Ok listen my lovely friends…I know this story isn't the best in the world. I know it's often hard to follow and can be a bit…weird. But then again so am I XD If you're still reading this I love you for it :D But I live by a rule:
You stick by what you love
You stand by who you love
You don't give up on either.
So this is me not giving up. Yes it's slow…the chapters are short. The idea a little insane (which we've clearly established is due to my mental health XD) But I love it…and I love the person I'm writing this for. So I still dedicate this to LeShea. And I continue to write it for her.
I decided to shake things up a bit. Yes I know, rebel XD So this is only in Galinda's POV. And it strays away from the email a bit. We see Galinda's life. Fun XD And of course I wanted to give you lot a chapter for New Years. It's only fair right? :D
Enjoy Chapter 5 of Dear Life. I didn't mind this chapter.
XX
Chapter 5
It was early, or late, no early, early I'm almost certain of it. I don't know it's hard to tell when everything's pitch black.
Galinda Upland rolled onto her stomach and looked at the little red numbers that were flashing on her bedside table. The red of the numbers creating a soft red tinge to the edge of the darkness just around the clock. It read '2:30am' and Galinda sighed at the familiarity of this event.
For weeks now she had been waking up almost exactly at two thirty am every day. Her reasons were unclear and her frustration all too evident. Why was she always awake at this time. She was certain, at first, that it had something to do with her fever she had contracted a couple of weeks back but now she realized that this wasn't the case. Clear of the fever Galinda had no medical faults to blame her sudden insomnia on. It was a clear puzzle. And to top off this natural disaster, Galinda knew she wouldn't sleep now till later this morning, at around six where she'd suddenly fall into a fitful sleep until her mother roused her for school.
Galinda hated this insomnia, not because of her inability to function during the day, but because she had hours to just think. And her thoughts often came right back to…
'Her.'
Galinda sighed. This just wasn't fair. Of all the people in Oz. Of all the popular, gorgeous, cute, sensitive, muscular, handsome, compassionate men in Oz who cried for her attention, of all this, Galinda had to have a crush on…
'Her.'
Her stomach flipped in protest at her acceptance as it did every night after she finally concluded one night that the constant thoughts of this girl was due to a crush. But she'd never say the girls name. If she admitted that much she knew she'd be in trouble. It's what she feared the most.
The light from her desktop computer was low, the brightness a constant distraction at this time of the morning because she knew what was there. Waiting. That awful green writing. That horrid girl with her inability to feel. That selfish, cruel girl who hated her from the start. That mean girl who showed Galinda she really could care for her.
Galinda sighed and rolled over onto her back, looking up at the dark ceiling above her. Damn it! Why did it have to be her?
The girl she was crushing on.
XX
'Galinda, sweetheart. Wake up.' A light shaking was met with a small inaudible groan from the tousled blonde haired girl who was fighting off the arms of her mother. 'Come on sleepy head. Time for school.' Another groan rose from the quilt that was covering the lump that was Galinda Upland. She was fighting the drowsiness from the late night once again and the sudden fluctuation of thoughts of the dreaded crush.
'Ok Momsie. Ok, I'm getting up.' A small chuckle and the soft shutting of the door alerted Galinda to the fact she was now alone and signaled the start of her morning ritual.
A shower, a change of clothes, a light breakfast more to appease her parents than her stomach and then the brushing of teeth before she walked off to school. All of this done so frequently that Galinda did it all with no focus. Her mind clouded with sleep. Only when she'd arrived at school did her sleepy posture and tired eyes become replaced with the face of fashion and popularity. To the individual, Galinda Upland had never changed. She was still the beautiful, popular leader of the school world and only she knew the plague with which she lived.
XX
'Miss Galinda.'
'Miss Galinda!'
MISS GALINDA WILL YOU PAY ATTENTION!' Her professor, a man of about forty, balding already with the grey hairs of stress around his forehead was staring at her with a tight frown on his face. His mouth twitched, a sign to his students that he was on the verge of boiling point and his stern posture was yet to relax, though he was hardly relaxed anyway.
'I'm sorry Mr. Froll I was…'
'Not paying attention. Yes I know.' Galinda sighed. She knew better than to argue with Mr. Froll. He was stubborn and refused to listen to reason when believed he was in the right.
'Yes Sir. I'll do better next time sir.'
