Forsaking Lilly

Chapter Eight

The theatre was very nice. The doors that I had came through led through the rows and rows of velvet red seats. Soft, golden, lighting radiated from hidden sources and lit the theatre in a flattering way. The stage was lit as well, which showed me just how large, lovely, and extravagant it really was.

The stage was adorned with props that gave it the setting of an old tavern. Worn, wooden tables and chairs were set about in a pleasing way and I couldn't help but imagine it being located in a sleepy, old village far off in some distant kingdom ( Yeah, I know. Over active imagination, blah,blah,blah ). I took the decoration as a clue stating that the class was already working on a production, which meant that I probably wouldn't be able to get a good role. Despite my disappointment, I found a seat in the auditorium and waited.

 I was in theatre back in Maine, so I was generally very excited when I saw it on my schedule. Being in the theatre had always relaxed me, so I found myself at ease as I watched the rest of the class file in past me and make their way onto the stage. Eadie went past me too, but thankfully she didn't see me.   How ever who I assumed was the director, or teacher, began to walk past but then noticed me.

The teacher was tall, and he had long, wavy, and thick greying hair. His eyes were an old, dimming blue, but you could still tell that once upon a time he was pleasant to look at. He smiled at me before he asked me any questions. " So, I haven't seen you in my class. New student?" He offered me his hand and I shook it kindly.

" Yeah, I am. My name is Calla Loren."  After shaking his hand, I stood and fished around in my pockets for my schedule. When I found it, I handed it to him and watched his old eyes scan it over. I never understood why new kids had to show their schedule. If they showed up, wasn't that all the proof you needed? I thought that over again and thought about all the lock downs we'd had back at my old school and then decided that this procedure was valid.

" Everything just about looks right," he mumbled. He folded my schedule back up and handed it to me with a smile. " Welcome to theatre." I started to ask him about the scene on stage but he hurried off towards the rest of the class. I didn't feel that it would be right to just try and jump into the class not knowing any of their lines, so I stayed in the audience and just observed the whole class period.

My stomach was rumbling audibly by the time it was time for Lunch. It wasn't that hard for me to figure out where to go, I just fell into line with the crowd of people. Naturally, I got nervous. God knew I didn't want to eat lunch alone, and I didn't want to awkwardly look for someone to eat with. Hopefully, I'd be able to find Cooper and eat lunch with him.

On point, I heard someone behind me say my name. Sadly, it wasn't Cooper it was Eadie. " Oh, good I found you! Let's go get some lunch." I tried to offer her my best smile but it was probably between awkward and aggravated.

I let Eadie lead me into the rather spacious cafeteria filled with chatty, hormonal, teenagers. From what I could see there were five different food lines, you could tell them apart by the nice graffiti signs they had above them ( Italian, Mexican, American, Chinese, and the Snack line). I started for the Italian line, but she herded  me towards the Mexican lines.

Eadie began talking to me as soon as she could. " So, I saw you with Cooper earlier. How do you guys know each other?" Suddenly, this made more sense. It wasn't me she wanted to talk to, she just wanted to hear more about Cooper. I couldn't help but laugh at her.

" I just met him yesterday, our moms are friends." I shook my head at her but her eyes didn't seem to believe what I had said. Oh well, I didn't really give a damn.

I scanned the lunchroom again as an attempt to find Cooper. So, I knew that wouldn't back up what I had told her but I really didn't want to eat lunch with her. And don't get me wrong, I  wasn't exactly ecstatic about eating with Cooper either. Hell, I barely knew him.

I made it through the line and chose what they called, crispidoras ( In Maine we just called them Crispidos, but whatever), Eadie just got a bottle of water and an apple." We should totally go sit over there." She pointed to a table full of girls who seemed to be loud, bubbly, and annoying as hell. I looked around the room in a final attempt to find Cooper, but failed. Silently admitting defeat, I sighed and went to go sit at the damn table. So far, as long as I had to deal with Eadie, this school sucked.

No matter my feelings,  I didn't show it to the cluster of cackling girls. I smiled, and laughed at all their jokes and pretended to enjoy myself. This wasn't anything new, I pretty much did this same thing at my old school. I always seemed to get surrounded by groups that I secretly couldn't stand, and it had been that way with me since I was much younger. Don't get me wrong, I wanted to actually hang out with people that I enjoyed but the chances of that always seemed slim to none.

Thankfully, lunch was over quickly and I departed from the girls as quickly as I possibly could. I trashed my lunch and then followed the crowd out of the cafeteria. Moving through the doors proved to be difficult. I was shoved, and bumped somehow moved further away from the door. Eventually, I made it through the crowd and was able to make my way out.