K-12: Legacy

Drama Club- Part 2

We took our places on the stage. The spotlights were shone on us, and I was left blinking in the light on the stage, my fixed smile plastered to my face as the drama teacher began with the famous opening line:

"In the morning, she was just Lo, plain Lo, standing four feet ten in one sock. She was Lola in slacks. She was Dolly at school. She was Dolores on the dotted line. But in my arms, she was always Lolita."

I tried not to think too hard on the fact that everyone in the audience didn't have the faintest idea of what was going on, except Abby, Bahari, Athena, and Kim. They were the only ones not smiling.

It got to the part where I ran on stage in with practically nothing on, and Humbert looked me over quite frankly. Almost too frankly. As though he wasn't acting at all.

I laughed and giggled and went over every single line perfectly, with no sign of resistance. I was under their spell, but it didn't affect me the way it did others. And after the hotel scene, in which the crew held up a screen in front of the bed, and the drama teacher and I just sat there awkwardly- the curtains closed for intermission.

I let out a sigh of relief and darted off the stage.

It was a very short intermission- only 5 minutes to adjust hair and makeup, as well as to change costumes, and we were soon in our places again at the small house.

The teacher started his lines, and I followed mechanically, making sure to put as little feeling into my words as possible.

Students were beginning to shift in their seats, wondering where the heck they were. At this point, I had had it. I launched myself up from the desk where I was writing a letter to my pretend love interest and yelled to the crowd. My emotions were soaring, the anger and hatred boiling in my veins. Angry at myself. Angry at the teachers. But most of all, angry at my father who let this happen. 

"CAN'T YOU SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING?!" I bellowed, waving my arms. They started looking at each other, the effects of the medicine steadily wearing off. I thew a prop- a vase of flowers, fake as this play- on the floor. The plastic vase bounced once, and rolled off the stage. People murmured to themselves and each other. 

"YOU'RE BEING BRAINWASHED-"

"What is she doing?!" The teacher hissed, waving his arms at the security guards. "Go put her down."

"YOU'RE BEING BRAINWASHED! OPEN YOUR FUCKING EYES, DON'T LET THE PRINCIPAL TREAT YOU LIKE THIS, YOU FUCKING COWARDS!" I screeched. I felt my power boiling inside me, wanting revenge for all the times I had been deceived by someone who should have been a parental influence- not just to me, but to the countless students who relied on him.

"WAKE UP!" I howled, stomping my foot. I felt a shockwave of energy being released, and as it hit the students, the remaining effects of whatever shit they were on vanished.

They launched themselves to their feet, and started running at the doors. Teachers and security guards tried to herd them back to their seats, crying out orders that nobody listened to. If a teacher tried to stop a student, they would fight, and fight dirty.

The stampede of angry pupils marched through the doors, scurrying to towards the Office. I followed suit, kicking off my heels as I went, smirking to myself.

When we got to the Office, it didn't take long for the mob to break open the doors and swarm the principal. Bahari and Abby stood by my sides, and we grinned at each other. Another girl stopped by us, surveying the scene.

"Pretty good turnout, huh?" She says, jerking her head at the masses of anarchic students ripping teacher and principal alike limb from limb. 

"No shit," I replied.

"By the way, I'm Kiyoto, president of the debate club. Nice to meet you, ladies."

"I'm Elliott," I replied, reaching out a hand, and we shook firmly. "These are Abby and Bahari," I motioned to my friends. Bahari made the peace sign and Abby flipped her off good-naturedly.

"This is fucking entertaining," Bahari said, gesturing at my now-dead father, and I had to nod in agreement.