First Days and Encounters.
Here's a Jade focused chapter. What happened on her first day and why does she feel like such an outsider.
Jade's POV:
It had been 2 weeks since I arrived at Hollywood Arts and I hated it. Dad had to be relocated again and this time the job landed us in LA. I didn't even know what he did, but he was some sort of corporate official and mum was an actress, she never seemed so happy about moving to the home of cinema – she hadn't smiled like that in forever. So as a family we moved for the 4th time across the country into the land of dreams and the pretentious. Hollywood Arts acted like it was different from the rest of the schools; with its claim to produce the most talented students, the uniforms and prefectural system – but the experience was always the same where you went. As long as your family poured enough money into 'investing' into the school, I'm sure you'd get in. Everyone here came from something built for them. And I guess that includes me. That's how the system works, isn't it? My application into the school was quickly accepted once my father sent it in, they required some proof of talent and guess what I sent? Come on guess. A short film. Mom's career really inspired me to direct, to capture the elevated height of human emotion and evoke a sense of emotion for the audience. The film was called 'Outsider', fits perfectly, doesn't it? Because you'd be the new girl, arrive and be the attention for a day or two. Then poof, you're irrelevant and by yourself. This time I thought with such a diverse set of people I'd be able to fit in with someone, by some grace I would be able to find something that would let me 'fit in'. What an idiotic mentality of mine. Nothing. Everyone had already formed their groups. Everybody had their friends. And what does that mean for me? Isolation. Pure loneliness. I just wanted one person to really talk to. It was the second last year of high school, there's not much time left to enjoy being free from the adult world, why couldn't one person let me enjoy it with them. Maybe it was my fault? Maybe I shouldn't have done what I did on the first day of school. If I kept my mouth shut maybe I'd fit into this crowd of people… You want to know don't you? You want to know how I ended up in that hidden rehearsal room crying by myself 2 weeks into school, don't you…
2 weeks earlier...
Mom busted into my room to wake me at 7 am, talking about how important it is to make friends and to give the people a good first impression. I looked around the room and recognised it wasn't my room, not yet anyway. We'd arrived in the new house 2 days ago and I felt alienated in my own room. It didn't feel the same, I hadn't unpacked yet but even with my things the whole setting was different. On the plus side, I had an inbuilt bathroom, a space for all my editing equipment and a walk-in wardrobe. Dad even requested the guys remodelling the house to have a booth for singing. Guess he knew what I liked to do in my free time. As I got prepped up and ready, I walked down the 2 flights of stairs into the kitchen, Dad was nowhere to be seen and mom had prepared breakfast for me.
"Morning." I sat down on the stool next to one of the marble counters in the kitchen. I whipped out my phone and opened up the school website. The same old gibberish. Something about having pride in their students' talent, name dropping some celebrities and then started talking about gemstones or something. I start picking at my food.
"Morning honey." She turned around smiling, but then looked confused. "Sweetie, what are you wearing? You can't wear your own clothes to the school, you'll be sent right back home. I left the uniform that you have to wear on the door. Now go change before you start eating." She pulled the plate from me.
"Uniform, you got to be kidding me, I ain't wearing a uniform." She gave me a stern look.
"Jade you want to fit in don't you, don't put on the rebellious act, now go and change, we've got to leave in 15 mins. You can wear the black jeans, but put on a white shirt and the blazer. And don't say another word. GO." I stood up reluctantly and saw the brown blazer on the door, it had the school crest on the front pocket on the left side.
"Are you kidding me…" I chuckled at the sight of it, I guess I really am going to some fancy school now. It was kinda exciting you know. The blazer when buttoned up was slightly tight around my chest, so I kept it unbuttoned. Wasn't I supposed to have some sort of tie? I finished breakfast and mum dropped me off in her Porsche. When I saw the sight of the school it was actually insane, the school was massive like university sized big from what I first saw. The amount of money they make would explain it, especially since its private.
