Sixth Grade Beginnings

by SakiKitty

The transition of a preteen can be a difficult one. Things you once liked, now bore you. People you once hated, suddenly interest you. The body you were once comfortable with, now causes you to struggle with feelings you never knew existed. After their grueling adventure in the jungles of San Lorenzo, the students of P.S118 thought their biggest battle was now over... but was it?

48. Chapter 48

(A/N: Time for my usual obligatory apology for the length of time between chapters! This time, I simply got caught up playing a new game that came out, and then fractured my tailbone since my socks didn't play nice with my stairs! Weeeeee love it! Moving along though, get ready for the feels trip! Enjoy!)

The room before her was musty and stale, as the radiator kicked on, emitting a damp sort of heat into the apartment. Lila slowly inhaled through her nose, the scent of what was familiar to her, then exhaled, closing her eyes, and letting her emotions stabilize. Inside, she felt disgusted. Who was she to boast about love and acceptance, when she, herself, couldn't own up to it?

Walking through the living room and into her bedroom, Lila hung up her backpack and looked around. Everything felt normal, and as it should be. Her father was still at work and would be home rather soon. Should she begin dinner, or start on her homework? She didn't feel particularly hungry, however, she always enjoyed how happy her father would get whenever he would come home to a homecooked meal. Homework could wait.

Their kitchen wasn't the finest, but the appliances worked, and the dishes were clean. Lila opened up the pantry, to take a look over their dry goods, then looked into the refrigerator to see what she could work with. Her father, while definitely not a chef, wasn't a particularly good cook and she wanted to make him proud by emanating the radiance her mother once showed in the kitchen. She could close her eyes, and remember her mother's silhouette, her smell, and the warm meals she would lay on the dinner table; her face was painted with the warmest smile. This was who she needed to be.

Lila hummed softly, as she deliberated what ingredients she had, and what she could make. She needed to use the produce in the fridge before it went bad, and decided to make a pasta sauce. Gingerly, she gathered them all up in her arms, set them on the kitchen counter, found a decent knife, and began to chop everything up finely, humming a tune as she went. Next, she grabbed the dry pasta from the pantry and set it aside to boil whenever the sauce was ready. Lila couldn't help but smile, thinking of her father walking into their home, smelling the sauce, and surely a happy smile would grow on his face. Her body welled up with excitement, causing her to spin around gleefully.

"What should I do…" She pondered aloud to herself, looking around the house. She knew that the sauce would take at least an hour to simmer, but didn't want to become so engrossed in homework that she forgot about it. The house wasn't particularly messy, so even if she picked up what little there was, it wouldn't make the time pass, either. "What… to do…" She wondered again, sitting down at the kitchen table.

Her house was quiet, empty, and hollow, save for the ticking of the hot steam heaters. Everything felt… lifeless. This wasn't a feeling she was fond of. She looked down at the wooden table, and silently wished they owned a tablecloth and even some fancy napkins. They used to, back when she was small, but the warm past felt like it had all been a dream. Just where did everything go? She wondered, looking around the room. Just where does the time go, after it passes? This was a question she had on her mind often, whenever it was silent, and she hated it, ever so much. The memories of her conversation with Eugene, flooded back in her mind, causing her face to contort into something painful looking. Just… why does it have to be this way? Her heart ached, as everything felt so conflicting. Everyone saw her as someone charming, helpful, and perfect but what did they know? If they looked at her life, what would they see? It was different back when she first moved to Hillwood. She was the new girl, and no one knew anything about her. The boys were kind, but the girls were cruel. When they saw the harm in what they did, they sympathized with her but what did they know? What do they know now? Still, nothing.

Beep, beep, beep! The small alarm went off on the kitchen counter, causing Lila to awaken from her dazed state. Just how long had she been sitting and thinking? Quickly, she rose from her seat and began to stir the tomato sauce in front of her. It smelt delightful! With a smile, she grabbed some dried herbs and threw them in. The box of spaghetti noodles that lay next to her, reminded her that she needed to grab a big pot, fill it with water, and bring it to a boil. Her father would be home any minute, so she had to act quickly! Being busy always felt the best! Being busy, kept her mind at ease.

"Oh no!" Lila stood up suddenly, realizing she forgot something important. "I still have to brown the meat!" The time had passed so quickly, but she still had a little left to make up for what was lost. The pot of sauce still had plenty of time to simmer, and adding the browned meat to it would also add flavor and depth to the meal. The noodles would have to wait, she decided.

Lila grabbed the package of ground beef, crumpled it up in a pan, and began to cook it, adding salt and pepper to taste. The whole room smelled so lovely, just ever so much! It was nothing like a homecooked meal, to warm the soul!

Suddenly, she heard the front door rattle, causing her to look over and wait patiently.

"I'm home!" She heard her father announce, through the newly opened door. The sight of him caused her to smile. It was no longer quiet. "and it smells great in here!"

Running up to her father, Lila gave him a great big hug. "Welcome home, Daddy!" She said, hugging him tightly. "How was work?"

Mr. Sawyer took off his coat and hung it up neatly. "Busy!" He answered, looking tired but accomplished. "But all that hard work paid off!"

The daughter's eyes lit up with excitement. "Does that mean…?"

"Yep!" The man cried out joyously. "They absolutely loved the article and it'll be featured on tonight's news!"

Letting out a squeal of a cheer, Lila hugged her father tightly once more. "I'm so happy!"

"Me too!" The man smiled, patting his little girl on the head, and causing her to let up a bit. "What do you have cooking?" He asked, nudging them both over to the kitchen. "I'm so hungry I could eat a whole elephant!"

His enthusiasm caused Lila to feel a little regretful, as the meal wasn't ready. "Oh, nothing much." She replied, wringing her hands together. "Just spaghetti with meat sauce. It's not quite done yet but it will be, ever so soon, so please relax!" She explained, leading him over to the sofa to lounge. "Would you like something to drink while you wait?"

"Oh no, I'm quite alright!" He smiled softly, sitting down, and relieving some of the built-up pressure in his back. "Are you sure there is nothing I can help with?"

"Don't worry, Daddy!" The girl said with a small giggle, before heading back to the stove. "Everything will be done before you know it! Please, just relax for now!"

"Oh, I'm sure there is something I could burn if you just let me!" Mr. Sawyer joked, grabbing the TV remote, and turning it on. He could hear her laugh again in the distance and knew all was well. He was always thankful for her generosity and wondered what he could have ever done to deserve such a loving, and providing child, especially given that she didn't have the easiest time growing up. Sure, there were times when he worried about her, and wondered if maybe there were other things he could do to help her in her times of need but, miraculously, she always remained pretty grounded, even in the toughest situations. Was it nature or nurture that made her this way?

Not too long after, the table was set and Lila plated a portion for her and her father. He sat with esteem for his daughter, complimented her for her meal, and they both ate peacefully. He spilled stories about his time at work, and she spoke of her school life, even brought up helping some younger students after school the next day, so they'd be ready for their play.

"Goodness!" Mr. Sawyer gasped, setting down his fork and smiling at his modest child. "That's a lot of responsibility. Are you worried, at all?"

"No!" Lila giggled, shuffling her feet under the table. "I understand how nervous it can be to be on the stage for the first time. Those bright lights hit you, trying to remember your lines while you have so many sets of eyes staring at you…" She explained, poking at the noodles on her plate. "Sometimes, it's easier when you have someone of similar age to help you through it, instead of an adult. I can understand why Mr. Simmons asked us for help, as we're ever so comfortable on stage. We have advice we can give them, that maybe their teacher wouldn't think of."

Putting his elbow on the table, and resting his head against his palm, Mr. Sawyer took in the beauty of his daughter in awe. She was so strong and capable. "You know…" He sighed. "It's times like this that you really remind me of your mother." He mentioned with a chuckle, before going back to his food. "She was a natural on the stage as well. It didn't matter what sort of outfit she wore, the song she sang, or the stage she was on… she always lit up the room far brighter than any light they could have installed."

The young girl looked down at her food and took in his words without any to say back. She had many memories of her mother, even if some were just vague outlines, but through stories he would tell her, she remained very alive in her mind. Mrs. Sawyer was just as bright and bubbly as her daughter, with warm, kind brown eyes, auburn wavy hair, and charisma that would knock the socks off any critic she met. There was no knocking her down, and even if she was to stumble, with her natural acting ability, you'd just think it was part of the show. "Tell me the story again." Said Lila after a bit of silence. "About how you two met for the first time."