'This is the fifth time this week. I can't take your word anymore. Report to the Student Council. We will discuss your actions later.' With obedience that had been drilled into her, Galinda stood without word. Her head bowed in reverence to her professor and walked out the door to meet her fate.
The Student Council, though it's name suggests a council run by the student body, was in fact run by a selection of higher up men, who ran the school from behind their desks. These men had once been professors, now too old to teach. All in the school feared the Student Council as they were only known for their punishments that were above the principal. This fear was circling Galinda's system. The fear that she was going to be expelled, removed like a common school bully that had disgusted the student body and the Student Council. She didn't deserve this. This was unfair.
Galinda arrived at the heavy black door that was withholding her fate. The black door was signed with a gold plate with 'Student Council' sketched into it's shiny surface. Galinda knocked and waited. This was it.
'ENTER.' Boomed a loud voice and with fear she pushed the door open and stepped inside.
XX
'Galinda Upland. Do you know why you are here?' There was three men sitting behind a round desk. They all had a scowl on their face that looked so natural that Galinda was sure they had been scowling since birth.
'Yes sir.'
'Well, what is it?'
'I have been sleeping in class sir.'
'Do you think this is acceptable behavior?'
'No sir.'
'And that we need to fix this?'
'Yes sir.'
'So do we. Galinda, have a seat my child' The man on the far left suddenly smiled at the startled girl and Galinda, wide eyed, forgot to smile back.
'Galinda we think there might be a problem at home. We want to help you.' the man on the far right spoke up. His voice gentle and calming.
'Is there anything you would like to talk about?' The man in the middle asked, his scowl still firmly set though his voice wasn't harsh or mean.
'No sir.' Galinda found her voice but still stood. This wasn't what she was expecting. 'I'm just not sleeping well.'
'Why?'
'Personal reasons sir.' Galinda blushed, she wasn't sure she should be talking about this with strangers, let alone the Student Council…let alone men.
'It's ok my child. Just tell us.' The man on the far left spoke up again.
'I…I kinda have a…a crush.' All three men seemed startled. This wasn't what they were expecting.
'A crush?' Asked the middle man, a scowl moving into confusion before quickly coming back to a scowl.
'Yes Sir.'
'Oh my. Is it someone…here?' Asked the man on the far left, a slight blush on his own cheeks.
'No.' This seemed to calm all men considerably.
'Maybe we should allow someone else to help you with this. I don't think three men can help a young woman like yourself with this.' The man on the far right seemed to laugh internally and Galinda smiled at him in relief.
'Thank you sir.'
'Have you heard of Mrs. Jones?'
'No.'
'She is the school counselor. She will be contacted and will then contact you when she's available to book you in.' The man in the middle spoke up. He seemed to be the formal one.
'She's really nice.' The man on the right said.
'I think you might get along quite well.' Smiled the man on the left.
'I hope so Sir.' Smiled Galinda.
'Well then, if that's all. Thank you Miss. Upland. You may leave.' .
'Thank you sir.'
'Goodbye Miss. Upland.' Said all three men together. And Galinda found herself smirking as she left the room.
XX
'Dear Elphie,
It was such a weird day today. I admit I've been having trouble sleeping, but I'm alright.
I know I haven't really been speaking to you much lately. I've been busy. Life's just making me move faster and I've had less and less time to myself. Which means less time to talk to you. It's been rough but things are slowly starting to slow down now. Thank goodness!
I met the Student Council today. They are three old men who run the school. They were said to be really scary but I liked them. I even nicknamed them. There was this one guy who was in the middle, he was always scowling. So I called him Huffy. He wasn't mean, he just never smiled. The one on the right was always speaking softly and then never really spoke at all. I called him Hush. Then the one on the left was smiling and gentle so I called him Happy. It's kinda funny now that I think back on it. I liked those guys. But I don't want to ruin their reputation as scary men so just keep it between you and I ok? :P
Listen Elphie, I'm really sorry I've been so…hard to reach lately. I realize I've only just gotten to know you and then I disappear. It's harder for you to trust me now. But I'm not going anywhere. I'm still here.
I'm so sorry.
All my love
Galinda.
Xoxo'
XX
Ah…tell me that wasn't fantastic! XD Such a brilliant piece of writing right? :P Ok no, don't tell me that. I'm only kidding. I'm not that big headed. (And if you just rolled your eyes at me…I poke my tongue out in retaliation) :P
Stay safe my lovely friends
All the best
And Happy New Year. Catch you in 2010 :P
Grumbello