It was close to dinner time when Victoria finished her homework and essay.
'Man, why do we need to learn this stuff? And without a calculator?! Who doesn't use a calculator in life?!'
Her train of thought was disturbed by a knock at her door.
"Come in."
"Hey, Victoria, guess who?" said a tall male.
Victoria didn't need to spin to know who it was as she turned and said, "Daddy!"
Victoria wheeled her chair to embrace her father. He was the tallest in the family and one heck of an amazing guy! He could do almost anything from fixing the air conditioner to making a delicious seafood dinner. He had brown curly hair and gentle brown eyes that could calm even the scariest of beasts.
"I missed you, dad! Why do you have to take the late shift all the time?"
"I'm not telling till dinner is ready."
"Dinner is ready!" cried Charlotte
"Speak of the devil! Now all will be revealed over meatloaf," joked Victoria
"Alright, kiddo, let's eat!"
Like Victoria said, a meatloaf was for dinner with salad and mashed potatoes. Victoria eagerly waited for everyone to sit down so she could understand what was so important. They gave their thanks, thus officially starting dinner.
"So what's the big news? Tell me, tell me, TELL ME!"
"Easy, Vicky, you're more excited than Pinkie Pie," said Charlotte
"Hey, Pinkie Pie is best pony, thank you. We talk on Fridays and read Deadpool comics."
"Whatever you say, crazy lady."
"Speaking of your imagination," interrupted their mom, trying to steer the conversation back on topic, "we know it's hard for you to tell your dreams apart from reality. You've been good at most of your dreams, but not all."
"So, your mother and I got a letter in the mail about two months ago from Japan's best doctor, Dr- um," Mr. Law paused as he tried to recall the doctor's name. "It got away from me, sorry. Anyway, he's at the Keio University Hospital and he wants to use you as their test subject for their dream recorder. He's been looking for someone like you that mixes up what's real or not. He's looked all over the world for the perfect fit, but to no avail. When he stopped by Evelina Children's Hospital, our doctors personally recommended you. After checking your files, he deemed you as the one who could use the machine to its full potential.
"The hospital has paid for all of the accommodations: hotels, travel, and food. All you have to do is what you do best: rest. You would literally be doing the job in your sleep.
"We don't know all the details, but basically, the scientists will put you in a pod-like machine that will be able to see what you see as you dream. When you wake up, the machine will stop recording and the doctors will observe how you react to it. The scientists will see if they've managed to capture video footage of your dream.
"If this machine is successful, then not only would you be credited for helping out with one of the biggest scientific breakthroughs in history, but you would be paid quite well and be the first person in the world to have the bed when it's mass-produced."
"Plus," Mrs. Law added, "since your father is an expert electrician, they'd like to hire him as part of their London division if the machines break down and pay him triple what he's making now."
They gave each other a quick peck on the cheek and looked towards their oldest daughter. Victoria was shocked. She, out of everyone in the world, got to partake in an exclusive experiment that took place in Japan with all expenses paid and then some. And she would get paid for it! It was crazy, awesome, scary, and exciting at the time! She was so happy she could barely speak.
"I… Ja… pan… exp…"
"I understand that this is a lot to take in and can overwhelm anyone, but if you would at least consider-"
Her father didn't get to finish his statement as Victoria gave her response.
"YES! I'M SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPALIDOSIOUS! Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, YES!"
It took Victoria a second before she looked at her little sister. Charlotte stared at her plate and was fighting off tears that threatened to fall. Mrs. Law saw Charlotte's reaction and put her hand on her head.
"That's right," she explained, "since Victoria will be busy with the doctors, the hospital also paid for your ticket so you can come with us, Charlotte. After all, you can help me sight-see areas that Victoria can't get to."
Charlotte looked at her mom, astonished. She'd get to go to Japan as well. She'd get to go to Japan. She'd get to go...
"THIS IS SO FLIPPING AWESOME!"
The two sisters screamed in unison for about a minute, and in that time-span, Charlotte sat in Victoria's lap as she span around the table. The parents just looked at each other with worried smiles and had the same thought: 'They got that from your side of the family.'
"Sorry… yes! When do we go?"
"In two weeks. Your father worked over time so he could give us some extra money to buy souvenirs. The only problem is that he has to stay here because there's a big contractor who needs your father's help along with his coworkers."
"Aww, man! How long will we be in Japan for?" asked Charlotte.
