My Little Decoy

♪ Going Away For a While ♪ {2}

"I'm going away for a while, but I'll be back.
Don't try to follow me, 'cause I'll return as soon as possible.
See, I'm trying to find my place,
But it might not be here where I feel safe." - Misguided Ghosts

By the time I reached Weston High, I had already missed homeroom and ten minutes of first period. I stopped at the foot of the building and let out a sigh, running a hand through my hair while staring at the building's entryway. Weston High: Prestigious School for the Performing Arts. Where only the talented are accepted. Good thing I was here on a music scholarship. Otherwise, I'm not sure they would let me pay their tuition with the stale mint and gum wrapper I had in my wallet.

Welcome to Weston High! Home of the Warriors! May your education be enlightened, now don't be frightened!

I reluctantly pulled out my earphones, knowing that if I were caught yet again wearing them, I would get a detention. And Marco doesn't like it when I abuse my privileges. As I put my music device away, I traded away the metallic silver for a wooden tan and gripped my drum sticks in one hand. I made my way up the steps into the school while at the same time, trying to close my backpack. But as soon as the sticks were in my palms, I felt a wave of calm wash over me and I let out a sigh, nearly slamming the front door open in my stupor. The security guard, Jack, jumped in his seat behind the giant desk in the front lobby, before turning to me with a glare.

"Late again, Ms. Carson?" I ignored this statement and just pulled my backpack back onto my right shoulder, taking my sticks into both hands.

"Oops, didn't mean to scare you, Jack." I called out sarcastically, walking past him as he started to give me a lecture about tardiness and headed towards D107 where my first period class, Calculus was. What kind of sick person would make a student learn about math this early in the morning? It should be illegal.

Along the way, I started tapping a light beat on my thighs, keeping it simple and quiet so I wouldn't disturb the other classes. Not that I care, but heck, even I would be annoyed if some moron walked through the hallways screaming to his heart's content. But as soon as the first stick landed on my jeans, I lost it. And not in some psychotic 'I'm-going-to-eat-your-unborn-babies' kind of way, but more like a "I found myself in Wonderland" trance. Even though my instrument had no melody, I could hear the music pounding through my head. It wasn't even a song, just a little rhythm that popped into my mind. And for a second, I just forgot about everything. I forgot about Marco at home, or the fact that this was the 54th time I was tardy (not that I'm counting), or that my life just seemed to spiral downwards every day. All I heard was the music, and the music heard me.

My little beat turned into a full out rhythm as I stopped right smack in the middle of the hallway, bobbing my head a little to the imaginary song and stomping my foot into the ground every four beats to get that bass drum effect. My drum sticks pounded onto my legs, and even though I felt a numbing sensation starting up from the intensity of my now complex beat, I didn't stop. I didn't want to stop. My side bangs fell into my face as I head banged softly and drummed away. Soon, the sticks weren't even hitting my thighs anymore.

At some point I continued heading blindly towards class, drumming on the various objects I passed by. It started with the water fountain, and then switched to the garbage bin, before I finally stopped at a random line of bright red lockers, tapping away as I imagined myself as my favorite drummers and the crowd cheering my name. My rhythm grew in intensity, and for a split second I half-smiled. Smiling was a rarity for me and people knew that. I don't even think I can ever fully smile or laugh ever again, but a small smirk or half-smile would do, and the only way that can happen was when I was lost in the music. Just like now.

"Lacey Carson!" A voice shouted, and suddenly my trance was broken. I opened my eyes slowly, not even realizing they were closed in the first place and my gaze latched onto the mini-sized dents covering the locker in front me. Whoops. "Carson!" I narrowed my eyes, reluctantly spinning around to meet the furious scowl of a stout woman with dark graying hair, librarian spectacles, and bad dental hygiene.

Miss Gretchen, my Calc teacher, had her hands on her hips, looking a little pissed. The thought of this sweet, innocent old lady who smiled and was friendly to everyone except me actually showing her true demon side amused me and the corners of my lips twitched up slightly.

"Is this really that entertaining to you, Lacey?" she demanded while gesturing the poor kid's locker who I just gave a mini drum lesson, and my almost-smile vanished as I gave a one-shouldered shrug in reply.

