The Duet

Chapter Twenty Six

“As you all know, two weeks from tomorrow will be the Summer Serenade which is supposed to celebrate the coming of summer and all your hard work during the past 10 months.” Mr. Elliot explained. “This means you and your partner have fifteen days left to put together and rehearse your duet.”

The class broke into excited whispers. It’s hard to believe that our two month project is almost finished. It feels like it was just yesterday that Austin and I were soaking wet in Mr. Rawry’s office and forced to do this project together. I remember thinking that their tightly knitted plan for Austin and me to get along would never work. But obviously their devious plan work better than expected.

“Okay, settle down students.” Mr. Elliot ordered. Everyone obeyed and focused their attention back on our vocals teacher.

“After this week you, your partner, and I will arrange a date to where you will practice your entire duet on the actual stage, which will be graded by me.”

“So you’re grading us twice?” Someone at the back blurted out.

Mr. Elliot nodded. “Yes. So your final grade will be composed of all your work this term, your rehearsal duet, and your actual performance. Anymore questions?”

When no one answered, Mr. Elliot allowed us to spend the rest of the period practicing our duets. Austin and I quickly ran into one of the two practice rooms before anyone else could take it. The practice room was somewhat spacious. It had a small desk in the corner, right beside an old piano that hasn’t been properly tuned in a while.

“So we have our song,” Austin started. His eyes were glued to the posters on the crème coloured walls. “How are we exactly going to perform it?”

“We can worry about it later. Let’s just practice the actual singing part.” I said.

“When exactly is later?” he asked, sitting in the empty space beside me on the piano bench.

I shrugged. “Who knows? Let’s just practice.”

And that’s what we did. I played our duet song on the piano as we repeatedly sang it until we were satisfied. Sometimes we would repeat a certain part until it sounded the way we wanted it to sound. We did take mini breaks in between, which consisted of me attempting to teach Austin to play the piano, but I think we were very productive if I do say so myself.

When the lunch bell rang, I rushed out of the music room in attempt of avoiding the crowded hallways. Lucky for me, the hallway wasn’t crowded with people when I arrived. I didn’t have to shove my way past people to get to my locker or yelled excuse me multiple times in order for them to move out of my way. With a smile on my face I went over to my locker. I spun the combination to my lock and opened the door. A bunch of folded pieces of papers came floating out my locker. With a confused look on my face, I bent down and picked them up. Once I had them all in my hands I opened on.

My smile instantly fell as well as my stomach.

How were your even chosen as masquerade princess? You’re more of an ugly awkward peasant than a princess.

I crumpled the note and shoved it into my pocket. I quickly opened up another one.

How does a popular, attractive, amazing boy like Austin choose a hideous, awkward, antisocial girl like you?

I blinked my eyes repeatedly so my tears would slip. Stupidly, I opened another one. And another, And another one until I’ve realized I’ve gone through all the notes. All of them were written with hateful and hurtful words. But why? I didn’t do anything!

“Oh my gosh, Kat!”

My head snapped up and found my two best friends staring at me in worry. That’s when I realized my cheeks were wet; I was crying. I shoved all the notes in my pocket and used the sleeve of my shirt to wipe my tears.