Story, An Untitled

Copyright Julia Bydulia

Part III of an unfinished story

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When Michelle woke up every morning, her bedroom was cluttered and her mind was in a fog. The sound and sensation of her vibrating phone alarm would wake her up and she would turn it off, opening her eyes cautiously. She woke up before it was light most days, so her room was dimly lit and covered in lightweight shadows. She kicked off her blankets and stared at the ceiling before jumping out of bed, grabbing any clean clothes that matched, and running into the bathroom she shared with her brother and sister so that she could get ready for school.

That morning, when she got into the bathroom she stared unblinkingly at her own reflection and rearranged her face into a variety of expressions. Her short, dark hair was choppy and unkempt, hanging around her face like old curtains that had had a chainsaw put to them. She sighed and tried to comb it into submission, knowing that eventually it had to look half way human.

What is he doing right now? she thought, her mind wandering to Vincent. She had been in love with him for quite some time, but, the passion faded near the beginning of that freshman year. Still, she couldn't help thinking of him when nothing else was on her mind. What's his morning routine? She closed her eyes and tried to picture what he did in the morning. The image of him standing in front of a mirror and brushing his teeth, his long hair out of its usual ponytail and down around his shoulders. She smiled and opened her eyes, finding her own reflection looking radiant.

Stop it, she commanded herself. You're falling into the same traps, she thought, remembering all of the times she had seen herself like that in the years she had chased Vincent.

Her heart felt vulnerable. Michelle finished her morning routine and walked out of the bathroom, preparing to wait for her siblings to get ready so that their dad could drive them into school. She sat in the chair she always did, opened her notebook to a random page, and started begging her mind to give her something to write about other than him. It's time to really move on, she told herself. You know it's not how you feel. Not when he's around. So why are you telling yourself that you do whenever he's not? She wasn't sure if what she was thinking made sense, but, the words did calm the rapid beating of her heart.

School was only ten minutes away. The drive was short. Staring out her window, Michelle could see the grass and the trees almost in a gray scale when the sun was hiding. She kept her eyes on one spot of dirt on her window and let everything disappear as the car flew by. When the car stopped, she knew they were there without having to look. She jumped out of the car and grabbed her tote full of books, running into the school and hoping she wasn't late.

Today will be good, she tried to convince herself at her locker before she headed to geometry, feeling drowsy. Just make it through first period. Then, chorus will pick you up. And Spanish will be tolerable. Vincent in fourth period. Terrence in fourth period. Both of them in fifth...and sixth...and seventh...and eighth...then you get to go home. Easy. Easy easy easy.

So she went to geometry and prepared to glance at the clock a million times, each time expecting it to have changed, but, finding it almost exactly the same until it felt like it would never end.

Then, the bell rang. She grabbed her books and ran, desperate to see Kayla, Elena, her sister Mandy, and Petunia.

Today will be good, she thought, smiling as she pictured her chorus friends. The hall seemed far too long. She rushed to reach the chorus room and ran into Petunia in the hall. She grabbed Michelle's sleeve and jerked her back. "Hey!" She called excitedly. "Ready for Mr. James this morning? It's probably just going to be another class of audition reminders."

"Sounds yummy," Michelle commented, laughing and adjusting her shirt sleeve.

Petunia stared at her, and they both knew her comment made no sense. They laughed and kept on walking toward the chorus room. Petunia was a senior, and Michelle was just a freshman, but, Petunia was friends with Michelle's sister, so they got a chance to talk sometimes. Michelle got the feeling that Petunia liked to have as many people to talk to as she could, and that she liked Michelle's sense of humor...most days. So, they talked in the halls and in chorus class, and sometimes and lunch when Michelle would visit her sister's lunch table.

"Is Penny here today?" Petunia asked, referring to Michelle's sister.

"Yeah, she is. She actually got up on time this morning." Michelle laughed and opened the door to the chorus room, finding it full of all of their friends. "Elena!" She called out, feeling like quite the child as she rushed over to sit next to her only freshman companion in the entire class. Everyone else was a sophomore or older.

"Hey, Michelle," Elena said, quickly turning away from the conversation she was having with Mandy. They seemed to be talking about someone in their family. Michelle listened, though she didn't quite understand some of it.

Just then, Mr. James walked in. The conversations carried on at full force until he started to clear his throat exaggeratedly and hit a few random notes on the piano. Everyone turned to face him. "Thank you," he said softly. "As I told you yesterday, rehearsals are next week. Do any of you need music or monologues?"

Michelle raised her hand. "I need a CD," she told him.

"I'll get my CDs out for you at the end of class," he informed her without even turning in her direction.

"Ok," she whispered, shrinking away.

Today will be good, she promised herself again, hoping it was true.