Chapter 3: Lifting Clouds

People always say 'New year, new me.' But that doesn't seem to fit me right now.

A few days have passed since the holiday season and things are still exactly the same as they were back in november. I'm still being bullied at school and Syrus hasn't even bothered to rebuild our friendship, I'm starting to actually believe he never will. He has gotten a better life nowadays, he has a lot of friends, he has a girlfriend, he's no longer being bullied, he gets good grades.. Somehow, somewhere deep inside of me I feel proud of him in some strange way.

However, some aspects of my life have changed for the better. I am no longer alienated from my parents. Ever since the incident with that psychologist I have been able to talk to my parents, especially my mom, about anything. And not only has the bond I have with my parents strenghtened, I have also acquired the best friend a guy could wish for.

I meet Blair every now and then and we hang for a couple of hours, it's hard to find a time on which we can both be available beca use school is really starting to ask a lot of both of us.

Where I live we have a special day on which we celebrate our last 100 days of high school and the preparations for that day have already begun, and they require a lot of energy for I am our class' main event. I'm quite proud of myself to have such an important role, especially because I've been ignored practically each day throughout high school and now they want me to represent our class. Working together with them on a daily basis really made me get to know my classmates on a more personal level and it seems that all girls in my class have started to accept me as their friend. The guys, like Chazz and Syrus, however, don't seem to step down from their pedestal as easily. I'm becoming more open around my classmates and I can finally really be myself.

Here is how it all happened.

It's around february and the holiday season has been over for a few weeks. School hasn't changed all that much yet, but I can feel my life is bound to head into another direction. My class, which consists of about 20 people (12 girls and 8 guys), starts to get together to decide what we are going to do for our Celebration. Chazz titled himself as leader of the meetings, which doesn't surprise anyone.

"So, does any of you slackers have any idea of what we can do?", Chazz announces as he walks up to the front of the classroom.

One of my female classmates, Erin, answers in a bored tone, "We could do, like, a dance or something?"

To which her best friend Ella replies, "YES! Let's do that! I love to dance!"

Erin and Ella have been best friends since kindergarten, which surprises me every now and then because their personalities are the complete opposite. (For as much as I know them, that is). Erin is a gorgeous blonde girl with light greyish eyes and always wears a bored look on her face as if she doesn't have a single care in the world, and won't make any efforts to change that. Ella on the other hand is one of the most excited people I have ever met and she lights up every room she enters with her dazzling personality and amazingly cute smile. She has mid-length light brown hair and eyes that make you wonder if they're real or contacts, they are light green tinged with tiny golden specks every here and there.

Chazz, annoyed, "Ella, maintain your enthusiasm. We're not going to dance. Every year, every class has done a dance. I want us to be different!"

"Well then what's your idea? See if that's any better." Ella replies as she exhales more air than necessary, to emphasise her displease.

"That's where you guys come in. We have to find something we all want, and agree to." Chazz explains.

"I'm not planning on making a fool out of myself so you guys better come up with something good.", Meredith says, painting her nails.

Meredith is the benjamin of our class and is continually adjusting her hair or make-up, to many student's annoyance. She often wears her blonde hair in a ponytail and curled bangs and when she smiles her youth really comes forth. However, don't let Meredith's appearance fool you for she can turn from an innocent damsel in distress into evil incarnate.

"You make a fool out of yourself every day, Meredith, you don't need us for that." Syrus says in a bratty tone that I'm still not used to, causing Meredith's face to tense up. She turns to him, "Listen here shorty, just because you've got more friends now does not make you any cooler than the twerp you've always been, so if I were you I'd shut my nerdy face."

Syrus' confident, and arrogant, smile fades and the insecure doubt in his eyes found its way back. Chazz intervenes, "Don't mind her, Sy, she has issues."

"Excuse me? And who do you think yóu are? You know what, fine, whatever. I'm out of here. Figure it out." Meredith takes her purse and jacket and leaves the classroom in an angry mood.

Chazz laughs, "Perfect, one nuisance less to deal with."

I can see Ella wants to say something but for whatever reason she decides not to.

This is where I come in, "That was really unnecessary Chazz."

"Oh was it now, Gayden? Did I hurt anyone's feelings?", he replies mockingly.

"Can't you ever act mature, Chazz? You may be older than a lot of us on technical grounds, but when it comes down to our mental age you are seriously lagging behind."

