𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 | 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫

6

"How... how could you." I started sobbing. Fake sobbing.

  He started to look concerned, so he patted my back.

"I didn't mean it..." he said.

  I could hear the guilt in his voice. I stopped sobbing, replacing my 'sadness' with a smirk.

"We go to an arts school. Did you really think I wasn't acting?" I asked.

"True." he said with a smile,"You're nearly as good an actor as me."

"Egotistical." I retorted.

"Weird humor." he retaliated.

"You have the same humor as me." I pointed out.

"True." he chuckled.

"You laugh too much." I say confusedly.

"You too." he raised his eyebrows.

"Touché."

•

"Is that really the end? That's bullshi-"

"I know right! He let her go! What kind of ending is that." Beck complained.

"I didn't know you complain about anything, Mr-I'm-So-Pretty-And-Cool." I mocked him.

"You think I'm pretty and cool?" he asked.

"No. That's what you sound like." I said, not bothering to look at him by picking my nails.

  We discussed the movie on the way back to my house. We both felt that the movie was shit.

•

Ava Paige

About to do 'The Bird Scene'! Wish me luck!

Mood: Panicky

"So children, before we start today's lesson, Ava will be doing 'The Bird Scene'." Sikowitz addressed the class, pointing in my direction. Jade was irritated at me for 'going out' with Beck, even though we weren't even on a date.

"Ladies and gentlemen,'The Bird Scene', starring, drumroll," everyone patted their laps to make the sound of a drumroll,"Ava Paige!"

I stood up from my seat and walked to the stage slowly. I turned to the audience, my classmates, and waited nervously for my cue.

"Action!"

I took a deep breath. I can do this. I can do this. I can do this. Slowly, all my panic melted away, leaving a confident cover.

"It was 1934 when my husband left me, alone." I said in sorrow, imitating an elder person. I saw Jade smirking in the audience and immediately my panic came back.

I can do this. I can do this.

"Living on the prairie was a dreary existence; no telephone, no radio." I said. Beck smiled at me, trying to reassure me that I was doing well, but I mistook that as a smirk and a wave of nervousness washed over me. I repeatedly told myself that I could do this. I practiced all day, yesterday. I could do this.

"Only a large, majestic bird with whom I shared my feelings." I said, as though a memory from the past hit me. I decided that the more I care about others opinion, I would get more panicked. I immersed myself in the act, as though I really was the character.

"One day when I was feeling alone I said to him,'Oh, bird. You can fly. You can soar miles from this lonely place, yet you stay... Why?' And apparently, my question rang true, for that afternoon...my bird left." I felt the pain she felt. I felt the despair. I felt like I truly was her.

"And so went my spirit." I finished dramatically.

I looked up at the audience, forgetting they were there. Sikowitz sat at the back of the class, drinking his coconut milk, as though he forgot I was performing. I looked at it expectantly.

"So?" I asked. I wanted his opinion on my performance.

"What?" he asked, snapped out of his daze.

"Okay. I swear to god. Were you paying attention?" I said, an edge to my voice. I was losing patience.

"Oh. Your performance. You did it wrong." he said in a bored tone.

"Okay. Time for you to shut up." I said, smiling with a sickly sweet grin.

"I'm serious. You did it wrong." he repeated, saying his words agonizingly slowly, as though trying to make it sink into my head.

"No, what's wrong, is your mother gave birth to the wrong thing." I said, my emotions getting the better of me. I was not going to back down. I did it right.

"Anyways, you did it wrong." he repeated, yet again. It was starting to get irritating.

"I didn't do it wrong. I know I did it right. If you really believe that I did it wrong, then go fuck yourself." I said angrily.

Surprisingly, Sikowitz started clapping, the whole class starting to join in.

"You passed 'The Bird Scene'." Sikowitz said, congratulating me,"The only person who's ever passed on their first time was Beck."

"Ha! Take that Beck! You're not the only one!" I shouted, my voice full of glee.

Beck sat on his chair, smirking at my childishness, clapping his hands.

"But, I'm giving you detention for cursing at a teacher." Sikowitz said.

"Dammit." I said under my breath.