Backstage: Miles and Alya

~ Chapter One ~

  What were the chances of Alya being late for class on her very first day at Keaton? Very likely. The chances of Alya actually getting there on time? Very slim.

  Briskly she walked in the room, her head bowed down, her heels clomping down hard on the floor. She kept to herself, staring in her lap and twiddling her thumbs.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw on her right was a boy with dark brown hair and chocolate brown eyes. When he realized that her eyes had drifted towards him, she looked away, staring back down in her lap.

  Although some of the students must have, thankfully the teacher didn't notice Alya coming in late. "Welcome, class, to the professional arts school, Keaton. The trials, the struggles, the competition, all become a part of what who you are, and what you will be known as.

Alya, starting to get bored, twisted her hair in strands, and began to braid it.

"Now, before we get started with our assignments, who was the person who came into class late?"

Man! Alya thought as she slowly raised her hand. She thought he hadn't noticed.

  He looked at her, an eyebrow raised. "Miss Alya, I will let this slip for now, since this is the first day of school. But just know that next time, it will be penalized against you."

  The class erupted into giggles and laughing. Alya shrunk deeper into her seat, trying to hide her face amongst all of the books she had in her hands.

  The teacher, who's name was Mr. Park, raised his hand for silence. "The assignment that I have for you today is simple. Pair up with a partner, and find a song you like that is not originally a duet. Then, change it up to where it is a duet, and perform it next week." He looked at all of the students, clapping his hands slowly twice. "You may begin."

  Alya couldn't help but think wretchedly, Nobody is going to pair up with after that catastrophe with Mr. Park! She glanced around, trying to find someone who didn't have a partner, until she felt a light tap on her shoulder. Turning around, she looked in surprise at who tapped it; it was the boy she was looking at earlier.

  "Do you have a partner?" he asked, glancing from her, to around the room.

  "No, I don't," Alya muttered shyly, staring down at the floor once again. Why was he asking her this? Nobody would want to be her partner.

  Very slowly, he said, "Would you.. like to be mine?"

  Alya didn't know why, but she felt a tingle run up her spine. Looking at the boy, she flashed a small smile. "Sure," she said.

  "Alright," he said, returning the grin. "Where do you want to begin?"

  Alya's mind went blank. She pondered over it for a minute, and then a song came to her mind. "How about, ' Treat You Better ' by Shawn Mendes?"

  The boy's face lit up. "Oh, that's actually one of my favorite songs! When do you want to work on it?"

  "How about tomorrow after school, at my place?" Alya asked. What am I thinking right now? He's going to blow me off...

  "Sure, Alya! Tomorrow it is!" the boy said enthusiastically.

  "Oh, and by the way, I never did catch your name, " Alya said quietly.

  "Yeah, right. The name's Miles," he said.

  "Okay," Alya said. "See you then!"