Chazz starts to get red, "Do you honestly think I care about what YOU think of me or my mental age," he uses air quotation marks as he speaks the words 'mental age', "because really, I don't. And neither does anyone else in here, so shut your mouth before I make history repeat itself."

Ella looks angrily at Chazz, "Speak for yourself Chazz, not everyone in here is an ignorant child!"

Erin nods, "Stop using us as reinforcements for your horrible stances on Jaden."

Chazz exhales "Pf, whatever."

Are Erin and Ella really backing me up? I guess my days of solitude in class might just have reached their end. "Thanks, girls."

They both nod at me, and smile, "No worries."

"If we could all please stop the bickering and emotional humdrums I suggest we start brainstorming for our act.", Matt says.

"That would be lovely." Answers Luana.

Matt is always the one that manages to home in on the real issue when others are distracted or laying into each other for the most petty reasons. He's a relatively buff guy and has short black, semi-curling hair. He and Luana have been a couple for 4 years now and their personalities really complement each other. Luana is another one of the girls in my class, she has brown eyes, long straight black hair and an amazing, and very special, fashion sense. Today she's wearing a pair of white pants with black horizontal stripes on them, a white shirt, a yellow cropped jacket and black boots.

"If dancing is off the table, then what's left to do?" Erin asks.

Should I mention that I can sing? It would be a great opportunity for me to show that I am actually worth something and am more than just a toy for Chazz to set his teeth into. Plus, if I'm going to sing for my Dual Academy's entrance exam I'll have to be prepared and knowing that I've never even set foot on a stage before I could really use all experience I can get.

"I could sing." I say with a shaky voice because I'm still not confident enough to put myself out there.

I can feel everyone's eyes on me, I start to get as red as a beetroot and all I can think of is backing out before it's too late. "If you want, that is."

"You can sing Jaden?" Luana asks with a smile of happiness tinged with astonishment.

"Why haven't you told us earlier? This is perfect!" Ella practically screams in excitement.

I'm no longer able to hide my smile, and the redness on my face becomes even worse, but this time the colour didn't rise because of feelings of shame, but because my cheeks seem to express their gratitude towards compliments by becoming extremely red.

Syrus doesn't like where this is all heading so he tries to stop it, vainly, "You don't actually want to make Jaden the center of our performance, right?"

I really wonder why he turned so hard against me, I've never done anything wrong to the kid. I guess popularity raises to your head faster than one would expect.

Matt answers, "No, not just Jaden. Him and Luana!"

"What?! Me? But Matt, I.." Luana utters.

"Babe, I've heard you sing a lot of times, you can do this." Matt says with a smile before he goes in and kisses her.

"I..I really don't know, I'm not that good at performing in front of a crowd." She answers.

"Lu," I call out to her, "If I can do it, so can you. Trust me." I smile and try to comfort her because I can sense some fear in her eyes. This makes me see that even the most popular and confident people have their doubts and fears. So I'm really not all that alone as I've thought.

Ella walks up to Luana and grabs her hands, "Come on Luana! This will be amazing!"

She smiles and looks at me, I nod, "Ok! I'll do it! Well, we'll do it!"

Chazz chuckles, "I hate to break it to you dweebs, but there's more than just the two of you that need to perform."

I smile, "Oh we know that, Chazz, don't worry, you won't be forgotten."

Chazz gives me an angry look, "The nerve."

"We can be your back-up dancers. That way we all get to do something decently doable and we'll differentiate ourselves from the others." Erin adds to the solution.

"No way! I'm not going to dance as a back-up to Gayden!" Chazz yells.

Syrus, playing the role of sidekick, "Yea, me neither!"

"There's always the props that need to be taken care of, seems like a fitting job for you, Chazz." Matt states in all seriousness.

Chazz walks up to Matt and looks him in the eyes, "If you make another smart-ass remark like that I'll make sure it'll be your last."

Matt smiles, "Do you think I'm scared, Chazzie?"

"You'd better be!" Chazz yells as he tries to tackles Matt. Matt pushes him back and launches a punch, but he gets blocked by Chazz. Before any of us can realise what's going down, the classroom has turned into a chaos. Chazz and Matt are fighting and causing chairs and desks to fall over, Luana and Syrus are yelling at the fighting duo and each other, Ella is yelling "Stop!" over and over again, but to no avail and Erin, I, and the rest of us are just trying to take the whole situation in.