"One week. We get some time to explore Japan while we're there. The three of us will be able to explore Japan for two days. After that, Victoria will be helping the doctors, so you and I get to do whatever we want."
"That was nice of them. I'll make them a traditional pento box as a thank you gift."
"All we have to do is get everything ready for our trip. I'm sure it will be wonderful. And lets not forget our shots, ladies."
The duo were drained of color at the mere thought of shots. There's always a catch, isn't there?
They continued eating dinner with excitement. It was sad that their father couldn't come, but she'll make sure he feels included when they got back.
It was bed time, but how could one sleep with knowing the exciting news? Victoria can. She dreamed of anime, the experiment, ninjas, and a blue police box for some reason.
The next day was normal, almost too normal. Vendetta wasn't on the shuttle, and she wasn't in the lunch room for disabled students. Things seemed... peaceful. That was until a flier caught Victoria's attention that stopped her in her tracks. A creative writing contest was being held at the school's library in one month. The first place winner would get their work published and have lunch with J.K. Rowling at her house, second place would get a free trip to New York for a free writing class, and third place would get £1,000. Victoria looked at the flier in amazement. J.K. Rowling. THE J.K. Rowling. Her idol, her inspiration, her senpai! If she got first place, she could not only get to impress J.K. Rowling with her writing, but she could do it by herself! She signed the admission ticket on the flier without a second thought and went to the library.
Shelves and shelves of books as high as the building loomed over her as she handed it to the librarian like the flier said. Everything was wonderful until she encountered Vendetta sitting at one of the tables.
"Hey, Victoria, are you signing up for that contest? I wouldn't bother doing that," said Vendetta with much venom in her voice.
"Hi, Vendetta."
"Oh, look, she acknowledged me, what a surprise! I thought you were sleep walking or something."
"I thought you were absent from school today."
"Nope, I had to train early for the big Chess tournament coming up, you know, the one for national ranks? Good thing you're here to get me my lunch."
"Uh, no, I got a story to write and if I go into the cafeteria, I'll be flattened like a pancake. You have working arms and legs, you get it."
"But I could get an asthma attack if some kid sprayed perfume! Do you want me to die?! Everyone, Victoria wants me to die from an asthma attack!"
"Ms. Vendetta, that's enough!" came a shrill voice from the front desk, "This is a library! I'm banning you for a week for disrupting and bullying."
"But-"
"Do you want to make it two?"
"No, Mrs. Light."
"Then go to the headmaster. I'll inform them of what just happened."
"But what about my lunch?!"
"You sat in here for 20 minutes reading Teen Magazine, which was more than enough time for you to eat. Now go!"
"Ugh!"
Vendetta slammed the door as she left.
"Thank you so much for stopping her, Mrs. Light."
Mrs. Light was the librarian that kept everything neat and tidy. Her brown hair with a streak of grey on both sides of her hair tied in a bun shined under the florescent lights. Her pointed edge glasses with beaded chain helped her aging blue eyed vision, but her hearing made up for her sight. Her step-daughter also attended Regent, but she didn't have the same classes as Victoria, but they did consider each other friends.
"No problem, Victoria. No student should be bullied for whatever reason. Now, how about a book? I've got just the one I think you'll adore."
Mrs. Light pulled out Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone, the first Harry Potter book. Victoria squee'd in joy as she appreciated the kind gesture. Victoria and Mrs. Light talked for a bit, discovering her step-daughter, Elizabeth, had tonsillitis and would have the operation in two and a half weeks. They continued until the bell rang, announcing the end of lunch to the students.
"Good luck writing a story, Victoria, I'm sure it will be great."
"Thanks, tell Elizabeth to get better soon. Surgery can be scary for first timers."
"Will do, good bye."
Before she left, however, she thought of a question.
"Mrs. Light, do you think I can win, or are you just being polite?"
"Victoria, I have encountered many students like you. Determined, persistent, well brought up, and more. However, you are the first one I've encountered that doesn't define herself for her lack of abilities, but for her capabilities. You may or may not win, but that won't discourage you from trying. Just write from the heart and I'm sure you'll at least get noticed for it," said Mrs. Light triumphantly.
Victoria's eyes blurred from tears. All she could muster up was a simple, "Thank you."
And with that, Victoria left the library to continue class.
A/N: Hello again FanFiction! Don't worry; the doctor will be coming soon. I hope you like my story so far. Keep reading! R&R please!
