Leafecho suggested to me that I explain who Myriah, who I mentioned a little in my other story 'I've Been TRYING to Say", was. As I thought about it, I came up with this story.
Anywho. This chapter is dedicated to Leafecho, who, for all her insanity, never fails to inspire me!
Myriah Wong ran up the stairs, her ponytail swinging behind her. She was a lithe girl, long, slender arms and legs, with shoulder-length black hair, blue eyes and an oval face. Her chin was pointed and firm, her skin ivory colored. She had a small, straight nose and small, almost pointy ears. Myriah was an unusual looking girl, and had many unusual habits, to match.
Myriah was almost always busy with some activity. Every single day, for about two hours, she was at a dance class. For another two hours, she was with her private dance tutor in her very own studio. The rest of the time, she was reading or writing. The rest of her family put up with her strange hobbies. No one minded when Myriah was writing stories on her computer late into the night. In any case, no one could hear her clacking on the keyboard, as her parents had soundproofed her room, as Myriah treated it as her second dance studio.
As might be gathered, Myriah's parents were rich. Very rich. But Myriah didn't care about all that wealth. Many kids at school had first wanted to be friends with her because of her financial status, but they soon deserted her when they found out how "goody-two-shoes" she was. They said she was too impressive. "Too showy, too smart, too better than us," they had all said. Myriah didn't mind. She had all the friends she needed, in her dance shoes, in music, and in her books. Myriah was very good with the characters she read about. She loved thinking of adventures she would go through with them, were she a character too. Myriah would often be on a website called "fanfiction", because of all the continuations of the stories she loved so much.
One day, she got inspiration to write her own fanfiction. She had been reading a terrific series lately. "The Companions Quartet", by Julia Golding. She decided to write about those series of books. Myriah thought for a moment- what sort of adventure should she create for her favorite characters? It hit her- what about throwing herself in? What if a "Myriah Wong" moved into the town where Connie, Col, and the rest of the society were?
'It had looked to be an ordinary school day, everyone had thought. Sure, nothing had been changed to the building, the principal had no major, exciting announcements, nor did their teachers. Except for one that was not officially put on the list...'
"Class," Mr. Johnson said to the room of students, "I'd like to introduce you to a new student, Myriah Wong."'
Myriah smiled. So far, it was just coming from her fingers, without her even thinking about what she was typing.
'"She has just moved here from… Where, was it, again, Myriah?"
The small girl smiled, "I just came here from Nevada, in a town near Carson City," the girl spoke with a lilting voice, some singsong nuances seeping into her words.
"And that accent," Mr. Johnson remarked, "sounds either Italian or Asian?"
"Both," Myriah laughed slightly, a truly lyrical sound, "My dad's a mix of Japanese and Mandarin Chinese, my mom is Italian. But I was raised in Italy. I speak all three languages, though."
The class looked thoroughly impressed, perhaps they were not endeared to this obviously intelligent girl- it would mean more competition for those who were trying to get into the advanced classes, but she was certainly interesting.'
"I feel like I'm making myself into a spoiled, perfect person," Myriah muttered. "Oh well, it's not like I'm making any of this up, in any case… And why change my personality just for the sake of a story?"
'"Anything else exciting about you?" Mr. Johnson asked.
"Umm." Myriah thought for a minute, "I take dance lessons. I also read and write in much of my free time."
"That's a pretty full schedule you have there, Miss Wong." Mr. Johnson smiled slightly. " I hope you have time for friends you'll make. Welcome to Hescombe, Myriah."
Myriah smiled in return, and sat a bit straighter in her chair.'
Myriah yawned. It was nearly midnight. She saved her story and shut down the computer. She changed into her pajamas, and crawled into bed. Myriah snuggled herself against the warm covers and drifted off to sleep.
Myriah awoke to her mother shaking her.
"Myriah, Myriah!" her mother said rather flustered, it seemed, still shaking her.
"What, Mom?" Myriah's sleep-slurred voice contained bewilderment and confusion.
"Your father has gotten word that he's being transferred- the company wants him to head a bank that they just bought. It's in a small town, but there are many people there, lots of business. We're supposed to get ready to move!"
"Whaaaat?" Myriah gasped. "But… What about my studio? My teachers? My dance classes?"
"There's another town nearby that has an excellent teacher. And we can build you a new studio. Haven't you been saying yours is beat up? As I recall, you said you needed mirrors as walls for the entire room, you only have one side mirrored now, a hardwood floor, bars, so you can practice ballet, more mats for safety, and a better sound system. We can get it all for you in Hescombe."
Myriah was silent for a moment… 'Hescombe…isn't that where Connie, Col, and the Society live…? Did my story come true…?'
Myriah was somewhat excited to move to Hescombe. After all, that's where Col and Connie were supposed to live, right? But… it was just a story… Suppose it was just coincidence that she had written a story about moving to a town, and her parents decided to move to it the night after she had wrote something… Coincidence, that's it.
Or was it?
Myriah slept for most of the train ride. She often got airsick, so her parents decided to send her by train, with her sister, who was also plagued by the same airsickness. Myriah awoke to the sun streaming in cheerily through the slightly tinted train windows. She saw farmland pass by through the window. Her sister smiled when she saw Myriah was awake.
"We're almost there," her sister, Cosima, said. "The conductor said it might take about half an hour, at most."
Myriah had always felt a certain bond with her sister. They talked about nearly everything. Cosima was the one person who Myriah trusted with all her secrets. Myriah ignored everyone else at school, but Cosima. Cosima was so warm and friendly. Yet most people didn't bother with talking to her because they thought she would be as reclusive and too "too" as Myriah.
