It's Not Always About You. *on hold*

Chapter 4

   “BETHANY!” shrieked a high pitched voice. At first I thought it was Kaley but then I thought better of it. Why would she call me so happily? I wondered how she would act towards me today after last night.

  I turned away from my locker to face an ecstatic red head. Parkie was literally jumping with joy and I really didn’t want to know why. It was so scary, she’s so abnormally happy. I shuddered but then thought what the problem with someone being happy is. My conscience replied, it’s weird that’s what.

  “Hey Parkie, what’s up?” I replied, pasting a smile.

  “I saw on the notice board, you signed up for band auditions! I didn’t know you can sing?”

 “Neither did I, and there’s a lot you don’t know about me.” I replied. She looked confused but then quickly recovered with a smile on her face and said,

 “Then I’ll start. I’m seventeen. Since my birthday is soon, I’ll be eighteen! My favourite colour is red. Blood red,” she gushed, “I love singing although my half brother teases me and my half sister complains. Actually when does Austin ever not tease me?” She trailed off deep in thought.

   “BETHANY!” screeched another voice. Great. Now people are staring at me. I turned, annoyed, to the owner of the voice. Surprisingly, it was Kaley. She bounded straight in to me and gave me a hug. I returned it awkwardly. I peeked at Parkie, who was standing with a frustrated expression.

  “Hey Kaley.” I responded.

“Girls, this is Bethany. She’s really nice so you’d better not do anything bad to her,” Kaley explained, her expression deadly, to all the girls behind her, who were looking very confusedly at me but they chorused a ‘Yes Kaley’. I snorted; of course they would think I’m not special. Parkie was looking shocked and confused as Kaley said,

 “Hey Parkie, how are you?” And when she didn’t reply I nudged her and then she came to her senses.

  “F-ffine.” She stuttered and then Kaley and her posse darted down the hallway.

 “Whoa, does Kaley have a split personality all of a sudden?” asked a voice behind us. I jumped and Dallas chuckled.

  “Do you have to creep up on us, Dally? Asked Parkie, slightly annoyed and still curious to why Kaley, all of a sudden, greeted them nicely. I laughed as they sent me puzzled looks which I shook my head at. A promise is a promise. I won’t tell them even if they are my friends.

   The bell rang and rushed to Calc with Dallas.  She chatted about how Parkie is always happy but there are times where she isn’t.

  “She’s so like my brother. Except he is more serious. He’s such a joker.”

“Michigan, right?” I asked her.

“Huh? How did you know my brother’s name? I thought I haven’t told you.” She said thoughtfully. Just as I was about to reply, Dallas’ phone ringtone went off. She clicked reject and I asked her,

  “You like Lawson?”

  “Yeah, I didn’t know you like them.” She peered at me.

 “I just recognise random music artists. I don’t particularly pay attention to music so I guess it just comes naturally. How weird.” I muttered, wondering how I managed to identify the band. Oh. It must’ve been Savannah that told me. I heard that song before. She carried on.

   “Well, people call him Mitch. You can meet him after school. How about you come straight to my house? We could do a homework session. My mum wouldn’t mind.”

   “Um, I can’t tonight I got an invite to dinner with the neighbours. How about tomorrow?” I left out the fact that I have auditions. I felt like I shouldn’t tell her because I was scared she might judge me. Man, I don’t even know if I can sing.

 “Sure.”

   By the time the bell signalled for the end of school day, I was rushing to get to the auditorium. I slipped on the wet floor and banged in to a teacher. Her books went flying and I fell again when I tried to help her and run to the auditions. I muttered a ‘sorry’ but she stopped me.

 “No running in the corridors. For punishment, you can help me carry these books and stamp them.” I figured she was the librarian.

  After an agonising half an hour, I realised I could make it to the auditions quickly.