.
"Are you okay?" asked Andrea.
"Yeah," Lizzie answered in a moping voice.
"Are you sure?" Skye asked.
"I mean things didn't work out. Our breakup has been finalized."
"I'm sorry, Liz'," said Madeline.
"It's okay. We had to fizzle one day or another."
"You two were so happy," said Debra.
"Well, the only way we can be happy now is to stay away from each other."
"Did you learn why he broke it off with you?" questioned Madeline.
"Yeah. I learned that I was too much for him."
"What does that mean?" asked Skye.
"He could not handle having a girlfriend who was prettier than him."
"Well, that's stupid," commented Andrea.
"Andrea!" Madeline called.
"I'm just saying. You deserve better than him."
"Thanks, Andrea. And thank you for being there for me, guys."
"We know you would have done the same for us," said Madeline.
"Not really."
Madeline frowned. "Oh."
"But it's nice to know you'd thought that."
"As long as you're thankful," said Debra. "Do you feel better?"
"Knowing that you guys care, I do now."
"Don't worry, Lizzie," said Andrea. "We're going to find you someone new."
"Someone who won't make you cry," Skye added while putting her arm around Lizzie.
"Thanks, girls," smiled Lizzie. "But I think I'm going to take a break from guys for a while. This heart is sealing up but the crack needs to go away."
"I like that metaphor," said Debra.
"Good. Can you explain it to me?"
Debra's smile grew blank.
"We're so happy that you're happy, Lizzie," commented Madeline.
"Me, too," Lizzie said. "I cried a lot, didn't I?"
"Oh, a lot," responded Skye.
"So much that you could've formed a river," said Andrea.
"Good thing you didn't cry too much," said Madeline, " or else, you would've died from dehydration."
"I could've died?" Lizzie panicked. "Why didn't you tell me that so I could have held my breath?"
"Yeah, Maddie, why didn't you tell her that?" Andrea asked.
Madeline stared confusingly at Andrea.
"Do you think Lizzie is coming?" asked Madeline.
"She's been pretty much ignoring us," said Andrea. "So who knows?"
"I hope that talk went well," wished Debra.
"Just remember that the idea was yours, Debbie and Maddie," Skye reminded.
Madeline stared at Skye.
Finally, Lizzie had entered the cafeteria with no tears in her eyes. The girls looked at her until she sat down where she usually sat at their table.
"Hi, Lizzie," Madeline greeted quietly.
"Hi, Maddie," Lizzie looked down. "Hi, girls."
The rest of the girls greeted her back.
"Are you okay?" asked Andrea.
"Yeah," Lizzie answered in a moping voice.
"Are you sure?" Skye asked.
"I mean things didn't work out. Our breakup has been finalized."
"I'm sorry, Liz'," said Madeline.
"It's okay. We had to fizzle one day or another."
"You two were so happy," said Debra.
"Well, the only way we can be happy now is to stay away from each other."
"Did you learn why he broke it off with you?" questioned Madeline.
"Yeah. I learned that I was too much for him."
"What does that mean?" asked Skye.
"He could not handle having a girlfriend who was prettier than him."
"Well, that's stupid," commented Andrea.
"Andrea!" Madeline called.
"I'm just saying. You deserve better than him."
"Thanks, Andrea. And thank you for being there for me, guys."
"We know you would have done the same for us," said Madeline.
"Not really."
Madeline frowned. "Oh."
"But it's nice to know you'd thought that."
"As long as you're thankful," said Debra. "Do you feel better?"
"Knowing that you guys care, I do now."
"Don't worry, Lizzie," said Andrea. "We're going to find you someone new."
"Someone who won't make you cry," Skye added while putting her arm around Lizzie.
"Thanks, girls," smiled Lizzie. "But I think I'm going to take a break from guys for a while. This heart is sealing up but the crack needs to go away."
"I like that metaphor," said Debra.
"Good. Can you explain it to me?"
Debra's smile grew blank.
"We're so happy that you're happy, Lizzie," commented Madeline.
"Me, too," Lizzie said. "I cried a lot, didn't I?"
"Oh, a lot," responded Skye.
"So much that you could've formed a river," said Andrea.
"Good thing you didn't cry too much," said Madeline, " or else, you would've died from dehydration."
"I could've died?" Lizzie panicked. "Why didn't you tell me that so I could have held my breath?"
"Yeah, Maddie, why didn't you tell her that?" Andrea asked.
Madeline stared confusingly at Andrea.
Monday, December 22, 2014
The Bad Breakup (Chapter 4)
The next day, after school, Lizzie dressed in her baggy clothing and drove home in her red car while sobbing non-stop. She opened the door with her key and once she set foot in the door, she spotted Hank sitting on the couch.
"Hi," he greeted almost shyly.
"What the frick are you doing here?" she asked with a shocked face.
"We let him in," said Lizzie's father, who entered the lobby with her mother.
"Why?"
"Because you've been very upset lately."
"And you said you would die if you don't see Hank," added Lizzie's mother. "And now you see him so you don't have to die."
"Your friends sent him over so it is very important that you two talk it out."
"But, dad, you don't like it when I have boyfriends," said Lizzie.
"Hey, it took me a lot of grapes to keep him here. I suggest you do this favor for me."
The parents walked out of the lobby and went upstairs. Lizzie wiped the inky tears from her cheeks and stared at Hank who was awkwardly staring at her back.
"Do you wanna sit?" he asked.
"It's my couch," Lizzie responded. "I decide whether I want to sit on it. But I'm going to anyway... because I want to."
She walked towards the couch and sat down a few inches from beside Hank. She sniffled to keep her nose from running.
"So... how are you?" he asked.
"Not good. Bad. Terrible. Worse than I ever have before."
Hank paused. "Well, it's nice to know you're doing well."
"Hank, why? Why did you leave me?
He sighed. "You're beautiful."
"Okay. So why did you leave me?"
"That's why."
"But you're beautiful, too."
"I know. I mean you don't know what it's like to have all these people to stop and stare at your girlfriend."
"That's true because I'm not lesbian."
"Lizzie, I can't have such a beautiful girlfriend. I especially don't deserve one."
"So you want an ugly girlfriend?"
"No but--"
"Why am I being punished for being pretty?"
"You're not."
"But I feel like I am."
"Lizzie, we can get back together if you can promise me one thing."
"Okay, what's the one thing?"
"If you start actually wearing those clothes that your parents make you wear."
"Like wear them, wear them?"
"Yes."
"You'll get back together with me if I start wearing ugly clothes?"
"Pretty much."
"Then I can't be with you."
"Why can't you do that for me?"
"Because those clothes make me who I am. Of course they come off as 'trashy' but I'm not trashy. I like to look nice and feel pretty. Those clothes are what you are not."
"What are you trying to say?"
"I'm saying that I can't be with someone who is so insecure."
"I'm not insecure."
"But that's how you're sounding. You got to like me for me and accept my choices. And I make very good choices... I think. Who cares what other people think?"
"I-- I--"
"Clearly you. I would never change you. I love you too much. But I guess I have to get over it."
"You don't have to--"
"But now I want to. Maybe one day, you'll be happy with someone who's the opposite of me because that's what you want." She wiped away the forming tears from the bottom of her eyes. "I think it's time for you to leave."
"Somehow, after talking to you, it gave me a realization."
"That you like ugly girls. I get it. I have nothing against them. Ugly people need love, too. I just wish I could have stayed with you longer."
"And you still be if--"
"Stop! Stop talking! Just leave, please."
"Lizzie, I'm sorry."
"It's too late to apologize!" she sang off-key.
Hank grew a saddened look on his face. He sighed before getting up from the couch and leaving the house, closing the door softly behind him.
"It's too late," Lizzie continued to sing quietly.
"Hi," he greeted almost shyly.
"What the frick are you doing here?" she asked with a shocked face.
"We let him in," said Lizzie's father, who entered the lobby with her mother.
"Why?"
"Because you've been very upset lately."
"And you said you would die if you don't see Hank," added Lizzie's mother. "And now you see him so you don't have to die."
"Your friends sent him over so it is very important that you two talk it out."
"But, dad, you don't like it when I have boyfriends," said Lizzie.
"Hey, it took me a lot of grapes to keep him here. I suggest you do this favor for me."
The parents walked out of the lobby and went upstairs. Lizzie wiped the inky tears from her cheeks and stared at Hank who was awkwardly staring at her back.
"Do you wanna sit?" he asked.
"It's my couch," Lizzie responded. "I decide whether I want to sit on it. But I'm going to anyway... because I want to."
She walked towards the couch and sat down a few inches from beside Hank. She sniffled to keep her nose from running.
"So... how are you?" he asked.
"Not good. Bad. Terrible. Worse than I ever have before."
Hank paused. "Well, it's nice to know you're doing well."
"Hank, why? Why did you leave me?
He sighed. "You're beautiful."
"Okay. So why did you leave me?"
"That's why."
"But you're beautiful, too."
"I know. I mean you don't know what it's like to have all these people to stop and stare at your girlfriend."
"That's true because I'm not lesbian."
"Lizzie, I can't have such a beautiful girlfriend. I especially don't deserve one."
"So you want an ugly girlfriend?"
"No but--"
"Why am I being punished for being pretty?"
"You're not."
"But I feel like I am."
"Lizzie, we can get back together if you can promise me one thing."
"Okay, what's the one thing?"
"If you start actually wearing those clothes that your parents make you wear."
"Like wear them, wear them?"
"Yes."
"You'll get back together with me if I start wearing ugly clothes?"
"Pretty much."
"Then I can't be with you."
"Why can't you do that for me?"
"Because those clothes make me who I am. Of course they come off as 'trashy' but I'm not trashy. I like to look nice and feel pretty. Those clothes are what you are not."
"What are you trying to say?"
"I'm saying that I can't be with someone who is so insecure."
"I'm not insecure."
"But that's how you're sounding. You got to like me for me and accept my choices. And I make very good choices... I think. Who cares what other people think?"
"I-- I--"
"Clearly you. I would never change you. I love you too much. But I guess I have to get over it."
"You don't have to--"
"But now I want to. Maybe one day, you'll be happy with someone who's the opposite of me because that's what you want." She wiped away the forming tears from the bottom of her eyes. "I think it's time for you to leave."
"Somehow, after talking to you, it gave me a realization."
"That you like ugly girls. I get it. I have nothing against them. Ugly people need love, too. I just wish I could have stayed with you longer."
"And you still be if--"
"Stop! Stop talking! Just leave, please."
"Lizzie, I'm sorry."
"It's too late to apologize!" she sang off-key.
Hank grew a saddened look on his face. He sighed before getting up from the couch and leaving the house, closing the door softly behind him.
