Finding Home in Fame

Chapter two

The day after her victory felt surreal. Leny had barely slept all night, too excited about what lay ahead. Her phone buzzed non-stop, with congratulations pouring in from family, friends, and even people she didn't know. Her Instagram following had more than doubled overnight, and the message icon showed 99+.

She unplugged her phone from the charger and glanced at the clock—it was 6:00 AM. From downstairs, she could already hear her family getting ready for school and work. Just as she was about to check her new Instagram messages, there was a knock at her door. Moments later, her mother's head peeked through.

"Don't you think it's time to get ready for school?" her mom asked.

Frowning, Leny replied, "Mom, I won The Voice of Germany last night and barely slept. I thought I wouldn't have to go to school today."

Clara, her mother, let out a short laugh, but her expression quickly turned serious again. "And you think just because you won a show, you don't have to go to school anymore? Your brother went back right after his win and still got excellent grades. I wouldn't exactly say the same about yours."

Of course, her older brother came up again. No matter what Leny did, she was always compared to her siblings. "Felix had his competition on a Friday, and school didn't start again until Monday." she pointed out, rolling her eyes.

"Exactly, he went back right away. Now get ready so we don't have to drive you because you missed the bus." her mother said with a firm tone.

With far too little sleep, Leny arrived at school slightly later than usual. As always, she planned to stop by her locker before meeting up with her friends at their usual spot. But today was different—people were noticing her. Heads turned as she passed, and whispers followed her through the halls.

Her heart pounded, and anxiety began creeping up on her. She wasn't used to this kind of attention, especially from people who had known her for years and never paid her much notice.

"Oh my gosh, Leny! I saw you on TV last night—you were amazing!" a girl from her biology class ran up to her, almost shouting, which of course drew even more attention.

"Uh, thanks." she responded with an awkward smile.

Finally, she reached her friends, where two of her best friends, Mila and Luna, were already waiting for her. The three had known each other since kindergarten and lived close by, which only made their bond stronger. Mila grinned at her excitedly, while Luna seemed more reserved than usual.

"Lenyyy, you're famous now." Mila teased. "I can't believe my best friend is the winner of The Voice of Germany!"

Leny laughed and brushed a strand of hair from her face. "Yeah, it still doesn't feel real—especially since I have to be here at school."

"You really deserved it." Luna smiled softly. "You worked so hard."

"Thanks, Luna. That means a lot." Leny replied, feeling a warmth of familiarity and comfort wash over her. At least she had her friends to lean on.

The school day felt never-ending. The excitement about her win was starting to feel suffocating. In every class, teachers brought up her victory, and students she'd never spoken to came up to her. Even during lunch, she could feel the stares from across the room.

And then there were her friends. Mila was still buzzing with excitement, talking Leny's ear off about how proud she was. The others seemed excited too, but something about it felt forced. Every time the group tried to change the subject, it somehow always circled back to Leny's newfound fame.

"So, are you just going to forget about us when you start hanging out with all your famous friends and take over Hollywood?" Savannah asked casually.

Leny froze. "I don't have famous friends, and I'm not taking over Hollywood." she replied, her voice unsure. Her friends exchanged glances, which only made her more anxious.

"Sure, but if you do, don't forget to invite me to Hollywood. I could be your assistant or something." Zoe grinned.

Forcing a smile that didn't reach her eyes, Leny felt uneasy. The new dynamic was uncomfortable. Why were people starting to see her as some ticket to something bigger instead of just Leny—their friend?

By the time the school day ended, she was drained. All she wanted was to go home and hide under her covers, but even that wouldn't go as peacefully as she hoped.