1 Chapter 1
I walked down the hall of Midtown High. I felt stares from other students, and that's what gave me the confidence I had. I stuck my head up high. Whispers of students echoed throughout the hall. I swore to myself that I would never show weakness, for if I did, my walls would crumble down. My broken self would be exposed. I never wanted that.
Just a few more hours of this treatment.
•
I huffed in exhaustion. My petite frame hit the mattress, sinking into it. Closing my eyes and rubbing them, I hoped that my day would only get better from here. I wasn't the perfect person everyone thought I was. I built up my reputation from scratch. In truth, I was no special person. I got up and looked at my predicament. My eyes trailed over to the mattress on the floor, barely covered with a bedsheet. I walked to my desk, my fingertips dragged along the wood table. Messed up papers lay on the desk, all assignments from various teachers from school. Just because I was popular, didn't mean that I was perfect. My eyes trailed over to the closet. Walking over, the floorboards creaked under my weight. The white paint was flaking off of the wood doors of my closet. I swung open the doors, staring at the mess of clothes inside. I left out a sigh. The acceptance letter should come today. If I was accepted, I could move out of this hellhole. Why, why do you ask, why do I think my life is hell?
"Ava! You ungrateful bitch! Come here." a voice slurred from the direction of the living room. I flinched at the loudness of his voice. There was your answer.
"One more day," I convinced myself, "One more day..."
•
The crisp paper felt rough against my hands. This was the thing that would determine whether I got a chance at Hollywood Arts High School. My hands gingerly opened the envelope and took out the paper. Unfolding the paper, I took a deep breath. This was the moment I would find out. On it, it read:
Dear Ava Paige,
Your request to join Hollywood Arts High School has been accepted. Please report to the Black Box on Monday at 8.30 a.m sharp for your audition.
Yours sincerely,
Principal of Hollywood Art High School
A smile spread across my face. I couldn't believe it. I got an audition! I had waited forever for this, eating to move out of this stupid household, this stupid neighbourhood and doing something actually fun. My life could only get better than this.
•
I groggily woke up, finding myself lying against the wall. Drool was draped across my face, sticking my hair together. Great. I had to put myself together before the audition. The train stopped abruptly, causing me to jerk forward. I picked up my bags and walked out of the doors, before finding myself a bench to sit on. I heaved a sigh and looked at the time. It was 5 a.m. sharp, meaning I had 3 hours and 30 minutes to get myself together. Just great.
•
"Hi, my name is Ava Paige, and I will be singing a song I wrote called 'I Still Love You'," I said into the microphone, leaning close to it.
My guitar was strung around my body. Makeup decorated my face, enhancing my features and making myself look at least presentable. I stared at the people who would be judging me; the principal, the guidance counsellor and the teachers. I sighed and took a deep breath.
"I'm in this sea of people,
we are fighting and shouting.
People are looking at us,
then you let it all go to waste." I sang. I received a lot of raised eyebrows and incredulous stares. I paused for a moment to survey the audience. I didn't think they liked it. I was losing confidence by the second.
"Yeah, I still love you,
you still hate me,
we're on different sides of the earth.
I'm not done with you,
you are don't with me,
we can't solve this problem.
Cause I still love you,
yeah, yeah, yeah.
Yeah, I still love you,
no, oh, oh." I sang, strumming my guitar. I heard someone cheer midway for me, boosting my confidence.
"I'm still standing in the crowd,
watching your lips upon hers.
Jealousy boils my skin,
cause you still can't see me here.
Yeah, I still love you,
you still hate me,
we're on different sides of the earth.
I'm not done with you,
you are done with me,
we can't solve this problem.
Cause I still love you,
yeah, yeah, yeah.
Yeah, I still love you,
no, oh, oh." I sang with all my emotion poured into it. At this point, people were clapping along to the beat, giving me more confidence.
Every word I sang, I meant. I wrote this while I was just fresh out of a breakup with my ex, and I didn't regret anything. We actually left on a happy note, and although that was the case, I went completely ballistic when he kissed my best friend.
"Yeah, I still love you,
you still hate me,
we're on different sides of the earth.
I'm not done with you,
you are done with me,
we can't solve this problem.
Cause I still love you,
yeah, yeah, yeah.
Yeah, I still love you,
no, oh, oh." I sang and stopped strumming my guitar. I waited for a second for their reaction, when everyone burst into applause. I broke into a grin.
"I can confirm you will make it into Hollywood Arts High School." the principal said over the applause. My smile only stretched wider when he said that.
That was the cue that I could move out.
