I decided to upload the Chapter 1 of my upcoming novel...
So, here it is!:)
CHAPTER 1
“Why is she looking at me?” I thought as I glanced at the girl sitting in front of me, just across the table. ’Does she think I’m weird?”,
“No, you’re not weird” Omorfia’s voice popped up in my head. I am starting to get annoyed, “Can I think peacefully for a while”, I asked with sarcasm. Before she could answer I said that there ought to be some things in my life that she has nothing to do with!,
"But we’re best friends aren’t we?” she sounds upset,
“Its difficult to accept the fact that I have an imaginary best friend!”,
“Oh! I’ve told you million times I am not imaginary!”
“I can’t decide if I don’t know” I say, I wait for an answer but I don’t get it, my attention goes back to that girl. She’s different, but I can’t seem to figure out how?. She has red hair and startling green eyes, they look even more startling because of her hair. My blonde hair seem dull in front of her flaring red. Though I like my eye’s color as much as I like her green ones. She sees me looking at her and smiles at me, I smile back.
“You are here for?” she asks,
“me? I am here for an interview”
“Me too” she smiles
“No one’s with you?” she inquires,
“No I live with my aunt and she’s away for some work for three weeks”.
“What about you?” I ask curiously,
she sighs “I am an orphan and I earn for my living myself”. I am startled
“How do you earn for yourself at 15?”,
“Just one or two part time jobs?”. I resist myself to ask any further questions. I am amazed by how open I am with her, I don’t usually talk to strangers, or atleast not this much.
"Why do you live with your Aunt?”
, I take a deep breath, “My mom died when I was born and my dad didn’t want to take my responsibility, so I ended up here with my mother’s sister, my aunt Rebecca.
Aunt Rebecca says everyone has their own vibes a kind of aura around them and this girl seems to have a warmness around her. She has a black folder on her lap
, “What’s that?” I ask curiously,
“Just some certificates”.
“Mind if I see them?” I ask. She slides the folder across the table laughing, “What’s funny?” I ask, “Well, I think you’re really polite”,
“What’s wrong in being polite”,
“No, there is nothing wrong in it, it’s just that I’ve come across pretty rough people too so, you seem really sweet”.
I see the certificates, they read Belinda Stone,“You’ve won essay writing, poetry writing, swimming and four more competitions, you are really talented!”,
She shook her head, “Not enough..”,
“For what?”
“For conscience of all educationists, I am on scholarship but I am afraid these won’t be enough”, “I hope they are” I add.
I hear footsteps behind me, “Ihana Miller?” a sweet looking lady appeared before me, “Yes?”
“Miss Dupont is calling you”. I stood up straightening my skirt, “All the best” Belinda said, “Thanks”.
Ms. Dupont raised her head as she closed the cap of her pen,
“So, you’re Ihana?”,
“Yes ma’am”,
“First of all, tell me why do you want to join St. John’s High School?”,
“Ma’am, there are three reasons one because it’s an all girls school, second it’s highly reputed and third the most important to me that, Miss Derry the piano teacher is the best piano teacher in the city”.
“So, you have an immense interest in piano, I see” she said her eyes twinkling behind the glasses. “Y-Yes” I stammered realizing I’d spoken a bit too much. I started fidgeting with my fingers with downcast eyes. She asked a few more questions about poets and authors that I answered, and then asked me to go. As I approached the door she said “Won’t you like to know if you’re selected or not?”. How could I forget that? I look at her expecting ananswer, “Of course you are” she said looking amused. I left the cabin after thanking her.
“How did it go?” she asks smiling, “I got selected” I say, “You could show some excitement”, I smiled half-heartedly “I just wish Aunt Rebecca was here”. “Well, if you want to share your joy, I’m here”, I look in her eyes, which are warm and friendly. “I know but, we’ve just met”, “But, I have a gut feeling that we’re going to know each other for a long time” she said emphasizing the long, “I hope so”. Before she could answer the receptionist came, “Belinda Stone?”, “I’m supposed to go to Ms. Dupont, right?”, the receptionist nodded. “I’ll be back soon, she said winking at me. I took my iPod out of my sling bag and turned it on. “I keep getting that part wrong” I said listening to a symphony I was trying to play on piano yesterday. “Did you get through” Omorfia sounded drowsy, “Yes, but where were you?”, “Hello!, I was tired I needed some sleep!” she said comically, it sounded funny, I laughed out loud and then glanced around if anyone saw me but to my relief nobody did. I kept talking to Omorfia for a long time and then, the door opened. Belinda came out, half smiling,“what happened?” I asked, “You seem worried,“You got selected, didn’t you” I asked hopefully.“Yeah, I did, but...” her voice trailed off as she swallowed the lump in her throat, my fear turned true, I got only half scholarship”. I was dumbfound, “your achievements weren’t enough?” I asked, “No” she said with downcast eyes. “Now, how am I supposed to pay my school fees and my rent both?” she seemed terribly worried. “Well, I have an idea..” I said, “What is it?” her face lit up a bit. “Come on, lets go to a cafe I am hungry!” I said. “Fine”.
As we stepped out of the gate we basked in the beauty of the huge building with the sun behind, this was going to be our school for the next few years.
“Everything’s going to fine, isn’t it?” she asked looking miserable, “Yeah, as far as we stick by each other” I said warmly.