"Well I'll get out here mom thanks for dropping me, even though I could've driven here myself."
"Don't blame me, my baby girl is nearly grown up, this is going to be the last first-day drop off. Listen Jadey, just have fun, make the most of it. I know it's been difficult for you moving so much in the last 5 years, but this is the one that'll stick so just enjoy it. I've got to go to a promo shoot that will last the whole day. So why don't you get someone from school to drop you off, maybe a boy…" She winked, why did she have to be so cringe at times.
"Yh mom cause I'm going to invite a dude back to our home after the first day I met him. Ever heard of stranger danger. I'll be fine, I'll call an uber deluxe or something. I'll see you later." I opened the door and started to step out.
"Wait." She wanted to hug me from across the driver's seat, it was nice to know she was in such high spirits for me. I hugged her back.
"I'll be okay, I'm a big girl now. So, don't cry, come on mom." I saw the tears forming in her eyes.
"I know, I know. I'll fix myself up. By the way, the principal called this morning, he said that there's an assembly in the main hall and after the assembly, you need to go to the office for a tour of the school by one of the new prefects." She winked again.
"Ok, see you later."
I didn't know where I was going, the school was massive. After I walked through the main entrance, crowds of people were in groups chatting. The halls were full of a mess of people and they were all walking into one direction, so I followed the flow of the crowd. And I ended up in this grand hall, surrounded with a thousand plus students, I find an empty seat and get a couple of stares. People trying to figure out who I was, funny. Maybe I was in the wrong area but I couldn't care less. On the stage/podium area was the Principal, I had seen him before on the website, and behind him was 2 other senior teachers. What was weird was that a bunch of students were sat beside them, six to be exact. They sat with an upright posture and in silence, not turning to each other or anything, just fixed above the rows of students. They looked uptight. From the distance, I could make out a small girl with red hair, two Latina girls, a pale guy with curly hair, an Indian guy (maybe), and a black guy with dreads of some sort. They each had different coloured glowing ties, different from the blander ones I'd seen on the people I saw. They must be the prefects. I look around the hall and see plastered on the walls symbols, banners and colours that match their ties. Interesting. The principal did some motivational speech and the assembly ended when one of the Latina girls with the violet glowing tie made an announcement and dismissed the hall. I stood up and started to make my way to the principal's office and then I stopped realising I had no idea where I was going. People started to push and barge past me. And that's when I turned to the stage to see if the principal was still there. Suddenly these robotic characters on stage became so full of life, it was like Toy Story when the toys come to life. They were laughing and joking around, it made me realise that they were just like everyone else. The guy in the sapphire tie had the topaz tie pale kid in a playful headlock, the diamond tie guy had the red-haired girl on his shoulders and was running around the stage whilst she was screaming with laughter. The Latina girls seemed as if they were arguing about something.
"Hey, are you lost?" The girl with the emerald tie shouted across the hall. "It's nearly first period and you're gonna be late." The whole group then stopped and focused on me, I looked around and realised I was the only person left in the room apart from them.
"Wait she doesn't have a tie." The guy with the diamond tie called out as he set the Emerald girl off his shoulders, he started to walk to the edge of the stage to get a closer look of me. At the same time, I got a better look of him he was kinda cute, "Are you supposed to be here?"
"I don't recognise her, but she is cute, what's your name?" The guy in the sapphire tie said as he wrapped his arm around the diamond tie guy's shoulder. He instantly got a slap from the Latina girl with the violet tie.
"Cute huh…" She gave him an unimpressed look, maybe they were dating. He was hot. The typical centre of every girl's attention guy. You couldn't help but acknowledge his looks, but he wasn't my type, I don't think. The two of them must be dating, cause she looked jealous.
I noticed that they were each also wearing this pearly white badge that I hadn't seen. "I'm Ja-" I was cut off by the redhead.
