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Once Upon A Time...

Chapter 3

I let out a gasp as I sat up on my bed, sweat travelling down my tan body. My fingers desperately moved across my king sized bed as I tried to find something to hold onto for dear life; something to convince me I’m not alone – although I am.

My fingers rest upon a fluffy object – a stuffed animal probably. I pick it up and bring it closer to my face to examine it. I always had stuffed animals in my room lying in random places. This one was a bear, with a loose red bow around its neck. I stared into its glass eyes as my thoughts roamed, wondering where I could’ve gotten this animal. It was probably from my father, he would always be giving me toys like these, as if that would make him a better dad.

My mind roamed and wandered on what my dream could have meant. I quickly put the toy aside as I pushed the blankets away from me with my legs. I approached the mirror and my eyes scanned its edged. No picture. But that doesn’t mean I’m innocent. I can’t clearly remember it – I remember feeling guilty and perhaps regretful after it happened but I don’t know why. All I remember is escaping and coming back home – if you would call this a home. I thought therapy would help, so I took classes privately so the therapist wouldn’t ask any questions as to why I was alone. I ended up not saying anything each time, and by the end I had already forgotten what I was supposed to even be talking about.

I sighed of relief as I turned around and leaned against the vanity counter’s desk. I rubbed my forehead, trying to relieve stress as my eyes set upon my guitar. It was luring me in and I looked at it longingly, wanting so badly to run my fingers across its chords. But I knew if I started I wouldn’t be able to stop.

I walked to my bedside vintage table as I pressed the home button on my iPhone, revealing the time. 5:23. I shook my head as I realized I would have to wake up in about in an hour if I slept and wanted to arrive to school before for my extra-cullicular activities such as Leadership.

My head nestled against the soft pillow once I realized one more hour of sleep wouldn’t be too bad.

*****
My hair is sprawled all over my pillow in knots and my face is buried deep into the white fabric. My hand reaches across to turn off my phone’s alarm. I look at the calendar on the other side of my room and my heart becomes heavy as I realize I can’t read what it says. It’s probably because of my continuous reading in the dark when I was a kid. I should’ve stopped, though I had it coming.

I stood up knowing I couldn’t extend my sleep any longer. I tried not to think of last night as I opened up the curtains to my light-colored painted room. My eyes burned with the morning sunlight and I quickly washed up and prepared for school. I didn’t even try to think about what would happen there. I would probably see Harry walking along side Lizzy during break. After all, I had absolutely no classes with him since he’s in another magnet program – one that I’m in the waiting list for.

*****

I swung the door open once I approached the main office. I leaned against the counter, crossing my arms and drumming my fingers to a beat.

“Rion, there you are!” The principle called.

I pushed myself off the counter and smiled, “Hi,”

“The cheerleading squad and athletic teams want to get together with the music department. I thought you would be a perfect fit for captain to see things run smoothly. Don’t worry, you’ll still have time for your Leadership duties and such, but you should get going now. Everyone’s already in the auditorium. You all can start practicing before the bell rings.” The principle spoke.

I nodded, “Alright, and, what exactly, are we getting together for?”

“Oh, right, silly me, I forgot to mention. The next game our soccer team plays, the cheerleading squad thought it would be nice to have some live music to dance for,”

I couldn’t do that. Lizzy’s in the cheerleading squad and Harry’s in the soccer team.

“With all due respect, sir, I don’t have time to drop my duties just to give the cheerleaders live music to dance to. Besides, my schedule is packed. I have to help organize the Valentine’s Day Dance, and then there’s the Drill Team, and Leadership, and my Hip-Hop Dance Crew, and then there’s all these plays coming up, and the orchestra performance… ”

He countered, “Those still have a long time coming. The Valentine’s Day Dance isn’t until next week. The next official soccer game with another school is in two weeks, though I’m sure you know that. That’s why I chose you. I’m sure you will be able to handle it,”

I was still a bit hesitant and wasn’t afraid to make it clear, and the principle noticed this.