Before we can realise what's going on, Miss Mores enters.

"WHAT IS GOING ON IN HERE?!" she yells while breaking up the fighting duo.

"Ask goth kid over there." Matt says as he wipes away some blood and saliva off of his chin, with Luana on his side handing him paper tissues.

Chazz points at Matt, "He started it! He pushed me for no reason when I was just trying to find something for us to do at the Celebration!"

"THAT'S NOT TRUE!" me and Luana yell at the same time.

How dare Chazz blame Matt like that. He has been the one causing arguments with practically everyone in this room and now he dares play the role of victim. This is the kind of people I really wouldn't mind missing in my life. I hope there won't be anyone like this at Dual Academy.

Miss Mores starts to lose her patience, "It doesn't matter who started. Look at the room! You two," She points at both Chazz and Matt, "clean up this mess right now! And you are both no longer allowed to perform at the Celebration!"

Ella was clearly not happy with that verdict, "But Miss, you can't.."

"CASE CLOSED, Ella. Now get to cleaning you two." Miss Mores exits the room shaking her head uttering a final word, "Teenagers..".

I don't mind Chazz not being in our performance at all, but I do find it sad for Matt. Although, I think he doesn't mind all that much, especially because he knows his girlfriend will be our headliner.

"Man, this sucks!" Chazz says as he's doing up the classroom's chaos."

I walk past him, "Look at it from te bright side, Chazz. At least now you won't have to worry about being my back-up dancer anymore."

I can't believe I actually said that. I can get used to this feeling. Saying what I want to say and when I want to makes me feel really good inside. As if I'm on my way to maturity and no longer afraid of others' opinions or judgements.

So basically this is when it was decided that me and Luana would be the protagonists of our performance at the Celebration. We meet every Wednesday at her house and every Saturday at mine to draw up our routine. Everyone else decided to let us run this performance. So in other words, me and Luana carry all responsibility. At first I loved the thought of being able to tell everyone what to do for once and not be the guy just doing whatever he's told, but as the weeks pass I am starting to get nervous. There is just so much going on in my life right now, I'm not sure if I can manage to keep all the dots connected.

However tough and time-consuming everything I went in for is, the new year ís leading to new me. I've been very sceptical towards the whole "new year, new me"-speeches everyone abuses around January, but I can actually feel changes rising to the surface. I am co-running the class' performance at our annual seniors' Celebration at school and I am preparing myself for my Dual Academy entrance exam. I still have all my regular courses to study for on a daily basis though, and sadly my time management isn't the best so I struggle with the pressure of all the tasks I have burdened myself with. Me and Blair have had a small argument not too long ago because she is afraid our friendship will suffer from my busy schedule but I am certain it will not. Blair is the only real friend I've ever had and no amount of work or stress will ever make me neglect her.

The argument started when Blair mentioned our visit to Dual Academy and I had to tell her I was unavailable on the day she wanted to go. Our original plan was to go to Dual Academy first thing in February, but now that me and Luana have to meet up every Wednesday ánd Saturday it's not that convenient anymore. The Celebration takes place the 23rd of March which means we have about a month left to get everything ready. Just thinking about it makes me stress. What if we don't finish up early enough? Or if the rest of my class doesn't like what me and Luana put together? What if they just ignore my directions and do what they want to do themselves? I hope this won't turn out bad.

It's the 27th of February and me and Luana have just finished up our routine. We both know what song we want to sing, how we want our back-up dancers to dance, how we'll interact with each other, the outfits we need and all that jazz. Now it's time to relax for a few hours in the shower.

My phone starts to ring as I'm about to jump in the shower.

"Hey Jaden!" I hear Blair's excited voice through the speaker of my phone.

"Hey Blair, what's up?" I answer.

"Well, I just wanted to let you know that the dates of the Academy's entrance exams for singers have recently been announced."

"Really? Do you know them?" I am really curious, I hope they won't be soon for I have barely practiced the song I want to sing simply because all of my time goes to the Celebration.

"Yes of course I do, otherwise I wouldn't call you now, would I?" I hear her laugh

"Whatever, smartass, just tell me already! The anticipation is killing me!"

