Revelations of A Wannabe Drama Queen

Chapter One

 The autumn leaves crunched underneath my footsteps as I walked briskly, leaving a trail of crushed leaves in my path. I normally stopped to enjoy the cool breeze and sweet, crunchy noises of fall, but today was simply not a good day to halt.

I tied my hair hurriedly in a messy ponytail, trying to keep my bag steady as I did so. Not an easy task. I stumbled a little as I stepped on a rock, sending me on a frenzy. My hands were still working on my thick, brown hair—that can actually use all the work it can get. My hair was still wet from my bath a while ago, and I didn’t have enough time to actually dry it.

So why exactly was I in a hurry? On a weekday, no less?

No, I am not a study-holic, unlike some people in my school. And no, I am not part of the student council or any other club-slash-organization that required me to come to school as early as possible.

Today was the audition for the Theatre club, and—although I hate to admit it—I am super excited—like, giddy excited—love-crazed schoolgirl excited.

I have this weird addiction to scripts and plays. Ever since I was a little child, I have been entranced by movies like Titanic, Romeo and Juliet, and other adaptations of original works by some famous author. What can I say? I loved acting—so much that I’m willing to give up everything. I can honestly say that that includes my family.

My mom doesn’t care. She spends all her time babysitting my older sister, Maika. Maika isn’t really disabled, or autistic, or sick—my mom just loves babying her, giving her everything she wants. That’s because when she was little, mom spoiled Maika into thinking that she’ll always be there for her whenever she needed her. Maika’s always been normal (as normal as she can be as a fifteen-year old spoiled child) until she got into drugs. Mom’s really worried and sad, and suddenly, all the attention I got from her disappeared in a snap.

My dad actually lives in our house once every two months. He’s a businessman. He used to be around a lot when I was a kid—he used to watch me act on our “stage” and clap as I bowed. Business has been booming, so I don’t see him very much. My mom spoiled my sister, my dad spoiled me. Unfortunately, without him around, my days in that house have pretty much been hell.

The school was unusually silent. Very few students loitered the halls. I ran the brush over my overly-messy and too-tight ponytail. I had no time to fix that now, the auditorium was in sight. I ran as fast as humanly possible. I wasn’t late, but I wasn’t early either, so I had nothing to worry about.

I swung the doors open, to be greeted by a dark room occupied by six people. I blinked furiously to adjust my eyes to the darkness, three of the six sat on huge chairs on the stage, each in their respective position.

“You were almost late,” Alexa Veliones said, eyeing me with that cold gaze of hers. Her dyed blue hair was tied in a its usual, neat ponytail—that I could never pull off. Her face (which was usually filled with emotions on stage) was scrunched up in an unreadable expression. She was tapping her foot impatiently, and her eye twitched every so often.

“I wasn’t late,” I said. “I wasn’t early either. I was just in time.”

Gerti Smith tapped her digital wristwatch, which displayed the time clearly despite the darkness. She flicked her long blonde hair away from her forehead, showing off her bright green eyes. “We set an audition time. To see who really wanted to join the theatre club.”

 I raised an eyebrow in confusion. “What?”

Gerti’s watch blinked twice and let out several high-pitched ‘beep’s, just as the door slammed open to reveal a boy with shaggy brown hair. He was panting, taking deep and steady inhales and exhales. He said nothing, and he stared at us blankly, observing us.