Myriah thought for a moment. She hadn't yet told her sister about the story. Should she? Would Cosima think she was being ridiculous for thinking the two were connected? Would her sister be angry that Myriah caused the move? Myriah didn't know. Myriah kept her mouth shut.
"Soo…" Cosima said, hesitantly. "There's something you're not telling me."
Myriah groaned silently. She should have known that Cosima could guess that Myriah had a secret. Cosima always knew.
"I…I…" Myriah whispered, half stuttering, "I…"
"Myriah, I may be smart enough to know that you're not saying something, but I'm not smart or creative enough to guess what it is. Now spill!"
And Myriah did. "I think I caused the move." Myriah drew in breath as Cosima tilted her head, questioningly. "I was writing a story about me moving to a town called Hescombe. Next morning, I wake up, and Mom tells me that we are moving to Hescombe!"
Cosima looked thoughtful. "Well, no one really does know what gifts anyone has. I guess writing is another one of your talents. Keep writing- be sure to give a happy ending, though."
"Like any of this is in my control?" Myriah smiled ruefully.
"And here's your school, Myriah." Mr. Wong stopped the car in front of the brick building. "I believe your mother showed you the classroom yesterday, at orientation?"
"Yes, Dad." Myriah laughed at his concerned expression, "I'll be fine. I always fit in easily, don't I?"
"If only, if only," he smiled back at her. "I can pick you up in the front here after school. Or would you rather walk?"
"Walk." Myriah said immediately. "I love walking- and it's good stretching before dance. When does that start, by the way?"
"Well, Myriah," her father started, "Your mother and I have been thinking… We want you to spend more time making friends. We're not signing you up for another two weeks. You can practice all you want, but no lessons."
"But, Dad! I have a competition, remember?" Myriah wailed.
"You have your private studio, don't you? Practice in there! You're good enough. Your tutor often said that she did practically nothing- you came up with the dance, and perfected it. She only added a bit of stuff."
"Fine," she said, darkly. "I'll go now. Have a good day at work."
"Thanks, Myriah. I'll see you later." Mr. Wong drove off.
Myriah tossed her somewhat long braid over her shoulder. She was slightly mad that she couldn't continue dance lessons. But her father was right- she didn't really NEED teachers, anyway. In any case- this was more time for writing, wasn't it?
She entered the brick building and quickly relocated the classroom shown to her yesterday. A few kids were in there. Myriah immediately noticed that there was a girl with short dark hair… and one brown, and one green eye! Myriah faltered… Was it the story truly real?
Myriah pondered the chances of it actually being real… She barely noticed as an entire class started flooding in.
"Hello, class!" a teacher said, cheerily. "As most of you know, I'm Mr. Johnson." He went through the announcements, quickly. There were very few, as it was the first day of school.
"Class," Mr. Johnson said to the room of students, "I'd like to introduce you to a new student, Myriah Wong."
Myriah nearly stopped breathing. Weren't those her exact words?!?!
"She has just moved here from… Where, was it, again, Myriah?"
Myriah smiled, trying to hide her feelings. This was just too weird! "I just came here from Nevada, in a town near Carson City"
"And that accent," Mr. Johnson remarked, "sounds either Italian or Asian?" Wait… Had she been speaking with an accent? No one had ever remarked on it, before. But then, she had never written a story about herself beforehand, either.
"Both," Myriah laughed slightly, still trying to cover her nervousness, "My dad's a mix of Japanese and Mandarin Chinese, my mom is Italian. But I was raised in Italy until I was ten. I speak all three languages, though."
'Way to go, Myriah. Goody-two-shoes already…' she thought bitterly. Isn't that what they all called her at her old school?
'"Anything else exciting about you?" Mr. Johnson asked.
"Umm." Myriah shook her mind free of the odd thoughts, "I take dance lessons. I also read and write in much of my free time."
"That's a pretty full schedule you have there, Miss Wong." Mr. Johnson smiled slightly. "I hope you have time for friends you'll make. Welcome to Hescombe, Myriah."
Myriah tried to smile in return. She was fidgeting so much. She managed to make it look like she was merely sitting straighter.
"Well, for all of those who are new, why don't we all introduce ourselves, and name one activity we do quite a lot?" Mr. Johnson looked around the room. "Let's start with you, Jane."
"I'm Jane," came a somewhat shy voice, "I spend a lot of time… living…"
"Interesting comment…" Mr. Johnson raised an eyebrow, "How about a favorite activity instead of something we spend a lot of time doing…? Anneena, your turn."
"I'm Anneena," a black-haired girl said, sounding quite confident. "I enjoy being nosy."
"Not quite what I meant by a favorite activity…" Mr. Johnson laughed. "But, it'll do. You, Connie?"
Myriah drew in her breath sharply.
"I'm Connie Lionheart," the brown-green eyed girl said, "and I end up spending a lot of time restraining Anneena from being too nosy. Enjoying it, or not."
"Too true, too true." Mr. Johnson sighed and smiled.
Myriah was no longer listening. Connie Lionheart. Proof. Myriah had written herself into the story. Was this weird, or what?
Myriah had more stories to tell, more weird things to do. But for now, she's too weirded out to say anymore. So she'll finish up this Word document, and sleep.
Myriah smiled. That was just what she needed for the story. She smiled again, wistfully. She wondered if this really would happen, in real life.
Myriah climbed into bed. And awoke the next morning to feel shaking.
"Myriah, Myriah!" her mom seemed flustered.
"What, Mom?"
"We're moving!"
Myriah fainted.