"You won't like this though, they're in april." She says with a sad notion in her voice.

What? How can this be? I'll only have less than a month to practice for it. How am I ever going to pull this off?

"Are you serious?" I inquire, maybe she's joking.

"I'm afraid so. But, if it makes it any better, they are the 20th so you'll have about a month to practice. Which isn't that little come to think of it."

She is vainly trying to cheer me up. I know a month is not even remotely close to the amount of time and preparation an exam requires. Two months might come closer but then I will have to call off the lead in the Celebration and put all responsibility on Luana and that's something I can't do. I can't let my classmates down, even if they've never appreciated me before all of this, I can't do it. I can not and will not call off the performance.

"You and I both know a month is virtually nothing. Even you, being active in arts for years, have been working on your painting since November last year and you expect me to believe that a month will be good enough for me? Someone who started singing a mere 3 months ago?"

"I never said it would be easy, Jaden. But if you want to go to Dual Academy next year, and I know you are capable of doing so, then I suggest you start realising that if you keep up what you've been doing the past month with that party you won't make it." Her voice got from soothing and cheering into serious and slightly angry in a matter of seconds.

"Thanks for the motivation Blair, exactly what I needed." I snarl at her.

She sighs, "Jaden, don't hate me for this but you really need to put more time and effort into this entrance exam. It's a prestigious school and they won't accept anyone if they have even the slightest of doubt about the quality of their performance. And I know you are good enough to make it. I just know it and I would hate to see you get denied because you lacked dedication."

"I don't lack dedication, I'm just swamped with the preparations for the Celebration, which by the way is my first performance ever. I can use this experience for my entrance exam seeing as I won't be as nervous if it's my second performance instead of my first. Surely I won't be able to work on my solo song that much but at least I'll get some stage experience from it."

"You might have a point there, the stage experience will come in handy. Sorry for coming at you like that earlier, I just want us to go to the Academy together next year and it would suck to not have you around."

"I know Blair, but, even if I do have enough time to prepare, I still might not be good enough to enter that university. You say I am a good enough singer but if they are as strict as you said earlier I really don't know if I…"

Just like in the good old days, Blair interrupts me when I start to doubt myself,

"JADEN! They are strict, but they are just. THEREFORE, you shall be granted acceptance into their school. All you have to do is prepare and be ready."

I don't know if she is right. Even if I managed to practice for months, I am convinced that I lack overall experience and one simple high school performance isn't going to change a lot about that.

"If you say so Blair. Anyway, I'm going to take a shower now, been meaning to for 20 minutes now." I laugh

"Alright! Oh! Before I forget, do you think we can visit Dual Academy next Sunday?" she asks.

"Next Sunday, hmm, the 3rd of March, Yes! I don't have anything to do that day."

"Finally! Praise the Lord!" We both laugh. "So I'll meet you at the bus station at 9 am?"

"Sweet! See you then Blair!" I hang up the phone and get into the shower, at last.

It's the 3rd of March and besides the usual practice with Luana and working on homework, nothing else exciting happened.

I just got up and it's 8h20 at the moment, meaning I'll have 40 minutes to get ready and head for the bus station to meet up with Blair because we're finally going to check out Dual Academy. I'm really excited for it, so I better get dressed right now or I won't make it on time.

I'm on my way to the bus station and I see Syrus walking in my direction, should I say hey to him? Maybe it'll be better if I just ignore him, like he did to me.. I just can't seem to get myself acting that way, I never could and I don't think I ever will.

"Hey Syrus." I say as we get close enough for us to engage into a conversation.

"Hey Jay." He replies and just like that he passes me by, I guess there won't be a conversation this time. I can't really complain though, at least he doesn't ignore me anymore like he tends to do when he's surrounded by others. I get to the station and see Blair waiting for me.

"Hey Blair!" I shout to her so she turns around and waves at me. I wave back.

"Jaden! I was starting to think you wouldn't show up." She smiles

"You know me Blair, when am I ever on time?" I give her a hug as we both laugh

"You might have a point there Yuki. So, ready to explore DA?"

"You have no idea! I could barely sleep last night because I kept thinking about it!"

"Well I hope you rested enough because it will be a busy day today."

"Oh I know Flannigan, don't worry about me, I'm always ready to go on an adventure."