"It's too late," Lizzie continued to sing quietly.
Sunday, December 21, 2014
The Bad Breakup (Chapter 3)
The next day, Lizzie still felt beaten up over her recent breakup with her boyfriend, Hank. Witnessing her breakdowns, Madeline and Debra took Lizzie to the park after school for some fresh air. They sat on the bench and watched the passer-bys and the green fields.
"Isn't this relaxing, Lizzie?" asked Debra. "The sun is out, the air is warm and everybody is happy."
Lizzie began to sniffle as her crying became softer and quieter.
"See, it's working," Debra told Madeline.
Suddenly, Lizzie's sobbing became louder than before. Her cries almost turned into shrieks. She buried her face in her wrists which were drowned by the sleeves of her lavender cardigan.
"See, it's not working," Madeline responded.
"Lizzie, you got to calm down and enjoy the fresh air," Debra said to Lizzie.
"Hank loved taking me to the park," Lizzie shuddered, lifting her head up. "We would have picnics, play frisbee and watch the sunset. Now we can't do that because he's gone!" She continued to bawl in her wrists.
"What did you see in him?" questioned Madeline.
"Obviously, he was a gentleman," said Debra.
"Well, gentlemen don't break up with girls unexpectedly."
Debra pulled out a tissue from her fringe tote bag. "Lizzie, honey, blow your nose. The mucus is getting in your mouth."
Lizzie took the tissue from Debra's hand and blew her nose once into it for a few seconds. She continued to weep as she balled up the tissue and stuck it on Debra's chest.
Debra gaped her mouth and plucked the tissue off of her shirt after letting out a tiny groan.
"Why are you so upset?" Madeline closed her eyes tightly. "Debra, can I talk to you for a sec?"
"Yes, you may," Debra hopped out of the seat while gawking at the snot stain on her T-shirt.
Madeline stood up. "Lizzie, we will be right back, okay?"
"Whatever," Lizzie replied. "Just let me die!" She laid down on the bench.
"Whatever is good for you, Liz'."
Debra and Madeline walked five yards from across the bench before stopping.
"We need to do something about Lizzie," said Madeline.
"No kidding," Debra responded. "I really like this shirt."
"You can always buy another... Ramones skirt. Look, I don't know what to do about Liz'. I'm running out of options."
"We can't stop helping her."
"I know. I wish Andrea and Skye were here to help us."
"They had to study."
"That's translation for 'We're not handling Lizzie's crazy crying right now'. But I don't blame them."
"Me, neither. Who cries that long?"
"I don't want her to dehydrate."
"I feel you."
"So what should we do?"
"Since Lizzie misses Hank, maybe we should put them in the same place."
"How you mean?"
"We need to get them to talk since they haven't talked in days. In order for Lizzie to get over him, they need closure."
"Exactly! We'll find him and talk him into speaking to Lizzie."
"Do you think we'll convince him?"
"Of course we can. We're social experts."
"That's right we are."
The two girls high-fived before walking back to the bench. They sat next to Lizzie, who was sitting up straight and sobbing into her hands, in their exact seats. They stared at the sniveling then wailing girl between them.
"Stop crying!" Madeline snapped.
"Isn't this relaxing, Lizzie?" asked Debra. "The sun is out, the air is warm and everybody is happy."
Lizzie began to sniffle as her crying became softer and quieter.
"See, it's working," Debra told Madeline.
Suddenly, Lizzie's sobbing became louder than before. Her cries almost turned into shrieks. She buried her face in her wrists which were drowned by the sleeves of her lavender cardigan.
"See, it's not working," Madeline responded.
"Lizzie, you got to calm down and enjoy the fresh air," Debra said to Lizzie.
"Hank loved taking me to the park," Lizzie shuddered, lifting her head up. "We would have picnics, play frisbee and watch the sunset. Now we can't do that because he's gone!" She continued to bawl in her wrists.
"What did you see in him?" questioned Madeline.
"Obviously, he was a gentleman," said Debra.
"Well, gentlemen don't break up with girls unexpectedly."
Debra pulled out a tissue from her fringe tote bag. "Lizzie, honey, blow your nose. The mucus is getting in your mouth."
Lizzie took the tissue from Debra's hand and blew her nose once into it for a few seconds. She continued to weep as she balled up the tissue and stuck it on Debra's chest.
Debra gaped her mouth and plucked the tissue off of her shirt after letting out a tiny groan.
"Why are you so upset?" Madeline closed her eyes tightly. "Debra, can I talk to you for a sec?"
"Yes, you may," Debra hopped out of the seat while gawking at the snot stain on her T-shirt.
Madeline stood up. "Lizzie, we will be right back, okay?"
"Whatever," Lizzie replied. "Just let me die!" She laid down on the bench.
"Whatever is good for you, Liz'."
Debra and Madeline walked five yards from across the bench before stopping.
"We need to do something about Lizzie," said Madeline.
"No kidding," Debra responded. "I really like this shirt."
"You can always buy another... Ramones skirt. Look, I don't know what to do about Liz'. I'm running out of options."
"We can't stop helping her."
"I know. I wish Andrea and Skye were here to help us."
"They had to study."
"That's translation for 'We're not handling Lizzie's crazy crying right now'. But I don't blame them."
"Me, neither. Who cries that long?"
"I don't want her to dehydrate."
"I feel you."
"So what should we do?"
"Since Lizzie misses Hank, maybe we should put them in the same place."
"How you mean?"
"We need to get them to talk since they haven't talked in days. In order for Lizzie to get over him, they need closure."
"Exactly! We'll find him and talk him into speaking to Lizzie."
"Do you think we'll convince him?"
"Of course we can. We're social experts."
"That's right we are."
The two girls high-fived before walking back to the bench. They sat next to Lizzie, who was sitting up straight and sobbing into her hands, in their exact seats. They stared at the sniveling then wailing girl between them.
"Stop crying!" Madeline snapped.
Friday, December 19, 2014
The Bad Breakup (Chapter 2)
After school, to cure Lizzie's heartache, the girls decided to take her to the mall. They took her to her favorite food place within the mall which was "I Scream", an ice cream shop. Madeline bought her a cup of strawberry ice cream with sprinkles and whipped cream. The girls sat down together at a nearby empty table to eat their ice cream; Lizzie was still sobbing, not minding the cold treat in front of her.
"Hey, Lizzie, don't you want to indulge in your ice cream?" asked Madeline. "It's your favorite: strawberry with candy sprinkles and low-fat Cool Whip."
"Nothing's cooler than Cool Whip," Andrea added, trying to make her laugh.
Lizzie sniffled and whimpered. "Hank used to buy me this type of ice cream when we would go on our ice cream dates. I can't look at this!" She tightly shut her mascara-smudged eyes.
"You called your dates 'ice cream dates'?" asked Skye.
"I miss Hank."
"Why?" questioned Madeline. "You can't miss someone who is going to drop you out like that. Hank's a bad person and they don't deserve to be missed."
Lizzie cried harder.
"I think I saw snot drip in her ice cream," Andrea commented.
"Oh, come on, Lizzie," pleaded Madeline. "Cheer up."
"You want some cheery cherries to go on your sundae?" asked Debra.
"Sunday!" Lizzie weeped. "That was Hank's favorite day."
"Come on," said Andrea. "He has a favorite day?"
"Lizzie, what can we do to make you feel better?" Madeline asked.
"I-I don't know," Lizzie replied in a trembling voice. "The only way I can feel better is if I get back together with Hank. But that's not going to happen because he doesn't love me anymore!"
"You-- You put on a little too much mascara today," said Andrea.
"Oh, I feel so bad," Debra admitted.
"Why would Hank break up with her?" asked Madeline, rubbing Lizzie's back. "This doesn't make any sense."
"He used to seem so nice," said Skye. "How can he do the jerkiest move in the book?"
"Maybe he loved her so much, he set her free," Debra insisted.
"You don't tell someone that they're not good enough for you because you love them," said Madeline.
"Maybe it's different now in our generation," said Andrea.
"Then we have to beat up every boy in our generation because I ain't having that."
"Lizzie will get over Hank," said Skye. "He couldn't have been that special."
"If she's crying, then he probably was that special. Especially to her. I mean look at her."
Lizzie dropped her head down into her cup of ice cream.
"Aw, she's getting mascara in her ice cream," said Andrea.
"I don't got time for this," Madeline looked at her silver watch. "I'm on break."
"Hey, Lizzie, don't you want to indulge in your ice cream?" asked Madeline. "It's your favorite: strawberry with candy sprinkles and low-fat Cool Whip."
"Nothing's cooler than Cool Whip," Andrea added, trying to make her laugh.
Lizzie sniffled and whimpered. "Hank used to buy me this type of ice cream when we would go on our ice cream dates. I can't look at this!" She tightly shut her mascara-smudged eyes.
"You called your dates 'ice cream dates'?" asked Skye.
"I miss Hank."
"Why?" questioned Madeline. "You can't miss someone who is going to drop you out like that. Hank's a bad person and they don't deserve to be missed."
Lizzie cried harder.
"I think I saw snot drip in her ice cream," Andrea commented.
"Oh, come on, Lizzie," pleaded Madeline. "Cheer up."
"You want some cheery cherries to go on your sundae?" asked Debra.
"Sunday!" Lizzie weeped. "That was Hank's favorite day."
"Come on," said Andrea. "He has a favorite day?"
"Lizzie, what can we do to make you feel better?" Madeline asked.
"I-I don't know," Lizzie replied in a trembling voice. "The only way I can feel better is if I get back together with Hank. But that's not going to happen because he doesn't love me anymore!"
"You-- You put on a little too much mascara today," said Andrea.
"Oh, I feel so bad," Debra admitted.
"Why would Hank break up with her?" asked Madeline, rubbing Lizzie's back. "This doesn't make any sense."
"He used to seem so nice," said Skye. "How can he do the jerkiest move in the book?"
"Maybe he loved her so much, he set her free," Debra insisted.
"You don't tell someone that they're not good enough for you because you love them," said Madeline.
"Maybe it's different now in our generation," said Andrea.
"Then we have to beat up every boy in our generation because I ain't having that."
"Lizzie will get over Hank," said Skye. "He couldn't have been that special."
"If she's crying, then he probably was that special. Especially to her. I mean look at her."
Lizzie dropped her head down into her cup of ice cream.
"Aw, she's getting mascara in her ice cream," said Andrea.
"I don't got time for this," Madeline looked at her silver watch. "I'm on break."
Thursday, December 18, 2014
The Bad Breakup (Chapter 1)
In a bright and shining afternoon, the girls attended lunch in the school cafeteria. They instantly felt something was missing then realized it was Lizzie. The girls turned their heads, looking for Lizzie.
