Well Beyond Expectation

Chapter Four.

Lena

I can literally not get off of the stage fast enough, ready to go ask Beck if it was as bad as I think it was.

I can't believe I laughed at the theme. I mean, I can because it is so blatantly stupid. But still those girls on the dance committee already don't like me. I certainly didn't do myself any favors by pretty much laughing in their faces.

I look around backstage, peeking around the dark corners and even in the props room but I don't see Beck anywhere.

"Hey, Chris?" I call to the guy working the curtain. "Have you seen Beckham?"

He gives me a quick once over and then shrugs his narrow shoulders. "Ran off with Weston." He says, turning back to the curtain's rope. "Seemed like they were in a pretty big hurry to get out of here."

I don't hide my groan. Of course he ran off with him. So much for his promise to be right in the wings for me.

Weston freaking Ford strikes again!

I don't debate long on waiting. He clearly bailed on me so I might as well head to Trig.

I walk alone to my locker, going over the whole speech ordeal in my mind. Of course now it has stopped raining. I guess I'm just relieved that the whole thing is finally over. There are only a few more weeks of the school year and then I can avoid this place and these people like the plague for three glorious months before I have to come back for one more final year before I break out of this town.

I'm tired of living in the bubble.

Terrace Park, North Carolina. It sounds more like the name of an old folks home than a pretentious town too far away from the coast to be fun. Technically Beck and me aren't from Terrace Park. We live in Green Bay, the old working class neighborhood that skirts between Terrace Park and the rougher downtown area.

The bell rings over head and I sigh, I'd just pulled out my Trig textbook and closed my locker and now that class is over. Admittedly I'm not that upset about missing that class. I swivel back and pull out my English book instead. I linger for a moment staring at the picture of me, Beck, and our parents that is the only decoration inside of my otherwise completely boring locker.

We were all smiling and happy. One of the last times we were together as a family. I reach out to touch the corner of the picture, wishing I could go back. It's been just over three years since they died, but the twist in my stomach hasn't weakened a bit.

I jump when someone plants a kiss on my cheek.

"Yasmine, you lunatic, I just had a heart attack." I shake my head at her grinning face. Her smile falters though when she sees where my hand still touches the picture.

"You ok?" She says gently, her warm face open and caring.

"I'm fine." I nod, slamming the locker shut and turning to walk with her up the hallway.

My old clunky flip phone buzzes in my pocket and I flip it open and then shut it just as quick.

Sorry I had to split. West has an emergency and needed me. You did great today sis! Luv u!

"So..." Yasmin's prompts. "How awful was it?"

"Pretty bad, I think I'm mostly blacking it all out though." I try to smile but it comes off forced. "I'm glad it's over. Beckham and Weston are both up for King." I smile for real now. "Barbie King." I whisper and we both go into a fit of laughter as I tell her all about the new theme. We talk the whole way to class about the way I laughed on stage and then about how Beck and West disappeared before I was even off stage.