Stuck Between Two Walls

My heart dropped to the ground. This feeling, this sensation, this tingling of every nerve in my body is quite different from what I’ve ever experienced before. Shock won’t even cover it. Slowly, painfully, all eyes turned to my direction. Not only are they staring at me, but they have on expectant looks on their faces. Like I owe them something. Like for once, I am something more than what I used to be. For crying out loud, THEY’RE GRINNING AND NODDING AT ME.

WHAT THE HELL.

Okay, breathe. Les, breathe. Take a deep breath. Inhale. Exhale. Now, look at James. Then, look at your classmates. SHIT, WRONG MOVE. Okay, now look down. Inhale, exhale.

It won’t work, damn it.

Sucking another deep breath, I faced forward and the warm sensation burst again within me. Oh God, this is the feeling I always detest.

This adrenaline rush feeling I always ignored but now it’s overpowering me. It’s controlling me. And yes, I do not like it. Not one bit.

From the corner of my eye, I can see Ethan stiffened, frowning (or glaring, I don’t really know with that dark eyeliner of his) at the guy speaking in front. My whole body tensed even more as impossible as that sounds.

“For Pete’s sake, Leslie. C’mon.” James pleaded, scratching the back of his head impatiently.

I stared at him in disbelief. Is he serious right now? Tell me this is all a stupid joke. Please tell me that I’m daydreaming, lost in my own thoughts. I must be going crazy with all the things going in my life. Yes. Let’s just face that simple fact: I am going crazy and I’m currently hallucinating. Everything around me doesn’t exist. Yes, I liked that.

“Leslie Diaz...” James said in a sing-song voice which admittedly is one of the nicest voice I’ve heard in a long time. His voice has a certain melody attached to it that made you feel like you’re floating to heaven, to infinity and beyond. Kinda like the song “Scarborough Fair” by Simon and Garfunkel I might add which I am not asking for you to listen what are you talking about but seriously go to YouTube right now and listen to that song and prepare for an eargasm put nicely.

Back at the situation (which I apparently realized is not an hallucination) at hand, I found myself frowning at him. My lips refused to move so no word shall come out. My face was still burning with our exchange of looks like some sort of hidden message was being passed back and forth between us.

Slowly, painfully I stood up. I didn’t know how I did it but my legs seemed to have a mind of their own and they dragged me out of my chair. All eyes lingered on me as I glide my feet forward, approaching the dark tunnel of embarrassment. My mind was finding this hard to process and for once, my inner voice was quiet as if anticipating the next scene.

The next scene was not what I have expected.

“What do you think you’re doing, Leslie?” Ethan Harrison exclaimed as soon as I was standing next to James.

I glanced at him, dumbfounded. What was I doing? And was he really talking to me?

Racking my brain for answer, Mr. Varner saved me as he replied to Ethan’s question. “I believed it has something to do with the Music Festival of the school, Mr. Harrison.” He turned to James. “Am I right, Mr. Lawson?”

James eagerly nodded his head, his smile stretching across his face widely. I can’t stop smiling at his cute gesture. His cheeks were just screaming, “PINCH ME NOW”.
Wait, wait, wait.

Music Festival?

My eyes widened, my jaw dropping. What does he mean by MUSIC FESTIVAL?

WHAT THE HELL IS A MUSIC FESTIVAL?

~*~

“It’s an annual event set up the Music Club after the exams. Clearly, you’ve heard of it.” James told me, setting up flyers and documents on the table before us.

Us is composed of James, Ellen, Mark, me, and two other people whose names I’ve forgotten because they are too long and too impossible for me to pronounce.

“So, the teachers just allow you to actually have a meeting about this during class hours?” I asked, my eyes gesturing to the room we were currently occupying. I mean, the Music Room as far as I know is only to be used by clubs during break and dismissal. What the hell am I doing here?

“Yep.” James replied as he passed papers to Ellen who read them and put them into a file. “They trust us.”

“And they know how much we are lacking members. We can’t do this shit for only two weeks.” Mark added, still looking at his laptop. “I mean, this event is going to be held after the exams and exams are two weeks from now. Setting up an event and studying for exams don’t go along together.”

“And why am I here exactly?” I hissed at them, placing my hands on the table and standing up from my chair.

“I invited you.” Ellen answered, smiling sweetly at me, a blush forming her cheeks. Her blond hair fell to her eyes as she looked at me with... something. The soft look of adoration in her brown eyes made me almost lose my balance. “I like your personality and I think the Music Club can use some of your bad-ass-leave-me- alone-i-don’t-give-a-fuck-what-you-think character.”

I stared at her, my mind going blank.

She chuckled, putting down papers in front of her. “Remember that time in the cafeteria?”

I shook my head, raising an eyebrow at her.

“That one moment with Jane? You made her eat up her own words, girl! The look on her face? Priceless!” she exclaimed, her eyes glowing fiercely from the memory.

“There is one thing you should know about Ellen.” Mark said, finally looking up from the screen. His face, for once, showed a little bit of emotion. “She hates Jane Meyer more than anything else in the planet.”

“I also hate my ex-boyfriend. And clowns. Ugh, I hate clowns.”

I looked at the disgusted expression of Ellen. I don’t know whether to laugh or be scared of this chick.

“Well, her boyfriend cheated on her with that girl so it’s no surprise.” Mark shrugged, typing again.

“She sticks to every guy. It’s like a magnet was planted between her legs!” Ellen hissed, slamming her hand on the top of the paper.

“Ellen.” James warned, throwing a stern look at her.

“It’s true! She even hit on my brother after that incident. Who does that? She stole my boyfriend, excuse me, ex-boyfriend then moved to my brother afterwards? She makes me sick!” Her voice became an octave higher.

“Well, she is pretty. And hot.” One of the Russian guys said, a stapler in his hand.

“And that stapler will look so much better if slammed into your brains.” Ellen threatened, making a move to grab the stapler.

“Ellen, stop it. Past is past.” James said, handing her another pile of papers.

“Yeah. But then again, once a bitch, always a bitch. You just can’t trust that girl.” She stuck her tongue out at him.

He rolled his eyes at her, moving back to the paper he was working on. “Maybe she’s changed.”

“Oh, and maybe I’ve just became the president of the Unites States.” Ellen retorted, making a face.

My mouth was pressed into a hard line, I’m quite liking their bickering, it entertains me. I watched as Ellen started talking again then James and Mark would make a witty comment to stop her rant. I watched as the two Russian dudes watched with me, a grin slowly drawing our lips.

This is kinda fun.

“Jane even made a move on Ethan Harrison.” Ellen continued, her face turning sour.

“Like she has a chance. That guy is weird and I doubt he’ll give her any attention.” Mark told her, shaking his head.

Oh, weird is such an understatement. He’s more than weird, that’s a fact you guys should know.

“He’s not so bad.” Ellen shrugged. “He’s sorta cute, too.”

“Oh hey! Will you look at this?” Mark said, showing his empty hand at her. “Look at all the fucks I give!”

“Too bad he rejected our offer, huh?” Ellen sighed, moving back to her work.

“What do you mean by he rejected?” I asked them, my eyebrows smashing together.

“He said something between, ‘I am a dark wall’ or ‘I prefer being with the wall". Mark told me, shrugging. “Which I interpreted as ‘Leave me alone, you stupid idiots.’ He left after he said that so it fits nicely to my translation.”

“Yeah. He’s different, very.” She has no idea how right she is. "And Jane doesn’t deserve him.” Ellen shook her head slowly.

Mark snorted. “Who deserves him then? You?”

“No.” Ellen said, then she moved her eyes toward me, “Leslie does.”