"Do you guys know where Lizzie is?" asked Madeline.
"Have no idea," responded Skye. "She should have been here two minutes ago."
"Maybe she had to finish something for class," said Debra.
"Or maybe she's having a quick make-out sesh with Hanky-Tank," Andrea said singsongy.
"Hanky-Tank?"
"You know, like Honky Tonk except his name is Hank."
"It probably has something to do with Hank," said Madeline. "They're very close."
"Maybe closer than ever," added Skye.
"But he hasn't been sitting here that often."
"Hank has friends," said Andrea. "He has to sit them. Like we don't sit with our boyfriends."
"That's because we have no boyfriends."
"Now when you say it like that, you make it sound sad."
Immediately, Lizzie entered the cafeteria running. She quickly sat down in her usual spot at her friends' table and buried her head in her arms on the table, making loud, yowling sounds.
"Speaking of sad..." Skye started.
"Liz', what's wrong?" asked Madeline, putting her hand on her back.
Lizzie lifted her head up, showing inky tears running down her face. "Hank broke up with me," she responded, almost stuttering.
"What?" Debra's eyes widened.
"Why did he break up with you?" Madeline questioned.
"He said... I wasn't good enough for him," Lizzie mewled.
"He didn't say that," said Skye.
"Well, that's what he said!"
"Is that it?" asked Madeline. "Did he say something else?"
Lizzie wiped her nose. "He said... that he... just doesn't feel it anymore." She dropped her head on the table.
"Feel what?" Andrea asked curiously.
"You know what," said Madeline. "It means he doesn't love her anymore."
Lizzie quickly sat up. "Don't say that!"
"I'm-- I'm sorry."
"So he just automatically stopped loving you?" asked Skye.
"Yep," Lizzie sniffled. "He just automatically -- touch it, play it, turn it -- stopped loving me! Why?!"
"I have no idea," said Andrea, almost in a form of a question.
Lizzie laid her face back on the table and continued to cry.
"Aw, Lizzie," Debra's face saddened.
Madeline rubbed Lizzie's back. "I don't understand this. Lizzie's a great girl."
"He doesn't appear to think so," said Andrea.
"Andrea."
"Lizzie, everything will be alright," said Skye. "It's not like the world is ending."
"Yes, it is!" Lizzie yelled with her head still down. "My world is tumbling down!"
"Well, your world. But this world--"
"Skye, you're not helping," Madeline interrupted her.
"I don't think either of us is helping," said Debra.
"Lizzie, do you want me to buy you lunch? It is lunch time."
"No," Lizzie sniffled. "I don't want to eat. I just want to starve to death!"
"Well, technically, you can't starve to death in a day. People in certain countries fast and you got a bit of curves so it will take you a while to starve--"
"Madeline, you're not helping," Skye interrupted her that time.
"Do you guys know where Lizzie is?" asked Madeline.
"Have no idea," responded Skye. "She should have been here two minutes ago."
"Maybe she had to finish something for class," said Debra.
"Or maybe she's having a quick make-out sesh with Hanky-Tank," Andrea said singsongy.
"Hanky-Tank?"
"You know, like Honky Tonk except his name is Hank."
"It probably has something to do with Hank," said Madeline. "They're very close."
"Maybe closer than ever," added Skye.
"But he hasn't been sitting here that often."
"Hank has friends," said Andrea. "He has to sit them. Like we don't sit with our boyfriends."
"That's because we have no boyfriends."
"Now when you say it like that, you make it sound sad."
Immediately, Lizzie entered the cafeteria running. She quickly sat down in her usual spot at her friends' table and buried her head in her arms on the table, making loud, yowling sounds.
"Speaking of sad..." Skye started.
"Liz', what's wrong?" asked Madeline, putting her hand on her back.
Lizzie lifted her head up, showing inky tears running down her face. "Hank broke up with me," she responded, almost stuttering.
"What?" Debra's eyes widened.
"Why did he break up with you?" Madeline questioned.
"He said... I wasn't good enough for him," Lizzie mewled.
"He didn't say that," said Skye.
"Well, that's what he said!"
"Is that it?" asked Madeline. "Did he say something else?"
Lizzie wiped her nose. "He said... that he... just doesn't feel it anymore." She dropped her head on the table.
"Feel what?" Andrea asked curiously.
"You know what," said Madeline. "It means he doesn't love her anymore."
Lizzie quickly sat up. "Don't say that!"
"I'm-- I'm sorry."
"So he just automatically stopped loving you?" asked Skye.
"Yep," Lizzie sniffled. "He just automatically -- touch it, play it, turn it -- stopped loving me! Why?!"
"I have no idea," said Andrea, almost in a form of a question.
Lizzie laid her face back on the table and continued to cry.
"Aw, Lizzie," Debra's face saddened.
Madeline rubbed Lizzie's back. "I don't understand this. Lizzie's a great girl."
"He doesn't appear to think so," said Andrea.
"Andrea."
"Lizzie, everything will be alright," said Skye. "It's not like the world is ending."
"Yes, it is!" Lizzie yelled with her head still down. "My world is tumbling down!"
"Well, your world. But this world--"
"Skye, you're not helping," Madeline interrupted her.
"I don't think either of us is helping," said Debra.
"Lizzie, do you want me to buy you lunch? It is lunch time."
"No," Lizzie sniffled. "I don't want to eat. I just want to starve to death!"
"Well, technically, you can't starve to death in a day. People in certain countries fast and you got a bit of curves so it will take you a while to starve--"
"Madeline, you're not helping," Skye interrupted her that time.
Sunday, December 14, 2014
I Wanna Be... (Chapter 5)
The next week, the girls were settled in school. And Andrea and Debra were in their English class, prepared to present their collages along with the other students who did the project.
The teacher enter the classroom once the bell rung. "Good morning, class. I see you all got your assignments done. Except for you, Horace." He walked up to a male student who was sitting by the middle aisle of the desks.
"Hey, I got it done," Horace answered. "I just didn't bring it with me."
"Because there's nothing to bring?"
"You watch. I'll bring it in tomorrow."
"Yes, and I will see how undone it turns out. So, class, who wants to present their collage first?" he declared.
The classroom was silent.
"Anybody?... Anybody. Nobody? Come on, you all are going to have to present someday. Any takers?... No takers? None? Just none. I will give you extra credit... Huh, so you guys don't want extra credit? If you didn't know, it improves your grade. Nobody?"
Slowly, Andrea raised her hand.
"Ah, Andrea. Thank you. I am proud that somebody has courage. I'm not going to give you extra credit, though, because you responded too long."
Andrea picked up the folded-in piece of cardboard by her chair. She got up with it and walked in front of the classroom. The teacher brought in a chair for Andrea to sit her display on.
Before she spoke, she took a deep breath and held her hands together. "It took me a while to complete this project. However, I got over my fears and created this collage. Before I reveal it, I want to say that the reason I was struggling with this is because I had no idea who I wanted to be. But I got some help and now I know my aspirations for the future."
She opened the flaps of the cardboard to expose her collage. It consisted of pictures of Andrea's best friends with lengthy descriptions taped under them along with bright colored paper as borders and backgrounds. Seeing the collage opened Debra's eyes much wider.
"My aspiration is to be just like my best friends," Andrea continued. "My friends are Madeline King, Lizzie Duvall, Skye Carter and Debra Lincoln. Wave, Debra."
Debra grinned and waved to the class.
"See, Skye wishes to become a veternarian because of her love for animals and healing them when they're hurt. However, if she could do something on the side, she hopes to be a rock musician for her love of music. Who inspires her are Bono, Jack White and Kurt Cobain. Lizzie wishes to be a supermodel based off her love for fashion. She told me that she 'loves to walk' so she hopes to march on runways and appear in magazines. Models like Karli Kloss and Kendall Jenner inspire her. Debra, hi, wants to be a yoga instructor. Her love for exercise and relaxation inspires her to pass this dream onto others to promote serenity. Debra will probably explain more later when she presents. And lastly, Madeline aspires to be an actress. The next Judy Garland. She says Audrey Hepburn but I say Judy Garland. She dreams to be in Hollywood movies and plays in Broadway. And the thing is she really believes in herself. Now, how does all of this have anything to do with me you might ask? Well, I aspire to be just like my friends because they all have dreams. And I don't have any dreams. I wish to be as ambitious as them one day so I can know what I really want to do. They also inspire me to work hard, keep my head up high, and just stay true to myself. And I hope that they do so every day because friendship is important for my future. Thank you."
The class immediately applauded her. Andrea did a little curtsy before handing her collage to the teacher and sitting down in her seat. Debra leaned over her desk and touched Andrea's shoulder. Andrea turned her head.
"That was amazing," commented Debra.
"Thanks, Debbie," Andrea held Debra's hand.
"Maybe, one day, I can aspire to be like you."
"Girl, you already know what you want."
"I know. But that was great."
"Thank you."
"That was very touching, Andrea," said the teacher.
"Thanks," Andrea mouthed.
"Maybe that could inspire Horace to do his project as his response is crying."
Horace wiped one of the running tears from his cheek. "I'm not crying," he said in a quavering voice. "I was chopping onions."
"How you going to chop onions in class, you crybaby?"
The teacher enter the classroom once the bell rung. "Good morning, class. I see you all got your assignments done. Except for you, Horace." He walked up to a male student who was sitting by the middle aisle of the desks.
"Hey, I got it done," Horace answered. "I just didn't bring it with me."
"Because there's nothing to bring?"
"You watch. I'll bring it in tomorrow."
"Yes, and I will see how undone it turns out. So, class, who wants to present their collage first?" he declared.
The classroom was silent.
"Anybody?... Anybody. Nobody? Come on, you all are going to have to present someday. Any takers?... No takers? None? Just none. I will give you extra credit... Huh, so you guys don't want extra credit? If you didn't know, it improves your grade. Nobody?"
Slowly, Andrea raised her hand.
"Ah, Andrea. Thank you. I am proud that somebody has courage. I'm not going to give you extra credit, though, because you responded too long."
Andrea picked up the folded-in piece of cardboard by her chair. She got up with it and walked in front of the classroom. The teacher brought in a chair for Andrea to sit her display on.
Before she spoke, she took a deep breath and held her hands together. "It took me a while to complete this project. However, I got over my fears and created this collage. Before I reveal it, I want to say that the reason I was struggling with this is because I had no idea who I wanted to be. But I got some help and now I know my aspirations for the future."
She opened the flaps of the cardboard to expose her collage. It consisted of pictures of Andrea's best friends with lengthy descriptions taped under them along with bright colored paper as borders and backgrounds. Seeing the collage opened Debra's eyes much wider.
