The Stage Is Set

3: Making Friends is Hard

Norah ate her cereal as the sound of the tv was playing in the background. Samantha poured herself a cup of coffee and sat across from her daughter.

"So, are you excited?" 

Norah nods, "This is the second-best thing that has happened to me."

"What was the first?"

Norah gave her mother a 'really' look, "Accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, obviously." Samantha laughed and nodded, "Yes, I agree with you."

Norah giggles and continues to eat her cereal before heading to school.

____

When Norah walks in the Foundation class she was surprised to see that it was empty.

'I wonder where everyone else is? Either way I'm going to take this opportunity to dance since I seem to have the place all to myself right now.' Norah beamed squinting her eyes in joy.

On her phone she goes to her Christian playlist and puts on one of her favorite songs.

As Norah danced it felt like she was floating on air. While her feet gracefully make their way around the room.

Westly walks in and the girl doesn't even notice him.

He sits on the bench and watches her.

'As I enter the S class, I immediately saw Norah dancing and all I could think of was, 'She looks so happy and peaceful,' it's like she's the only one in the room, her and the Lord.' Westly smiled.

Veronica, Jenny and Kelsie were the next ones to enter and see the girl.

"At least she's not late." Kelsie whispers to the two.

Veronica rolled her eyes and went to put her things away before she stretched, Jenny follows behind her and Kelsie sits beside Westly.

"Her audition was good but watching her like this is so different." Kelsie lowly said.

Westly nodded.

"Do you think she knows we're here?"

"I don't think so." He shook his head, not taking his eyes off her.

Kelsie pats him on the shoulder and stands up to go change.

Finally, the others show up and when they saw what Norah was doing, they also sat and quietly watched.

The song ends and Norah opened her eyes then turned her head to see everyone watching her.

Westly stood up and started clapping.

She gave a nervous giggle and waved, "Hi."

He walks over to her smiling, "Norah, that was great."

"It's all thanks to God." She smiled back.

'God gets all the credit, if it wasn't for Him, I wouldn't be here.' Norah says.

____

Everyone was warming up, as miss Allison comes out of her office smiling.

"I have exciting news everyone."

"What is it," They asked.

"I signed us up for a dance competition!" 

"What? But it's just our second day." Emmett says and everyone nodded their head in agreement.

"Oh, don't worry, it's in three months, you have plenty of time." Miss Allison says hoping that'll calm them down a little, "Anyways, today you're going be partnering up in two or three and you'll have to choreograph a dance and perform in the middle of everyone in class. So, choose your partners wisely." And with that she walked away.

Norah thought the idea of coming up with a choreograph dance with someone sounded fun, she's never done that before.

Veronica was busy talking to Jenny when she felt a tap on the shoulder, she slowly turned around to face see Norah with a beaming smile on her face.

"Can I help you?" Not meaning to sound as sour as she did, her attitude didn't affect Norah, "Hi, I was wondering if you want to be dance partners?" Norah's voice came out as sweet as cotton candy, but Veronica tilts her head and shook it, "Uh, no thank you."

The older girl turns back to Jenny and continues their conversation.

Jenny glances over Veronica's shoulder and saw Norah looking down at the floor defeated. Her heart ached for the girl.

"Jenny? Jenny!" Jenny's attention was brought back to her friend.

"Sorry?"

"I asked you if you wanted one of the kittens my cat gave birth to?"

"Oh, yeah, sure." Jenny nodded glancing back at Norah who is now talking to westly.

Norah's smile didn't reach her eyes like before.

.

.

.

Poor Norah, all she wants is to make friends.

Why do you think could be wrong with Veronica?