Backstage

Chapter 1

All these people are rich and snobby. That's why I never talk to them, and they never talk to me. I'm not rich, and I'm not snobby.
I'm sitting here in my classroom reading my book, while I hear everyone else talking. I can pick up only parts of their conversations:
"Did you hear about Tracy's boyfriend?"
"She has a boyfriend?"
"Will you join any clubs?"
"I want to be in the soccer club!"
And things like that. The club presentations are today, and everyone is just so excited about it. Half of them never even join a club anyway!
I continue to read my book until the teacher comes in. For me, everything is just normal. I go to school and spend most of my time alone. True, I have a few people I can talk to and all, but it's not the same thing. With them it's pretty much only for projects and things that have to do with school.
For me, everything has become normal. I wake up, I go to school and do everything I have to do, and go home to do my homework. I sometimes read, sometimes sing, I dance too, so that keeps me fairly entertained. And my family is stable and happy, too, so that also helps.
But there are times when I do want someone to tell things to when I'm at school.

I go to my locker when the fourth period is over. That means now I can have a forty minute break and afterwards, everyone will have to go to the auditorium for the club presentations. If in the morning the people seemed excited, now it's at least twice as much as that. Everyone, and I mean everyone, is talking about it. Again I pick up some hints of their conversations, which are pretty much the same as before. The difference is that they're louder and more obnoxious.
I put away the books and notebooks I won't need and finally close my locker. I'll go buy some food at the cafeteria and after that I'll go read somewhere. I don't exactly know where. There's just so many places I could go to! There's trees, staircases, benches, and a lot of other places that are simply perfect for enjoying a good book.
All my thoughts are soon interrupted when a girl falls in front of me with a scream.
"Are you alright?" I ask her.
She gets up on her own. The girl has long, gold locks and clear blue eyes, and is just plainly beautiful. I know who this girl is. Victoria Summers.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she says confidently, as usual. She dusts her fabulous clothes and makes sure her hair is looking fine, and then sighs in a matter so relaxed that she just convinces anyone who saw that she's completely unharmed.
A boy grabs her things from the floor and carries them for him. Then she looks at him. "This won't happen at the presentation, no need to be alarmed about that."
"Thanks for the worry," she says. "Bye now."
She waves and continues walking. Victoria Summers is hard to decipher. She looks like the typical snobby high school girl, but she just has so much class in everything she does. From the way she talks and walks to the way she writes. She's not exactly what you'd call hateful. In fact, she's pretty respectable. I'm in my second year and she's starting her third year. I've only seen her a couple of times, but from there I can tell that she's not like any other girl. And yet, she's hard to get along with. You have to be a lot like her to have a fluent conversation with Victoria Summers.
I carry on to the cafeteria and line up at the bar with my book in my hands. From the corner of my eye, I can see the Twins, Riley and Haley, walk in to the cafeteria as well. They're actually really sweet. I only talked to them once in study hall when I dropped my pencil and they were friendly to me despite not knowing me. The twins are identical, with dark skin, wavy black hair pulled up in a half pony tail and big black eyes, and a smile everywhere they go, waving at almost everyone. They even waved at me once. And then, they disappear into the crowd.
I spend my recess reading and relaxing after four periods of class. I wonder what's new with the clubs this year? My mom always tells me to join one, but honestly, I've never really felt much interest in any of them. I'm not the most athletic person in the whole world, which means I probably shouldn't join soccer or volleyball, but I also can't stay sitting in just one place (unless I'm reading), which implies chess or hand crafts aren't for me either. I'm more of an artistic person that has to move at the same time, and music is the best option for that. Now like a band or a choir, but something a little of both might do the trick. The problem is, there aren't many like those. Thanks to that my range of possible clubs I could join is really small.
The bell finally rings and everyone starts heading to the school's auditorium. I walk that way too and when I get there I pick a spot that's about at the middle, just to make sure I can see well. Maybe I could get lucky and find a club that will please both me and my mom.
The school's principal, Principal Greenwood, comes on the stage and everyone starts making "shh" noises at each other. After a couple of minutes, everyone is quiet, and the principal starts his speech.
"Students," he says. "Welcome to another year at Johnson Academy. I hope that every single one of you feels comfortable this year. I am confident that everyone of you is perfectly capable of getting good grades and maintaining academic excellence. But apart from your academic responsibilities, you also have the right to perform activities that please and entertain you. It is because of that, that our after school clubs will make a presentation for you, with the purpose of convincing you to become a part of their team. Let's receive the clubs with a warm round of applause!"
We do as he says and clap. The first club to come on the stage is the chess club.
"Chess is more than just a game," their presenter says. "Chess will help you develop abutted that will help you in every day life."
Behind them is a collage with photos of their trophies and tournaments. The members say things like that briefly so that none of us get bored.
Then comes the soccer club, who just kick the ball with tricks while their captain explains several things. They tend to be popular, so they take longer to perform because they actually interact with the audience.
The volleyball club does almost the same thing, only they don't take as long, but they're like-able too.
Similar performances come on the stage by the Hand crafts club, the softball club, the board game club, the art club, among others. And then, something that the principal says catches my attention.
"Last but not least, the dance club!"
The stage goes dark and upbeat music comes on, at the same time a spotlight focuses on a girl. The girl is Victoria Summers, the girl I ran into earlier. She begins to dance to the beat of the music wearing an incredible outfit. After a few counts, more lights come on, revealing the twins and two other boys moving in complete synchronization to Victoria. Their moves are swift and match perfectly to the Ruth's of the music, and they all seem so secure with themselves, moving comfortably and with a smile on their faces.
Then their routine stops and the lights come back on. My jaw dropped slightly open in amazement and admiration towards all of them. Victoria grabs a microphone and looks at us.
"We don't get so many members," she says, "but this is what we do. We work as a team to make a nice, synchronized routine that is pleasant to most eyes. We also like to sing sometimes. That is why, a week from now on Friday the 17th, we will hold an audition here at the backstage of the auditorium where we meet after school on Mondays, Tuesday's and Wednesday's. If you want to join, prepare a short choreography and a song to sing. We'll gladly receive you. Thank you!"
The audience starts clapping for them and the Principal comes on the stage again. "Well, thank you to all clubs, and we hope that a lot of you will join. Have a nice day, you're all dismissed."
Everyone gets up and starts to leave the auditorium to go to their next class. Throughout the remainder of the day, I continue to think about the Dance Club. Their choreography impressed me, and they don't seem like bad people. I think I might just join them.