"My aspiration is to be just like my best friends," Andrea continued. "My friends are Madeline King, Lizzie Duvall, Skye Carter and Debra Lincoln. Wave, Debra."
Debra grinned and waved to the class.
"See, Skye wishes to become a veternarian because of her love for animals and healing them when they're hurt. However, if she could do something on the side, she hopes to be a rock musician for her love of music. Who inspires her are Bono, Jack White and Kurt Cobain. Lizzie wishes to be a supermodel based off her love for fashion. She told me that she 'loves to walk' so she hopes to march on runways and appear in magazines. Models like Karli Kloss and Kendall Jenner inspire her. Debra, hi, wants to be a yoga instructor. Her love for exercise and relaxation inspires her to pass this dream onto others to promote serenity. Debra will probably explain more later when she presents. And lastly, Madeline aspires to be an actress. The next Judy Garland. She says Audrey Hepburn but I say Judy Garland. She dreams to be in Hollywood movies and plays in Broadway. And the thing is she really believes in herself. Now, how does all of this have anything to do with me you might ask? Well, I aspire to be just like my friends because they all have dreams. And I don't have any dreams. I wish to be as ambitious as them one day so I can know what I really want to do. They also inspire me to work hard, keep my head up high, and just stay true to myself. And I hope that they do so every day because friendship is important for my future. Thank you."
The class immediately applauded her. Andrea did a little curtsy before handing her collage to the teacher and sitting down in her seat. Debra leaned over her desk and touched Andrea's shoulder. Andrea turned her head.
"That was amazing," commented Debra.
"Thanks, Debbie," Andrea held Debra's hand.
"Maybe, one day, I can aspire to be like you."
"Girl, you already know what you want."
"I know. But that was great."
"Thank you."
"That was very touching, Andrea," said the teacher.
"Thanks," Andrea mouthed.
"Maybe that could inspire Horace to do his project as his response is crying."
Horace wiped one of the running tears from his cheek. "I'm not crying," he said in a quavering voice. "I was chopping onions."
"How you going to chop onions in class, you crybaby?"
Friday, December 12, 2014
I Wanna Be... (Chapter 4)
Lastly, the day after, Andrea drove over to Madeline's house after school for more information that would help her with her project. Madeline let her in and took her into her bedroom to where they chatted.
Madeline held a pink polo shirt in front of her upper body. "Do you think this will look good on me?" she asked, tilting her head.
"Come on, Maddie," said Andrea. "Everything looks good on you."
"Aw, thanks."
"But it does look a little loose."
Madeline pouted and threw the shirt at Andrea. Andrea giggled and put the shirt over to the side. Madeline went through her open closet as Andrea asked her query:
"Madeline, can you help me with my homework?"
"Oh, you came to the right place. And by 'help', do you mean 'help', not 'do'?"
"Of course."
"Okay, then. What do you need help with?"
"I have to complete a project for English class next week and it's on aspirations."
"Oh, aspirations. I know a little something about that; I describe myself as 'ambitious'."
"Cool. So on the project, we have to explain our dream future. But I don't know who I want to be."
"You don't know who you want to be? That's ridiculous."
"No, that's me."
"Everybody--"
"I know, I know! Everybody knows who they want to be. I get it. But I don't want to be just anything so I have to really think hard about this."
"So you're telling me there's not one thing you want to be or do in the future?"
"Nope."
"Not one thing?"
"Nada."
"Dig deep, Andy. Dig deep."
"I mean I want to be Jennifer Lopez but there's only one of her so I can't be her."
"It's hard to compare to J-Lo. But there's gotta be something that you wish to do in the future."
"What do you want to be in the future?"
"That's easy; an actress. You know that."
"I know; I just wanted to hear it again."
"Are you sure? One time, I got the lead role in a play and your boyfriend got to be a co-lead. As this upsetted you, you came up on stage the night of the play and embarrassed everybody."
"Yeah, you don't have to bring that up."
"Sorry but it happened. You know I forgave you. But, yeah, I want to be an actress. Hollywood, Broadway, all of the good stuff. You know I've been in ten plays? I keep the hope alive every day. Every chance I get. 'Would you like tea, sir?' 'There's no place like home.' 'I think they're coming through the attic, mama!' I practice even when I don't need to practice. But you know what they say: practice makes perfect. I want my name in lights, glitter, a bold font printed on the television. I don't want to be in just plays. I want to be in TV series, films, commercials. I can do a Pepsi commercial like Sofia Vergara. 'Pepsi.' See? I am probably better than I think. See, having a dream is not just about what you want to do; it's what you can do. And I can act till I just can't act no more. That's right; I used a double negative. And I don't care because I can take on the world."
"Wow, Madeline, you're really... ambitious."
"That's what I call myself."
"I wish I could think just like you but there's nada in this noggin."
"Come on, there has to be algo in your noggin."
"I just don't know who I want to be. And what I do now isn't something I look forward to doing in the future. Why can't I be like you or the girls?"
"Do you want to be like me or the girls?"
"I want to think like you."
"Then you have your project."
"What?"
"An aspiration is a dream but it is also a hope. What do you hope for?"
"I hope to be like my friends."
"There you go. You got it."
"I got it?"
"That's your project."
"Oh, my gosh! Thank you, Maddie! And I think I know where to start. Oh, thank you!"
"Don't thank me now; save it when I'm on Broadway."
"It could take you years to be on Broadway."
"Andrea, I just helped you with your homework. Don't be a dream killer right now."
Madeline held a pink polo shirt in front of her upper body. "Do you think this will look good on me?" she asked, tilting her head.
"Come on, Maddie," said Andrea. "Everything looks good on you."
"Aw, thanks."
"But it does look a little loose."
Madeline pouted and threw the shirt at Andrea. Andrea giggled and put the shirt over to the side. Madeline went through her open closet as Andrea asked her query:
"Madeline, can you help me with my homework?"
"Oh, you came to the right place. And by 'help', do you mean 'help', not 'do'?"
"Of course."
"Okay, then. What do you need help with?"
"I have to complete a project for English class next week and it's on aspirations."
"Oh, aspirations. I know a little something about that; I describe myself as 'ambitious'."
"Cool. So on the project, we have to explain our dream future. But I don't know who I want to be."
"You don't know who you want to be? That's ridiculous."
"No, that's me."
"Everybody--"
"I know, I know! Everybody knows who they want to be. I get it. But I don't want to be just anything so I have to really think hard about this."
"So you're telling me there's not one thing you want to be or do in the future?"
"Nope."
"Not one thing?"
"Nada."
"Dig deep, Andy. Dig deep."
"I mean I want to be Jennifer Lopez but there's only one of her so I can't be her."
"It's hard to compare to J-Lo. But there's gotta be something that you wish to do in the future."
"What do you want to be in the future?"
"That's easy; an actress. You know that."
"I know; I just wanted to hear it again."
"Are you sure? One time, I got the lead role in a play and your boyfriend got to be a co-lead. As this upsetted you, you came up on stage the night of the play and embarrassed everybody."
"Yeah, you don't have to bring that up."
"Sorry but it happened. You know I forgave you. But, yeah, I want to be an actress. Hollywood, Broadway, all of the good stuff. You know I've been in ten plays? I keep the hope alive every day. Every chance I get. 'Would you like tea, sir?' 'There's no place like home.' 'I think they're coming through the attic, mama!' I practice even when I don't need to practice. But you know what they say: practice makes perfect. I want my name in lights, glitter, a bold font printed on the television. I don't want to be in just plays. I want to be in TV series, films, commercials. I can do a Pepsi commercial like Sofia Vergara. 'Pepsi.' See? I am probably better than I think. See, having a dream is not just about what you want to do; it's what you can do. And I can act till I just can't act no more. That's right; I used a double negative. And I don't care because I can take on the world."
"Wow, Madeline, you're really... ambitious."
"That's what I call myself."
"I wish I could think just like you but there's nada in this noggin."
"Come on, there has to be algo in your noggin."
"I just don't know who I want to be. And what I do now isn't something I look forward to doing in the future. Why can't I be like you or the girls?"
"Do you want to be like me or the girls?"
"I want to think like you."
"Then you have your project."
"What?"
"An aspiration is a dream but it is also a hope. What do you hope for?"
"I hope to be like my friends."
"There you go. You got it."
"I got it?"
"That's your project."
"Oh, my gosh! Thank you, Maddie! And I think I know where to start. Oh, thank you!"
"Don't thank me now; save it when I'm on Broadway."
"It could take you years to be on Broadway."
"Andrea, I just helped you with your homework. Don't be a dream killer right now."
Thursday, December 11, 2014
I Wanna Be... (Chapter 3)
The following day, also after school, Andrea made plans to hang out with Lizzie at her house. They mostly spent time in Lizzie's bedroom where they performed yoga by stretching each other as they sat on the floor and faced each other.
Lizzie pulled Andrea's arms with Lizzie leaning back and Andrea leaning forward. "You are going to be so flexible when we're done."
"Isn't touching my toes enough?" Andrea asked in a straining voice.
"Nope, you want to be able to bend backwards. Like that girl from Chandelier."
"Oh, I've always wanted to dance like that girl from Chandelier."
The girls started singing, "I'm gonna swing from the chandelier. From the chandelier."
Andrea pulled Lizzie's arms to make her lean forward. "Does this make your butt bigger?" she asked.
"No, that's the squat's job."
"Oh, I do plenty of that."
"I do squats in my sleep. Seriously, my parents had to take me to the hospital to figure out what did that meant."
"That's weird."
"At least I was getting more exercise."
"Hey, can you help me with something?"
"Sure, anything."
"Can you help me with a homework assignment?"
"Oh, I think you're asking the wrong person."
"No, it's sort of an easy assignment."
"Oh, I do good with easy assignments."
"Uh-huh. I have to make a collage about who I want to be."
"And?"
"I don't know who I want to be."
"Don't you want to be you?"
"Yes, but I got to have a job. And I don't know what job I want."
"Everybody knows what job they want."
"But I don't know."
"That sounds sad to me. You won't have a career?"
"It's not that I won't have one; it's more about where to start. What do you want to be in the future?"
"Easy! I want to be a model."
"Why?"
"Why not? I'm tall and beautiful. Sort of. I'm still figuring it all out but I wish to become a famous supermodel. I love fashion and walking so why not combine the two?"
"Wow, that is very inspiring."
"But if all falls from grace, I want to be a mannequin."
"A-A mannequin?"
"Yep. Just stand in front of the windows and pose."
"Uh... I think that requires fake people."
"Ugh! Why do fake people have it all?"
Later that afternoon, Andrea went over Debra's house. She asked Lizzie if she wanted to come along but Lizzie told her that she wanted to study. So Andrea drove down to Debra's house all by herself. She was let in by Debra's father and hung out with Debra in her room.
