Milly was deep in thought about what Jacelyn said about PDA. Milly loved holding Zahra’s hands more than anything - but she noticed that she always pulled away when they were in public. She felt like a bad girlfriend for not noticing - wait - were they even girlfriends? They hadn’t formally said anything about it. Milly cringed and put her hands on her forehead. She was walking to school and when she uncovered her eyes - she noticed a couple boys in the distance spray painting something on a building window.
“DEAD IS COMING”
The boy was wearing a pair of sunglasses and had messy long brown hair in a bun with strands on his forehead. He smiled at Milly and approached her. Milly felt a terrible aura and decided to make a break for it.
He stopped and laughed. This was exactly what he wanted. The look of fear in the eyes of society. Anarchy was coming to Soleno Park.
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“Milly!” Angela said, catching her around the corner of the school corridor. Milly was on edge this morning after what she had seen this morning. That boy was unsettling. Angela had scared her and Milly let out a tiny shriek.
”Milly you are just the person I wanted to see!” Angela smiled, “Come along my friend.”
Milly had no choice and was taken along with Angela - her long spindly fingers around her shoulder.
There was a huge commotion as people surrounded a sheet of paper pinned to a notice board. Angela shoved her way through and dragged Milly into the crowd. There were looks of shock and envy at Milly. She had never seen people looking at her like that. All eyes were on her.
THIS YEARS SPRING PLAY will be THE FAIRY’S SPOON!
CAST:
Lizbeth Gallagher - Rosa Cristina
Dawn Meriweather - Millicent Clarke
General North - Connor Abel
Timothy Dallas - Anuj Khan
And the list continued…
”I… I’m in the school musical?” Milly said.
”You are not just in the school musical… You are the co-lead!” Angela said.
”You did this? It can’t be real…” Milly said with a big smile that was about to fly off into space.
”Nope! Mr Zimmerman kept everything under raps - I only knew about the play - but nothing about the casting. You and I are going to be spending a lot of time together…” Angela said.
This was really happening. Milly couldn’t believe it. This had to be a dream. She wanted to go tell her parents. Mom was coming home from the hospital in a few days. She was a whole lot better and was making a full recovery. She couldn’t wait to see their faces.
“This has to be a joke…” Rosa said, “Milly can’t even sing. Plus she’s too uggo’s to be an actress…”
Milly tightened her fists and was ready to deck her, but Angela stepped in.
”Excuse me! Who the heck are you?” Angela said.
”I am Rosa Cristina - the lead of your little musical…” Rosa smirked.
”How dare you insult her. You might want to know that I am behind all the music in the play. And I can tell Mr Zimmerman about your bad attitude and get you kicked off our little musical,” Angela said.
There was a loud “oooo” from the crowd and Rosa turned up her nose.
”Fine. But don't get in my way Milly…” Rosa turned and left down the hall with her posse of girls.
“I can’t believe you went through that everyday,” Angela said.
“I don’t want to fight back anymore… I’m angry as hell.. but I’m all or nothing when it comes to bullies…” Milly said.
”Hey Milly… I am so excited to see you sing,,,” A girl she didn’t know came up to her.
“Yeah… I am rooting for you," another boy said.
“Thanks…” Milly said going red. They were rooting for her.
“See! Milly you are going to be popular! People want you to succeed. Not everyone is like dumb Rosa… I’ll make sure to have a word with Mr Zimmerman…” Angela said.
”No… Don’t…” Milly said, “I want to show her that I can do this. I want to show everyone that Milly Clarke can be a Mountain Queen.”
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Buzz…
Zahra: Let’s walk home together??
Milly smiled and met her by the bike rack. Zahra had that same orange helmet. It was the same place where they had many quarrels over the years. Today was overcast just like the day they sat on the swings. It almost seemed like another life.
“Hey,” Milly said. She thought about what Jacelyn said about the PDA. She shouldn’t hold her hand… Not here in public. They started to walk home.
“Hey,” Zahra smiled warmly, “Congrats on getting into the school musical! I’m so proud of you.”
”Thanks Zahra,” Milly said. She remembered that Zahra said that she didn’t want to be in the next musical - despite being a phenomenal singer with an easy raspy blues voice.
“You didn’t want to be in the play?” Milly asked.
“Yeah about that… Right after my audition, I told Mr Zimmerman that I didn’t want to be in it,” she said, “I just had a lot going on… I still do…”
”Your grandma,” Milly said.
”And your Mom,” Zahra said, “We both had a pretty shitty few months… but they were better because I had you.”
Zahra took Milly’s hand and kissed her on the cheek. Milly blushed bright red. Zahra blushed as well.
“Is that okay?” Zahra said.
”I loved it… and you!” Milly said and then went even redder, “I mean I really really like you!”
Milly tried for the save, and Zahra smiled and looked into her eyes.
“I really really like you too,” Zahra said, “Does this mean… we are girlfriends?”
”I want that more than anything!” Milly blurted out and then they hugged.
“You have to change that god awful floral perfume,” Zahra said on Milly’s shoulder, “that’s the first thing I’m buying you!”
“Aww that's cute,” a boy said, pulling up on his black bicycle. He wore a motorbike helmet and when he pulled it off Milly tensed up. It was that same boy from the morning who spray painted, “DEAD IS COMING”.
“Give me your backpacks… Or I’ll cut your ears off…” he laughed.
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