Ch)2: A Hidden Talent

*Important* I made a few modifications to the characters' names. Enjoy!

Jim continued his way down the hall to the cafeteria. He thought long and hard about Jacob's threat to 'strip Jim of his fame'. Jim thought that maybe Jacob wanted to strip him of his very existence. 'No' Jim thought. If Jacob would even try to kill him, the Academy would easily spot him. 'Wait a minute', Jim thought,'if the Academy would spot Jacob trying to kill me, then why didn't they see him beating me up?' Jim would find out sooner or later. Just not now.

By the time Jim entered the cafeteria, Luke was already at a table saving Jim a spot. Luke saw him walk in and smiled patting the seat next to him. Jim walked over and gladly sat down. "Jim, hey! What took you so long?", asked Luke. Oblivious to the pain Jim was in.

"Well, uh, let's just say that something came up. It's really not that important", Jim said. Luke just noded in understanding.

"Okay. So, Jim, since we're roomates, I think we should get to know each other. I'm from the planet, Veenigra. It's a planet that is mostly occupied with humans. Also, my parents are divorced. Your turn", said Luke.

"Alright," said Jim rubbing his hands together,"Well, I'm from the planet Montressor. It's a small mining planet that consists of very few humans. I live with my mom and we run the Benbow Inn alone. My dad left us when I was eight. I never found out why," Jim barely whispered that last part. Luke couldn't find any words that could possibly comfort this boy. They sat in silence until a girl sat next to Luke.

"Hi Luke. What's up?", said the girl startling Jim.

"Samantha! Hey! There's someone I want you to meet. Jim, this is Samantha Preciado. Samantha, this is Jim Hawkins. Samantha is a friend that is also from Veenigra", Luke said.

"Hi", said Samantha shyly. Samantha was a tall girl and well developed. She had brown hair that shined streaks of gold in the sun. It was curly in the front, straight in the back, and barely graced her shoulders. She wasn't skinny, but she wasn't fat either. She had brown eyes, long eyelashes, and pale pink full lips.

"Hey", said Jim.

"So", said Samantha breaking the silence,"whatcha wanna do now?" She was getting rather bored just eating in silence.

"Why don't you sing a song for us Sam. I've heard you drifting off into a couple songs on the way over to the Academy", said Luke smirking deviously. Samantha glared at Luke for bringing up her musical talent.

"Yeah Sam. I'd love to hear a song. Show me whatcha got", Jim said as he stopped eating to listen to her. Samantha looked back and forth between the boys before she sighed in defeat and got ready to sing a song.

"You, with your words like knives and swords and weapons that you use against me. You, have knocked me off my feet again got me feeling like a nothing. You, with your voice like nails on a chalkboard calling me out when I'm wounded. You, picking on the weaker man. You can take me down, with just one single blow. But you don't know what you don't know. Someday, I'll be, living in a big old city, and all you're ever gonna be is mean. Someday, I'll be, big enough so you can't hit me, and all you're ever gonna be is mean. Why you got to be so mean?", Samantha started gathering a crowd by the time the first chorus was done,"You, with your switching sides and wildfire lies and your humiliation. You have pointed out my flaws again, as if I don't already see them. I walk with my head down trying to block you out 'cause I never impress you. I, just want to feel okay again. I bet you got pushed around, somebody made you cold. But the cycle ends right now 'cause you can't lead me down that road. And you don't know what you don't know. Someday I'll be living in a big old city, and all you're ever going to be is mean. Someday, I'll be, big enough so you can't hit me, and all you're ever gonna be is mean. Why you got to be so mean? And I can see you years from now in a bar. Talking over a football game. With that same big loud opinion, but nobody's listening. Washed up and ranting about the same old bitter things. Drunk and rumbling on about how I can't sing, but all you are is mean", she ended strong and had everyone cheering.

"Wow, Sam. That's some voice you got there", Jim said admiringly. Samantha hung her head low and smiled blushing.

"Thanks guys, but I'm really not that good. Veenigra Records doesn't think the way you do", she said sadly.

"Well if they think you're a bad singer, screw them! Right now, you have fame!", said Luke.

As the teens were laughing and showering Samantha with compliments , the principal walked up to them. "Ms. Preciado, I heard you singing a couple minutes ago, and I must say what talent you have", Samantha noded in thanks,"I recomend that you sing for the Intustellar students this Saturday. We are having a welcome party for all the new students. I am giving you permission to sing a slow song and an up-beat one. I'll notify the comittee so they can squeeze you in. By the way, what song was it that you were singing?"

"Mean by Taylor Swift, Sir", Samantha replied. The principal chuckled.

"A good song, lass. Hope to hear from you this Saturday", said the principal while walking away. Samantha turned back to the boys with an excited expression.

"Oh my gosh guys. Did that really just happen? Am I really going to sing for the whole Academy?", squeaked Samantha. Jim and Luke just laughed.

"Better believe it", said Jim said giving her a high-five. While the three new best friends were having lunch, Jacob was heading their direction with his 'cool clique' as he would call themselves. As Jacob finally aproached them, he began clapping.

"Very well done, Samantha. I see you were gathering up a crowd", said Jacob menacingly.

"What do you want, Jacob? Whatever it is you won't get it from me", said Samantha nonchalantly. Jim was surprised about her 'I don't care what you say' attitude. With her attitude she kept her cool pretty well.

"Since I was all the way in the back of the crowd, I couldn't quite hear your voice, sweetheart. Would you mind singing another song for me?", Jacob pleaded innocently. Samantha just glared at him before answering.

"Okay. Which song do you request, your Trashyness", she said with a sarcastic bow. Jacob returned the scowl.

"Starships by Nikki Minaj. I want you to sing it from the beginning to the end of the first chorus."

"Challenge excepted. Luke, give me the beat for Starships." Luke cupped his hands to his mouth and began beatboxing. After about four measures Samantha started wrapping, "Let's go to the beach-each, let's go get away. They say, what they going to say? Have a drink, clink, found the Bud Light. Bad b****** like me are hard to come by. The patron, own, let's go get it on. The zone ,own, yes I'm in the zone. Is it two, three? Leave a good tip. I'ma blow all my money and I don't give two s****. I'm on the floor, floor. I love to dance so give me more, more, until I can't stand. Get on the floor, floor, like it's your last chance. If you want more, more, then here I am."

Samantha ended with an 'in your face' expression. The end of lunch had come and it was time to complete some classes. Leaving Jacob steaming angry. He was forming a plan to ruin his ex-girlfriend's Saturday night performance.