"Ohhhh…" Mr. Sawyer moaned, leaning back in his chair, and patting his full tummy. "Again, huh?" He asked her with a wink, gaining another small giggle out of her. "Well, you cooked dinner, so, of course, I could indulge you with a story but don't you already know it so well?"

"Yes, but it's always so much fun to hear you talk about it, just ever so much." She encouraged.

"Well, it was many years ago, of course, so things were a bit different than they are now. The world was at war, and it was my job to take notes and deliver them to the local newspaper company so they could write a story and publish it. After a while, sales started to go down a bit as there wasn't much new to report, and it would seem the world was getting sick of all the darkness as well, so they ventured off to the local bars and clubs to forget about all the trouble in the world, and simply take a moment to enjoy themselves. A new club opened up by my apartment, and I figured it would be worth writing about since it was something different." The man explained, fondly.

"And that's when you met her!" Lila interrupted, her cheeks pink with intrigue.

"Yep…" Mr. Sawyer looked up at the ceiling, then closed his eyes; remembering all the fine details that he could. "Disco was getting really big, so when I walked in, I assumed it would be just another run-of-the-mill place but it wasn't. It wasn't full of super bright fluorescent lights, a huge dance floor, and lively people getting their grooves on. It was modest, and quaint but still had its familiar air about it that let you sink into a comfy cushioned chair, lean back, and just feel like you were at home. It was a cross between your standard tavern but filled with the joy that the Disco scene was familiar with. Not your mom and dads' type of bar, but something they wouldn't immediately snub their noses at if they were to walk in."

"What can I do ya for, sir?" The old bartender asked as the younger version of Mr. Sawyer walked up to him. As he got closer, he noted the man's outfit, the pen behind his ear, and the notepad in his pocket. "If you've come looking for a story, I'm afraid I'm fresh out. Nothing new to report. We just opened last week; business is fine as the new port wine that jus' came off the docks."

"Suppose I'll have a glass, then." Mr. Sawyer smiled at the man, before taking a look around to really take it all in. The room was darker than you'd expect, but still, you could see the individual tables, a stage for the performers, as well as a dedicated dance floor for the patrons. "I'm surprised." He mentioned, looking back over at the older man, watching him pour the wine. "This space was available for ages due to how poor its condition was… but you've really brightened it up! I half expected it to just get, you know, gutted, and made into something else like an aerobics studio."

"Mighty kind of you to say." The bartender replied, handing his new customer his beverage of choice. "Truthfully, it wasn't all my idea but the missus was keen on it, so I figured it wouldn't hurt. Carpentry runs in my family, so we got to work, renovated as cost-effectively as possible, then let her design the lot. As you can see, I'm more of the hands-on type, while she's the brains."

"Oh?" Mr. Sawyer grabbed his notepad and began jotting some things down. "Where did you move up from?" He asked curiously, noting the thick southern accent.

"Louisiana, born and raised." The bartender nodded, grateful for the casual banter, as it was still rather early in the day, so the business wouldn't be picking up until the street lamps would go on. "Moved up here for a change of pace, and so she could be closer to her family. Nothing like a new coat of paint to really make you feel new again."

Taking a sip of his wine, Mr. Sawyer made a strange face at first but after a moment, his expression turned pleasant. "You're right, this is pretty good!"

"Not much of a wine drinker, are ya?" The bartender remarked with a smirk, as he grabbed a pitcher and began rubbing the water marks off of it.

"You can tell, huh?" Embarrassed, Mr. Sawyer shied away and turned his back to the bar to once again glance at his surroundings.

"Wouldn't be in this sort of business if I couldn't." The old man chuckled back. "No shame in trying something new. That one there came straight from Portugal. Has a bit of a bite when you first dive in, sorta like a heavily peppered steak but it finishes quite nicely with chocolatey notes. Gotta let it swirl around and dance on your tongue at first, then you get a better feel for it."

Taking another sip, and doing as suggested, Mr. Sawyer was able to grasp some of what the man was saying. "Yeah, I sort of get that now." He then pointed to the stage. "What'll be playing tonight?"

The old worker then made a gruff noise, clearing his throat. "Some sorta local band, I think. I just serve the drinks and make sure people pay. The missus books the entertainment."

"Ah…" Was all Mr. Sawyer could really say, without much to go on. "What time will it be?"

"9'O clock is when they're scheduled, and I reckon they'll be playing at around 9:30… given there are no issues." Answered the bartender. "Had some electrical problems the other day, but I got em' all worked out. Should be fine now." He then glanced over at his watch. "You planning on sticking around for another 3 hours or so? I doubt you'll have much to write down with the bubbles all gone to your head."

He took another sip, finished off his drink, then pushed the wine glass over. "Fine point." He nodded, taking out his wallet and paying the man. "I'll tell ya what. Keep this spot open for me at the bar, and I'll be back."

"Can't guarantee the spot'll be here but we'll see." The bar owner answered, shaking his head at the young man before him, and counting out his change.

"Don't worry about that." Mr. Sawyer smiled kindly, as he flipped his notepad's cover back over the written pages, and stuck it in his back pocket. "Think of something new I can try for when I come back!" He then waved and exited.

As promised, a few hours later he was back and the house was fuller than he had expected. Enough room to move, but his spot was definitely gone. He weaved in between lively customers, and eventually found another spot at the bar. Before even waving his hand to be tended to, a drink glided across to him, with the bartender winking. This must be his something new, he thought, taking a sip. It was a cocktail, strong, sour, and savory, but nothing he had ever had before.

"This more to your liking?" He asked, handing off an opened bottle of beer to someone else and making his way over to his new friend.

"It's… smooth." Mr. Sawyer replied, his face twitching a little as he wasn't expecting this sort of drink either. "Different, refreshing in an odd way…"

The old man chuckled at the young journalist's reactions. "Not much of a food critic, are ya? I hope entertainment is more of your speed, on accounta they're almost done. Fetch yourself a nice seat."

As Mr. Sawyer turned around, he could see the stage was filled with instruments, as well as many people gathered around tables; eagerly awaiting the band to begin. He shuffled around the crowd, and found a spot against the wall, near the stage but not too close, where he could simply observe on his own terms, with his handy cocktail as his sidekick. There was a small drum set, a guitar, a synthesizer, and a microphone set up. Simple but not flashy in the least. Taking out his pen and notepad, Mr. Sawyer noted the feel of the establishment, the improved architecture, and the overall quality of the bar in question.

Suddenly, loud cheering caused the man to look up from his work, and over at the stage. The band members gathered, smiled, and waved to their audience. Their outfits were casual and looked more similar to a country style than Disco, but with how music was changing nowadays, this didn't stick out too strangely. He took another sip of his drink, cringed a little, and concentrated on the woman whom he presumed to be the singer in the band.

"How's everyone feeling tonight?" She asked the crowd, gaining cheers and claps from her audience. Her voice was deep and velvety; her body language showed this wasn't her first time on stage, as she comfortably walked to and fro, meeting eyes with everyone that she could to define their connections. "I see some familiar faces! Always happy to see it! Is everyone ready to get back down to business, and dance the night away?"

The audience cried back loudly and joyously, causing Mr. Sawyer to grasp his drink tighter, feeling their voice's vibrating off of his half-empty glass. The singer turned to her band, nodded, and soon music began to play. The cheering continued but began to quiet down, giving the venue a unique feel to it, which he noted down diligently.

The song started off with a mellow, hum of a tune, catering to her alto voice, but slowly began to pick up, as it became livelier. People got up and began dancing to a catchy electronic-country-sounding song, and even Mr. Sawyer found his head bobbing around, as he watched the singer captivate her audience, along with himself. While he was listening to her lyrics, really it was her sultry-sounding voice that lured him in, along with her wavy brown hair, pulled back loosely in a side ponytail, and big hearty cowboy boots. The song was one of taking back power, moving on, and getting her life together again, something that resonated with many people at the time, himself included. When it was over, the tune transitioned into a new song; something more harmonious, and soulful, while still keeping a catchy upbeat tune to the theme of growing up, but remembering the old days, while appreciating them. Just because times had changed, didn't mean that it all had to be for the better or the worst. It was a song about accepting what was, but owning up to it in your own way. The third song to follow took the beat down a little and relied more on the guitar, rather than the electronic, and seemed more like a love song dedicated to the simpler times of life. The crowd danced, swayed, and felt connected while they let their problems go, but Mr. Sawyer continued to note everything that he saw and heard. He wondered where she came from, and if her lyrics were made from real experiences and feelings, or if they were just common thoughts she knew everyone had, that she could use to her advantage. He wondered how long the band had been performing, considering how she mentioned familiar faces and thought once they took a break, he could give them a fair interview.

