The Other Side Of Me
Book 1: A New Beginning
Chapter One: War Inside My Mind

Maybe Iggy wasn't as annoying as I thought he would be. As we walked into the theatrette to begin class, I'd already learnt most of his life story. I have to admit, it was pretty interesting. As a child he had been in a few advertisements on TV, which I told him I would find, and it stopped as he got older. His love to act never gave weight and now he had come to this uni to study. Around us were only a handful of students all talking amongst themselves. The area itself was huge, a large and open stage and the rest of the room was bare, ready for seats to be put down for the audience. In the middle of the stage stood a woman with long silver hair that reached her waist. Her blue eyes had age wrinkles around them and I instantly knew she had been working here for a very long time.

"Welcome everyone to the first class of Drama and Improvisation where you'll be studying your acting degree. Now in this first class I want to do a few activities so everyone can get to know each other, so let's all sit in a circle where you all are." We all sat down in a circle, Iggy was to the right of me and another random kid was to the left of me. "My name is Mrs Thompson and –" Iggy's hand shot straight into the air.

"Thompson, as in, the gun Thompson?" He asked with a wide grin. She shot him a dark look and the grin instantly slid off his face.

"I suppose so, yes. What's your name kiddo?" She asked him, the dark look still burning in her eyes.

He drew in a breath, "Griffith, Iggy Griffith."

"Well, Griffith, Iggy Griffith. You better not be such a smart ass in my class or I'll throw you out of the classroom faster than you can say 'Drama'." Snickers rippled through the circles and I couldn't help but nudge Iggy with my elbow.

"Idiot," I muttered to him with a smile. He nudged me back and gave Mrs Thompson another grin, this time a little evil. What a perfect start to the year.

"Alright class," she clapped her hands together, "One by one we'll stand up and we'll tell everyone our name and share a dirty little secret that we have." That got a lot of weird looks in her direction. She shrugged and said, "It's a good activity, trust me, it's hilarious." She caught my eye and winked at me. "Why don't you go first," she was still looking at me.

Inwardly cursing, I stood up and looked around at everyone in the circle, taking in a deep breath. I didn't kill him, I didn't kill him, I didn't kill him.

"My name is Max and my secret is uh…" Don't say it, don't say it, "I'm madly in love with Peeta from Hunger Games." Off all things I could've said, I say that? I drew my breath out, looking around the room again and meeting everyone's eyes evenly before looking at Mrs Thompsons'. She nodded at me, a peculiar sparkle in them, and I sat down. Iggy looked at me and I shot him glare saying 'Don't even think about it."

"Alright, Iggy, what's your secret?" Mrs Thompson mused.

Iggy stood up and brushed himself off, another grin appearing on his face. "Well, as everybody already knows by now I'm Iggy, but I have many secrets." He looked down at me for a split second before looking Mrs Thompson in the eyes. "But my deepest one is," he swallowed loudly and everyone leaned in a little more, "I'm, also, madly in love with Peeta from the Hunger Games."

I burst out laughing while staring up at Iggy, clapping him on the back as he sat down. More sniggers ran through the circle, everybody beginning to understand there's going to be a battle between Mrs Thompson and Iggy all year. A few guys and girls across the circle gave Iggy the thumbs up as I tried to control my laughter.

"I guess from Iggy's secret we can understand that he is homosexual. Moving on." Mrs Thompson had just won.

"Burrrrrrrrn," a random guy called to the left of me.

After that episode no one else tried to defy the wrath of Mrs Thompson, except Iggy, who kept trying to point out he wasn't gay.

"Iggy," I started as we walked out of class, "I'm sorry to say but Mrs Thompson completely owned you back there." It was already three in the afternoon and I was happy to say that I had enjoyed that class, so I think I'll survive the year.

"Max! Help!" Ella screamed from the other room.

"Ella? Where are you?" I yelled back, opening and closing doors to find her.

"He's got a-" Her scream tore through the halls of the empty building. My blood curdled as I ran to the last door. Locked. I stood back and kicked at it. Once. Twice. The door fell down.

"Ella," I froze and looked at the sight before me.

I fell on the ground.

"Max?" Iggy shook my shoulders. "Are you alright?"

I looked up at him, shaking my head to clear the strange light in my eyes. "I'm fine, I think. What happened?"

He helped me up to my feet, holding me steady. "You kinda just zoned out and you screamed and fell down. Are you sure you're alright?"

"I think so." I tried to step forward and my legs gave way. Iggy caught me, pulling me up again and taking most of my weight.

"Did you walk here or did you drive?" He asked me.

"Walked," I managed to get out. My hand started burning, reminding me that I had actually injured it that morning.

"Look, I'll give you a lift home if that's alright?" I shook my head and let him lead me to the parking lot. He helped me into the car and buckled me in like a child, which I tried to stop, trust me but I didn't have the strength. "Looks like we'll be catching that movie another time, Max." He let out a chuckled. "Where do you live?"

I rattled off my address, which he obviously knew where it was, and drove the short trip to my house.

The door was locked when we reached the door, which was strange because Ella normally left it unlocked so I could get in. I took out my phone from my pocket and checked my recent messages.

Max I'm going to the mall with a few friends, but we stopped at the house and I put the key under the mat so you could get in.

xoxo Ella

"Ella, you smart shit," I muttered beneath my friend. I bent down and lifted the mat, picking up the key and unlocking the door. I looked at Iggy and waved him into the house. Ella would be out till six and mum didn't come home till seven, so we had a few hours to burn.

I sat down on the couch and Iggy plopped down next to me. "What horror movie do you want to watch?"

"I don't even get a choice of genre now? God, women these days." I glared at him. "Haunting In Connecticut."

"Good choice."

Crossing my fingers you enjoyed chapter two, don't worry, all the juicy stuff is going to come soon. Hope you liked it, if you did, leave a comment, share and favourite this story up!

Laura Saturn