Strings Attached

~Chapter 10~

I keep singing, as my teacher's eyes open wider, wondering what on earth I've been thinking. She's scared for me, I think, but I won't take such a rash step as suicide. I want to live for my mother. I want to be perfect in every sense when I meet her again. Someone she can be proud of. Not like this... shattered and broken.

I close my eyes, feeling the words growing on me. Flashes of memory of my ten-year-old self come to my mind, and the pain my mother went through, makes me want to rip someone apart, now that I can.

You've been alone, but ya did not show it

You've been in pain, but did not know it

Let me do what I needed to – you were there when I needed you

Mighta let you down, mighta messed you round

But you never changed your point of view

And that's why I'm coming back to you...

"That was really sad, but beautiful, Daniyal," Aunt Jude tells me, having tears in her eyes, when I finally cease singing. "Thanks," I mumble in reply, looking away. It has begun to rain, and I keep gazing at the raindrops falling on the windowsill. I feel better, now that I've sung my sadness away. We stay silent for a while, but after some minutes, her voice arrests me.

"Did someone say something to you?" she asks me in a soft voice. I lower my head as if in shame, but I don't answer her. "Was it Richard?" she prods me again, and I nod reluctantly. "He has no right to say anything to you!" she says with energy. "But you don't need to take everything to heart, child. He only wants to anger you, so that when you hit him, he has something to complain about." She's right there.

"Do you have suicidal thoughts?" she enquires, astonishing me. "No. Why?" "Your song choice led me to think something of the kind." "It's just deep, that's all," I tell her, shrugging my shoulders and looking away. "And I like it," I add.

"Anyway, we'll be having a band this year," Aunt Jude says, becoming her cheerful self once again. I can't call her mum, so I call her Aunt. "A band? What sort of band?" I ask her disinterestedly. "A complete school band with the drummers and such. And you'll be our main vocalist." Of course, I know that. Whenever there's any event, I'm called in to entertain the guests. Sometimes, it gets on my nerves. I feel like charging the school for my services. But I don't.

"So, anyone been selected yet?" "Oh yes! Two members, besides yourself, to tell you the truth. One's a drummer and the other's a cellist. We need a violinist, a pianist and a few more people. Audition notices have been put up just now, we'll be starting tomorrow. Me and Mrs. Monroe will be supervising. You can come and see if you want to." I nod carelessly. Well, let's see what happens.

By the time lunch bell rings, I feel better but utterly hungry. I say goodbye to Aunt Jude and make my way to the parking lot where the rest of the Big Bang Boys are lounging on their cars. They greet me with a lazy 'hey' and I mimic their gesture. "Where ya been man?" Seth asks, crushing his cigarette with his boots. "Aunt Jude," I reply shortly and he nods in understanding.

"You guys gonna eat something?" I ask them impatiently. "Yeah, we were about to move," Chuck answers, getting up and wiping his hands on his jeans.

The moment we enter the school café, laughter dies down and people move out of our way. I walk on the front with Seth, my hands in my pockets and an air of nonchalance about me.

I push a nutcase from the counter and perch myself on it instead. "Hey sugar," I address the matronly woman across the counter who serves us. "How about you prepare me a scrumptious burger this size, a veg sandwich and a bottle of coke." I indicate the bulk of a large-sized burger with my hands. She only grunts in answer and gets busy preparing my order. And then I proceed to order for every one of my friends, to her increased annoyance.

After all of us are armed with food, we make our way to a large table in the centre of the cafeteria and plonk down on the cushion chairs there. Our café is pretty cool, compared to other schools. That's because our seniors had protested and taken over the 'Teacher's Only' cafeteria, forcing the teachers to move to another room. Glad the services didn't stop.

I roam my eyes over the entire length and breadth of the hall to look for someone... but she isn't around, I guess. I find a veiled girl sitting at the far end of the room, but when I see her bag, I realize it's not her. Yep! I've noticed and memorized what her bag looks like. Hope she doesn't change it, though.

"Looking for that chick?" Chuck enquires, raising his eyebrow and smirking a little. "How do you know?" I challenge him. "Coz I've been looking for someone too," he admits sheepishly, and I nod knowingly. We're pathetic!

I push the leftovers into the bin and rub my stomach, feeling full and at bliss. Food does wonders to your mood. And I go to my next class in a cheerful mood. There's no lingering sadness in my mind. I'm glad I've Math now. No dementors here! Thank god! I bid goodbye to my gang and take the stairs to the third floor.

However, when I enter the class, someone informs me the Math teacher, Mr. Kingsley is on leave, and another teacher will be coming to take the class. Hearing the news, my scowl returns. There's an atmosphere of chaos, since there's no one to monitor us. 

And I hope it stays that way. Something comes over me and I ask my classmates if they wanna listen to me playing the guitar and singing. They all thump their palms on the table in an energetic 'YES!'

By now, I have the attention of the whole place. "Alright guys, I'll be back with my guitar in a few. But I'll sing only on one condition." I wait for my words to sink in their brains. "Well, what is it?" someone speaks up. "No one... and absolutely no one will tell anyone outside this room about it."

"I don't want anyone barging on us tomorrow and suspending the whole class for a week. Because, I promise you, I'll drag you all with me if I get caught." And everyone nods vigorously at me in answer. "Don't even tell your friends outside the class," I warn one last time and get out of the room, in order to fetch my guitar.

 ------AUTHOR'S NOTE------

Tell me what you thought about the chapter in the comments below. I need you guys to help me share the story around... so plz tell others abt it. After all, sharing is joy ;)

Also, I need your suggestions for a cast for the female lead ie, Hidayah. Sadia Khan is too old for Zayn Malik *cringes*

Also, if any of you wanna make me cover, do tell me...

Till then... 

Cheers,

~Amenah