Sometimes I actually believe that as long as I have Blair with me, I'm prepared to take on every challenge that gets thrown my way. Running away from Rebecca Marshall has got to be the best thing I have ever done in my life.

"With an additional delay you might add."

"Not everyone can pull off an out-of-bed look like you, Blair. I need some time to get ready."

She gives me a sceptical look, "Please! If one of us is sporting an out-of-bed look it's you, Jaden, and don't you deny that."

"Wasn't going to. On a different note, the bus is arriving!"

Blair turns her head, "About time! Looks like you're not the only one with a delay today, Jay."

About 45 minutes later Blair and I arrive at Dual Academy, the buildings are even bigger and prettier than I had ever imagined they would be. Studying here must be a dream come true. Maybe it's time to actually let Blair's advice get through to me and start realising my exam in april is more important than a silly high school performance. But that is exactly the problem I have, I can't see it as a silly high school performance. It's so much more to me than just that. It's my ticket to acceptance in high school, my first performance as an artist, time to bond with my classmates and time to show what I'm made of. How could I possibly see all of this as a 'silly performance'? For the first time in my life I'm being noticed, and not made fun of.

We're walking down a decently long path inside of a forest, or at least something that makes me think of a forest –it looks more like a path surrounded by trees than a forest divided into two parts by a path-. The tranquility that lingers here soothes me to a point at which I can do nothing but walking and enjoying the moment. I am definitely going to enjoy walking down these paved roads when I study here, I can already feel the immense amount of lyric ideas emerging from inside of me. Before I've realised it, we are heading towards the main entrance and when I look up I see this beautiful building, reaching for the sky, stand proudly in front of me.

"Wow, this is so impressive, don't you agree Jaden?" Blair suddenly asks me, after an hour of silent walking.

"I though I was prepared for this, but actually being here is so different from seeing pictures online or even dreaming about it." I answer

Dual Academy is a huge building, I would even dare call it a monument, existing of a variety of shapes and colors. It has about four dome-like roofs, all in a different color and five equal sky-high pilars. Its main color is brown with a nice golden touch to it as if it's been blessed and now telling me that this is where my future lies. This looks nothing like any other building I have ever seen before in my life. We enter through the glassy front door and the inside looks even fancier than the outside.

"Wow, it's so big in here Blair." I state with awe.

"I hope we won't get lost in this place once we start our university careers here."

We stand in the hall for a few minutes trying to find a direction to head for when someone approaches us.

"Good day, can I help you two with something?" he asks us with a genuine smile while petting the cat he's holding.

This guy looks rather peculiar but a smile that genuine is something you just can't give a cold shoulder to. He has long dark blue spiked bangs, a ponytail and wears small square glasses.

He's holding a cute chubby light brown cat with chocolate brown stripes on its paws, back and tail.

"Well, we're aspiring students here and decided to come check this place out to get a first experience with it." Blair answers

"I see, children. My name is Lyman Banner and I am a professor at this school and head of the music department. Now tell me, is any of you here for music?" he says, maintaining his smile.

"That would be me, sir, I sing." I reply

"I see, and call me professor Banner if you don't mind, what's your name young man?"

"The name's Jaden Yuki."

"Pleasure to meet you Jaden, do you have any questions about Dual Academy?"

"I am kind of curious about the level that's required to pass the entrance exams. I have been told that you only accept the best ones so that makes me a bit worried." I inquire

"If you are dedicated to your talent and you can convince us with your abilities you should be able to pass easily. We indeed only accept the best students we can find, but that doesn't necissarily mean that we only accept the students with the best exam scores. For us teachers here at Dual Academy the importance does not lie at a perfect voice or a perfect performance but at dedication, emotion and most importantly, the fun you have as a performer."

Hearing this makes me regain all of my confidence because I know I don't lack in any of these three disciplines.

"This doesn't mean, however," adds another teacher who overheard our conversation "that you should take your exam lightly. We do expect to see a dedicated, strong, powerful performer on stage and when we don't get that we won't hesitate to fail you."

To which professor Banner replies, "Oh Crowler, why must you always scare students like that."

"I don't scare students, Banner, I make them face reality. Don't fill the head of slackers with false hopes and dreams and the image of them being able to get into our precious school simply by showing emotion."