“Alright, if you really want, I’ll have the squad and soccer team repay you somehow,”

With a defeated sigh, I nodded my head an ok. After all, they could really come in handy for some things, and I’d be ecstatic to be doing this with the soccer team, but the cheerleading squad is also going to be there, meaning Harry and Liz will be together 24/7.

****

“Hi!!!” Lizzy shouted in my ear and went up to me, giving me a big, bone-crushing hug. She was always this energetic and didn’t have a problem communicating with people she didn’t really know. I remember joining Leadership (which she also happens to be in) and she treated me as if she knew me already, which she didn’t really. By then, I was already “popular” though, I remember talking to her a few when I wasn’t. I’m not sure if she’s aware of my ‘feelings’ for Harry. I think I hide it pretty well, but you never know.

“Hey, Liz,” I hugged her back, a bit surprised by her too-energetic behavior. I looked back behind her and saw the soccer team boys carrying tables and chairs and such to the back of the auditorium to the storage room.

“Alright, we need to practice as much as we can before the bell rings, so hurry, give us something energetic.”

I quickly grabbed a mic and headed u on stage as the squad stayed on the floor in front of the audience chairs which the boys filled in after they were done. Some teens from the music department were already seated in the back of the stage on separate chairs, holding guitars ad drums, getting ready to back me up. I quickly told them the song I was going to sing as the cheerleaders got in position, figuring out what moves they would do and such. I felt Harry’s eyes on me, but then again I was probably imagining it. As someone started strumming the guitar, I began to sing in my country-like accent I remember having when I visited Oklahoma with my family almost each summer.

“I hopped off the plane at L.A.X. with a dream and my cardigan
Welcome to the land of fame, excess, whoa! Am I gonna fit in?
Jumped in the cab, here I am for the first time
Look to my right, and I see the Hollywood sign

This is all so crazy, everybody seems so famous
My tummy’s turning and I’m feelin’ kinda’ homeshick
Too much pressure and I’m nervous
That’s when the taxi man turned on the radio

And the Jay-Z song was on (<3)

So I put my hands up, they’re playin my song
The butterflies fly away
I’m noddin’my head like Yeah!
Movin’ my hips like Yeah!

I got my hands up,
They're playin' my song
I know I'm gonna be OK
Yeah, it's a party in the USA
Yeah, it's a party in the USA

Get to the club in my taxi cab
Everybody's looking at me now
Like, "Who's that chick that's rockin' kicks?
She gotta be from out of town."

So hard with my girls not around me
It's definitely not a Nashville party
'Cause all I see are stilettos
I guess I never got the memo

My tummy's turnin' and I'm feelin' kinda home sick
Too much pressure and I'm nervous
That's when the DJ dropped my favorite tune

And a Britney song was on
And a Britney song was on
And a Britney song was on

So I put my hands up, they’re playin my song
The butterflies fly away
I’m noddin’my head like Yeah!
Movin’ my hips like Yeah!

I got my hands up,
They're playin' my song
I know I'm gonna be OK
Yeah, it's a party in the USA
Yeah, it's a party in the USA

Feel like hoppin’ on a flight
Back to my hometown tongith
Something stops me every time
The DJ plays my song and I feel alright

So I put my hands up, they’re playin my song
The butterflies fly away
I’m noddin’ my head like Yeah!
Movin’ my hips like Yeah!

I got my hands up,
They're playin' my song
I know I'm gonna be OK
Yeah, it's a party in the USA
Yeah, it's a party in the USA

So I put my hands up, they’re playin my song
The butterflies fly away
I’m noddin’my head like Yeah!
Movin’ my hips like Yeah!

I got my hands up,
They're playin' my song
I know I'm gonna be OK
Yeah, it's a party in the USA
Yeah, it's a party in the USA"

And with that, the bell rang, causing the triangle form the girls had made fall apart, each landing on one another as I quickly made my exit, noticing the gaze Harry was giving me wasn’t my imagination.