Zigzagging back to the bar, empty cup in hand, the young journalist was beginning to feel the spirits take their toll, but still felt sober enough to try something else new, should the band not have an interesting story, he could definitely talk about the drinks.

"What'll it be this time, boss?" The bartender asked, taking the empty glass. He saw Mr. Sawyer begin to open his mouth but stopped him. "Instead of asking for something interesting, how's about you give me an idea of what sorta flavors you're looking to have."

This caused the man to pause, think, then chuckle. "I'm really not sure…" He said, still feeling a bit embarrassed. "This one you gave me was pretty good, but maybe something a little mellower?"

"Trying to keep your wits about ya, I see." The old man nodded. "Alright, I have something in mind. Won't be as complex, but maybe your simple pallet will grasp it easier."

Unsure if he was being understood or insulted, Mr. Sawyer gave a confused nod back, then turned back to the stage.

"Quite the performance, ain't it?" Asked the bartender from behind him. "I'll admit, I wasn't expecting a whole lot but she's spunky."

The young man become entranced once more, as he watched the pretty singer go about her dance routine. "What's her name?"

"Uhhh… some sorta flower, I think." The man handed off the drink to his patron, then pulled a book out from under the table. "Ah, Cassia is her name but her brand's called Electric Honey." He gave the young man a moment, but when he never turned around to grab his drink, he cleared his throat a few times, grabbed his attention then handed it off. "Ah, I've seen that look before. You've become smitten with her, then? I suppose you'll be wanting to have a talk with her after it's all over?"

Grabbing his drink and giving it a quick look over, Mr. Sawyer decided on taking a sip first and answering after. It was much sweeter than the last but still packed a punch.

"Better?" Asked the smirking mixologist.

"Yes!" The young man smiled before indulging himself with another sip. "It sorta reminds me of sweet tea… What's in it?"

"Cognac and Amaretto." The bartender answered, with a cross of his arms as he saw his patron's surprised expression. "No sweet tea to be had."

Looking down at the golden liquid inside his fine cup, Mr. Sawyer swirled it around and smiled. "I think this'll definitely be a good conversation starter. Think you could offer one up to the singer?"

"Afraid not." The older man gruffly replied. "Entertainment ain't allowed to drink or things get messy. If they wanna drink after it's all over, that'll be a different story but…" He looked his younger friend up and down. "We'll see how you are by then."

"Right…" Mr. Sawyer frowned, feeling as though his window had been closed abruptly before he even got to open it. It was part of his job to be able to approach people with tact and give a relaxing sort of conversation in order to obtain needed information, but he wasn't exactly in his usual field. There were no protestors, no angry shouting, no big businessmen with their attorneys… Just simple people going about having a good time. He didn't have to corner anyone and definitely didn't want to, given where he was. "I suppose I'll just have to turn on the ol' college charm, and do my best."

"There ya go." The senior chuckled, with a bit of sympathy for the young lad. "I reckon she's got a few more songs to go before ya get your chance. Maybe put down that paper and pen, and… you know, use whatcha got while ya have it."

With a deep breath, Mr. Sawyer found himself back to the standing spot he had been in before and watched the band from a safe distance. The audience was finally in full swing, dancing their hearts out and really giving the establishment a wholesome feel. It wasn't overly rowdy, but it wasn't subdued either; it was definitely something interesting he could write about, regardless if he managed to get a one-on-one interview with the singer, or not. This night was a nice change of pace, that he was sure of.

One song, then the next, he could see that the bandmates were tiring out and he'd soon have his chance. She announced that they'd be taking a break, and suggested everyone do the same, along with a quick and witty remark about why breaking your leg may be fun to say, but not fun in practice. Many laughed and sat down, while Mr. Sawyer followed her with his eyes, hoping to catch the perfect chance, without it seeming on purpose, or forced. She disappeared into the back, and he walked along the wall until he was close to the doorway, still casual. How should he come off? Like an old friend? Like a reporter? Like a random bargoer, looking to have a good time? His head was swimming, likely from the two drinks, and nothing was really coming to him. Should he pose as if he was a cool guy? What if he seemed too arrogant? Becoming flustered, he took in another deep breath, placed his mostly empty glass on a nearby table, and roughed up his neat hair. As he looked back up, he saw her now standing in the doorway, laughing with whoever was in the room with her. Her smile was beautiful and only caused him to become more nervous. Why am I like this? He wondered. He was never really like this.

After a few more laughs and hand gestures, she gave a small wave before exiting the backroom and giving the eager man his chance.

"Umm…" He started out, fumbling at any words that would be needed to make a decent entrance. "Ma'am?" Immediately, he kicked himself, as even if he was being polite, they clearly weren't too far apart in age, and probably came off as rude.

The young woman gave him an awkward look, then giggled. "That's what I usually call my Mama, but how can I help?" She looked him up and down and realized he was a fresh new face. "Why, I don't think I've ever seen you around here before. Don't look like the club hoppin' type either."

"Uhhh…" Again, he was lost for words. Clearing his throat, he did the only thing he really knew how to do, and pulled out his pen and notepad. "If you weren't busy, I was just hoping to get a quick interview." He could see her smile dim a little, and quickly changed his thought process. "You see, your right… this isn't usually my scene." He laughed, nervously. "I just happened to be in the area, heard the music, and came in."

The young singer placed her hands on her hips and gave him an awkward smile. "Uh… huh."

"I was just hoping to get to know you a little, for the paper, I mean." He continued to fumble, "You have such a lovely voice and your lyrics really spoke to me, and…" He then looked around at the lively bunch of people around him, "Clearly everyone else as well. I was just curious where'd it all came from?"

"You mean like, my upbringing or my inspiration?" She asked him, oddly.

"Yes!" He blustered out, before taking a step back. "I mean, any and all of it! Did you write the lyrics yourself?"

The young woman tilted her head to the side, giving herself a moment to think. "It's a group effort. My band and I have been together for a little while. Sometimes I make up the lyrics, and other times, like if we're all discussing times passed, we get inspiration from each other's stories and write lyrics to reflect it."

"I see." He replied, writing down his notes quickly while keeping eye contact with her. "And do you just play in this area? Does your band go from city to city or state to state?"

Seeing how enthused he was, Cassia couldn't help but let out a laugh. "We aren't that big to be going on tours or anything, but we've been going around to a few nearing towns, cities… campuses… you know, wherever the feeling is right."

"Right. Right." He nodded, still scribbling words down. "Do you ever hope to make it big? Is this your dream? Or is this just something you're doing for fun?"

"A little column A and a little of column B… Started out as something for fun, but the crowd seems to like us, it's decent money and who knows? Maybe one day we'll make it big, but I'm not putting all my eggs in one basket." She explained, with a wink and a smile, causing the young man to blush. "I've always been a big fan of shows and music! It speaks to the soul and goodness knows we can all use time away from reality to just… you know, feel things."

"Yeah… feel things…" He repeated, easing down his pen and smiling foolishly. Unsure if it was the spirits, or just how smitten he was with her charming personality, Mr. Sawyer put his things away and decided on taking a different approach. "I'm sorry, I know I came out pretty suddenly…" He then held out his hand. "My name is… Jim, or James Sawyer but my friends call me Jim."

"Nice to meet you, Jim," Cassia responded, grasping his hand in a gentle handshake. "I was on my way to get a glass of water. Would you like to come with me?"

"Yes!" He said, a bit too excitedly before withdrawing his hand and offering it out towards the bar. "Ladies first!" He knew water was probably a better option for him rather than another drink, anyway.

"How kind." She smiled, with a small curtsy, then headed off with him in tow.

Her break wasn't long, and likely around 15 minutes but for Jim Sawyer, it felt like hours. They chatted about small, insignificant things but the more the talk went on, the wider she smiled and the more tranquil he became. There was just something about her that was soothing, whether it was her features that were pretty easy on the eyes, her voice that could likely calm even the angriest of customers, or her eyes that just drew you in like a safe haven away from the world. He'd never met anyone like her and knew he wasn't likely to ever again.

"Do you have another gig planned after this one?" He asked, sipping his water, and prolonging their talk as long as possible.

"Yes, actually." Replied Cassia, leaning on the bar in front of her and engaging him with her enthusiasm. "We've got a few places already booked for the next few weekends. I hope to see you there, possibly… without your notebook?"