I'm not really sure whether this Crowler is a man or a woman. But based on his voice I'm assuming he's a man. He has blond straight bangs, a ponytail and wears a fancy blue suit which has royal looking shoulder pads and a high pink collar. He's also wearing dark purple lipstick which once again makes me unsure if he is a man or not. He doesn't seem to be the most pleasant teacher to have at this school but I do admire someone who doesn't tell lies simply to put someone else at ease and says it how it is.

"Nice to meet you professor Crowler, I'm Jaden." I offer my hand for a handshake.

"It's dóctor Crowler, and hmm yes, pleasure." He walks off.

"He's lovely." Blair laughs

"You will get used to him children, he's really not that bad as he likes to make others think." Professor Banner replies.

"Mraaaaw!", suddenly professor Banner releases his cat from his grip and it runs off.

"Pharaoh! Excuse me children, I have to get Pharaoh before he gets too far, nice to meet you Jaden, I look forward to seeing your performance." Professor Banner smiles, nods and then runs off in chase of his cat.

It would be awesome to have a crazy professor like that as a teacher, and he is the head of the music department too! It can't get any sweeter!

"I really hope that Crowler guy won't be the head of the visual arts department, I'm not looking forward to getting classes from him!" Blair says with some displease in her voice.

"Don't you mean dóctor Crowler." I reply mockingly.

We both laugh and start walking around the campus to explore some more. It appears as if there are quite a lot of aspiring students visiting today.

After a few hours of exploring we discover a door and some stairs that lead us to the roof of DA. The view from up here is amazing. I can feel a slight breeze making a mess of my hair and when I look straightforward I don't only see the gorgeous evergreen of the trees but also the vast blue ocean and its constant appearing and disappearing waves. Once again I'm mesmerized by the view and overall experience of this island (DA is located on an island with a sole road connecting it with the rest of the city) when suddenly my daydream gets cut short by a stranger's voice.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't know someone was already up here."

I turn around only to see the most perfect human being I have ever seen stand right in front of my eyes with his hand behind his head and an apologetic smile on his face. He has gorgeous teal blue hair, mesmerizing emerald eyes and a smile that petrifies my core. I must know who he is. I'm assuming he will also be in the music department because he carries a guitar case on his back.

"It's ok, the roof is big enough for more than two people." Blair replies, noticing that I obviously can't talk right now.

"Are you two aspiring students here too?" he asks as he walks closer to us.

Blair nods, "Yea, we decided to do a bit of sightseeing now that the school is still open for visitors."

The cute guy smiles, "You chose the perfect day to do so then, they don't give open access to the roof every day."

"Really? How do you know?" Blair inquires

"My brother goes to this school, he told me today would be the best day to come check this out myself because I would have access to the roof."

I have been quiet this entire time, I should ask him something before he leaves, before it's too late.

"So do you play guitar?" I ask with a dumb smile on my face. Of course he plays guitar, he has a guitar case strapped on his back.

He nods and smiles, "It would be pretty weird to carry one around and not being able to play on it, wouldn't it?"

"It could've been your brother's." I reply, in an attempt to make my previous question appear less dumb.

"My brother paints, but you could have been right.. ehm, what are your names actually?"

"I paint too! And I'm Blair, nice to meet you." She says and makes a cute bow.

"Nice to meet you Blair! And you?" he looks me straight in the eye and as our visions lock I get a rush of emotions and for the first time in my life I think I'm experiencing feelings of love.

"I.. I'm, I'm Jaden." I stutter

He reaches out his hand, "Nice to meet you Jaden, the name's Jesse!"

I outstretch my own hand and for a few seconds we stand there holding each other's hand and staring into each other's eyes. Now I just háve to get into Dual Academy, knowing he will be here too. Our special moment of banal acquaintance gets cut short when Jesse gets a phone call from his brother saying they have to go back home.

"We should be going back home too, Jay." Blair says when Jesse hangs up his phone.

"Yea, it's getting quite late. Well, it was a pleasure meeting you Jesse!" I look him in the eyes and make a small nod and smile in attempt to flirt with him.

He smiles, "I will definitely see you again next year, Jaden. You too Blair, take care. Bye!"

He makes an adorable motion with his hand which seems to be Jesse's personal way to waving goodbye. And just like that he walks down the stairs and all I can think of is if I will actually see him again in the future.

Me and Blair head back home, get on the bus at 9:36 pm and arrive at the bus station at 10:12 pm.

