Chapter 5 Sing From the Heart

Well, Celia was screwed. She had realized that even when she had told her parents that she would talk to Iggy. If there was one thing she knew about the lanky, green haired Koopaling, it's that he always thought he was in the right. It takes a LOT of prodding to get someone like Iggy to change his mind and change his course of action. Seriously. Iggy could be feeling like sending a nuclear bomb onto a town is a good idea, and he wouldn't believe otherwise unless someone physically restrained him.

Celia turned over on her side, for all of these thoughts were preventing her from sleeping. She couldn't go to a regular high school. She couldn't! She didn't belong there, would never be accepted there. Considering that even the teachers hated her while she was in grade school...yeah. She couldn't go there.

Unfortunately, she didn't have much of a choice in the matter, now did she?

Celia groaned and turned back over on her back. She felt like bashing herself into the wall again. At least if she did that, it would distract her from her problems, at least momentarily. Heck, if she got brain damage, she probably wouldn't have to think about any of this stuff anymore.

She didn't want brain damage. She was joking, of course. She wouldn't do that to herself, or any of the people she loved.

Just as she was thinking this, her door opened a tiny crack. She lifted her head and saw Singe in the doorway.

"Ah, good, you're awake." He closed the door and sat down on the side of the bed. "I'm just checking in; how are you doing?"

Celia sighed. "Alright, I guess."

Singe nodded. "Well, that's good." He leaned in a little closer. "I know you don't want to go to a regular high school. But it really could be fun! It could allow you to make friends who you never thought that you would make!" Singe's eyes glittered so strongly that, in this darkness, they almost appeared to glow.

Celia sighed. "Somehow, I highly doubt that." She turned over. "Considering that I'll essentially be stuck in a special needs class…"

"What's wrong with that?" Singe asked. "People don't usually bully those in the special needs class. Trust me Celia; it takes a special kind of jerk to do that to a kid who is struggling."

Celia pursed her lips in frustration. "I still don't want to go."

Singe sighed. "I know." He stroked her shoulder. "But if you think about it, it could be good for you. Going to high school is a normal, healthy experience that most if not all teens have. Heck, I myself went to high school. It's a life changing experience."

Celia stayed silent, mostly because she didn't trust herself to talk. There was a moment of silence before Singe sighed.

"It's just something to think about," he said. He got up and started making his way back to the door. However, right as he was about to leave did Celia realize that she had a question for him.

"Dad?"

"Yeah?"

"What's your dream?" While she had wanted to avoid the topic of dreams as much as possible today, she figured that it wouldn't hurt to talk to her father about it.

"My dream?" Singe smiled and stepped away from the door. "I want to be a singer."

Celia blinked. "A singer?"

Singe laughed. "Don't sound so surprised; I'm actually really good. Some people say that I have a very beautiful baritone voice."

Celia smirked. "Who? Who tells you that?"

Singe snickered before singing a few chords of a song Celia had never heard before. When he finished, he turned back to her with a smirk. "I don't know; you tell me?"

Celia laughed. "Okay. Yes, you do sound really good. I would buy an album with you singing it."

"Thanks," said Singe. "Really, the best types of songs are the ones where the singer pours their heart and soul into the music. It's the type where the creator puts their all into the project. That's why I would want to do if I ever became a singer. I wouldn't want to feel like each of my projects is being soullessly churned out."

Celia nodded. "That makes sense. We need good singers in this world."

"That we do."

There was a moment of silence as Celia's heart sank. "I'm guessing I'm the reason why you never pursued the dream."

Singe hesitated. "I suppose." When Celia let out a weary sigh, he shook his head. "But that isn't a bad thing; it's a beautiful thing. You're a gift Celia; both your mother and I agree on that. We wouldn't trade you for every last coin in the world." He got off the bed and leaned down so that he was level with her face. "And we take great pleasure in raising you. If I could become a singer tomorrow, I would actively say no."

Celia looked deep into Singe's fiery red eyes, the ones she had inherited from him. "Th...thank you."

"You're welcome." Singe smiled. "Your mother and I see great things in you. We gave up our dreams so that you could pursue yours."

Celia seized up. "My...my dream?" When Singe nodded, she turned away from him. "Th..thanks," she said quietly.

"Of course." Singe stood back up. "Well, I need to go to bed myself. Remember to talk to iggy tomorrow, okay?"

Celia sighed. "Okay."

With that, Singe left the room. This left the Koopa human hybrid with a very poignant pit in her stomach. Really, if her mother and father gave up their dreams in order for her to pursue hers...well, they were wasting their time and their lives. This realization actually caused celia to shed a tear. She didn't want to be a disappointment. She was brought into this world for a reason, and she did not want to let her life go to waste.

The only problem? That seemed like an inevitability at this point.