Completely forgetting that he had taken notes in the beginning, he gave her a blank look, then with a red face, bashfully turned away and chuckled. "S-sure!" He coughed out, before regaining his composure and coming back. "I'll just be another fan in the crowd."

"Happy to hear it." Cassia smiled, reaching her hand out for his once more. "I better get back to the stage. It was nice meeting you and I hope you write nice things about us in whatever headline you're featured in. Can always use new fans!"

With a delicate handshake, the young journalist hoped it wouldn't be their last talk but likely was for the night. "S-sure thing! Better boogie on back to the stage…" He said, doing a weird sort of a jig to imply he knew exactly what boogying actually was, even if he wasn't anything close to a dancer.

"You got it!" She laughed wholeheartedly, before bumping his shoulder with her own and heading on her way.

He held his breath patiently as he watched her figure move within the sea of avid dancers and drinkers alike, slowly disappearing for a minute before appearing back on stage, microphone in hand. She greeted everyone once more, turning all heads, and soon, the fun was back on. With a sigh finally escaping his lips, he turned to his friendly bartender, who wasn't too far away.

"Don't suppose you got her number then?" The old man asked, approaching him with a shake of his head.

"Not quite," Frowned Jim, feeling a little humiliated, "But there's always next time."

"Ahhh…" The bartender looked towards the stage and smiled at the performers. "Fancy some advice from an old geezer like myself?" He offered before grabbing both empty glasses of water.

Shrugging, Mr. Sawyer leaned into the bar to hear the man out. "Shoot."

"Women like that…" He started, pointing to the dame across the room. "Are like trees touched by lightning. They've been hit by the spark, and it's sunk deep into their roots, absorbing all of the natural properties, and changing its own in turn." He turned his head and could see the young man's confused face. "Youngblood… do you know how many trees on this green planet there are? How many do you think have ever been struck and not burned down? That's gotta be a mighty special tree, with powerful properties if it's gonna withstand a force like lightning. Where I come from, that wood is prized material; powerful and can be used for good or evil."

Now even further confused, Mr. Sawyer wrinkled his forehead. "I'm sorry… I feel like I might be missing something here…"

"To do what she does out there, ya gotta be special. She commands the attention of this whole club and all are struck in awe by her, even yourself. That right there is called power, and she's harnessing it properly to do what she needs. In order to get a woman like that, you gotta understand that power, ya hear? Men have worshiped and feared lightning throughout time. You gotta choose which side you're on. If sparks should fly, how will you use that power? Will you respect it? Or will you let it overtake you?" The old man finished, staring deep into the soul of the young person in front of him. "Just don't think you'll be able to command it. That's my advice to you."

Now with an itch in his brain that he couldn't quite scratch, Mr. Sawyer gave the man a polite nod, before paying him for the drinks and slowly exited the bar. He walked to his building, up the long, winding stairwell, searched for his keys, and unlocked his apartment door. This wasn't the sort of night he expected to have… but maybe it was one that he needed. Even if he didn't quite understand the sage advice given by the old bartender now, surely, he would later on.

"Is that why you always said that Mama was a spitfire?" Asked Lila curiously, as she picked up the dishes and put them in the sink to rinse.

"Oh, definitely not." The father laughed, before actually giving that question a fair thought. "But I'm sure it's somehow related. She was funny, smart, charming, and certainly had a way about her but when she was mad… let's just say it was safer sleeping in a pen with hungry hogs for the night."

"Really?" Lila ran her fingers under the warm running water, enjoying the sensation it gave while her hands got used to it, before grabbing the soap. "I don't think I have a single memory of her being angry… mostly just humming soft tunes, dancing around the living room, and her ever so infectious laugh."

"That's because you were her pride and joy!" Mr. Sawyer stated happily. "She could never be mad with you around."

The thought, though a nice one, only caused the pit to open back up in Lila's stomach; one she'd been doing her best to close since she began dinner. All the memories she had of her mother, were all bright, shining, and beautiful; not a single hair was out of place, or sharpness in her tone. Every day was fun and happy when she was around. Were these memories false? Or just the ones she chose to remember? "Mama was pretty perfect, wasn't she? I bet you miss her…"

Silence washed over the small family, as the tired man went over her words carefully. "No one is perfect, Lila. Not even your mother was." He explained, standing up and walking over to his dutiful child. "And of course, I miss her from time to time but…" He then leaned down and kissed the top of his little girl's head. "I still have a piece of her, right here with me."

A piece of her… His voice echoed in her head, as she scrubbed the dishes. Throughout her life, this was the one thing she was always reminded of: she was the spitting image of her mother. When she was younger, this was a concept that would always bring her calm, as she looked at herself in the mirror and then at old photo albums her relatives brought over, after her mother had passed. She would never truly be alone, since her mother was always with her, and she could always see a piece of her, whenever she looked at her own reflection. She would hear all these lovely stories about her mother, but as she got older, this only proved to weigh her down, rather than lift her up. Whenever she would do well in school, she was reminded of how smart her mother was. Whenever she would wear something pretty, she would be reminded of how beautiful her mother was, and whenever she would sing… she was reminded of how talented her mother was. Nothing was her own, she was just a fragment of what her mother was when she was alive.

"Why don't you let me take care of those dishes, sweet pea?" Her father finally said, after another uncomfortable silence. "You've done enough. I've got it."

"Are you sure, Daddy?" She asked, turning her head, and giving him a worrisome look. "I don't mind, really!"

"No, no." He shook his head, with a regretful smile. "I've got it. You go ahead and get started on your homework. Some nice warm water will do these old knuckles some good! They're always so stiff after work, so it'll liven them right back up."

Unable to argue with him, Lila simply smiled and nodded. "Alright. I'll be in my room if you need me." And after a big hug and a squeeze, she headed straight into her bedroom.

With a hole in her stomach so wide it could swallow her whole, Lila was in no mood to do homework. Instead, she sat on her bed and contemplated her conversation with Eugene. She envied him for being so unapologetically himself, and, even just for a moment, wished they could switch places. He was fully allowed to be himself, and shine in his own spotlight… but she was stuck inside a shadow she would never be able to escape from. He was enthusiastic about life, bubbly, helpful, and such a kindhearted boy… but was usually jeered at by his peers for being that way, while she was praised for those exact same reasons. Why were these perfect traits for girls to have, just not boys? Should her image break away, even for a moment… would anyone be able to accept her for it? Or would she be put in the exact same spot as Eugene, second-guessing who she really was, for the sake of love and acceptance from those around her? The idea pained her physically, causing her to lie down. She felt like such a deceiver… but maybe that's just who she was when she was unapologetically.

---

"Wow, Rhonda! That's just ever so pretty!" Lila exclaimed in awe, as Rhonda began showing all the girls gathered around her in the school's hallway, a new bracelet. "Just where did you get it?"

"Oh, this?" Rhonda replied, pretending as if she wasn't trying to purposely show it off. It was a gold bangle, with bits of shiny stones all around. "It was a gift from my parents! It's absolutely to die for!"

"Are the stones real?" Asked Sheena, tucking some stray hairs around her ears, in an attempt at a better look. "They look like diamonds!"

Rhonda swiftly turned to face the girl, who was standing off to the side of her, with an offended expression. "Of course, they're real! Do you really think I'd be wearing anything fake? Come now, Sheena!" With a roll of her eyes, she turned back to the others. "My skin is very sensitive! I can't wear anything fake!"

"I mean, the stones aren't touching your skin, though." Nadine pointed out, giving way to a small giggle due to her friend's dramatic show. She could see Rhonda wasn't pleased with this comment either, but this only caused her to smile more. "Is it really such a big deal?"

"Why would I even chance it?!" The posh girl crossed her arms, hiding the prize away, and causing some stray onlookers to continue their way to class. "You've seen firsthand how sensitive my skin is!"

Nadine allowed herself a moment's thought before a memory came back to her. "You mean… back in the second grade when some kid gave you a ring they won out of a vending machine?" She could remember how her friend accepted this gift gladly, thinking it was the most wonderful thing ever until it turned her skin green. "I'm pretty sure all copper rings do that, not just to your skin."

"As I said…" Rhonda replied, grinding her teeth as she did so. "I don't chance it! My skin was discolored for weeks!"

"Aww!" Lila's cheeks turned pink as she imagined an adorable little boy, possibly proposing to Rhonda. "How cute! Was he your boyfriend back then?"

"As if!" Rhonda scoffed, feeling that the question was absolutely ridiculous. "He was simply one of my many admirers!"