"Do you smell that smell?" Debra asked.
Andrea sat on Debra's bed which had a spread covered with a big peace sign. "Yes, what is that smell?"
"Berry sherbet, coming from my new candle." Debra aimed her arms over to her nightstand which had the lit candle on top of it.
"Don't fires ruin the environment?"
"No, that's only if they're near trees. And I ain't got no trees in here."
Andrea turned her head. "You have that little Asian tree over there," she pointed at the plant on the dresser.
"Well, I'll do my best to keep these two separated."
"Debra, can I ask you a question?"
"I'm not doing your homework for you."
"I don't want my homework done by anyone except myself."
"Then what do you need help with?"
Andrea paused. "My homework."
"Of course."
"No, it's different. Totally different. I need to know who I am."
"Uh, should you know that?"
"Yes, and I do. But I have no clear idea of who I want to be when I grow up."
"Everyone knows--"
"You already told me that."
"Yeah, and I'll say it again. Andrea, look at all the people on TV. They are all different. What they do is based off what they like. What do you like?"
"I like to shop."
"Then become a buyer."
"But that sounds complicated than it should be. I got to go to college for that and I don't want to go to college."
"You don't want to go to college?"
"Well, I haven't thought about it that much. I'm only sixteen."
"And getting old. Meaning you have to decide what you want to do now."
"What do you want to do?"
"I want to teach yoga. You know, become a yoga instructor. I do yoga every day and I pretty much mastered it so why not teach it? It really opened my mind to explore new things as long as I'm cool, calm and collected."
"Hmm."
"What? That's not good enough?"
"No, I just like the idea."
"Thank you, Andrea."
"So you like sherbet?"
"Yeah."
"What does it taste like?"
"Oh, no, I don't eat that crap. I prefer to smell it."
Lizzie pulled Andrea's arms with Lizzie leaning back and Andrea leaning forward. "You are going to be so flexible when we're done."
"Isn't touching my toes enough?" Andrea asked in a straining voice.
"Nope, you want to be able to bend backwards. Like that girl from Chandelier."
"Oh, I've always wanted to dance like that girl from Chandelier."
The girls started singing, "I'm gonna swing from the chandelier. From the chandelier."
Andrea pulled Lizzie's arms to make her lean forward. "Does this make your butt bigger?" she asked.
"No, that's the squat's job."
"Oh, I do plenty of that."
"I do squats in my sleep. Seriously, my parents had to take me to the hospital to figure out what did that meant."
"That's weird."
"At least I was getting more exercise."
"Hey, can you help me with something?"
"Sure, anything."
"Can you help me with a homework assignment?"
"Oh, I think you're asking the wrong person."
"No, it's sort of an easy assignment."
"Oh, I do good with easy assignments."
"Uh-huh. I have to make a collage about who I want to be."
"And?"
"I don't know who I want to be."
"Don't you want to be you?"
"Yes, but I got to have a job. And I don't know what job I want."
"Everybody knows what job they want."
"But I don't know."
"That sounds sad to me. You won't have a career?"
"It's not that I won't have one; it's more about where to start. What do you want to be in the future?"
"Easy! I want to be a model."
"Why?"
"Why not? I'm tall and beautiful. Sort of. I'm still figuring it all out but I wish to become a famous supermodel. I love fashion and walking so why not combine the two?"
"Wow, that is very inspiring."
"But if all falls from grace, I want to be a mannequin."
"A-A mannequin?"
"Yep. Just stand in front of the windows and pose."
"Uh... I think that requires fake people."
"Ugh! Why do fake people have it all?"
Later that afternoon, Andrea went over Debra's house. She asked Lizzie if she wanted to come along but Lizzie told her that she wanted to study. So Andrea drove down to Debra's house all by herself. She was let in by Debra's father and hung out with Debra in her room.
"Do you smell that smell?" Debra asked.
Andrea sat on Debra's bed which had a spread covered with a big peace sign. "Yes, what is that smell?"
"Berry sherbet, coming from my new candle." Debra aimed her arms over to her nightstand which had the lit candle on top of it.
"Don't fires ruin the environment?"
"No, that's only if they're near trees. And I ain't got no trees in here."
Andrea turned her head. "You have that little Asian tree over there," she pointed at the plant on the dresser.
"Well, I'll do my best to keep these two separated."
"Debra, can I ask you a question?"
"I'm not doing your homework for you."
"I don't want my homework done by anyone except myself."
"Then what do you need help with?"
Andrea paused. "My homework."
"Of course."
"No, it's different. Totally different. I need to know who I am."
"Uh, should you know that?"
"Yes, and I do. But I have no clear idea of who I want to be when I grow up."
"Everyone knows--"
"You already told me that."
"Yeah, and I'll say it again. Andrea, look at all the people on TV. They are all different. What they do is based off what they like. What do you like?"
"I like to shop."
"Then become a buyer."
"But that sounds complicated than it should be. I got to go to college for that and I don't want to go to college."
"You don't want to go to college?"
"Well, I haven't thought about it that much. I'm only sixteen."
"And getting old. Meaning you have to decide what you want to do now."
"What do you want to do?"
"I want to teach yoga. You know, become a yoga instructor. I do yoga every day and I pretty much mastered it so why not teach it? It really opened my mind to explore new things as long as I'm cool, calm and collected."
"Hmm."
"What? That's not good enough?"
"No, I just like the idea."
"Thank you, Andrea."
"So you like sherbet?"
"Yeah."
"What does it taste like?"
"Oh, no, I don't eat that crap. I prefer to smell it."
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
I Wanna Be... (Chapter 2)
The next day, after school, Andrea paid a visit to Skye's home, making a plan with her to come over her apartment. There, the girls chilled in Skye's punk-themed bedroom where Skye wanted Andrea's true opinion on a song cover that she was going to do. They both sat down on the floor next to the black-sheeted bed. Skye plugged in her blue keyboard to a near outlet on her white wall and set it on her lap to play the keys of a groovy yet modern, deep-sounding tune.
And I feel
That time's a wasted go
So where you going to tomorrow?
And I see
That these are lies to come
Would you even care?
And I feel it
And I feel it
Where you going to tomorrow?
Where you going with that mask I found?
And I feel and I feel
When the dogs begin to smell her
Will she smell alone?
When the dogs do find her
Got time, time, to wait for tomorrow
To find it, to find it, to find it
When the dogs do find her
Got time, time, to wait for tomorrow
To find it, to find it, to find it
To find it
To find it
To find it...
Andrea clapped. "That was good."
"Really? Thanks," said Skye.
"It seems like you get better and better every day."
"The secret is saltwater."
"Really?"
"No. I mean Danny O'Donoughe snort saltwater to sing better but that is probably why he had a collapsed lung."
"Is that bad?"
"Does a collapsed lung sound good?"
"You're right."
"I love playing songs like the ones by Stone Temple Pilots. Grunge really needs to come back."
"I bet you can make it come back, seeing how talented you are."
"Aw! Okay, what's the catch?"
"Dang it. I need help."
"If there's a body in your car, I have nothing to do with that."
"No, not that. I mean I don't have a body in my car. I hurt, never kill. It's a homework assignment."
"Yeah, I'm not doing your homework either."
"I don't want you to do my homework. I actually need help."
"Fine. What do you need help with?"
"I need you to help me figure who I want to be."
"That's easy; just ask yourself."
"I did and I wouldn't give myself any answers."
"How come you don't know what you want to be when you grow up?"
"I don't know. I never really thought about it. Now when I try to, nothing comes to mind."
"That's crazy. There has to be one thing you want to be."
"Nope. Maybe I just need ideas. What do you want to be when you grow up."
"Uh-uh, you're not stealing my dream."
"I'm not going to steal your dream. I just need to ignite a fire of thoughts."
"Well, I hope to be a veternarian because I love animals. I know I eat meat and poultry and whatnot but I, honestly, genuinely care about animals. I might go to veternarian school after graduation. But if the dream dies, I wish to become... a rocker. I love performing with the guys in our band. I hope to make A New Yesterday into something more. Plus, I love making music so why wouldn't I become a rockstar?"
"Interesting."
"It is interesting."
"Is there a chance I could be a singer as well?"
"Well, I can't make you not be a singer."
"Can I see your keyboard to know if I have something there?"
"Sure, why not?"
Skye lifted the keyboard off her lap and placed it on Andrea's lap. Andrea turned it around to face the keys towards her. She looked down at the keyboard for a few seconds before playing the keys erradically.
"My anaconds don't--" she sang before Skye interrupted her.
"No," Skye took the keyboard from Andrea's lap.
And I feel
That time's a wasted go
So where you going to tomorrow?
And I see
That these are lies to come
Would you even care?
And I feel it
And I feel it
Where you going to tomorrow?
Where you going with that mask I found?
And I feel and I feel
When the dogs begin to smell her
Will she smell alone?
When the dogs do find her
Got time, time, to wait for tomorrow
To find it, to find it, to find it
When the dogs do find her
Got time, time, to wait for tomorrow
To find it, to find it, to find it
To find it
To find it
To find it...
Andrea clapped. "That was good."
"Really? Thanks," said Skye.
"It seems like you get better and better every day."
"The secret is saltwater."
"Really?"
"No. I mean Danny O'Donoughe snort saltwater to sing better but that is probably why he had a collapsed lung."
"Is that bad?"
"Does a collapsed lung sound good?"
"You're right."
"I love playing songs like the ones by Stone Temple Pilots. Grunge really needs to come back."
"I bet you can make it come back, seeing how talented you are."
"Aw! Okay, what's the catch?"
"Dang it. I need help."
"If there's a body in your car, I have nothing to do with that."
"No, not that. I mean I don't have a body in my car. I hurt, never kill. It's a homework assignment."
"Yeah, I'm not doing your homework either."
"I don't want you to do my homework. I actually need help."
"Fine. What do you need help with?"
"I need you to help me figure who I want to be."
"That's easy; just ask yourself."
"I did and I wouldn't give myself any answers."
"How come you don't know what you want to be when you grow up?"
"I don't know. I never really thought about it. Now when I try to, nothing comes to mind."
"That's crazy. There has to be one thing you want to be."
"Nope. Maybe I just need ideas. What do you want to be when you grow up."
"Uh-uh, you're not stealing my dream."
"I'm not going to steal your dream. I just need to ignite a fire of thoughts."
"Well, I hope to be a veternarian because I love animals. I know I eat meat and poultry and whatnot but I, honestly, genuinely care about animals. I might go to veternarian school after graduation. But if the dream dies, I wish to become... a rocker. I love performing with the guys in our band. I hope to make A New Yesterday into something more. Plus, I love making music so why wouldn't I become a rockstar?"
