Thursdays

Chapter 1

I guess you could say I'm a pretty normal girl.

My favorite color is purple, my boyfriend is captain of the football team, my mom is single and has taken care of me alone since I was a baby. I think my life is simple. Nothing much happens in my life. The same routine, everyday. I wake up, go to school, go back home, and sleep. Repeat. Except on weekends, I wake up, go down town to the local cafe, sip coffee and read, then go to my job at the pizzaria, from 3 to 7. Sundays, I work from 1 to 5, then I sleep. Nothing has changed. No adventure, no journey, no fun.

But, I mean, I don't hate everything about my life, I love my best friends, Amelia and Evan, and of course my boyfriend, Seth. I don't love him though. I probably never will. I love my mom, who is only 34, which is young for having a 17 year old. She was pregnant with me when she was my age. Usually, most pregnant 17 year olds either have an abortion or give the baby to adoption, but she kept me.

I don't know my father, and I hope I never will, he was cruel for leaving my mom, but then again he was only 17, I think.

But anyway, in the city of Troy, New York, high school is cliche and boring. People are still popular, people are still jocks, and people are still mean. The only part I haven't gotten out of high school is what I want to do with my life. Where do I see myself in 10 years? I have no idea.

When I was 14, my mom's boyfriend at the time, Joshua, had encouraged me to take singing lessons. It was the only eventful thing in my life. But I stopped last year, it wasn't getting me anywhere, and I don't like singing in front of people. I mean, I don't really have stage fright, and I know this might sound stupid, but I think I just have a fear of people judging me, if I'm bad, if I'm good. Only three people have told me that I was good, but I've only sung in front three people. My singing teacher, aka Makaela, my mom, and Joshua. Joshua was my favorite of my mom's boyfriends. Once when I was singing in the shower, he heard me, and no, he didnt walk into the bathroom. But he told my mom that he thought I had talent, and no one has said this about me, so I thought why not? My mom was in too. After that, I enjoyed it, but I quit anyway.

***

Today is Sunday. And I really have nothing to do. For some reason, my boss, Marco, gave me the day off. I don't want to sit in the cafe all day, I wanna do something new.

So I pulled out my phone, and the first city I think of, was Albany. It is the capitol of New York, but it is only a 13 minute drive, according to google.

So I walked back to my house and borrowed my mom's car. She didn't mind.

***

The drive was about 15 minutes long, and to be honest, I had no idea what to do. I've been to Albany before, but not by myself. I don't know anywhere to go.

I was starting to get hungry, too.

Then I saw a place up ahead.

It was called Rhythmically Delicious. It sounded nice.

After parking, I walked in.

There was a stage to the left, with a band playing. I had never heard the song before, but it was nice. Caramel brown round tables were around the room, with pale green colored seats.

I instantly loved it. It seemed light and mellow.

I chose a table that wasn't taken and sat down. I was used to sitting by myself, an empty seat in front of me. It was like I was waiting for someone that would never come, the chair never being warmed from the bottom of someone else until I left.

A waitress came to me and handed me a menu.

I searched through the menu, everything looked so good.

Finally, I went with the butter linguini. It was simple, like me.

After I ordered a latte, I looked at the life around me.

There was a couple at the table near mine. They looked so happy, so in love. Something I wanted.

There was a table with two girls, maybe in their early 20s, laughing.

There was a group of people that consisted of two girls and two guys. They were in a deep conversation, but were enjoying their company.

I've always wanted things like this.

That's why I am thankful for Amelia and Evan.

I'll talk more about them later.

My latte  had arrived, and it had a pretty design in it, with milk probably.

I ordered the pasta then sipped at my drink.

I love anything with coffee.

By the time my food had arrived, I noticed a paper, hanging up on the wall next to the stage. I made sure to look at it when I'm done eating.

It said Wanna spread talent on stage?

Come sing, dance, anything! This Thursday, Fridays are cliche. 7 o'clock!

I looked at the names that were already there. There were six. Rylee Stigler, Fae Bullock, Jonah Frevert, Wilson Hurtado, Ailsa Fillingham and Harper Moreno

I wanted to sign up. I wanted to sing.

So I did, but I didn't want to be Heidi Becker. No, I was gonna be.. Indie. My favorite name since the 8th grade. I chose a last name as simple as Woods. Indie Woods.

Her name was on the list.