Strings Unattached

two.

"Hey Connor.." Noah poked my shoulder..again.He had been doing the same thing for already 4 days and one more time I hear my last name I promised myself I was gonna explode like a bad pimple.Just because I'm his seatmate doesn't mean I have to answer everything he asks.It's not like I was the smartest anyway,he is.

"Yes?"I slightly gritted my teeth,forcing a smile.

"I was just wondering why you always look out the window.You're not one of those emo,depressed,wallflower dudes right?"

Ugh.

"No and can you stop calling me by my last name?It's Maya.Also,I don't like you so back off the goods,"I circled my hands around my chest area,giving him a slight warning.Noah put both his hands up in the air,chuckling.

"Hey,I was just trying to be friendly.Also..."he glanced up and down for awhile and continued,"..right,the goods was it?Gotcha."

Damn I wanna punch this kid.

Just as I was about to comeback at him,Mr.Forges walked in for English lesson.

"Morning class.Okay,before I start off today's lesson,I have an announcement to make.Our school is organising our very first International Muse Competition.I'm the teacher-in-charge of this ridiculous contest and I'm assigned to choose 2 students from my English class to participate.Any volunteers?"

"Uh,Sir,what exactly is this competition about?"

"Basically you're singing or playing instruments.You guys will compete against other students here.The sole winner will represent our school in the bigger competition."

"The prize is..?"

"I don't know,a trip to France or something.So,who's in?"

I'm out.I decided to be out the moment Mr.Forges mentioned 'Muse'.I'd join anything else,though.Noah poked my shoulder yet again,this time,aggressively.

"What do you think?You wanna join?"

Does this kid even know me at all?
I shook my head,then glanced over at Amber and she glanced at me.She gave me the look.That stupid,look that says,"Join,bitch.Join."

I'd still say no.

Suddenly,a hand rose up near me.Everyone stared at Noah,whose face was so serene and calm with his one hand up so high.

"Alright,1 down.Another one?" Mr.Forges took down on the sign-up sheet.He looked around as no one else aside from Noah raised their hand looking all gungho.

Noah tried to persuade the class,"Come on guys..It's France!The city of lights and love..also,fashion!And girls,french dudes.French dudes will be there.Not like they're as good looking as me but.."

Interrupting his little speech,"Uhm..France is a country."

"What?"
"You're talking about Paris.France is a country." We whispered so as he doesn't embarass imself.

"Anyway guys,girls?Come on,Mr.Forges just needs one more student who'll stick with me."He continued,to no avail.

"It's okay,Noah.I'll find someone.If you guys decide to,I'll put the sign-up sheet in Noah's care.Are we good?Alright..now.."

 Noah received the sign-up sheet and immediately took my pen without even asking.Not that I was interested or anything,but I took a peek at it and it was almost as empty as Noah's brain.The only names on there were Noah's and some kid named Ben PeedInHisPants.

I noticed Noah writing something down on the sign-up sheet.After he was done,he covered it with his hands,continuing to listen to Mr.Forges' babbling.

Class ended and it was time for lunch.I met up with Amber and sat down with her in the corner.I took out my purple lunchbox and sat down.

"Homemade food again?"Amber asked.

"Well,I can't eat the food in school.It's practically rotten spoiled milk on tray.You want?"I laid the lunchbox neatly taking out my chopsticks.It was finally that day where I eat homemade Chinese food.

Like a hungry bear,Amber rushed for my wonton,taking it out of my chopsticks and put it in her mouth in one bite.

"Maya's dishes are the best.Thank you for being my best friend."Amber chewed as she talked,spitting some of the fillings out of her mouth and onto the table.The clean freak I am,I grabbed a tissue and cleared it.

"So,Maya,"she gulped her last bite,"Or should I say Connor?" I glared at her as she giggled.
"Is he really that bad?Maybe this is a sign.You should totally go for him!I mean,he's cute right?"

"Yeah he's as cute as Honey Boo Boo's bellybutton!"I exclaimed,spitting out my fabulous sarcastic remarks.

"Besides,"I continued,"he has a girlfriend I would like to call Little Miss Honey Boo Boo herself.But just thinner and sane."

"You should really work on your social skills.So,the competition?You know you've got a greater voice than Jackie."

"Amber,"I put my chopsticks down,"I can't sing.I never will sing.Never again.I threw all that stuff away.I just want to live normally.."My eyes glistened at the last sentence.Just then Jackie came to our table to eat and I excused myself to the toilet,leaving the lunchbox behind.

The whole day I felt so gloomy and depressed as I stayed in the toilet cubicle until the bell was heard for the next class.It was time for PE lessons.I headed back with my face down until I reached my locker.Passing by Amber,I changed in the changing room without a word.

I didn't feel so athletic that day so I excused myself and lied that I had cramps and went back to class alone.I sat down at my seat and immediately laid down.Skipping class hasn't really been that much of a big deal for me,since I never get caught.Once Mr.Forges even forgot I was in his class and almost threw away one assignment with my name on it.

I closed my eyes for a while until I realised:Why sleep when you can just relieve stress?

So,I thought about it hard.Why exactly I never wanted to sing.Why exactly I was so afraid of listening to music.Why I hate it so much.

'You have such a beautiful voice,my dear!'The man in a neatly pressed suit crouched down,patting my head.My smile was up to my ears as I jumped up and down,facing Mom.She was also smiling as she looked at me.

'What do you say,Maya?Do you want this Uncle to make you a star?'He asked,holding my hand.

I nodded and the next day,I let go of Mom's hand,hovering over to Uncle Leo.

But a few years later,after my 2nd gig..

I was 12.I was feeling sensitive and need my privacy.I felt gloomy thus I headed over to Uncle Leo's office to talk it out.He was so nice to me.He treated me like his own daughter and gave me candy everytime.

Until..

"..I was sexually abused."

"You were what?"

I opened my eyes,but my tears were getting in the way of my vision.As I wiped it off and looked up,I froze.

"Noah.."