"Interesting."
"It is interesting."
"Is there a chance I could be a singer as well?"
"Well, I can't make you not be a singer."
"Can I see your keyboard to know if I have something there?"
"Sure, why not?"
Skye lifted the keyboard off her lap and placed it on Andrea's lap. Andrea turned it around to face the keys towards her. She looked down at the keyboard for a few seconds before playing the keys erradically.
"My anaconds don't--" she sang before Skye interrupted her.
"No," Skye took the keyboard from Andrea's lap.
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
I Wanna Be... (Chapter 1)
In the earliest part of morning, Andrea and Debra were finishing up worksheets for their English class. They finished in separate times and passed theirs down across the rows they sat in. After the teacher collected all of the students' worksheets, he straightened them out and laid the stack on his desk. Then he walked up in front of the class.
"Okay, kids," he declared, "for your next assignment, I desire to know your true aspirations in life."
A girl with black hair from the middle row raised her hand.
"Yes, Katrina?"
"What is an aspiration?"
"Good question."
"No, it's not," said a boy in a blue plaid shirt from the front row.
"Shh! An aspiration is the hope of achieving something."
"I thought it was the act of breathing," said a different student, a girl with two braids.
"Well, this isn't medicine class."
"Do you mean health class?"
"Shut up! Anyway, I have realized it is more easy to write down the things you want than to write the things others want. So I want you all to create a collage for your dream career and your explanations for that career."
Andrea rose her hand.
"Yes, Andrea?"
"What if we don't know what we want to be when we grow up?" she asked.
"Well, there has to be one thing that you want to be."
"Nope, nothing comes to mind."
"Then take all the things that you like and translate them into a career."
"What if those things are all different?"
"Then pick one thing that can translate into an aspiration."
"But what if that thing doesn't translate into an aspiration?"
"Are you going to ask me a million questions?"
"Depends on how many questions of mine needs to be answered."
"Look, if you don't know what you want to be, try research. I want everybody to choose one aspiration. Try writing down three careers that you wish you had. Pick one and start making your collage when you go home."
Instantly, the school bell rung.
"Class dismissed."
The students got up and scrambled out of the classroom with their books. Debra walked up to Andrea who was scooting in her chair.
"Ooh, I can't wait to do the project," said Debra.
"I can wait," responded Andrea.
"Why? What's wrong?"
"I don't know what I want to be when I grow up."
"Everybody knows what they want to be when they grow up."
"Well, I'm not everybody."
"You mean there's not one thing that you want to become when you're an adult?"
"Hmm... I don't mind becoming Jennifer Lopez."
"So you want to be a singer, a dancer and an actress?"
"No, I just want to be her."
"I'm sorry but that's impossible."
"Then there's nothing I want to be when I grow up."
"I just can't believe you, Andrea, don't know what you want to be in the future."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I don't know. You're confidant; I assumed you had a future planned ahead of you."
"Well, just because a camel drinks water doesn't make it a mermaid."
"I might use that."
"Don't, it's mine."
"Okay, kids," he declared, "for your next assignment, I desire to know your true aspirations in life."
A girl with black hair from the middle row raised her hand.
"Yes, Katrina?"
"What is an aspiration?"
"Good question."
"No, it's not," said a boy in a blue plaid shirt from the front row.
"Shh! An aspiration is the hope of achieving something."
"I thought it was the act of breathing," said a different student, a girl with two braids.
"Well, this isn't medicine class."
"Do you mean health class?"
"Shut up! Anyway, I have realized it is more easy to write down the things you want than to write the things others want. So I want you all to create a collage for your dream career and your explanations for that career."
Andrea rose her hand.
"Yes, Andrea?"
"What if we don't know what we want to be when we grow up?" she asked.
"Well, there has to be one thing that you want to be."
"Nope, nothing comes to mind."
"Then take all the things that you like and translate them into a career."
"What if those things are all different?"
"Then pick one thing that can translate into an aspiration."
"But what if that thing doesn't translate into an aspiration?"
"Are you going to ask me a million questions?"
"Depends on how many questions of mine needs to be answered."
"Look, if you don't know what you want to be, try research. I want everybody to choose one aspiration. Try writing down three careers that you wish you had. Pick one and start making your collage when you go home."
Instantly, the school bell rung.
"Class dismissed."
The students got up and scrambled out of the classroom with their books. Debra walked up to Andrea who was scooting in her chair.
"Ooh, I can't wait to do the project," said Debra.
"I can wait," responded Andrea.
"Why? What's wrong?"
"I don't know what I want to be when I grow up."
"Everybody knows what they want to be when they grow up."
"Well, I'm not everybody."
"You mean there's not one thing that you want to become when you're an adult?"
"Hmm... I don't mind becoming Jennifer Lopez."
"So you want to be a singer, a dancer and an actress?"
"No, I just want to be her."
"I'm sorry but that's impossible."
"Then there's nothing I want to be when I grow up."
"I just can't believe you, Andrea, don't know what you want to be in the future."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I don't know. You're confidant; I assumed you had a future planned ahead of you."
"Well, just because a camel drinks water doesn't make it a mermaid."
"I might use that."
"Don't, it's mine."
Sunday, December 7, 2014
Friday, December 5, 2014
Girls' Masquerade Ball Gowns
Madeline's Outfit
Lizzie's Outfit
Andrea's Outfit
Debra's Outfit
Skye's Outfit
Thursday, December 4, 2014
The Masqueraded Man (Chapter 5)
The next day, the girls had lunch in the school cafeteria. They were in an awkward position as they stared at Madeline whose face was lying down on her turkey sandwich.
"You gonna eat that, Mads'?" asked Andrea.
Madeline moaned inside her mouth.
"Is that a no?"
"Are you still upset about the Jerry thing?" asked Skye.
Madeline lifted her head up, exposing soft white crumbs stuck to her face. "Yes!" she whined.
"You have sandwich on your face," Lizzie noted.
"Why did he leave me? Why do they always leave me?"
"Why do you miss him?" Skye questioned.
"Why is the sky blue?"
"Is that question rhetorical?" asked Lizzie. "Because I don't know the answer to that."
"I miss him because I felt a special connection with him. Now that's connection's gone. It's long gone."
"You barely knew him" said Skye.
"You don't have to know somebody to feel a connection. You just feel it; it comes up."
"Like a rash?" asked Lizzie.
"Like a big, ol' rash."
"I think it's sweet that Madeline felt a special feeling towards Jerry," commented Debra.
"I think it's gross," Skye added.
"I think it's-- I don't know," Andrea jumped in.
"Why did he leave?" Madeline inquired in a whiny voice.
"Because he moved," Lizzie replied.
"I know that, Liz'. But I just met him."
"Maybe it's destiny saying that they'll give you pleasure but bring you pain," said Debra.
"I don't know what Destiny Danielson has to do with this," said Lizzie, "but that does not sound very nice of her."
"She's talking about destiny as in fate," said Madeline. "But I have had way too many chances with fate. There has been some errors that came along and it has always been that way every time."
"Maybe you dodged a bullet," said Andrea. "He could have been a sex offender."
"I believe he's a little too young to be a sex offender."
"No, if you offend with sex in any way, you're a sex offender. So it doesn't matter how old you are; he could have been a sex offender."
"Yeah, no. He was and is not a sex offender. He was just a regular guy who went to Tech Club--"
"Yeah, that is one of the signs."
"How is that-- Never mind. I'm ignoring you. There was something about Jerry and I may never know what that was. But it felt good to want to know."
"Aw, that's nice," Debra commented.
"And weird," added Skye. "Like I said, you did not know him."
"Well, you don't personally know Bono and you say he's going to marry you."
"Hey, that is not just a dream; it is a goal and I will not let you crush it!"
"You gonna eat that, Mads'?" asked Andrea.
Madeline moaned inside her mouth.
"Is that a no?"
"Are you still upset about the Jerry thing?" asked Skye.
Madeline lifted her head up, exposing soft white crumbs stuck to her face. "Yes!" she whined.
"You have sandwich on your face," Lizzie noted.
"Why did he leave me? Why do they always leave me?"
"Why do you miss him?" Skye questioned.
"Why is the sky blue?"
"Is that question rhetorical?" asked Lizzie. "Because I don't know the answer to that."
"I miss him because I felt a special connection with him. Now that's connection's gone. It's long gone."
"You barely knew him" said Skye.
"You don't have to know somebody to feel a connection. You just feel it; it comes up."
"Like a rash?" asked Lizzie.
"Like a big, ol' rash."
"I think it's sweet that Madeline felt a special feeling towards Jerry," commented Debra.
"I think it's gross," Skye added.
"I think it's-- I don't know," Andrea jumped in.
"Why did he leave?" Madeline inquired in a whiny voice.
"Because he moved," Lizzie replied.
"I know that, Liz'. But I just met him."
"Maybe it's destiny saying that they'll give you pleasure but bring you pain," said Debra.
"I don't know what Destiny Danielson has to do with this," said Lizzie, "but that does not sound very nice of her."
"She's talking about destiny as in fate," said Madeline. "But I have had way too many chances with fate. There has been some errors that came along and it has always been that way every time."
"Maybe you dodged a bullet," said Andrea. "He could have been a sex offender."
"I believe he's a little too young to be a sex offender."
"No, if you offend with sex in any way, you're a sex offender. So it doesn't matter how old you are; he could have been a sex offender."
"Yeah, no. He was and is not a sex offender. He was just a regular guy who went to Tech Club--"
"Yeah, that is one of the signs."
"How is that-- Never mind. I'm ignoring you. There was something about Jerry and I may never know what that was. But it felt good to want to know."
"Aw, that's nice," Debra commented.
"And weird," added Skye. "Like I said, you did not know him."
"Well, you don't personally know Bono and you say he's going to marry you."
"Hey, that is not just a dream; it is a goal and I will not let you crush it!"
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
The Masqueraded Man (Chapter 4)
Three days had passed and Madeline was still fixated on the blue masked boy from the Masquerade Ball. She continued to pass out flyers but this time, she was permitted to staple her flyers on bulletin boards inside the school. As she stapled one of her flyers on a board inside the hall by the school lobby, she was approached by an unfamiliar teenage boy.
"Hi," he greeted.
Madeline turned around. "Hi. Do I know you?"
"No, I'm Jerry."
"Oh, well, hello, Jerry. Do I know you?"
"No but I just wanted to ask about your paper."
Madeline took a glance at her stapled flyer. "Oh. What about it?"
"Why are you hanging up paintings of cantalopes?"
"For your information, this is not a cantalope; it is a boy. Why is everyone saying it looks like a cantalope?"
"Because it does."