The Hallways of P.S 118 began to thin out, as most of the students made their way into their classrooms, causing the small group of sixth-grade girls to begin moving along themselves.

"Speaking of which…" Rhonda continued, eyeing Curly as he held open their classroom door with anticipation of her approach. Despite how many times she had rejected his advancements, and screeched in disgust whenever he would profess his love, his persistence in acts of chivalry toward her was always something she at least tolerated for now.

"I can't believe you actually invited him to your Halloween party." Nadine frowned, not sure if she should feel sorry for him, or for what Rhonda had to put up with on a daily basis. "I thought you said at your last party, that he'd never step foot inside your house again after you found him sniffing your couch pillows."

The thought caused a gagging feeling to rise up in the back of Rhonda's throat, followed by a crawling feeling to disperse over her skin. "Ugh, don't remind me…" She replied, as she quickly stopped at her locker to put away her purse and other various belongings. "I invited basically everyone we know. If I leave the little leech out, then I'd have to deal with him pouting and being even more of a pain!" Suddenly, a small smirk emerged on her lips. "Besides, I have the perfect plan to keep him in check this time."

"And that is…?" Asked Nadine, curious about the secretive motives that she'd been kept in the dark about.

Rhonda shut her locker loudly, then turned in the direction of the now, bowing boy, still patiently awaiting her arrival. "Since I have a reputation to uphold that I can't let be tarnished by the likes of him… I decided to let someone else take care of the problem, should he decide to get out of line." With a whip of her hair, Rhonda gave the 3 girls a charming smile. "And they were more than happy to help!"

The girls watched as Rhonda then strutted her way passed Curly, and disappeared into the classroom, each feeling as though something sinister had been cooked up.

"Oh goodness…" Sheena frowned. "I hope Curly will be alright."

Nadine shrugged. "If he wants to consistently poke angry bees' nest, then it's only natural that he'll get stung. We can only hope that he eventually learns."

"Yeah…" both Sheena and Lila agreed in unison, before heading into their classroom as well.

As Lila made her way to her empty assigned seat, she gave a wide smile and wave to Eugene, who sat directly behind her.

"Good Morning, Lila!" He greeted delightfully, echoing her sentiment. "Are you looking forward to our plans after school today?"

"Oh! Ever so much!" She exclaimed back, placing her hands together with a soft glow on her cheeks. "I hope you are as well!"

He waited patiently for a moment, as Lila got settled into her seat before continuing their conversation. "I just want to thank you again, for what you said to me yesterday." He could feel himself becoming a little shy, as he remembered her words of encouragement. "It really helped to know that I have you on my side…"

"Of course!" She replied, turning to face him properly. "And I meant every word of it, so please, if ever you should feel that way again, just know that I'll be here if you want to talk!"

Their small talk was shortly interrupted, as Brainy entered the classroom, and sat down behind Eugene. This caused him to turn around, and give him a wave as well. "Hey Brainy! Are you feeling better today?" He asked, with high hopes that his friend wasn't still sick.

Brainy nodded, giving a small thumbs up as he wheezed loudly in response.

"Good!" Eugene cheered, before turning back to Lila, his face aglow with reassurance. "It seems like everything is sunny once more!"

Lila giggled at the boy's optimism, and soon, the class began as usual.

Things felt normal, as normal could feel, as Lila wrote notes, raised her hand, answered questions, and helped her fellow classmates when needed. Nothing out of place, just the same act, over and over, day after day. There was always some comfort in knowing what to expect, and what was expected of her. It was the unknown that was truly frightening, as this wasn't something she was able to control, but even still, she did her best to remain as unchanged as possible.

As class let up for lunch, she then joined Rhonda and Nadine once more, as she usually did. She listened to the aristocratic girl complain, gossip, and judge those around her, while Nadine usually would interject when needed or otherwise agree with whatever Rhonda was saying. After joining their class in the middle of fourth grade, this group was the easiest for her to meld herself into, as she could easily remain on the sidelines, due to Rhonda's front-and-center personality, while avoiding further bullying from others, since no one wanted to attract Rhonda's attention themselves, to become a target. She was able to remain popular, without being truly labeled as such, and this was the best possible outcome Lila could have asked for.

"I don't see why we have to have similar costumes…" Growled Nadine, as she placed her lunch tray down on the hard plastic table. "Why can't I just go as a Mummy like I wanted to? It's way cheaper to just wrap up in gauze without having to worry about makeup."

"Nadine!" Rhonda whined back, annoyed that her best friend wasn't seeing her way of thinking. "Come on! It's time for us to dress up as something that would accentuate our beauty! Not hide it under wraps of toilet paper, parading down around like toddlers, and asking for candy from strangers!" She then sat down, and got herself comfortable, despite the glares being shot at her by the opposed. "I'll be going as Queen Elizabeth, since it is my party, after all, and you should definitely go as Cleopatra! She was the Queen of Egypt and the genius behind most makeup! It's absolutely perfect!"

"But you know I'm not a fan of heavy eye makeup!" Nadine groaned. "It always burns!"

"But darling, that's why you have me!" Rhonda assured, giving Nadine a graceful pat on the arm to soothe her. "We'll all be getting a professional beauty treatment the night before the party, to freshen up and look our best the day of, and I'll be doing our makeup!"

Eating in silence, Lila simply absorbed what was being said around her, and kept her opinions out of it, knowing she would be damned regardless of whom she sided with.

Nadine sighed. "Just because you follow a lot of makeup artists online, doesn't make you a professional!"

"I've been practicing! Why do you have such little faith in me?!" Rhonda hollered, now offended.

"Because you nearly poked my eye out the last time I allowed you to try." The annoyed girl replied, taking a bite of her food, and giving her best friend an obvious look.

Letting out another whine, Rhonda turned to Lila for help. "Don't you think Nadine would look amazing as Cleopatra?"

Lila smiled at her friend and placed down her sandwich. "Oh, just ever so much but…" she then turned to the other girl, "but I also agree that it would be best if she felt comfortable with whatever she's wearing." These answers were the safest.

"Pleeeeese, Nadine!" Rhonda begged, putting on a pouty face. "Just trust me on this! You'll feel great once you see yourself! I'll even buy you the outfit if I have to!"

Now feeling further insulted at the offer, but knowing her friend meant well, Nadine covered her face with her hands, in an attempt to shield herself from further distress. "Absolutely not, Rhonda. You are not buying me the costume."

After a brief moment of silence, Nadine removed her hands and turned to Lila. "What are you going as?"

"Me?" Lila started, suddenly put on the spot. "Well, I found this lovely witch costume in a shop not too far from my house! It even came with a little stuffed cat!"

The two best friends paused, then looked at each other, then back at the smiling girl.

"You? A witch?" Asked Rhonda, dumbfounded. "I just can't picture it!"

"Yeah." Nadine laughed. "I expected something more like a butterfly or fairy."

"Oh?" Lila tilted her head in confusion. "Those are rather lovely as well, but this costume just caught my eye and, I don't know, I found it ever so charming… is that strange?"

"A little, but…" Nadine paused and considered her friend's feelings. "If anyone could pull off a cute witch, I bet it'd be you!"

"Besides, she couldn't go as a fairy anyway since Sheena has already chosen that." Informed Rhonda, before she finally began eating her lunch. "It would be so embarrassing if you both showed up in the same costume."

"Did she at least decide that on her own, or did you force her into it?" Nadine scowled, despite knowing this was something Sheena had decided on a month prior, but feeling the need to be petty for the sake of it.

"I would like to ask…" Lila started, feeling a little uncomfortable. "Is there a reason why having similar themes is important to you, Rhonda?"

"It's been a tradition since we were in diapers…" Nadine answered, seeing as Rhonda's mouth was still full of food. "And she just won't let it go."

"Oh, I see…" Lila placed both her hands on the table's cold surface, and hummed for a moment. "My Dad and I have a few traditions ourselves, such as making popcorn balls for Christmas and it would be ever so heartbreaking if we suddenly stopped." She began to slowly tap her fingers against the table, keeping the two girls' attention on her as she thought silently to herself. "However, if we were suddenly unable to do our favorite things together, like if… oh, I don't know, he suddenly became allergic to popcorn or something, I'm sure we'd be able to find new traditions to do in its place!"

"So, you're suggesting that we make a new tradition instead?" Rhonda asked, her mouth now free and willing to speak up for herself. She looked to Nadine, still a bit sad at the thought. "I mean… I guess we could but can't we start next year? I was really looking forward to us both being Queens together!"