"Oooooiieeeee. You're the new girl, aren't you? You must be lost. I'm supposed to be taking you on a tour of the school. You're insanely beautiful. I was just heading there, you'll get your tie at the principal's office. Come with me. I'll see you guys later." She jumped off the high stage and ran towards me. "Let's go." And she pulled my arm, running towards one of the exits. Before I knew it we were in the office, and he welcomed me into the school and I received one of the dull scarlet red ties I had seen. He explained I was off timetable for the first half of the day and that the girl with the Emerald tie was " Mrs Caterina Valentine" and that she would be showing me around the school before I joined the advanced classes in the second half. She started the tour…
Cat's POV:
When we had gotten to the office the new girl seemed so shy, but God was she intriguing. I really was interested in what gemstone she was going to be a part of, If she was an Emerald I would be able to see her a lot and then we can become besties. When Principal Eikner pulled out the scarlet tie I was disappointed, but that doesn't mean that we still can't be friends. He introduced me as 'Caterina', I hate that name, my father uses it and it sends shivers down my spine. It's way too formal and is a sick reminder of he did. We head outside of the office and I start taking her towards my favourite place, the Emerald campus, my little kingdom.
"Hi my name's Caterina, but you can call me Cat. I didn't really catch your name but I remember it starts with J. I'm going to take you around the school and show you where everything you need is. Including toilets." Was that too formal, I don't know how I should talk. Ahh.
"Nice to meet you Cat, it's Jade. Thanks for taking me around, you must be missing some of your classes, so I'm sorry for interrupting your day." She smiled at me, she was so nice. I like her already, her blue eyes were so cute.
"Oh I wasn't doing anything, as the Emerald, I get to do what I want. I volunteered to give you the tour because I was bored and thought I could make new friend." She smirked, okay I'm doing a good job. "Jade I'll be taking you to the Emerald campus." I want to show her how great it is, so even when she doesn't have a class here, she can visit me some more.
"The Emerald? What does that mean, I keep seeing these colours everywhere and I'm confused? Does the colour of my tie mean something?" Oh, she didn't know, I stopped walking turned around and looked at her smiling.
"Each colour represents the special talent you have; every student has a specific area at which they excel the most and that's what the tie shows. The freshman have general colours, juniors have 2 colour ties demonstrating top 2 talents, sophomores like us get the colour of their best talent. In our senior year depending on how well you did in the sophomore year, you're gifted a brighter colour. It's the way of the school promoting people to make friends with not only who your most similar too, but also makes it easy to identify who can help you on projects that you make be weaker on." I stopped myself from going overboard. Oh shoot, was I talking too much? I smiled at her turned around and started walking again because I was blushing for embarrassment. She started following me and I heard the heels of her shoes.
"Ok, I sorta get that now…So what am I and what is this 'the Emerald' thing?" I forgot to answer her first question, silly me.
"Your red tie means that you specialise in directing. That means you're a part of the Ruby department, right next door to mine. You get all sorts of benefits and special access to the latest equipment, editing software, extra budgets, sets to shoot at, whatever you think of the school will provide it. You've got world-renowned directors giving lectures and some legends teaching you all the tricks in the book. It's really cool."
"That sounds amazing, I could make some really creative projects if I get the funding for it… Interesting." I was doing my job well, I'm happy she's getting excited.
"Each department has a prefect. The acting, music, singing, dancing, comedy, directing, and special effects departments are referred to their attributed gem. And at the heads of these departments are the gems which are the prefects, they outclass and have more authority than any other person in that department, including teachers. So as 'The Emerald', I was picked by a selection of teachers and the Principal to have the most potential out of the rest of those pursuing comedy in Hollywood Arts – whether it be in standup, movies, plays, social media – to be the best person for the job. I have the authority to change anything as I see fit to help advance the department. This means I can control what's being taught, who's teaching and other things too. We're also given these special ties and badges to show our prefectural status. We represent what the students want and how far we can advance our talents."
