Chapter 8: The Breakdown

I reached for the rope beside the one I was climbing on and held onto it tightly. Soon my legs followed. With my free hand I wrapped the rope around my right ankle and then let go. Falling backwards I hung upside down and only one leg kept me from a surely unpleasent landing. Once more my hand found the first rope again while my foot slipped out of the rope´s hold. Now each hand held onto one rope. I pulled myself up a bit and leaned forward to swing my legs over from behind. Surprisingly my shoulders and upper arms didn´t hurt from that. At last I got hold onto the first rope only and let myself slip the way down.

A sigh left me as my feet felt solide ground again. Turning around to face my class I smiled brightly. It had been real fun but Ms. Klump looked like she had just seen a ghost. Some girls clapped while the rest just stared. Slowly the situation became more and more uncomfortable until our teacher finally broke the silence.

She cleared her throat before saying: "I didn´t tell you to play with the ropes like a child, Rachel! What got into you that you tried such dangerous things!"

My smile ceased. I had at least hoped for someone to tell me that it had looked good though. I turned my look towards the floor. Some things would never change. "Once more you had to show everyone that you carry neither responsibility nor the will to follow instructions in you. Maybe I should inform the principal about your behaviour...", she only muttered the last part. My eyes lit up at that. But surely not from happiness. I didn´t want to visit Carl again and let him insult me for my style! I just wouldn´t let him!

I caught Marianne looking at me with pity. I tried to smile but failed. "Girls, you comtinue your exercise and Rachel you´ll spend the remaining lesson on the bench. Nodding my head I walked over to the bench. In the corner of my eye I saw Marianne following me. We both sat down and she wrapped an arm around my shoulders comfortingly. "I think you were amazing. But where were you able to practice climbing?", she asked. I of course noticed that she was trying to cheer me up. At least one noticed what I needed then. I shrugged helplessly and replied: "I don´t know. It was so... I can´t even describe it. It was like something snapped inside me and then I felt able to try it. I haven´t felt anything like that before."

Marianne put her worried expression on her face. "Do you think the latest events here at school are connected somehow?", she questioned. I laughed. "Dream on! That would be too good to be true. Anyways I´m very excited. You know what our next lesson is?" She now smiled. On her schedule Music is after Sports and that was my favourite subject!

"So I´m finally getting to hear what you, Nataly and Sue have been practicing all the weeks!"

"Marianne, come here! It´s your turn now!", Ms. Klump shouted in our direction. My best friend jumped to her feet, waved a small goodbye and raced over to the ropes. What Marianna had said was true. Our Music teacher, Mrs. Reinhard, really seemed to like me because of my voice and gave me the permission to choose two songs I was going to sing alone, only with my two background singers. At first I had wanted to choose Blasphemous Rumours by Angelzoom. That would have been really fitting. But then I just chose Just Call My Name (I´ll Be There) and Street of Dreams, both by Blackmore´s Night. These songs are faster ones and one of my ultimate favorites.

I sighed once more as I heard the school bell ring and Ms. Klump dismissed us. Maybe she would just forget about the climbing thing, at least I hoped so. As I walked into the dressing room Nataly came over to me. "I´m so excited!", she exclaimed and jumped up and down. She was quite the child sometimes but she was okay. "Can this week get any better? At first we got those invitations and now we´re going to sing these beautiful songs!... Oh, by the way: your rope-show was so impressing. You should have seen the Klump´s face!" After that she jumped to her locker and I went to mine. I got dressed in hurry because some things still needed to be prepared.

Then I went back into the gym where we would sing. Some other girls helped us preparing the stage and fixing the microphones. Sue and Nataly found their places behind one in the back of the stage while I got my own on the front. Chairs and benches were carried inside and I was beginning to wonder who was going to come.

After almost one hour everything was settled and two classes (including mine) entered the gym. My jaw dropped as I saw who also took their seats in the front row. Not only Mrs. Reinhard and Ms. Klump but also Mr Vankovic and the principal. That is so typical of them! They have to be everywhere to make my life miserable!, I thought.

While silence spread around the publicum I could here ragged breaths from behind. As I turned around I saw Nataly through a curtain. She was sitting on a chair and Sue had placed a hand on her shoulder. I joined them behind the stage but only to find her pale as death. I took one of her hands in mine and ordered Sue to bring some water. Nataly´s skin felt cold, almost frozen. "I´ll tell them to rearrange this on another day", I told her. It wasn´t worth it to see her fainting. "No!", she protested and got up from the chair. Sue returned with the water and handed it ver to our friend, who drank the whole water out of the glass. Within seconds color returned to her face and her hand went up to her hair. "This is your chance, Rachel. I won´t ruin your day!"

With that Nataly walked back onto the stage, followed by Sue and then also me. Now I was even more nervous than I had already been. The loud cheering ceased and the music began. The first song was Just Call My Name. Right after the first few notes it was my turn to join the song. It was an incredible feeling and just as good went the second song. The atmosphere was so good, everyone cheered and clapped. But a quiet thud caught my attention: Nataly was lying on the stage, the cool sweat on her forehead once more.

Quick note: I won´t post any lyrics in my stories but if you still want some sent to you, let me know (the same is for Witch Hunt). Now please R&R )