With a roll of her eyes, Nadine gave one last final sigh. "Fine, but no take-back-sies!" She extended one of her pinkies out to her friend, with a serious look. "Promise? Next year I can be whatever I want without any grief?"

"Promise!" Rhonda smiled, linking her pinkie with Nadine's, sealing the deal. "But we definitely need to talk about what we'll be doing instead for next year, okay?"

"Yeah, yeah…" Nadine finally smiled, opening her arms wide to give her best friend a hug, happy that she essentially won, even if not for this Halloween. She understood Rhonda's reasoning but felt grateful that Lila was there to give a helpful suggestion. "November first, we'll begin planning for next year."

Watching the two friends hug it out, made Lila smile brightly with esteem for them both, even if she did feel a little jealous of the bond they had. She had never had a best friend before, at least none she could remember. As far as relationships went, Arnold was the closest she had gotten, even if their feelings were slightly different. She had wanted a real relationship with his cousin Arnie, but it was clear pretty early on in that endeavor that it wasn't going to work out either. Maybe she just wasn't meant to have some sort of close relationship? Lila began to feel a little melancholic, but her perfectly painted happy face, remained as it always did.

From lunch, they all went back to class, discussing all of the beauty products that Rhonda had, and would be procured for the slumber party in a few weeks. Things continued as normal, as they usually did, and lessons kept her focused. The day ended with Gym class, which similarly to lunch, was mostly spent listening to the two girls talk about this and that, complaining about the Coach, and Lila only giving her opinion when she felt it may be needed. Soon, it was time to bid farewell to her friends in order to meet with Eugene, who was happily waiting for her just outside their classroom.

"Boy…" The young man winced as he moved his shoulders around in circles, in an attempt to soothe the tension that had built up. "Coach Wittenberg never fails at giving us a workout, does he?"

Lila gave the boy a sympathetic smile, knowing how sore he likely felt, as she too wasn't athletic in any sense either. "He can be rather tough but, I suppose it must be for our benefit, right?"

"A fit body makes for a fit mind, as they say," Eugene replied, stretching to and fro before getting the bounce back in his step. "Are you ready to go?"

With a curt nod, Lila gestured in the direction of the auditorium. "Of course. Lead the way!"

Walking behind the boy, Lila silently admired his determination and enthusiasm in the moment, despite both being sore and so incredibly down just the day before. Just how was he able to do it? It seemed so completely unnatural for someone to be able to be as optimistic as he was, but here he was, just shining in his own light as they walked slowly down the hallway toward their destination. It was as if yesterday didn't happen at all. Surely, this wasn't all an act, right? Lila gave a small smile and shook her head, causing her braids to twirl about her. No, She knew he was genuine in everything he did, almost to a fault which tended to cause him to look like a fool many times in front of others, but even in these moments, he would just blush and continue on as if nothing ever happened. How just ever so unnatural, but admirable… she thought, with a soft chuckle as she did.

The auditorium doors were propped open, and the two stepped inside. The stage was lit up partially, and they could see two kids sitting on stage talking, talking to each other. It only took a moment for them to notice their seniors walking in, to which the boy jumped to his feet, while the girl remains seated.

"You must be our help…" Said the boy, looking away from the two just as they got within a few feet. It was clear by his expression that he wasn't pleased with this arrangement, but even so, he didn't feel hostile or unapproachable in any way. "My name is Jacob, and this is Olivia."

"Nice to meet you!" Eugene smiled brightly. "I'm Eugene!" He announced proudly, outstretching his hand for a shake that ultimately went unmet, causing him to lower it awkwardly. "And that's Lila!"

"It's very nice to meet you both." Said Lila, as she clasped her hands behind her back, and leaned forward, in almost a bow-like fashion.

"Sorry, you guys have to do this…" Olivia finally spoke, seeming rather embarrassed. "This is my first time ever having an important role…"

"I told you!" Jacob abruptly shouted, turning around, and facing his partner. "Stop apologizing! You'll do fine! Everybody gets nervous sometimes!"

The two older kids looked at each other, unsure of how to continue. It was clear that the girl was a bit timid, while the boy was as outspoken as ever, and contrasted the characters they were supposed to play.

"He's right!" Lila giggled, approaching the girl, and giving her a warm smile. "It's just like riding a bike! The first few times are pretty scary, but once you get the hang of it, it'll feel just ever so normal to you!"

Olivia shuffled in her seat, uncomfortably. "I've been in plays before but… only ever as minor characters. I never thought I'd be picked to do something this big before."

"I think it just shows how talented you are!" Lila continued to encourage.

"I've been in a few plays as well!" Eugene announced, leaving the trio momentarily to walk up the stairs and onto the stage's platform. "I was once even cast in a lead role, but decided it wasn't for me, so I turned it down."

"Is that supposed to make us feel better?" Asked Jacob, coarsely.

"But the very next play I did, it was one of my favorites and I was cast as a lead role again! And you know what?" Eugene did a few twirls, before dropping to a kneeling pose, with his arms open wide as if expecting applause from an audience. "I did great!" He then noticed the stares from his peers and stood back up, bashfully.

"I think what Eugene is trying to say, is that it's perfectly normal to feel uncomfortable but…" Lila explained, gaining the two younger student's attention. "There was a reason you both were picked, and it's ultimately up to you if you want to keep these roles or not. There is no shame in backing down if you don't feel up to the challenge, but sometimes the challenge is what makes the outcome just ever so perfect!"

"I guess…" Jacob huffed, crossing his arms in an attempt to feel a little more at ease. "You both talk big, but let's see if you can even help us."

"Well, come up on stage, and let's practice!" Eugene welcomed, waving everyone his way. "And bring your scripts, too!"

The two slowly did as they were told, and eventually joined the gleeful preteen on the stage, with Lila in tow.

"Now, pick a scene that makes you both the most uncomfortable, and we'll start there!" He instructed, closing his eyes in comfort as he felt the warm lights above him soothe his body.

"The whole play makes us uncomfortable!" Jacob growled in annoyance. "If it was only one scene, do you think we'd really need the help?"

"Oh… I see." Lila gave them both a concerned look. "Then… what made you try out for your roles, if you don't mind me asking? It just seems a bit odd that you'd both try out for prominent roles if you didn't want them."

Jacob's face suddenly became red, causing him to turn around and face the large velvety curtains which hung just to the side of the stage. "I… just wanted to try something new, that's all! Being a Captain sounded cool!"

"I've always been a fan of the story." Olivia smiled, for the first time, rocking back and forth on her heels. "It's such a lovely story, full of hope and struggle… All of us girls tried out, of course, I just didn't think I'd be the one cast as Maria! I suppose it helps that I've been in our church's choir for a while, too."

"Have you rehearsed together at all?" Eugene asked, opening his eyes briefly, and noticing the weird atmosphere that was created.

"Not yet…" Olivia responded, glancing over at her partner, who still stood staring at the curtains. "The play is still many months away, and we only just got our roles…"

Lila placed her hand to her lips and thought for a moment in silence. It was clear to her that Olivia was likely cast as the female lead due to the fact, she was well-versed in the story, but Jacob's sudden change in attitude at her question, made her feel as though his reasons for trying out as the male lead may have been due to something very particular. She let out a small giggle, then nodded with a decision. "Eugene, I think it might be best if we both help them with their roles separately, just for now, then come together afterward to see them both in action. What do you think?"

The decision caught Eugene off guard, causing him to tilt his head in confusion. "Umm... Alright, if you say so, Lila."

"Jacob," Lila called out to him, causing the boy to finally turn around and look in their direction. "I'll help you rehearse as Captain Von Trapp."

He looked at her strangely, before looking over at Eugene, who looked just as confused. "What? Why me?" He asked. "Shouldn't you help Olivia because you're both girls?"

"Actually, While I love to sing, just ever so much… Eugene has far more musical talent than I do…" Lila explained, a small blush on her cheeks as she did. "And besides, I think it would make much more sense if we paired off this way so I can read her lines to you, while you rehearse your own, don't you?"

"I… guess." Jacob sorely replied, before a loud sigh and shake of his head.

"Great! Then it's decided!" Eugene smiled happily, "Olivia, you come with me to the right side of the stage, and Lila will take Jacob to the left! We'll go over your character's personality and motivation, then begin rehearsing!" He then clapped his hands a few times with excitement. "This will be so much fun!"

Lila began to walk off stage, then turned around to notice Jacob still standing there, watching the other two move to their side of the auditorium. "Don't worry about them." She giggled softly, gaining his look of annoyance. "He won't steal her heart."