"In a way, yeah."

Miss Gretchen —I liked to call her the Grinch, since she practically sucked the soul out of anyone who passed —just clenched her jaw and turned a little red, obviously wanting to yell some high-and-mighty speech that would send me high-tailing to the principal's office, but of course, it was against her image, so she shut up.

It was then that I noticed that the other classroom doors were opening as curious, and some irritated, teachers popped their heads out to make sure everything was alright. Even some kids managed to sneak their way to the door, a few feet away from the teacher with whose back was turned from them but also enough distance away to still be able to see the mess I created.

"Get into class now, Lacey, and I'll write you up a pass to go to the principal's office. Vandalism and disruption of class is against school policy." The Grinch finally ground out, exhaling deeply through her nose as she pinched the bridge of it.

"Technically, I'm not in class. This is a hallway, as you can clearly see. Maybe you should get your glasses checked up, Miss G." I headed in her direction, paused and glared her straight in the eye, before stalking into the classroom. Instantly, I was met with thirty pairs of eyes and I instantly felt exposed. It was if I was in my birthday suit dancing the Macarena. Socialization and people weren't my strongest points. Someone in the back wolf-whistled at me and for a split-second I thought my daydream was real. I glanced down, giving a sigh of relief when I spotted fabric.

When my gaze returned upwards, I caught my friend, Olivia's curious one and she beamed at me, arching her eyebrow as if to say, "So... what have you gotten yourself into this time?" Her light blonde hair was straightened with just a little bit of frizz sticking out in the back. Remind me not tell her that or she'd kill me. Today, she sported a light pink mini-skirt matched with a beige blouse that dipped a little below her neckline and around her throat was a dazzling golden necklace. Olivia was always the stylish one out of the group of acquaintances I managed to gather through the years. When she pursed her glossed lips, just begging me to tell her what happened, I just gave a her a snort and mouthed back, "Tell you at lunch." Just then, the Grinch walked back into the small math lab, whose expression shifted into sometihng friendly and warm, much to the opposite of her expression outside.

"Alright class. We'll be taking a small break. You can converse quietly with the people around you while I have a chat with Ms. Carson." She smiled innocently, waving them off as if she were a mother sending her children out to play while warning them to be back before dinner.

Instantly the class erupted into chatter, my presence suddenly forgotten and even though I wanted to deny it, it felt kind of disappointing. Chairs screeched as they were pushed back and girls headed to their appointed cliques while the guys chilled in the back tables of the room. Olivia sent me a sympathetic glance before turning her chair around to talk with two girls whose names I remembered were Cammie and Asia.

"Just give me the slip, G. I really don't give a shit right now." I sighed, keeping my gaze steady with her emerald green one.

"Language, Lacey! And don't use that tone of voice with me. I am your teacher and I am to be respected, yes?" The Grinch said sternly, wagging her finger at me. I felt like showing her a finger of my own.

I really didn't care. Honest. People were always disappointed in me so it was just something I put up with and had to live with until my eighteenth birthday. Then, I could the hell out of this joint. Truth was, I didn't want to act like this: I knew deep inside I was really just a shy, quiet girl, but I don't want to labeled as helpless. I don't need pity. I can hold my own. They may not know the truth about why I act this way, or why I don't let anyone close and they never will but I can show them that I am strong. Even if I got the whole world to hate me, I would be beaten down, yes, but my pride would stay intact and I would prove them all wrong. Every single one of them. I could show them all that I'm not weak and pathetic but that I have a heart and I have a passion.

My eyes focused on a piece of paper waving in front of my face, dragging me out of my thoughts. "Principal's office. Now." The Grinch smirked smugly and it took a lot of convincing myself that she was just an old woman and that even if I wasn't a guy, it was rude to hit girls. And that I didn't want to be in any more trouble than I'm already in. Fixing the most hated-filled scowl I could muster, I let out a snort. Snatching the slip in her hand quite roughly than I intended, I shrugged past my teacher, brushing against her shoulder in a non-friendly way before I marched out of the room.

—

Fuck, it's still boring. But introdutions are boring and I'm sorry. It'll get better soon, promise. Comment and vote if you liked the chapter!

Stay lovely,
Isabelle