The Destined

Chapter Seven: Anna

    Anna    

I'm in science, supposed to be taking a getting-to-know-your-past-grades quiz, but I am not. I am doodling. Dad says art is a waste of time and it never brings you any good money, which is what Dad only cares about. Mom was never this way. She was kind and generous. She died, though, when I was eight and poor Millie was only three. Besides, I think Melissa's mom is an artist.

Mom said the day before she died that she wanted to get away from Germany. She wanted to live someplace else, somewhere exciting. We never figured out why she died – a virus or something – but she never woke up the next morning. Then, Dad decided to move us all the way to the United States. The only relative we knew was my Aunt, who lives in New York. He would never talk to us. He would just sit in the living room, in his robe, staring at Mom's photo. He would never pay attention to Millie, and I would have to be her best friend because she couldn't make any friends at school. He never hugged us, and only bought us take-out food. I realized that I wasn't proud of my father.

I look at my drawing. I am drawing the queen of Lybrethium, like in my dream. I was not the best, but I managed to make her look beautiful. She was almost done! I start on the crown, when a bony hand grabs my pencil out of my hand. I look up and see Mrs. Darling. The whole class is staring at me now, except for Avani who looks away.

"Perhaps you would like to share something with the class?" She sneers at me.

"Um, I'm s-"

Before I can say anything, she holds up the picture of the Queen. Katie and Jesse start cracking up. Soon the whole class is laughing, and I feel my face burn red of embarrassment. Melissa doesn't laugh, though, but Avani is faking it.

"Enough!" Ms. Darling's stern voice echoes through the room. Everyone shuts their mouths. Ms. Darling leans down. "Who is this supposed to be?" She whispers to me.

"No one," I mumble.

"Well then," she scowls. "I guess you won't need it." With that, she rips the paper out of my notebook and tears it apart, right through the middle of the drawing. I watch her throw my drawing away, and then get back to working on my quiz.

☾☾☾  

Chomp! Meredith takes a big bite into a carrot at lunch.

I just sit there, playing with my food. Melissa is talking about something but I don't feel like listening. Avani did not sit with us, as usual. Lotso is walking around and checking the tables to see how everyone was doing. Our table was next.

"Hey girls!" he exclaimed.

"Is Lybrethium real? I know it is. How can we get back?" I blurt out, not caring about what other people think. I'm sure it is real. Melissa had the same dream.

"What are you talking about?" Lotso asks. At first, I thought he meant it, and maybe that it was just another dumb dream of mine, but then he smiles and winks.

"I want to know," I whisper.

"Meet me at my office during 7th period," Lotso whispers back. "And make sure to bring Melissa and Avani.

I nod and continue to eat.

The bell rings, and I quickly throw away all my leftover stuff.

"Guys, Lotso wants us in his office. Now!" I yelled across the hallway to Melissa. She calls over to Avani, but Katie grabs Avani's arm.

"Um, news flash," Katie says. "Avani is staying with us!"