The boy's face turned bright red once more, causing him to stomp down the stairs in her direction. "W-what? What are you talking about? Why would I care?" He flustered angrily.

Incapable of containing herself, Lila just continued to giggle as she confirmed her suspicions. "Oh, I don't know. I'm just beginning to think that you may have a bit more in common with your character than I once thought, that's all."

"You're crazy, lady." The boy mumbled, his face still red as he pulled out his script and turned it a few pages until he got to his opening scene. "Let's just do this, already!"

Each student went over their respective lines, while their older instructor helped to guide them in the proper directions as to the emotion behind their words, and body movements. It took only about an hour before they all met up again in front of the stage.

"Thanks so much, Eugene!" Expressed Olivia happily, as she gave her tutor a big smile. "While I am still not exactly sure I'll be able to pull this off as perfectly as you think I can, I feel a little bit more confident."

"Oh, I'm so happy to hear it!" Eugene cried out, feeling so proud of his protégé. He then turned to Jacob, who looked just as annoyed as he did when he last saw him. "How did it go with you two?" He asked, hesitantly. "Good, I hope?"

"It went fine!" Jacob exclaimed, grabbing his backpack, and getting ready to leave. "When do we have to do this again?"

Both upperclassmen looked at each other, realizing that they weren't actually ever instructed on if this tutoring session was just going to be a one-time thing, or if it was to be ongoing until the kids felt secure with their roles.

"I don't have any plans after school usually, so I'm pretty free," answered Eugene, with a kind smile. "How about you, Lila?"

"Well… I suppose so long as I'm not home late, I'm free after school as well." She responded, echoing his feelings toward their predicament. "How often would you both like to rehearse with us?"

"How about Tuesdays and Fridays?" Olivia suggested, gathering up her belongings as well. "I have a few extracurricular activities, but those days I'm free. Is that okay with you, Jacob?"

"Yeah, whatever." The boy snorted, avoiding her gaze as he threw his backpack over his shoulder and began running out of the auditorium.

"Sorry about him…" Olivia sighed. "He means well… just a tad bit too prideful for his own good…."

"Oh?" Lila asked, intrigued. "Have you known each other long?"

Olivia let out a soft chuckle. "We've been neighbors our whole lives, but this is our first time in the same class together." She explained, pulling her arms through her jacket sleeves as she did so. "Our teacher has had me tutor him in math a few times, and he always acts so embarrassed about needing help. Don't take it personally."

"Don't worry, I don't!" Lila reassured the young girl, enjoying their comradery. "I look forward to getting to know him better, and seeing his acting improve."

The two sixth graders waved goodbye to their underclassman as she left, before going up to the stage to turn off the lights that had been left on for them.

"You know…" said Eugene from across the stage, as he untied the left curtains constraints, letting the large fabric fall towards the middle with a big waft of air. "It really surprised me to hear that you thought I had more singing talent than you, Lila. I've heard you sing before, and I think you're great!"

Lila froze for a moment, then continued to untie the right curtain. "I like to sing, but… I just don't think it suits me as much as it does you, that's all." She watched as the right curtain fell towards the middle of the stage, meeting its left counterpart and swaying back and forth, before remaining still. "And besides, you have far more in common with Maria than I do." She then walked to the middle of the stage and sat down on the ledge. "You're both kindhearted, just ever so goofy free spirits, who want nothing but joy for the world! You're both even a little bit clumsy, too!"

The young man blushed as he heard her description of him, before joining her at the edge of the stage.

"Maria embraces who she is from the beginning of the story, all the way to the end of it, even if she does struggle a little bit when she realizes she's in love with the Captain." Lila continued, kicking her feet back and forth in whimsy. "Struggling to accept her love for him, since it ultimately goes against her path to become a Nun, is also similar to your dilemma…" She stopped and gave Eugene a kind smile. "Don't you think?"

Her words resonated with him, and Eugene smiled back at the comparison. "Yeah… yeah, I suppose your right." He replied, looking out towards the brightly lit hallway just beyond the entrance of the auditorium. "But Lila, you're also kind, loving, and funny! I think you would play a great Maria as well!"

The girl's voice fell silent, causing the room to become dense and awkward.

Lila?" He called out to her, a little worried, despite the fact she was still smiling.

"I suppose… I just understand Captain Von Trapp a little more." She finally said, her voice a bit distant, and her legs stopped their kicking, slowly falling still. She thought of how strong Eugene was for how he was handling being a bit different from the other boys in his class, and how even though he was struggling so hard, he still didn't want to burden her with his problems. She thought of how he opened up to her, and how terrible she felt afterward for it, even if it caused him to feel better. "You see, after his wife died… his world sort of, I don't know, stood still. Soon, everything that reminded him of her, caused him pain, such as the ballroom, singing, dancing, and any sort of merriment… so he put a stop to all of that and returned to the only world he knew well, which was a life of discipline."

Eugene continued to listen patiently, feeling a bit of heaviness come into his chest as she explained.

The troubled girl then awkwardly began to fidget with one of her braids, pulling on it downwards and feeling her hair's soft texture, over and over. "Of course, I've never been married before but I do know what it's like to have your world stop from the loss of a loved one, and then to want to banish everything that reminds you of them later on."

"Oh… I'm sorry…" Eugene croaked out, sorely.

"Grief is a funny thing…" She continued, remembering all of the stages she had to watch her father go through, while she remained just a happy, good girl, to help him move forward.

"You don't have to talk about this if you don't want to." Eugene kindly reminded her, placing his hand on her shoulder, but quickly removing it once he saw her jump from the sudden contact. "Oh gosh, I'm sorry!"

"Oh, I'm alright, just ever so much." She reassured him, her smile still painted on her face, like that of a porcelain doll.

Even with the lights now dimmed, Eugene couldn't help but see that she wasn't. "I'm happy to hear your story, then. It's the least I could do… since you helped me out yesterday."

It was strange, Lila thought, that she had no intention of ever telling anyone this story, but here she was, whether it was due to Eugene's kind and open nature, or because of how desperately it had been weighing her down all these years. She turned away from him and continued to stare at the warmly lit hallway, almost as if it was calling out to her, suggesting that what lie past it, maybe something full of comfort and welcome.

"You see…" She began, picking up her right hand and placing it over the light, watching as the streams of light jetted through her open fingers. "My Mama died when I was really young. I don't remember too much of her, but I do remember how much it hurt my Dad."

"What happened to her?" asked Eugene hesitantly, not wanting to push her too much.

"She was the lead singer in her own band. Tall, funny, beautiful and she had such a lovely voice!" Lila chuckled, remembering some old home movies that existed of her, back at her grandparent's house. "A lot of people loved her, so she had so many fans! They would follow her from stage to stage, just to hear her perform, my Dad being among them! That's how they met, actually." Her smile slowly began to fade, as she recalled the past. "One night, she was performing at a small country club and everything was just business as usual. She sang a couple of songs, and the people danced and cheered… until some masked men came in with guns. They were robbing the place and had no intention of hurting anyone, so long as everyone did as they were told. A struggle ended up happening, and sadly… she was caught in the crossfire." Lila let herself have a long pause, before continuing. "I was asleep in my bed… when all of this happened. My Dad got the call, and I vaguely remember him getting me in the car, and driving me to my Aunt's house, since she wasn't too far away. I remember being tired and confused, but otherwise fine since I absolutely loved my sleepovers with her."

"Is this the same aunt you visited over the summer?" Eugene asked, letting her know that he was following along closely.

"Yep, my Aunt May!" She confirmed, her smile making it's way back to its usual place as she thought of her. "She taught me how to play so many games, and I loved helping her in the garden! I stayed with her for… a few days, maybe even a week before my Dad came to pick me back up. I don't remember what was said, but I remember thinking that he looked so different that I hardly recognized him. Everything felt so… strange." The smile faded once more, and in place of it, was a puzzled expression. "I remember asking where Mama was and being told that she was sick, but that the doctors were fixing her up. In reality, though, she was put into a coma while the doctors did what they could. Time passed, and soon I was at her funeral, feeling ever so confused. Everyone was crying and saying such nice things about her to me. Some said that they would miss her, while others said she was always with me… it doesn't make a lot of sense, does it?" A single tear managed to roll out of her eyes, and down her pale white cheeks. "I didn't know what it meant, only that I was never going to see her ever again." Lila closed her eyes, and let her body feel the wave of emotions that had been suppressed for so long. "Time continued to move on, though, even with her absence. I spent more time with my Aunt, while my Dad did his best to keep himself together, and handle things. Eventually, we ended up moving out of our small house, and into an even smaller apartment. Looking back at things now, I can only imagine that he couldn't bear to be in a place where they had shared so many memories… sort of like our Captain. I had no idea how much pain he was enduring but what I did know, was that he needed my help and always loved to see me happy. I began giving him my biggest smiles, and biggest hugs, whenever I could. I helped him around the house and did my best to never cause trouble. I thought things would eventually go back to normal if I tried hard enough, but..." A few more tears fell from her brown eyes, no matter how hard she shut them to keep them from pouring out. "One night, I saw him crying while looking at an old photo album. This was the first time I had ever seen him cry, and didn't know what to do. He found me, of course, and asked me to come and sit with him. He explained that these were some of their happiest times together before I was born, and how much he missed her. I remember curling up in his lap… and listening to him tell me all sorts of stories until we both fell asleep. After that, I had decided to learn how to do all of the things that Mama loved, so that way he could smile even more..."

