(Non) Fictional Characters || Leo Valdez

Chapter 9

This chapter is long overdue, I'm so so so sorry. Please read the Author's Note at the bottom, I'll explain everything. It's super important (and surprisingly heartfelt) and it would mean the world to me if you read it. One with the chapter~~

Nothing happened in Social Studies. We played Quizlet Live and I lost because I had horrible people on all of my teams. Anyway, I’m off to Chorus. Even though I’m very antisocial, Chorus is one of my favorite classes. The teacher is super fun, we don’t have to take notes or written tests, and we get to sing. There are tests and projects, but you just have to sing for them. No wonder I have a 100. Sadly, today we have a substitute, so no Mr. Carol. Yes, the chorus teacher’s name is Mr. Carol. Anyway, when I walked in, we still had to get the music folders even though we had a sub. Well, some time passed, people filled in, blah, blah, blah, and here we are. “Okay class, so as you can tell, Mr, Carol isn’t here today. He’s out on the Washington Trip with the 8th graders, but that’s not important. He left me a note saying that you are to practice singing along with the karaoke tracks. And then after each song, he chose a representative from each section to give feedback to help improve their singing. And the representatives are Ashley R. for the sopranos, Matt B. for the guys, and Alethia V. for the altos. Okay guys, gather around the piano and then we’ll start,” the substitute stated. Schist, schist, schist, schist, schist. I can’t do this, I can’t do this, I can’t do this, I can’t do this. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. I hate physical attention. Make it stop! The track starts and I know that I can’t do anything, so I just start to sing along. ~~~~~ The song ended and it was okay. “Okay can the representatives give their feedback now?” “Umm,” I start, trying not to stutter, “We all were a little late on the entrance and we have to remember to crescendo on ‘seize the fire’...” “Okay good, next.” The other two kids share what they had and we move onto the next song. The same thing happens for the other songs. We sing, I stutter while giving feedback, the other kids give feedback, repeat. We finish practicing and we have an “in class study hall” for the rest of the period.

Since it’s nearing the end of the year, a lot of my teachers are giving us “end of the year” projects. I was doing fine with most of them, but I was really nervous for out Chorus project. We have to either sing a solo or a duet in front of the whole class, or do a presentation on different musical terms and tools used in a song. I chose to sing a duet with my friend Gemma because it was less work and I wouldn't be up there as long as I would have if I had done a presentation. I'm not really worried about messing up the song or anything, but I hate being the center of attention. Anyways, Gemma isn't here today so I decided to make a script thing and highlight my part, Gemma’s part, unison, and harmony.

I had just finished putting the final touches on the script (if you would even call it that) when I hear James asking people to do his journal entry if he paid them. I roll my eyes as I log onto Fanfiction.net on my laptop because sadly, Wattpad is blocked by the school. (A/N: true story) I had already finished my journal entry and math homework earlier that week. They were both due on Monday, and it was Friday as of right now.

“Hey, Ally, you wanna do my journal entry? I'll give ya ten bucks?” James whispers not-so-quietly. “Umm, no..,” I respond with a 'duh’ tone. “C'mon, please?” “Do your own homework James!” “Please Alethia? I'll pay you…” “James! No! You threw me out of a chair this morning! I will not do your homework!” “Well it was your fault! You were sitting in my chair!” “Well yeah, but you had not right to do that! Especially on my birthday!” “It's your birthday today?” Ohhhh schist. I shouldn't have said that. I should not have said that. (A/N: if you get this reference you are my favorite person) “Was that what the countdown on your Snapchat story was for?” “Umm… yeah,” I respond shakily. “It’s ninth period! Why haven’t you said anything all day?” he asks, shocked. “Well it’s not like it’s a big deal or anything…” I quickly mumble. “It’s your birthday! Of course it’s a big deal!” “Just shut up, okay?”

    Right at 2:30, the bell rang signaling the end of the day, and I was literally saved by the bell. I abruptly stood up from my chair and marched out of the chorus room. I trekked up to the third floor and down the long hallway to my locker. I know it may seem like I hate birthdays, but I really don’t. I just don’t see the point of them. The gifts are nice and everything, but why would you want to celebrate that you’re another year closer to death? You don’t need to tell me, I know I’m depressing. I have no heart, no soul (or just a really, really teenie black one), and minimal emotions. If I had a nickel for everytime I felt more emotion for a fictional character rather than a real living human being, I’d be on a yacht right now. Anyways, I quickly packed up my backpack so I could meet my friend to walk to Spot with my friend, Noel. The irony in that is that she’s jewish. It’s confusing, but I don’t ask ‘cause I don’t want to be confused even further. I met her at the corner of the hallway where she too, was dressed in all black. “Ready to go?” “Yep. Happy birthday, by the way.” "Thanks."

A/N: I'm not a fan of big long Author's Notes, but just bare with me, please. So, I am the worst fucking person in the entire world. I think we can all agree on that. I am TERRIBLY sorry for not updating since June, BUT I have good reasons. First, I type this whole story up on Google Docs, email it to my phone, then copy and paste to put it on here. I did not have access to Google Docs all summer for many reasons that would take to long to list, so I really couldn't write it up. Second, my family owns a cottage at Chautauqua Lake and we go there a lot over the summer. Our time there has increased over that past four years ever since my parents opened up a restaurant. Since then, we haven't really had the time and money to go on yearly vacations (like 7-day trips to Florida for fun and California to visit family). Our cottage at Chautauqua doesn't have WiFi and we only have a small amount of data to use for five people. Since we spent so much time there, I didn't really go online or use the internet. Finally, and most importantly, my grandmother has been having very bad health problems. She was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease years ago and is now in the final stages of it. (if you don't know what it is, look it up) She can't walk, talk, or pretty much do anything by herself. My grandfather, who has been taking care of her by himself most of the time, hired social workers to come to their house to help him out with taking care of my grandma. This went on for about a year to a year and a half, but she just got worse. She got so bad that she couldn't swallow, which also meant she wasn't getting the needed nutrition. My dad finally convinced my grandpa to put her in a nursing home, but she wasn't eating ANYTHING at that point so she went to the hospital. She had a feeding tube put in and went into a nursing home within the next two days after. We've been visiting her about once or twice a week, and she had gotten better, but the home isn't the best home near us. Even though she can't really speak well, we can tell that she's not happy there. The aids that work there just don't really do their job and it's really just depressing. Because I've been so busy with this, I haven't found the time to update. One of the main reasons why I'm telling you this, besides for me not updating, is because when authors don't update for a while and then say it was because of "personal problems" I sympathize for them, but I've been seeing that so much lately that sometimes it's hard to believe that it's true. I'm telling you this so you'll all know that I am genuinely sorry about not updating for so long. I also tell you this so I can feel closer to all of my readers and have a real connection with them. I think that this is important because you all read my work and support it and help me improve, and Wattpad has become such a HUGE part of my life and I can't imagine my life without it. One last time I want to say I'm really, really sorry for not updating in forever. I love you all so much!! Thank you for everything!!!!

~Paige🖤🖤