Planned unplan

That day Rica can't even concentrate to her class. Her mind was in her guitar and her weakness as a songwriter. It has been weeks since her guitar shattered into pieces, so as her chances of making it to the city Broadway as songwriter. At her age of 15, all she wanted is to follow her late father's footsteps. He was once a lead guitarist and songwriter of his country band, The Servant. They took the country side by their songs that until now are being played every Sunday morning on the radio.

"Hey! " Melanie, her best friend, whispered sharply to him.

Immediately, she gets out of trance and sees her pointing through her lips the angry image of their Science teacher. She was called once and did not response.

"Any problem Miss James?"

She was called again. She stands up.

"I apologize... Mr. Stevens, may I know the question again? "

A bursts of laughs broke out. She was embarrassed by it. Melanie shakes her head looking at her.

"Wow, you just got the first throw, Rica! " Melanie still can't help but laugh at her as they finishing their meal.

Rica frowns at her friend.

"Yeah funny".

She stands up and collects her finished dishes. Melanie jumps out and will follow her, consoling.

"Hey wait! Rica".

They placed their food tray and walk fast out of the mess hall. Melanie asks her again, cutting her way off.

"What's wrong?"

"I was cut from the line up. I broke my guitar. Literally torn into pieces. That's the problem", Rica finally said to her.

Melanie was shooked by it. She knows how important the city broadway for her.

"I'm sorry..."

They hug.

"So... what's the plan now?"

Rica sits down as they get inside the library. A corner of the room near the window overlooking the flagpole is very good place to talk.

She answered her friend in a lower voice.

"I have to fix it Mel. That's family guitar. And I can't write anything new without it."

Melanie put a book near her mouth.

"There's another play next week. They need songs."

Rica shook her head.

"I can't write anything without my guitar. Mom will be suspicious if she sees me with new one. That guitar is older than me."

"Why not bring it to Mr. Rene?" Melanie asks, referring to bearded luthier of the town.

"I did. But he can't fix it.. it's a special guitar. Only few existing. There's one shop that's near and it's an 18 mile drive out of Blacksaddle".

Melanie looks at the ceiling, thinking something.

"Then let's go there".

Rica's blue bright eyes open wide in this belief.

"You out of your mind!?"

She accidentally raised her voice, making everyone in the room look at their way. They immediately stood up, tip-toeing through pile of dusty books, and find another gondola.

When they were finally covered, they sit down again.

Rica butts in again with the same annoying question, but inside her sees a little light of hope.

"It's summer next week. School's gone. We can ask Zyan to drive us up there."

Zyan is their geeky friend from the other section. They known him since 7th Grade.

"Yeah as if we can just drive up without my mom knowing."

Rica stands up, brushes away the dust from her ripped blue jeans and ready to gift up the ghost. Until an idea pops into her head.

"Unless..." she murmurs.

Puzzled looking Melanie followed her already walking out friend.

"What?" she asked.

"Unless I'll take a vacation to Uncle Rob", Rica answered.

Still unable to get what her friend means, Melanie gave her a doubting shoulder.

"That'll cut the drive to Mt. Trece to two miles only."

Both girls high-five each other and giggled.