Worlds In-between

Chapter 1

Pearl in my late teens, currently in college, cannot wait to be free and stop wearing the damn uniform. There is nothing wrong with it anyways, but the kind of feeling, wearing it for years, makes her tired of it. Not as if they are not allowed to wear other clothes to school, but damn it.

Who wants to wear mufti when everyone else is in uniform?

She always loves her hair falling behind her, swinging it makes every eyes turn toward her. She has brown eyes and soft small lips. Her nose fit in place.

Pearl lives alone with workers around her. She gets bored sometimes watching them feed her.

Geez, she has her hands, and has become spoiled that she has gotten too lazy to put the food into my mouth.

Her parents live far away, very far. Not in the same country with her. She doesn't know what they are up to, and would not want to know as long as the money for her upkeep is sent regularly and she doesn't have to wait for hours on end before she gets their attention on the phone.

She stumbled around to pick her ringing phone

'Oh Lilly'.

'You are late for school, or are you taking a break today?' A voice said at the other end.

'Of course I will come, just preparing'. Pearl said lazily.

'Bryan is here already'. She said softly.

She covered my hand with her mouth.

'I will be there right away'. She ended the call and hurriedly put on her clothes.

Bryan is the richest kid in the school. No one knows much about him, Pearl found out she had a crush on him.

He has golden hair that always glitters at the reflection of the sun, small lips and pointed nose. His blue eyes search for the truth in anyone and geez, they are captivating!

He has caught her several times staring at him, she wonders if he knows already.

What?

That she has a crush on him. She shook her head at the thought, he must not know.

He is jovial, smiles easily and he jokes a lot. He would never discriminate, at least he has never done, have fun when he wants plus he has got a brain. He is intelligent. Even after studying for hours, Pearl finds it hard to compete with him and win.

Rarely reads in class, would not take notes, but he is the best.

She couldn't believe she was blushing already.

Bryan's face keeps on appearing in her head, but she has got to finish schooling first before thinking about funny stuff.

She placed her headphones on and walked to the car, got in and stared out through the window as the car sped to school. 'Cha would ever listen to her'. She thought. Even after telling him to drive slowly he wouldn't do it. She hopes he doesn't get into an accident some day.

'Hey Pearl, it's nice having you here'. Lilly said immediately she saw her.

'Don't tell me you are missing me already'.

'Omoh! Who would not miss you?' She gave Pearl a slight push and giggled.

He was sitting in the midst of some students, his head moving back and forth as he laughed.

Today he wore a jacket, a bandana on his head. And oh! She shouldn't have noticed but could not help it. The black earring on his left ear. She had better sit down before she gets caught up in his trap. He looks cute everyday.

Lilly tapped her, smiled and went to her seat.

The first teacher came, did the normal teaching, boring. She was just staring at him.

Teachers troop in and out of the class.

It was soon time for a break, Peal and Lilly walked to the cafeteria.

'I can't eat much, I am on a diet'. She whispered to Lilly.

'Remember you should not get thin'.

'I won't'.

'I forgot to ask, how has the training been for the past few days?'

'Tedious but interesting. Guess what!'

'Your Mom is coming to see you?'

'Far from that. I can now split!'

'Wow, calls for celebration. You will show me'. She clapped.

'My Pearl is going to be the best ballerina ever seen'.

'You are exaggerating it. I only need to be like Charlet'.

'She is the best, if you want to be like her, you should be the best too'. She patted her back and smiled.

Charlet is Pearl's role model, she wants to be just like her. She can dance ballet well, starting when she was two. Although she started a little too late, she had promised herself to give anything it takes to be like her role model.

'What about your novel? I will be the first to read it when you are done'.

'I have been busy lately, holding a pen is difficult'.

'What are you up to?' She asked curiously.

'Nothing much, just the normal kid's thing. Feed them, play with them and make them sleep'.

Lilly has two younger siblings, her parents are divorced. At least that is how it seems, maybe it would hurt less to say they are separated. While her mom is away to work, she has to take care of the twins.

She writes stories, sometimes Pearl get caught up in her world, her mind wondering if it was real. Of course, they are just her imaginations.

She loves to read novels, most of the time reading it more than she should.

'Hey wait'. She picked a juice and threw it to her. Pearl caught it and nodded.

'This would do'.

With the juice in her right hand, Pearl held the headphone with the other hand. They soon found a table to sit beside each other.

'It's cool'. She muttered as she sipped the juice.

'Can I sit here?' A husky voice asked.

Even before they could reply he sat opposite Pearl.

She stared at the figure in front of her.

Bryan!

He was sitting directly opposite her. Gosh! Their legs met.

She could feel her cheek slowly turning red. He was going to notice it. That was the last thing she wanted.

'Excuse me'. She stood up and ran, just anywhere, away from him.