Pulling over his backpack, Eugene unzipped it and offered Lila some of the tissues that he always kept on hand.

"As you can imagine, Mama loved to sing!" The girl continued, accepting the tissues, and wiping away her tears. "So, I learned some of her song and dance routines, and soon everyone was telling me how much I looked just like her! I thought this was just great, at first, since everyone seemed to love it, including my Dad… but then, it was all I ever heard from people. I was no longer myself, but just the ghost of my Mama." Lila gave herself another break, took in a deep breath, and steadied her voice. "All of my talents were given to me by her, so while I love them just ever so much, I also hate them, just as much."

"But Lila," Eugene interjected quickly. "It sounds more to me like the reason you're good at these things, is because you loved them to begin with, not because you learned how to do them solely for the sake of others."

Appreciating the boy's words, Lila nodded. "You're right, of course." She replied, sniffling a bit. "But it's hard to completely love something… when your version is always compared to someone else's. It's almost like even if I get better because of the hard work I put into it, the talent will never actually be my own." Suddenly, Lila pushed herself off the side of the stage and landed on her feet. "This is why I like acting in plays!" She turned his way, a sad smile planted on her face. "Pretending to be someone I'm not is a skill I developed all on my own."

This caused Eugene to frown, as he always thought acting was fun, but never really looked at it that way.

"This is why I actually envy you a lot, Eugene." Added Lila as her sad smile grew. "Even if you have flaws, you don't mind showing them to others. You're the best you, that you can be, and this is why you shouldn't ever let anyone take that from you."

"That's… my superpower." Eugene blushed, thinking of his chat with Spud. "Another friend of mine helped me to realize that too." Gradually, Eugene got up and walked down the stage steps. "I thought a lot about what you told me yesterday, and I decided that you're right. I am who I am, and I shouldn't worry about what anyone else thinks about me… but Lila, there is something I just don't quite understand…" He managed to walk up to her and scanned her expression, seeing her sad attempt at being happy again, even if just a moment ago, she was vulnerable and in tears. "Does this mean that you sometimes pretend to be happy, even if you're not?"

"Sometimes." She answered simply, with a shrug.

"But… why?" Eugene asked, his heart throbbing at the thought. "It's okay to be sad sometimes."

"Oh, Eugene… Don't you see?" Lila sighed, as she let her depression take hold. "Everyone likes me more when I'm happy, smiling, and doing my best… what do you think would happen if I was to just suddenly change? How do you think they would react if they knew that secretly, deep down, I'm struggling all the time to tell the difference between the me that I force myself to be, and who I really am? I'm… actually just a fake."

"We all struggle sometimes and need help, Lila. We have to just keep putting our best foot forward, and take every day one step at a time!" Eugene pleaded, realizing now why exactly Lila had helped him out the way she did, and why she envied him so much, causing his heart to ache even more. "And I'm still your friend, so why wouldn't others be?"

Lila let out a small laugh, thinking about how she had pretty much told him the same thing. "I suppose that's true…" She felt herself becoming a little lighter on the inside, after finally expressing herself to someone. "But I'm afraid not everyone is as open, and understanding as you are, Eugene."

He knew what she said was true, but even so, Eugene balled up his fists with determination. "Don't worry, Lila. You'll always have me on your side! Whenever you need to talk, or cry, or just… I don't know, watch tv with, or listen to music, I'll rise to the occasion!"

His reaction caused the girl to laugh again, but this time, with more feeling behind it. "If you insist." She appreciated how genuine he was, in everything that he did. "Thanks, Eugene… Just ever so much."

Eugene gave the girl the happiest smile he could muster up, hoping that he could help her in the ways she needed. "I've got a lot of musicals I like to watch at home when I'm feeling down, so whenever you want, just let me know if you'd like to come over and watch some with me!"

"I do love musicals." She giggled, now feeling a lot better than she had before. "My Aunt and I used to watch them together when I slept over. We would put on our pajamas, paint our nails together, and sing along!"

"I would say you could invite her too, but… that would be weird." Eugene laughed awkwardly, before gathering his things and preparing to leave. "But I would like to meet her someday! She seems great!"

"Oh…" Lila hesitated, her heart sinking down into her chest once more. She could hear that Eugene had begun talking again, but all of his words just sounded so far away for some reason. "Eugene…"

"Yeah?" He stopped, seeing her demeanor change back to something less than happy. "What is it?"

"Actually…" Lila began as she grabbed her belongings in preparation for their inevitable leave of this sanctuary. Her body felt strange, as she came to terms with reality and she knew it was finally time to share something she had kept secret. "I wish you could meet her too… but you can't…"

"I know she lives pretty far away, but doesn't she visit sometime?" Eugene tilted his head, a bit confused at this shift in tone.

"She's come to visit once or twice in the past but…" Her words stopped, and the room became ominously quiet. "She won't be coming to visit anymore… she can't."

Eugene could feel something was off about Lila, but her expression was blank. "Why… not?"

Lila looked down at the floor, unable to look at the person she had just become so close with, in such a short period of time. "Because… she's gone."

Understanding what those words could possibly mean, Eugene felt it wasn't necessary to ask, and left the air space open for her to elaborate on her own.

"My Dad and I went to help her out over the summer, but…" Feeling as though her legs could give out at any moment, Lila sat down in one of the auditorium seats. "It seems the infection wasn't gone completely, as they had thought… and she suddenly took a turn for the worst. They weren't able to save her…"

"I'm… so sorry." Was all Eugene could say, as he sat down next to her.

"We were all just ever so shocked…" She continued, feeling her blood run cold as she remembered her aunt joking with her, then nurses suddenly rushing in, as things beeped loudly in her hospital room. "One moment everything was normal and the next, she was gone." Turning her head, she could see how heartbroken Eugene was for her, and she put on another sad smile. "Most of our time spent in South Carolina, was actually my Dad making sure her affairs were in order. We cleaned up her house, packed her things, and prepared for her funeral. I did get to see a lot of my extended family, so that was nice but… all they really did was argue and fight about who was taking what, since she didn't leave a will."

"That's terrible…" frowned Eugene.

"It was…" Lila sighed. "It's not what she would have wanted, them all fighting like children so I'm sure it made her just ever so sad but… that's how it was."

"I can see why you didn't want to tell everyone what really happened…" Eugene gulped, just thinking of how it could have looked, her walking into the classroom with tear-stained cheeks, her expression full of grief. "And why you were more interested in hearing us talk about going to San Lorenzo."

"Right…" Lila nodded, happy that he not only understood but accepted the truth without any judgment about the lie. "It was just ever so hard when everyone kept trying to get me to tell them stories… when I didn't really have any to share. I could only tell them events that had happened in the past, such as us gardening together. It didn't make me feel great, but also it was nice pretending that everything was just a bad dream, you know?"

Having only ever lost his precious pets, Eugene could only imagine what she may have felt. "Yeah…"

They both became quiet, as they absorbed the reality of things, until the loudspeaker came on, indicating that the school would be closing soon and that all students still in the building, should exit immediately.

"I guess it's time for us to go, huh?" Motioned Eugene, as he stood up and held his hand out to her, in case she needed it.

Gladly accepting his kind gesture, Lila grasped his hand and stood up, testing her legs with a few stretches. "I guess so…"

Things felt a little different between the two, as they parted ways outside the building of P.S 118. They both smiled, feeling lighter, as though the world was just a tad bit brighter than it was before, despite the sky darkening as the sun began to set above them. Each putting their best foot forward, as they now had unburdened themselves, and treasured the bond they had created in doing so. Both content, and feeling accepted, they knew things would be okay from here on out.