𝚂𝚊𝚛𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚖 𝚒𝚜 𝙼𝚢 𝙱𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝙵𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍 (Complete)

𝙱𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚔𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙼𝚎𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜

"Of all the songs in the world, you had to pick this one?" I question exasperatedly, turning to face Lucas.

"You ready?" Lucas asks, ignoring my question as he grips his microphone.

I grip my own as I return, "No."

"Great!" Lucas exclaims. "Hit it, Buena!"

With a huge grin on her face, Buena begins, closing her eyes and moving her body to the rhythm of her fingers, having the emotion of a great musician.

I take a deep breath, murmuring without enthusiasm, "What's your name?" I sigh and internally groan. "Where did you grow up? What color are your eyes?"

"Louder, Paris!" Lucas cheers, giving me a huge grin.

"You're enjoying this too much," I return, narrowing my eyes darkly.

"Have we met?" The words flow forth with more confidence as I ignore the lyrics and focus on the beat. "Passed by on the street?" My eyes flutter closed. "Do we wish on the same star at night?" I question quietly.

"Dear happily ever after," we sing together. "I'm waiting for mine to begin."

"Until then..." I sing myself.

I pause, my voice stopping before the chorus. I feel a memory washing up to the shore of my brain. Suddenly it's like a violent storm as the memory wishes to break free and control me. I shake my head and try to continue, but it's as though my voice refuses to come forth. I swallow, my eyes squeezed shut as the panic begins to seep through.

"Paris?" a voice calls from near or far, I can't tell. I can't even tell the general direction, nor whether it is Lucas or Buena's.

I sink slowly to the floor, my legs no longer wishing to hold me up. Strong arms grab my shoulders as the desperate yelling continues.

Weakly, I find the words to say, "There is no such thing as 'prince charming' or 'true love'. Nor happy endings. So why should I sing about lies?"

Silence fills the room, creating an air of uncomfortable as I breathe it in shakily.

Then Lucas says quietly, "Come on, Paris. Please, have a little imagination."

"Only once you have some common sense," I say, breaking free from what I now realize is his grasp. I rise to my feet, blinking at the anger and embarrassment trying to blur my vision.

I don't like arguing with people. The energy it takes to fight always makes me feel deflated. But something inside me is fueling my anger, and I'm not going to fight to keep it inside.

"I knew I never should have agreed to sing," I say, my voice rising in pitch. I let the mic fall to the floor, covering my ears at the painful noise that follows. I frown at the speakers, before turning back to Lucas. "I probably sounded like a dying cow, anyways."

Before either can say a word, I exit the room, leaving Buena and Lucas' shocked faces in my wake.

My feet lead me to the bathroom, where I slip inside without a sound.

That's when I hear soft slippers tap down the hallway, heading in the direction of the bathroom. I quickly leap into a stall, locking the door and climbing the toilet to hide my feet from sight.

"Eiffel?" a female voice calls softly, her voice echoing through the small room. "I heard you come in here. Are you alright?"

No.

I'm not alright.

Plus, now everyone thinks I'm incredibly sensitive, which I'm not.

"Please go away," I reply, my voice barely audible for her to hear. "The world might be ending, so it would be a good idea to leave before the roof starts collapsing."