Homage

Leah opened Instagram and checked Kian's story for the 5th time that day, he still hadn't reposted her story. Tired and impatient, Leah decided she would do something to try to take her mind off it, seeing as moping in her bed, hitting refresh for 10 minutes, wasn't going to get her anywhere. She opened up her Spotify account and played 'True Colors' by Cyndi Lauper. The song had been stuck in her head since she heard it on the radio on the way to NI. Listening to music always made Leah feel relaxed, like she was diving deeper into her mind and emotions. She turned up the volume and sang along,

"You with the saaad eyes, don't be discouraged. Oh, I realise it's hard to take courage..." She felt happier already. Completely in her own world, Leah grabbed her hairbrush and leapt onto her bed, belting the chorus,

"I see your true colours shining through! I see your true colours, and that's why I love you!"

"Having fun?" a voice called from behind her. She turned to see Jackie standing by her, now open, door.

"Aunt Jackie," She hopped off of her bed and paused the music, "I didn't even hear you come in."

"Oh, sorry about that. Didn't mean to interrupt...whatever this is. The pancakes are ready."

"Thanks, I'll be down in a moment."

"Alright" Jackie left the room, then reopened the door and popped her head in, "You have a beautiful voice, by the way." Smiling, she shut the door and left.

Leah loved to sing. Her mother always tried her hardest to convince her to sign up for school events such as talent shows, but Leah had little confidence in her own voice. When it became a trend on Tik Tok to sing Paparazzi to your favourite content creator, Leah made a video for Kian...Though, she only lasted about 2 days before convincing herself it was a bad idea and taking it down. She wished she had the same confidence as all the other girls, as her lack thereof has caused her, time after time, to miss out on opportunities that landed right in her lap. "If only things were different..." she began to think to herself,

"If I had the same confidence as the other girls, I'd have no trouble winning Kian over. I know exactly how things would play out. I'd spot him in a shop and play it all cool. Bump into him, maybe, "Oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't see you there!" (Cliché, I know, but effective nonetheless.) He'd say it's fine and that's when I "recognise" him, "Hang on, I know you from somewhere...Aren't you that guy from Tik Tok? ...Yeah, you keep popping up on my For You page, though you looked a bit more like Ariel before." He'd say something about dying his hair silver, then I'd make a witty remark and he'd laugh...We'd both laugh. "I didn't know you lived in the area", I'd say to him. I'd tell him I actually just moved here, and he'd say he wouldn't mind showing me around sometime. "Surely, I should have your number. You know, just in case I want to take you up on that offer." It all seems so easy in my head.

...If only I had the same confidence as the other girls."

Leah went downstairs to eat her pancakes.