Chapter 9- The Unknown Promise


Kellyn

Maybe I was too hard on the guy. His face was full of terror. I've been told that I'm pretty scary when I'm mad. Even a month later, I still feel bad. I apologized, but he just glared at me. Poor Ponte.

The project was finished and I couldn't have been more proud. Today was the day of the Almia History and Culture Fair. "Kellyn, move the tri-fold a little to the left", asked Rhythmi. I moved the information heavy poster like she asked. "Watch out for the model", called Kate. Rhythmi and Kate were practically holding each other in fear while I was moving our project.

Keith was sitting on the chair next to our station sleeping. He even snored a little. How can he sleep? Kate, Rhythmi, and I are here freaking out while he naps through it. First place is the only acceptable award. I came here to win. Actually, because I had to.

"The judges should be coming soon, so look presentable", announced Rhythmi. The judges were Janice, Mr. Kincaid, and Ms Claire. They had blue ribbons on their shirts that said 'Judge'. They were currently looking at Ricky, Lanie, Molly, and Parker's project.

Kate walked towards Keith's sleeping form. She got close, real close. So close that the tip of her nose was barely touching his. She turned and gave us a sly smile. "KEITH! WAKE UP", she shouted. He let out a short scream and bumped his head into hers. They both recoiled in pain.

"Hey, what was that for", Keith grumbled while rubbing his forehead. She stood there with a red mark and a fire in her eyes. She grabbed him by the shirt and shouted, "No, you did it. I have no faults here". Once again, they were close. Rhythmi and I glanced at each other with shock. Those two have so much tension between each other.

After such an intense moment between them, the judges arrived. Mr. Kincaid coughed and they jumped apart. "Pardon us, may we look at your project", kindly asked Janice. Mr. Kincaid seemed to be paying no attention to the project. His eyes were burning holes in my head. He finally continued with his judge tasks.

"Kellyn, are you really related to the royal family from Almia castle", asked Ms Claire. Mr. Kincaid snapped his head towards me. He placed his hands on my shoulder and smiled widely, "Are you really? Do you know of the Tears of Princes? Do you have one", he pried. Keith pulled me away.

"Ya I am, but I don't know what you are talking about", I answered. Mr. Kincaid went from crazy to normal in two seconds. He fixed his tied and walked away. It seemed like hours as the judges looked at our project. I watched the twitches and slight glances of their eyes. Please let it be an amazing score, please.

"'Kay, the results will be posted in thirty minutes", said Ms. Claire. The judges walked away except for Mr. Kincaid. He looked at me for a few seconds and then followed the rest.

"What was Mr. Kincaid's problem", called Ricky from afar. He and his group walked towards ours.

"How could I know", I responded. Mr. Kincaid is a strange guy. He always smells like the chemicals in his hairspray. He never looks different. It's almost like he is a fake person. Plus, he has a terrible personality.

Before Ricky could continue, Lanie exclaimed, "Are you guys ready for the dance"? Dance? This is new to me. Molly, who looked completely exasperated, rolled her eyes. "Lanie, the dances isn't until the near end of the school year", Molly said.

Lanie flipped her back length hair into Molly. Lanie's red hair seemed to whip Molly's eyes because she immediately covered her eyes in pain. Lanie clinged to Ricky's muscular arm and giggled, "I know that Moody Molly, but the dance is the only important thing in this school".

Molly closed her eyes and clenched her fists. "What about the outdoor class and the fieldtrip to a facility", Molly grumbled. Lanie seemed more interested in her nails.

"Those things are important for people who won't be able to be successful in life. Most of the students in this school will have no problem being transferred into a job, but people like you, people with no natural skill, they need a taste of their dream before it crumbles away", Lanie finished.

What a dagger. Lanie's voice reminded me of an oboe, squeaky and coarse. Molly stood there like stone. Lanie smiled and I think she decided to go for the kill. She turned to Ricky and asked, "Am I right? Molly has no chance in this world. At least, maybe if she had talent".

Ricky started to fidget. He didn't want to answer that. Molly still looked rock hard. No emotion was on her face. "Um, I don't want to answer that", he responded.

"Is that because you want to spare her feelings? It's because you know the truth is hurtful. Don't spare feelings for scum like that", Lanie said. Ricky tried to escape her grasp, but Lanie was stronger.

"Say it Ricky", Lanie begged. "Tell the truth for me", she added.

He gulped and continued, "I guess I agree. Molly isn't the best Mechanic from the bunch".

I can't believe he said it. We all had our jaws dropped except Molly. She stood there with her head down. Lanie's smile was like a shark.

"Excuse me, I'm going to go now", whispered Molly. She quickly walked away to the front door. Rhythmi had a scary aura around her. After a moment of complete silence Rhythmi barked out, "Lanie, I think you need to leave. What you did what uncalled for. Do you know how many hours she has studied and practiced for way too many hours just to be recognized as someone for once? You have no right to torture her", shouted Rhythmi.

She was steaming. Lanie just laughed and turned to other way. The girls were glaring at Ricky. "You idiot", said Kate. Kate, surprisingly, was the more calm of the two. "I need to say sorry", whispered Ricky. He started to walk away when Keith grabbed him.

"She needs some space. What you did to her was too cruel. Your opinion matters", said Keith. Ricky's eyes softened and he looked at his feet.

"You need to make things right in time. Stay away from Lanie from now on, okay", I added. Ricky groaned and rubbed his face. Why is he groaning? You would have to be crazy to associate yourself with her.

"I like being with her", he mumbled.

"ARE YOU CRAZY", we all yelled. He winced.

A bunch of people started to crowd us. It was like river rapids. We heard cheers and sighs. Wait, it was the results chart. I pushed through to the front of the line. I didn't care who I ran over in the process.

Ok, first place is… Isaac, Ponte, Emma, and Dan. Oh, we didn't win. It's ok, no one wins all the time. What did we win, um… third place. Not bad. It's ok.

"What did we get", called Keith. The others followed him.

"We, um, we got third place", I said. I felt a lump in my throat. I really wanted us to win. I thought we would.

"Aw, don't cry", Rhythmi mocked. I tried to convince them that I was okay, but they didn't believe me.

"Kellyn, don't be such a baby. You can't win them all", Keith laughed.

They were laughing at my sadness. I sure seem like the laughing stock of the group. I always seem to do something that makes them laugh. I like to watch them laugh. It reminds me that there are good things in this world. Lately, more criminals have been showing up. More people are getting hurt. I want to protect this world. I know I'm not strong enough to help them now, but I will be.

Their laughs are so different. Keith's is loud and obnoxious. It is more like guffawing. His whole body is using in this laugh. Kate's laugher is just as uncontrolled as Keith's. Her laugh is soft and quiet. Every so often a snort would come out. Rhythmi's laugh is calm compared to Keith's. Her laugh is a contagious one. She sometimes has tears at the ends of her eyes.

I want to protect those laughs.

I don't ever want to see tears come out of those eyes. I will do anything to protect them from the darkness in this world. I will take all their pain if I have to.

I promise...


Hey,

Next chapter will be the Outdoor Class, yay. I need to do some research on what happens there because I don't remember what goes on.

Don't forget to review. Get ready for next chapter because I have some good moments planned.

, Peace