"So you can like fire teachers if you want?" Jade gripped my shoulders and got close to my face with excitement.
"Yh like all the rest of the prefects. But there's usually not a reason to we got the best of the best. And we still attend classes in the other departments and general studies like everyone else, but if we want to focus on some projects that we created, that takes priority and we can be exempt from any class to help advance our craft. That's why I have so much free time." I started laughing at myself, I sounded so lame.
"So all those other people I saw, what do their colours represent?" I think she was really enjoying learning about what we did, that's so cute.
"Well Robbie is the Topaz, the guy with glasses. Beck the Sapphire, Trina the Rose Quartz and Tori the Amethyst. Oh and Andre, my best friend, the one who was carrying me is the Diamond. He was my first friend here at Hollywood Arts and he's got so much talent. Robbie has the biggest crush on me and thinks I don't know, but I don't want to hurt his feelings."
"So what about the Ruby?"
"The teachers couldn't pick between the students, apparently no one really stood out from the crowd, we replaced the seniors about 2 weeks ago; so the teachers may pick someone in the juniors if no-one in our year is deemed appropriate."
"And what do all those gems mean?"
"Topaz is the orange colour, its for special effects and basically anyone that works on computers, lighting, makeup, and designing. That's what Robbie controls. Tori is the Amethyst, the girl who made the announcement, she's in charge of anyone pursuing a career that involves singing. Beck the Sapphire is in charge of the acting department and any acting related activity, he would have to work with the Ruby a lot. Trina is the Rose Quartz and Tori's older sister, in charge of the Dancing department. And Andre the Diamond is the head of the Music department and anything related to it, he's often the busiest out of all of us. He has the biggest department, and he's usually the one asked to organise musical scores for plays, create melodies for the singers, help construct the music for dance routines, do the scores for films and play in recitals. He tries to help as many people as he can before he asks for help from some other students and he also has to do his own projects and stuff. That's why he's the diamond."
"Sounds like a living hell to me. Why would he want to do all that stuff? Won't it get to the point of burnout."
"Maybe for someone ordinary, but he's special. He's a prodigy when it comes to music and most of he loves it. He was already helping a tonne of people before he was selected and getting involved with so many things to do with music, whilst displaying the talent he had. That's why he was picked as the Diamond. He's also the Head of the Prefects too, with Tori as the Vice. Since he works with so many of the departments, he was bound to be the head."
"Seems like a good guy." Jade looked like she was deep in thought after I said that.
"He really is the best. When I heard him play and sing one of his songs for the first time, I was mesmerised and in complete shock by how much his voice could pierce into your soul. You should totally hang out with us at lunch. By the way, the campuses for each of the departments form a gemstone shape with general studies in the middle, it's so cool from a bird's eye view." We walked through the rest of the departments and we got near the end of the tour and Jade looked exhausted. "Why don't we take a break?" We both sit on the edge on one of the fountains in the open plan area of the Diamond halls.
"Is there a vending machine nearby, I'm thirsty. Wait what's that sound." Jade stood up and started walking towards the music that was playing. "Come on Cat, this sounds amazing." She pulled my arm and rushed to where ever the music was playing, I had a feeling who it was…
Jade's POV:
I heard a piano playing chords that caressed my ears, I had been so ingrained into listening to music that my ears could pick up the quietest decibels of music. It sounded perfect. I grabbed Cat and started running towards wherever the music was coming from. The chords were in a major key but being played in a typical minor chord progression of ambient melancholy, a dichotomy between happiness and sadness. I had to hear more.
"Cat do you think you know where this piece is being played?" I wanted to know desperately, this would perfectly fit into the latest short film I was working on. I sounded as if it was coming from some sort of speaker in the distance. You could tell that someone was actually singing over the piano, it seemed to blend in harmoniously but wasn't loud enough for me to hear the lyrics.
