Chapter 4

Ring! Ring! Ring!

Zaili instantly stood up from her seat. She ignored the confused faces of the other kids and yelled, "Yes!"

"Zaili, if you're finished with your kind interruption of the chemistry lab, then you can sit back down," her teacher said standing with ruler in hand. He had a stern face, but Zaili noticed the twinkle in his eye.

"Sorry, sir. It's just the last day of school!" She smiled and grabbed her bag with her school books. "And the bell just told us that it's time to go!" She ran up to her teacher, gave him a hug, and flounced out.

A cheer erupted in lab 8B. So did a flame which came from the Jaltleder Acid. A piercing scream echoed across the hallway. All of a sudden, the doors of all the classes opened loudly. She ran to keep ahead of the growing crowd.

Mingled words came from everywhere. "School's out!" "Last day!" "Summer!" "No uniforms!" She heard an occasional scream and heart breaking sobs from dear friends who wouldn't see each other for three months.

While running, her long, tangled black hair flew out of her face. As soon as she practically flew out the school, she stooped over, hands on knees, and tried to catch her breath. Finally!, she thought. It's happened.

She stood up again and waved her hands to catch the attention of the stampede of parents coming to get their children. Several children instantly saw their folks and talked all the way home.

"C'mon, c'mon," she whispered to herself. Li had to come. He had to.

Just then, a hand waved. A hand that was really a stump.

"Li!" Zaili yelled above the crowd.

She noticed him because. Li, her older brother, used to work in a factory. He got in an accident and lost his right arm. Though he still complained about how he thought he still had his right hand, he was otherwise a-okay.

"Zay!" He yelled as soon as he caught sight of her. She ran into his chest with such force he took in a short, deep breath.

"Sorry," Zaili said as she brushed her hair from her face. "Didn't mean to-"

"S'okay." He gave her a questioning stare. "Are you sure you're Zay? Last I remembered, she was a full head shorter than me. Now we're almost eye to eye."

Zaili playfully punched him. "It is me silly. And I'm so happy you're here!" She gave him another hug.

"Why wouldn't I be here to see my little sister?" He whispered to her.

She broke free of the hug and clung to his only hand and they walked to the car. They had just entered it when a girl came running towards Zaili. None other than Myah, otherwise known as the school freak.

At first glance, she wouldn't seem like a freak. She had shoulder-legnth wavy black hair, freckles, glasses, and a school uniform just like everyone else. But then she opened her mouth…

"My dearest Zaili! I truly ask you to stop on account of the most unpleasant information I need to state to you."

Li looked at Zaili questionably. "Friend?"

"Um," Zaili didn't want to hurt her feelings, so she nodded. "Eh, sort of." She wore a fake smile.

Li noticed. "So, I guess it wouldn't matter if I started the car and you could talk with your friend." He emphasized on the word "friend". He nodded to Myah and Zaili and entered the car closing the door.

Myah wore a confused look. "What made you voice such a fib as that. I know for a fact that-"

"Listen." Zaili looked at the girl in front of her. "Let's just get this over with and tell me what you want to tell me."

"Absolutely!" Myah nodded her head. "What I have been needing to tell you ever since the time that you won the speech competition is that the Headmaster desired you spend three weeks at the Zoluz's Academy of Maturing Artists.

Zaili sifted the fancy talk and all she really heard was "three weeks" and "Zoluz's Academy of Maturing Artists. "The Headmaster wants me to got to ZAMA? I can't believe this! Wow. That's so, wow."

She turned around and started pacing the ground at a fast speed. "I'd have to pack, but , what if Ma wants me to stay home longer? What if she doesn't want me to go at all? Hmm, I'll have to convince her somehow."

Myah cleared her throat loudly. Once because she needed to, the second to get the other girl's attention.

Zaili turned around midpace.

"Are you not going to express your gratitude to the person who exchanged this information with you?" She looked a bit hurt.

"Oh," Zaili said. "Sorry. And thanks."

"I accept your thankfulness." Myah turned and started to walk away.

But before she entered the car to a waiting Li, she turned around and called to Myah, "What did you mean when you said "unpleasant information"?

Myah turned around. She looked frantically to the left and right of her and ran back to Zaili. She stood a few inches from her when she spoke.

"Trust me when I say that nothing is ever as it seems., even in a seemingly predictable utopia."

"I still don't understand."

Myah, staring her straight in the eyes, replied. "You will."

Zaili stared after her and turned towards the car. She opened the door to where Li's one hand was on the wheel. They started to move.

"So what did you and your "friend" talk about?"

"I get to go to ZADA. Headmaster recommended it." The excitement in her voice was barely noticeable, if not even there.

"Well, that's great! I'll be the one to tell Ma. I'll make her let you go."

Zaili nodded, Myah's voice still echoing in her head. Nothing is ever as it seems. What did that mean?