The Attic

Chapter Ten

Miss Paige turned and looked at us the exact moment we saw her. A boy my age and an older lady which I assume is his mother sat on the chair and was listening intently to whatever Miss Paige was saying. She excused them and walked over to us, smiling so broadly.

  "Hey kids". She said.

  "Um..hey, Miss Paige", i greeted.

  "Hi", Sophie said.

  "How are you guys doing", she went ahead to ask.

  "Great!" I said

  "So...here for me?" she asked. I saw the woman before, checking her wrist watch constantly.

  "Sorry, are you busy?" I asked

  "Yeah, kind of."
 
  "I see. We're too early right? it's okay we can go and return later"

  "Ah ah! you didn't let me finish. I may be busy now, but not to send anyone away who wants to see me".

  "Uh okay" I say and turn to Sophie who just shrugged.

  "Tell you what...", Miss Paige said.

  "What?", Sophie asked excitedly.

  "I've got a great attic, it's right upstairs. Not the normal kind of attic you know, filled with junks and stuffs".

  "So what are we gonna do there?" Sophie asked clearly confused.
What are we doing in her attic? Not what I was expecting when I first got here.

  "They're a bunch of other teens like you. You go there and do whatever fun thing they're doing up there".

  "Umm...I don't know", I say, "I'm not the social type"

  "Of course you are", said Sophie, "don't worry Miss Paige, we'll go up there and have loads of fun with the others".

  "Alright. First door on your right. It's clear indicated, ATTIC on the door. You'll have no problem identifying it".

  "Okay". Sophie said and grabbed my hand, dragging me with her upstairs. When Miss Paige was out of earshot she said, "Miss Paige always have a smile on her face"

  "Yeah, that's because she's a counsellor. All counsellors need to wear a smile everytime. It's how they should be"

  "I see". Sophie said and stopped abruptly when she saw the sigh ATTIC above her head. I bumped into her. "This is it".

  "Ooo... I can't wait", I say sarcastically. Sophie noticed this and rolled her eyes. "Come on Beck, it's gonna be fun. Loosen up a bit"

  "You know I'm not social like you. You have this flair that attracts people to you and you interact freely among strangers. I'm clearly the opposite".

  "Then how were you planning on talking to Miss Paige?" she asked and I hung my head low saying nothing. Sophie sighed. "Becky, try to free yourself some more. Okay?"

  "Okay. I'll try"

  "Good". She turned and placed her hand on the door handle.

I gasp, "you know it's not too late for us to go back downstairs"

  "Ugh! one more word and I'm spanking your ass"

That shut me up real quick.

She opened the door and we both went in, shutting the door behind us. There were three...no five other teenagers like us, their eyes glued to us at the door.

I need a bathroom.

  "Uh...hi" Sophie said. "I'm Sophie". My silence caused her to Midge me slightly.

  "...I...um, I'm...I'm Becky".
I can't even say my name properly in front of five people without my heart beating out of my chest. And then I'll sing in front of millions of people?

A girl got up and walked to us. "Hi", she said. Her cute bangs almost covering her eyes. "I'm Lia. This is Ciara, Gillian, Lance and Annabel"

We both nod, finding our way to the back. All of them were sitting with their legs crossed; on the floor. We followed suit and sat on the floor as well. I must say, it's quite comfortable and cool.

  "So", Gillian started. She had black hair, just like Sophie with little freckles on her nose. Cute. "Sophie and Becky, right?"

  "Yeah". Sophie said. Normal me, I just nodded.

  "Great". Gillian continued, "we were just telling each other our fears and other things that you know...makes us want to see Miss Paige in the first place. She said the first stage is to get to know other people who are in the same situation we are in, and talking amongst ourselves"

  "and...", Lia picked up from there, "that's what we were still trying to do when you guys came in". She pointed at me and Sophie. "So Lance, can you come up first?"

He nodded and went to the front. He's skinny with round large glasses he pushed up his nose properly. Common nerd!

  "So...", He started, "I get bullied in class a lot. I don't why but it's getting to me real bad. When I get A's in class, some students just come up to me, bully me, say mean things to me. And sometimes when I'm unlucky, they tear my test paper; all these because i pass so well in school. Now, I don't go to school because of this. My grades are detoriating gradually and that's when my mom decided that I get some help. That's why I'm here".

All this while, he's been staring at the floor like that's what giving him the courage to talk. He came back and sat down. Everyone is looking sober and sad. He sounds just like me I must admit.

Next up was Ciara; with short ginger hair and beautiful green eyes. She looks cute and quite timid.
   "Umm, I'm Ciara as you guys all know. So, I lost a good friend of mine. She was my best companion of all time. Nothing could separate us. We looked up to each other and trusted one another. There was practically no secret between us..."

I and Sophie looked at each other the same moment. I don't know what could ever come between the both of us. We care and trust each other. If there is anybody that tells me my rights and wrongs, care for me when I'm ill, look out for my best interest: is Sophie.
    I first met her in Kindergarten. When I was dropped off in school, I was so scared and frightened, especially as it was my first day. Sophie came up to me and asked; "are you alright?".
I couldn't answer her then. "Come sit with me". She said.

The next day, I found my spot next to her, and the day after, and till now. I relaxed much better with her than the others. She never wanted to let me go, and neither did I.

Sophie looked at me again and whispered in my ears, "bff?"

I smiled and whispered back, "bff".

  "Then...", Ciara went on, "all of a sudden she stopped talking to me. My best friend started ignoring me. Something that has never been done in our nine years of friendship, and all because she wanted to be among the popular crowd".
    She stopped a bit and sniffed. "Since then, I never spoke to her. I can't bring myself now to have or make new friends. When people approach me for friendship, my reaction just drive them away. They say I'm acting strange or creepy. But all I know is that I don't want to go through the same hurt I felt when my best friend abandoned me. So here I am..."

She hurried back to her spot on the floor and was clearly crying now. Gillian and Lia went over to comfort and console her.

I can't help but feel bad for her. I can't imagine spending years with a single person as my friend. I trust you and think about you everyday and then the person just leaves...on a bad note. God! Shudders.

Oh my, next chapter gets intense.

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Cheerios my dear.

Love Sparkle 💖