"Well, it's not. I met some dude at a dance here and that resembles my memory of him. Does he look familiar?"
Jerry squinted his eyes at the flyer. "Hmm, I don't know. No, I don't suppose so."
Madeline groaned. "Figures. I meet the best person of my life and I let him slip away from my fingertips."
"Do you even know him?"
"No! But when I looked into his eyes, I felt like I've known him for a decade. But you don't want to hear that. It's too girly."
"No, not at all. I think it's sweet."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Sometimes, if something feels right, you just have to go with it. Follow your heart, not your head."
"That's exactly what I was going for."
"And I do that every day I can. And to make you feel better, your mystery man is closer than you think."
"But you said you didn't know him."
"Actually, I know him a lot better than you think."
"Then tell me."
"Well, he goes to this school, he's been thinking about you as well and his name is Jerry."
Madeline paused. "His name is Jerry?"
"Yep."
"And didn't you say your name is Jerry?"
"Yes, I did."
"Oh." She froze for a while before punching Jerry in the shoulder with force.
Jerry covered his shoulder and made a face of pain. "Ow! Why'd you do that?"
"For making me obsess over you!"
"Look, I'm sorry."
"Why did you kiss me and make me create ugly flyers?"
"Well, me and my friends at Tech club--"
"Ew!"
"--are aware of your popularity here."
"Huh, I'm popular?"
"When people talk about you like we do, yeah. And since the Ball was coming up, I made a bet with my friends that if I get a kiss from you, they would polish my robots for a whole year. It sounded a lot better when we declared it."
"So I'm just usage?"
"Well, when you put it like that--"
"Jerry!"
"Sorry! But when we were dancing, I could not get you out of my head after that. That kiss we had was special and even though we did not know each other that well, I wish we did."
"But why did you leave so early?"
"I had a curfew."
"But you were at school. And it was barely past ten."
"My parents are strict. Listen, I like you and that bet means nothing. I'm sorry for hiding away for a little bit but I didn't know how to approach you after that."
Madeline hugged Jerry, laying her cheek on top of his shoulder. "I forgive you. I am just so glad to have finally found you. Now we can be together."
"Yeah, about that. I'm moving."
"Then I'll move with you. I know how to hug."
"No." Jerry picked Madeline off of his shoulder. "I mean that me and my family are moving away... tonight."
Madeline pulled away from the hug. "Tonight? Boy, what is wrong with you?!"
"I don't know. Look, I'm sorry. It's just that it all happened so soon and... I'm really sorry."
"I can't believe you're moving and I barely know your last name."
"My last name is--"
"Yeah, I don't care right now. I-- I'm going to miss you."
"I'm going to miss you more."
Jerry and Madeline threw out their arms at the same time and embraced each other once more.
"What do you say?" Madeline inquired. "One kiss before you head to Neverland?"
Jerry pecked Madeline on the cheek.
"Yeah, that's what I was expecting."
"I don't want to hype you up."
"I'm already hyped."
The two released and took one more glance into each other's eyes.
"Goodbye, Madeline."
"Goodbye, Jerry."
Jerry walked away, breaking his gaze from Madeline, into the hallway. Madeline looked at him walk a distance before ripping her flyer from the bulletin board.
"Why do I get to be Rose in this movie?" she asked herself.
"Hi," he greeted.
Madeline turned around. "Hi. Do I know you?"
"No, I'm Jerry."
"Oh, well, hello, Jerry. Do I know you?"
"No but I just wanted to ask about your paper."
Madeline took a glance at her stapled flyer. "Oh. What about it?"
"Why are you hanging up paintings of cantalopes?"
"For your information, this is not a cantalope; it is a boy. Why is everyone saying it looks like a cantalope?"
"Because it does."
"Well, it's not. I met some dude at a dance here and that resembles my memory of him. Does he look familiar?"
Jerry squinted his eyes at the flyer. "Hmm, I don't know. No, I don't suppose so."
Madeline groaned. "Figures. I meet the best person of my life and I let him slip away from my fingertips."
"Do you even know him?"
"No! But when I looked into his eyes, I felt like I've known him for a decade. But you don't want to hear that. It's too girly."
"No, not at all. I think it's sweet."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Sometimes, if something feels right, you just have to go with it. Follow your heart, not your head."
"That's exactly what I was going for."
"And I do that every day I can. And to make you feel better, your mystery man is closer than you think."
"But you said you didn't know him."
"Actually, I know him a lot better than you think."
"Then tell me."
"Well, he goes to this school, he's been thinking about you as well and his name is Jerry."
Madeline paused. "His name is Jerry?"
"Yep."
"And didn't you say your name is Jerry?"
"Yes, I did."
"Oh." She froze for a while before punching Jerry in the shoulder with force.
Jerry covered his shoulder and made a face of pain. "Ow! Why'd you do that?"
"For making me obsess over you!"
"Look, I'm sorry."
"Why did you kiss me and make me create ugly flyers?"
"Well, me and my friends at Tech club--"
"Ew!"
"--are aware of your popularity here."
"Huh, I'm popular?"
"When people talk about you like we do, yeah. And since the Ball was coming up, I made a bet with my friends that if I get a kiss from you, they would polish my robots for a whole year. It sounded a lot better when we declared it."
"So I'm just usage?"
"Well, when you put it like that--"
"Jerry!"
"Sorry! But when we were dancing, I could not get you out of my head after that. That kiss we had was special and even though we did not know each other that well, I wish we did."
"But why did you leave so early?"
"I had a curfew."
"But you were at school. And it was barely past ten."
"My parents are strict. Listen, I like you and that bet means nothing. I'm sorry for hiding away for a little bit but I didn't know how to approach you after that."
Madeline hugged Jerry, laying her cheek on top of his shoulder. "I forgive you. I am just so glad to have finally found you. Now we can be together."
"Yeah, about that. I'm moving."
"Then I'll move with you. I know how to hug."
"No." Jerry picked Madeline off of his shoulder. "I mean that me and my family are moving away... tonight."
Madeline pulled away from the hug. "Tonight? Boy, what is wrong with you?!"
"I don't know. Look, I'm sorry. It's just that it all happened so soon and... I'm really sorry."
"I can't believe you're moving and I barely know your last name."
"My last name is--"
"Yeah, I don't care right now. I-- I'm going to miss you."
"I'm going to miss you more."
Jerry and Madeline threw out their arms at the same time and embraced each other once more.
"What do you say?" Madeline inquired. "One kiss before you head to Neverland?"
Jerry pecked Madeline on the cheek.
"Yeah, that's what I was expecting."
"I don't want to hype you up."
"I'm already hyped."
The two released and took one more glance into each other's eyes.
"Goodbye, Madeline."
"Goodbye, Jerry."
Jerry walked away, breaking his gaze from Madeline, into the hallway. Madeline looked at him walk a distance before ripping her flyer from the bulletin board.
"Why do I get to be Rose in this movie?" she asked herself.
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
The Masqueraded Man (Chapter 3)
Monday came and Madeline never stopped thinking about the boy who kissed her ever since the dance. She acted as if she had fallen in love with him. So when she arrived at school, she handed out flyers in the second floor that she made with a painting on it and questions printed under it.
She asked passer-bys the same unanswered question when she handed them a flyer which was: "Have you seen this guy?"
After passing out at least twenty flyers, she turned around to Andrea and Lizzie who had just stopped by.
"Oh, hey, guys," she greeted. "What's new?"
"With us, nothing much," answered Andrea. "But with you, a lot."
"What are you talking about?"
"I think it has to do with you handing out flyers," responded Lizzie.
"So what? I'm helping out."
"Yeah, helping yourself," Andrea said, taking a flyer from Madeline's hand.
"That's a bit ego-electrical," Lizzie commented.
"Egotistical."
"Oh, that makes sense."
"Did you paint this?"
"Yes," Madeline answered. "It's pretty great, isn't it?"
"Pretty great? More like ugly great. I don't know if this is supposed to be a man or a cantalope."
"If it's a cantalope, it looks pretty delicious," said Lizzie.
"So you haven't seen anyone who looks like this?" asked Madeline.
"Why are you obsessing over this guy?" questioned Andrea.
"He kissed me at the Masquerade Ball and I can't stop thinking about him."
"Was the kiss really good?" asked Lizzie.
"More like really, really good."
"Aw."
"And I need to find him."
"Do you even know his name?" asked Andrea.
"Nope, just a mask."
"Well, he's not going to wear the mask to school."
"I know that. But that would be really helpful if he did."
"So you're going to search for a guy that you barely know?"
"Yeah."
"You're crazy."
"I know you are but what am I?"
"Crazy."
"Please, you can never be crazy with love."
"Love? You love him? You barely know him."
"That's what makes it love."
"No."
Madeline turned her head, taking a glance at an unfamiliar boy who was loitering in the hallway.
"Oh!" she exclaimed. "He has brown hair just like the boy at the dance did."
"Um, a lot of boys here have brown hair," said Andrea.
"Some dirty blonds are mistaken as brown-haired," added Lizzie.
"I'm going to find out who he is," said Madeline.
"Please don't," begged Andrea.
Madeline walked away.
"Oh, she's going to do."
Madeline approached the idle boy. She held up her neat pile of flyers so he could see.
"O.A.R.?" she inquired.
The boy looked at Madeline. "What?"
"O.A.R."
"Or what?"
"You know... 'How many times can I break till I shatter?'"
The boy made a face of confusion and looked away.
"Come on, don't you know?"
"Know what? You're freaking me out."
"You can't be freaked out at love."
The boy ran away, scared of Madeline's growing anger.
"Oh, come on!" she threw her flyers down on the ground. Her eyes then widened as she saw another, brunet boy in the hallway. "Hey, you!" she approached him. "O.A.R.?"
The boy ignored her and walked off.
"Forget you!" Madeline shouted. She walked up the hall and went up to more boys who were passing by. "Do you guys even recognize me? 'How many times can I break till I shatter?' This is our song!"
Andrea and Lizzie stared at Madeline walking through the stampede of frightened boys.
"Has Madeline lost it or what?" inquired Andrea.
"I thought she'd get upset every time she watched the ending of Titanic," said Lizzie.
Monday, December 1, 2014
The Masqueraded Man (Chapter 2)
Three days later, the Masquerade Ball at the school had came. The students who bought a ticket for it were dressed up in extravagant outerwear and creative masks. The Ball took place in the gymnasium, displaying a dreamy atmosphere with exquisite decorations, dark lights and nebular music. The girls, except for Skye, arrived together to their school, all looking gorgeous in their individual dresses and masks. They handed in their tickets to the front table and entered the Ball. They stopped to look at the attractive decor and watch their friend, Skye, and her band performing a song that they just ended.
