tw: i have rated this story wrong, there is some swearing, sorry!
splayla
Ooooooh, last period! And its music composition! Papers fly out of my tote bag as I rush from the cafeteria to the recording room.
Eztri waku suiteyu kami…
Ya!
Nawenaso kansunai lasonai…
Nistai, nistai, nistai…
My remixed version of #47 onwards was finally complete, which meant I had free time once I had submitted it. I couldn't wait to hear it back for the first time! I was just about to hit play when my phone buzzed from my pocket.
Unknown caller ID? Hmmmm…
I accept the call and push the phone up against my ear.
"Hello? Hello? Is this Splayla?"
The voice sounded familiar and I had to rack my brains to think if this was anyone I'd met before… nope, nothing.
"Hi, this is Marina from Off the Hook?" My heart stopped. Omg. This is the Marina from the Off the Hook! I held my breath for as long as was acceptable and then squeaked out a "Yes, miss,"while I started to write the phone number down on a scrap piece of paper. Hey, I might need it for later!
"OMG I'm your biggest fan!" I blurted. "I've got all your albums and I've remixed some of your songs and I'm working on a harmonic version of Unconscience where I sing as Pearl and-"
A light cough stops me from ranting and Marina shifts the phone so that I can hear a loud buzzing noise.
"We've been told that you are one of the best singers in the world!" warbled a voice that also sounded familiar. But it definitely wasn't Pearl. She was on annual leave from singing and Marina was still touring singing her newly famous Unconscience. It sounded like a guy that Splateryna had told me about, that had cheated her of her money and publicly harassed her. So this must be C Q cumber. Rage filled in my heart and I felt sick.
"How dare you harass my sister like that you son of a-"
"Calm down, Splayla, we're working with him to create more music. He's actually very good at it!" I could hear her patting the squishy jerk on the head before continuing.
"The reason we've called you is because there's been a problem releasing more music from Grizzco as inklings and octolings alike are not accepting the ones that are associated with octoling abuse. Are you okay with re-releasing the music and reassuring them that you're fine?"
I shudder. "Erm, I guess so?"
"Yay!" squealed Marina." I'll call you back!" She hung up and I was left staring at a silent phone.
What the heck did I just agree to?
lantern
Why did I ever choose ball dancing as a freakin' subject?
I was paired with some creepy yellow haired inkling who kept staring right into my eyes. Most awkward day of my entire life.
After what felt like an eternity of failing to stand up straight like a normal octoling, the bell rang and I swear I moved at light speed away from that girl. I grabbed my phone and saw a message from Spyke. I felt my mood lift and a dopey smile spread onto my face, stealing onto it like algae steals onto a rock, like how barnacles steal onto the bottom of ships. I quickly opened my phone and opened the message. It said, S: good luck w ballroom dancing. u r gonna have to tell me how it went. i am eagerly awaiting ur answer :). I felt a swarm of butterflies set itself off in my stomach, doing the cha-cha-cha, or maybe the floss. I shot off an answer quickly. L: oh, it was amazing. obv my faaaave subject. A reply pinged back almost immediately.
S: well, u will have to teach me. i cant dance my way out of a paper bag. well, not more refined dancing anyway.
L: rubbish. im sure ur a fab dancer
S: ugh fine, i can breakdance
L: omg that is SO COOL. but dont u injure urself?
S: wow thx mom. nah jk, i dont really injure myself.
I was walking along the hallways to my next class, trying to navigate my way through the throng of students. I took a turn where most students seemed to be walking and looked back to my phone.
L: really? w that hair of urs? im impressed
S: u would be surprised how easily i can tie it back
L: u would have to show me someday. hopefully in the near future
I looked up, and blanched. I was in a narrow room full of desks, with Latin writing on the board. This was most definitely not English class. I turned around and rushed towards the door. I tugged on the handle and twisted it to no avail. It was locked. I could've kicked myself. I got so distracted with the messages from Spyke that I had wandered the wrong way. I pulled out my phone and dialled Lamp, my fingers fumbling. I waited anxiously as one ring passed. Two, three, four rings passed. Five, six rings. . .And he finally picked up.
" Lamp, Lamp, Lamp. Something really bad happened."
"What? You do realise I was in the middle of class and I had to call a bathroom break to answer you?"
"I'm stuck in some Latin classroom and the doors are locked."
"What do you mean in some Latin classroom?"
"I mean exactly what you think I mean-" The call cut off and I stared at my flat phone.
Fucking goddammit.