"It would be a shame if you never got to see that cute guy again, no?" Blair says.

"I know right! He was just so gorgeous!" I reply, still in a state of sheer mesmerization.

"I do hope you realise how much work you'll have though, you heard that Crowler guy, it won't be easy."

"I know Blair, but I'm not going to call off the Celebration, nor my weekly practice with Luana. I can't afford to drop my classmates like that just a few days before the big day."

"Jaden, I don't like to repeat myself but you are putting way too much effort into this celebration and I fear you're neglecting the entrance exams!"

"Well, for once in my life I'm being accepted and being useful for my classmates so I don't want to let them down the one night they need me most Blair! You know how I feel about this."

"I never said you have to let them down Jaden but all of your time is going into people who don't even respect you or care about you!"

"And how would you know if they respect me or not? I'm pretty sure they have all come to their senses and finally realise what a great guy I am!"

"Jaden they're using you! They are plainly abusing your talent for their own selfish goals and after the Celebration everything will go back to how it all was last semester!"

"Can't you just be supportive?! Can't you just be happy for me that I'm finally able to live through high school and that for once in my life I feel like I'm a part of something bigger, of something important?"

"Jaden, I would be happy for you but I know these people will let you down once the Celebration is over so just don't get your hopes up and don't forget to practice daily for DA!"

"Drop the exams for a few minutes Blair! And you seem to think you know my classmates better than me." I'm starting to get confused by Blair's omniscience.

"I don't think so Jaden, I do..." she says in a very sad tone

"Would you be so kind as to inform me on how you do so?"

"Well, don't hate me Jaden, but, I'm dating Syrus Truesdale and.."

"WHAT?! Are you serious? How can you do…"

Blair interrupts me, "Let me finish Jaden! I have been dating Sy for a few months now and he tells me stuff about you and his other classmates because I haven't told him you and I are close friends."

"YOU are Syrus's girlfriend?! And you just now decided to tell me? Just to make me realise how everyone still hates me? And how everyone uses me? Wow, what a great friend you are Blair.."

"You're getting me wrong Jaden! I'm not doing this to hurt you! At all!"

"Well that plan failed miserably then."

I have to fight hard to hold back my tears, I feel betrayed. Can't I trust anyone?

"Jaden.. I'm doing this to help you! I want you to realise what your real priorities are and who your real friends are!" she grabs my hands.

"Well, no matter what you say, I can't just quit now. That'll make everything even worse."

"I didn't say you have to quit Jaden but, once again, don't forget the time and dedication DA requires. Only practicing for a month won't portray you as one of the best Jaden.."

She never seems to drop the subject of DA and their entrance exams, I'm partly starting to lose all interest in it just because of Blair and her constant pressure. Right now I'm more focused on the knife in my back than on the lacklustre amount of time I have put into my solo performance. I loosen my hands from hers and turn my back to her.

"I can't believe you are Syrus' girlfriend. I can nót believe the only friend I have is dating the one person who backstabbed me after I had put all of my trust in him. And the worst part is that you knew all of this. You've known how everyone talks about me behind my back and instead of telling me immediately you decided to wait until now.. I guess you and Syrus are a fitting couple. Now you can talk about how you both let me down and how everyone else is going to do the exact same thing once they've benefitted from me. Thanks, Blair, thanks a lot. Goodnight."

"No, Jaden, I.." I can hear Blair is fighting back tears as well.

I walk away from her.

I can't believe she has been keeping this silent for so long.

Just when I thought I had found my salvation and this new year might had actually meant a new me I was crushed, yet again. Trusting someone is something I will not take lightly starting from today. I guess all I can do now is keep on training for the Celebration, enjoying the time I have with my classmates now. And if the end of the Celebration means the end of my friendship with my classmates then so be it. I will enjoy the time I have with them now, and maybe Syrus lied to Blair about what others said about me. So unless they tell me they don't care about me themselves, I won't let them down nor believe what Blair told me!

Once again I walk a road of perseverence through high school and for some reason I don't mind all that much. Instead of putting the abundant negativity on the foreground I am going to enjoy the sheer positive vibes in my life for once. Right now the sun is going down leaving nothing but darkness but I'm convinced that when I reach the end of the road the horizon will be enveiled in a well-deserved prodigious light.