"Thank you," Skye spoke in the microphone. "Next, we will playing 'Man in the Box' by Alice in Chains."
"I hate Alice in Chains!" said a girl who was standing in front of the platform the band was performing on.
"Then I guess I hate you!"
"No taste," mumbled David, the lead guitarist.
He played a riff on his guitar of the key of E5. Kent, the drummer, played the drums slowly within the riff. David and Sean, the rhythm guitarist, sung into their microphones the vocal introductions of the song.
La la la la la la...
Skye began to sing the first verse in a pleasant, ethereal voice.
I'm the man in the box
Skye started to speak in her regular voice quickly: "If you don't like what you hear, people, you can leave but you can't get your money back."
She went back to singing:
Buried in all my stuff
"Is this song from the eighties?" asked Andrea to her friends.
"The nineties," Debra replied.
"She should play some Gucci Mane."
"Who puts on Gucci Mane at a Masquerade Ball?" asked Madeline.
"Someone who wants a Masquerade Ball to turn up!"
"I'm sorry that you couldn't find a date to the Ball, Maddie," said Lizzie.
"It's okay," Madeline responded. "These guys just aren't ready for my jelly."
"Is that a reference?"
"Yes."
"Nice."
"Oh, I see Hugh," said Andrea. "Excuse me, girls, but I'm about to get my two on." She strutted away from her friends towards her handsome date who was standing by a friend on the dance floor.
"Another reference?" asked Lizzie.
"Yes," Madeline answered.
"Nice."
Instantly, Hank, Lizzie's boyfriend, sneaked up behind Lizzie and squeezed her.
"Hi-ya, cupcake," he greeted while rocking her.
"Hi-ya, muffin," Lizzie replied with a grin.
Hank faced Lizzie. "I almost barely recognized you."
"I barely recognized myself, too. When I was at home, I looked and said, 'Who is that girl?' Then I found out it was just me looking into the mirror."
Hank chuckled. "Shall we dance?"
"We shally-shall."
Hank pulled her away gently into the dance floor and danced with her.
"Well, it's just you and me, Debbie," said Madeline.
"It sure is," smiled Debra.
"Debra!" a boy called.
Debra looked to her right and saw her date waving at her.
"I mean it sure isn't," said Debra. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay," Madeline smiled. "Have fun."
Debra grinned. She sprinted over to her date, Darrell, who had friends to greet her.
Madeline sighed. "Now it's just me," she mumbled. She watched Skye onstage, rocking out with her band, A New Yesterday.
Feed my eyes (Can you sew them shut?)
Jesus Christ (Deny your maker)
He who tries (Will be wasted)
Feed my eyes (Now you sewn them shut)
La la la la la la...
The band ended the song with them halting from playing their instruments all at once. Few of the attendents of the dance applauded them.
"Thank you, thank you," said Skye, into the microphone. "Now we will be playing 'Shattered' by O.A.R."
Skye took off the microphone from its stand and walked over to the keyboard that was next to her. She connected the microphone onto a little stand that was connected to the top of the keyboard. She started to play the intoduction on the keyboard to keys of B B/A#. Kent later bought in the pop-sounding drums once Skye began to sing the first verse.
In a way, I need a change
From this burnout scene
Madeline walked further into the gymnasium and nodded to the infectious music that A New Yesterday was producing. She turned around when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She faced a male with an indigo-colored mask with white, black and purple lace on its border covering his eye area.
"Hi," he greeted.
"Hi," Madeline greeted back.
"Are you here by yourself?"
"No, I was here with some friends. Now I'm not here with some friends."
"Would you like to dance?"
"Do I know you?"
"No, but I know you."
"Yeah? Then who am I?"
"Do you happen to be related to Princess Diana?"
Madeline paused. "Alright, buddy, you can have your dance."
The boy grinned.
He pulled her gingerly into the center of the dance floor and placed his hands on her waist. Madeline interlocked her fingers behind his neck. To the music, they swayed while looking into each other's eyes.
"That girl's voice is amazing," the boy remarked.
"That's cool; I'm friends with that voice," Madeline responded.
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah."
"That's cool. Tell her I think she's an amazing singer."
"Oh, I'm afraid that she already knows that."
"I like this song."
"Me, too. Is it by--?"
"O.A.R.? Yeah, it's called 'Shattered'."
"Cool."
The boy deeply stared into Madeline's eyes.
"What?" she asked.
"Nothing, it's just that... your eyes look like big, blue ponds."
"Well, we all are made of seventy percent water."
The boy chuckled then lost his smile. Madeline lost her smile as well. Slowly, the boy leaned his head closer to Madeline's face. Madeline stood still, not wanting to push the unknown boy away. He pressed his lips against hers and they closed their eyes. Madeline felt that she and him were the only ones on the dance floor, getting lost in the music.
How many times can I break till I shatter?
Over the line, can't define what I'm after
I always turn the car around
Don't wanna turn that car around
I got to turn this thing around
The band ended the song with the fading of their instruments, leading to more people in the gymnasium applauding. Once they heard the applause, Madeline and the blue-masked boy pulled away. As Madeline opened her eyes and slowly developped a smile, the boy took a look at his watch.
"Oh no!" he called. "I have to go! I-I-I will see you in school." He began to run away.
"Wait, you have to go so soon?" asked Madeline.
The boy turned around. "I'm sorry. See you." He continued to run.
"But wait! Where are you going, Cinderella?"
"Thank you," Skye spoke in the microphone. "Next, we will playing 'Man in the Box' by Alice in Chains."
"I hate Alice in Chains!" said a girl who was standing in front of the platform the band was performing on.
"Then I guess I hate you!"
"No taste," mumbled David, the lead guitarist.
He played a riff on his guitar of the key of E5. Kent, the drummer, played the drums slowly within the riff. David and Sean, the rhythm guitarist, sung into their microphones the vocal introductions of the song.
La la la la la la...
Skye began to sing the first verse in a pleasant, ethereal voice.
I'm the man in the box
Skye started to speak in her regular voice quickly: "If you don't like what you hear, people, you can leave but you can't get your money back."
She went back to singing:
Buried in all my stuff
"Is this song from the eighties?" asked Andrea to her friends.
"The nineties," Debra replied.
"She should play some Gucci Mane."
"Who puts on Gucci Mane at a Masquerade Ball?" asked Madeline.
"Someone who wants a Masquerade Ball to turn up!"
"I'm sorry that you couldn't find a date to the Ball, Maddie," said Lizzie.
"It's okay," Madeline responded. "These guys just aren't ready for my jelly."
"Is that a reference?"
"Yes."
"Nice."
"Oh, I see Hugh," said Andrea. "Excuse me, girls, but I'm about to get my two on." She strutted away from her friends towards her handsome date who was standing by a friend on the dance floor.
"Another reference?" asked Lizzie.
"Yes," Madeline answered.
"Nice."
Instantly, Hank, Lizzie's boyfriend, sneaked up behind Lizzie and squeezed her.
"Hi-ya, cupcake," he greeted while rocking her.
"Hi-ya, muffin," Lizzie replied with a grin.
Hank faced Lizzie. "I almost barely recognized you."
"I barely recognized myself, too. When I was at home, I looked and said, 'Who is that girl?' Then I found out it was just me looking into the mirror."
Hank chuckled. "Shall we dance?"
"We shally-shall."
Hank pulled her away gently into the dance floor and danced with her.
"Well, it's just you and me, Debbie," said Madeline.
"It sure is," smiled Debra.
"Debra!" a boy called.
Debra looked to her right and saw her date waving at her.
"I mean it sure isn't," said Debra. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay," Madeline smiled. "Have fun."
Debra grinned. She sprinted over to her date, Darrell, who had friends to greet her.
Madeline sighed. "Now it's just me," she mumbled. She watched Skye onstage, rocking out with her band, A New Yesterday.
Feed my eyes (Can you sew them shut?)
Jesus Christ (Deny your maker)
He who tries (Will be wasted)
Feed my eyes (Now you sewn them shut)
La la la la la la...
The band ended the song with them halting from playing their instruments all at once. Few of the attendents of the dance applauded them.
"Thank you, thank you," said Skye, into the microphone. "Now we will be playing 'Shattered' by O.A.R."
Skye took off the microphone from its stand and walked over to the keyboard that was next to her. She connected the microphone onto a little stand that was connected to the top of the keyboard. She started to play the intoduction on the keyboard to keys of B B/A#. Kent later bought in the pop-sounding drums once Skye began to sing the first verse.
In a way, I need a change
From this burnout scene
Madeline walked further into the gymnasium and nodded to the infectious music that A New Yesterday was producing. She turned around when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She faced a male with an indigo-colored mask with white, black and purple lace on its border covering his eye area.
"Hi," he greeted.
"Hi," Madeline greeted back.
"Are you here by yourself?"
"No, I was here with some friends. Now I'm not here with some friends."
"Would you like to dance?"
"Do I know you?"
"No, but I know you."
"Yeah? Then who am I?"
"Do you happen to be related to Princess Diana?"
Madeline paused. "Alright, buddy, you can have your dance."
The boy grinned.
He pulled her gingerly into the center of the dance floor and placed his hands on her waist. Madeline interlocked her fingers behind his neck. To the music, they swayed while looking into each other's eyes.
"That girl's voice is amazing," the boy remarked.
"That's cool; I'm friends with that voice," Madeline responded.
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah."
"That's cool. Tell her I think she's an amazing singer."
"Oh, I'm afraid that she already knows that."
"I like this song."
"Me, too. Is it by--?"
"O.A.R.? Yeah, it's called 'Shattered'."
"Cool."
The boy deeply stared into Madeline's eyes.
"What?" she asked.
"Nothing, it's just that... your eyes look like big, blue ponds."
"Well, we all are made of seventy percent water."
The boy chuckled then lost his smile. Madeline lost her smile as well. Slowly, the boy leaned his head closer to Madeline's face. Madeline stood still, not wanting to push the unknown boy away. He pressed his lips against hers and they closed their eyes. Madeline felt that she and him were the only ones on the dance floor, getting lost in the music.
How many times can I break till I shatter?
Over the line, can't define what I'm after
I always turn the car around
Don't wanna turn that car around
I got to turn this thing around
The band ended the song with the fading of their instruments, leading to more people in the gymnasium applauding. Once they heard the applause, Madeline and the blue-masked boy pulled away. As Madeline opened her eyes and slowly developped a smile, the boy took a look at his watch.
"Oh no!" he called. "I have to go! I-I-I will see you in school." He began to run away.
"Wait, you have to go so soon?" asked Madeline.
The boy turned around. "I'm sorry. See you." He continued to run.
"But wait! Where are you going, Cinderella?"
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