"Yh, if it is who I think it is, he'll be playing in his favourite spot, follow me." Cat took off laughing out of excitement ahead of me. For a small girl she really was a fast, ball of energy. Her red hair zipped past me. As we were rushing down this hall a couple of people were staring, I didn't give a shit, I had to find where this was playing. Cat took a sharp turn left and after a bit more paces, she abruptly stopped. I almost collided with her. I heard the baritone voice loud and clear accompanied by the piano. We were at a viewing platform and could see the person playing the keyboard in one of the music halls by themselves.
~ time you hear,
Now, let's be loud and clear,
You're an outsider,
There's no place for you here,
You're an outsider,
Keep quiet and don't shed a tear.
Why did this hurt so much to listen to, why did his silky voice wrap around my heart and make me feel so hurt? I don't know but he hadn't noticed us yet and continued to sing. Why did it sound like he was singing about me, targeting me? It hurt, and he didn't even know me.
I felt out of place,
Could you even see it on my face?
Yh, I'm a good actor,
Should've seen the little warnings I made,
Oh have I made the group uncomfortable,
I'll leave, and shut the door behind me,
Cover it up and remain unfazed,
Just to come back,
And keep up the charade.
The song wasn't about me, what he just sang felt too real too relatable. I feel a tear fall down my cheek and Cat looks at me, sad and pouty. I keep wiping my face, the tears don't stop. This wasn't written for me, this wasn't written by me so why, why did he know how it feels. There was a silver shimmer coming off the black piano. I had seen that shimmer before. How did he know what it feels like, isn't he the king of this school? How could he feel like he's on the outside? How could he write such a real song?
~ Good, it's time you hear,
Now, let's be loud and clear,
You're an outsider,
There's no place for you here,
You're an outsider,
Keep quiet and don't shed a tear.
I know already, you don't have to remind me. The song was so beautiful, the song was me, that's exactly why I created the short film 'Outsider' and he's literally singing it to me. I grab the railing to try and calm down, but I just didn't expect it to hit so deep.
~I'm an outsider,
There's no place for me here,
You sounded so hurt, like it's hurting you to sing your song. It sounded like my pain was being sung by your voice. It sounded like a deep longing want for closure, it sounded like what I wanted to let go of. His voice rang through the hall, enveloping everything in his voice. There was nobody else present but the room was engulfed in the beauty of voice, I could feel it ringing around my body. It was like the notes he sang were piercing into my skin. The experience was blissfully overwhelming. It's like someone else understood me, it's like he really knew what it felt like not to fit in.
~I'm an outsider,
Just keep it quiet and don't shed a te-
Why did you stop? There must have been more? The music he was playing on the piano brusquely stops and he ceased singing, he noticed us. I feel like I've invaded his privacy, but I was grateful that I did. He stood up and looked intensely at the viewing platform.
"I'd recognise that hair from anywhere. Lil Red is that you? What are you doing here?"
"I was showing Jade West, the new student around school, and the Diamond campus was the last to cover. When Jade heard your voice she came rushing here to hear it in full. That was amazing." Cat was talking in her excitedly fast tone.
"Slow down a bit, will you? This is kinda embarrassing… I've never sung that song in front of people before and it's really personal." He took a second to compose himself, I was so in my feelings from the song I couldn't even speak. His tie was shining, "I hoped you liked it, and are getting used to the school. I feel like dying of embarrassment right now." He chuckled and sat down on the stage. He really wasn't what I pictured him to be like, "I didn't catch your name new girl, what is it so I can look out for you in school?" He really didn't seem like what I initially thought.
"Jade West." I managed to blurt out.
"Jade, that's a cool name. I'm Andre Harris. It's a pleasure to see you again so soon. Hope you liked the song. It's from an album I'm working on." He smiled and started waving in my direction….
What did Jade do later that day to make her a real 'outsider' in Hollywood Arts? The story of the Prodigies continues…Leave a review so I can see what you're liking. AFJOC.
