I probably would have stayed there all day, locked in that same embrace with Bill. I could’ve- and most likely would’ve- had the moody caretaker not come in and disturbed us with shouts of,
“C’mon lovebirds, out you get!”
We both went our separate ways, sort of shell-shocked at how quickly this had come about, and guess what I did; went straight up to my room and told Jess.
It started out with her listening avidly from her bed, but towards the end there was some shrieking and she jumped around and hugged me.
“I’m so happy for you guys, I knew this would happen eventually!”
I just grinned back. I could hardly believe this myself.
“I hate him, I hate him!” Jess mimics my voice, causing me to swipe up the pillows on my bed, leap across and hit her with them.
“OI!” she squeaks, “don’t mess up my hair, bitch!”
“Slut!” I shout back cheerfully, bouncing up and down on my bed and adopting a fighting stance with the pillows,
“WHORE!” she screams, grabbing up her own pillows with one hand, and desperately trying to flatten her hair with the other.
“Right! That’s it!” I yell, mock-angrily, hurling myself towards her with arms flailing and mouth shouting.
And that sparks the beginning of one of our famous pillow fights. They are a lot of fun, but also uncharacteristically loud and violent. By the time we’ve had our fill and the pair of us are winded, with pillow feathers everywhere, we sink down onto Jess’s bed, panting and laughing and shoving each other.
There is a sharp knock on our dorm door, and thinking it is someone like Marissa, Jess cries, “Enter if you dare!”
“Ahem, is Mia Van Deusen in here please?” comes a male voice through the door. Male members of staff aren’t allowed to enter female dorm rooms unless told by the inhabitants that it is okay for them to come in, so the guy is knocking. I giggle, as it sounds like someone of authority and we’re in here covered in pillow feathers. And then it dawns on me that it sounds suspiciously like Mr Walters- head of music and my vocal coach- and gasp, leaping off the bed and rushing over to the door.
Sir looks more than a little surprised at the scene in our room. White feathers are strewn everywhere- as well as all over me and Jess- and we’re both red faced and panting. The place is a mess, and nothing is where it should be. He gulps and then says,
“Uh Mia, I’ll need to discuss with you about a matter regarding your singing,” he looks pointedly at Jess and our room, “What happened in there?”
“Tornado.” I say, with a perfect straight face, and I let the door swing shut as I am ushered down the corridor, leaving Jess snorting with barely-suppressed laughter inside.
***
Once we’re inside Mr Walters office, he offers me a seat, which I accept. I seem to be spending a little too much time inside teacher’s offices recently.
“Now, Mia.” He sits behind his desk, whilst I sit on my hands and click my steel-tipped shoes together, impatient to get back to my room and get ready for my next lesson.
“As you know at the prom this year, we have decided to showcase some of our school’s talent, meaning some of the music students would be asked to play, or in your case, sing.”
So… was he asking me what I thought he was?
“We’ve decided that we would like you, Mia Van Deusen, to be one of the few to perform at the prom. What do you think?”
I could picture it now, me in my prom dress up on stage, belting out some emo-ish lyrics and having everyone stare up at me. Tempting prospect? I think so.
“Really?” I ask, wide-eyed.
He smirks, “yes really. So, would you like to sing at the prom?”
“Uhh…yeah!” I squeak. I could’ve hugged him, would that not have been totally weird ‘cause he’s a teacher and all.
His smirk widens, and he says “Right, excellent. Keep using your practise room, and off you go to your next lesson!”
So that was it, I skip down the corridor, clicking my steel heels as I go.
“Mia that’s fabulous! You’re soo lucky!” Jess says, as we both sit in Science, talking about the day’s events.
“You bet,” I grin.
“Now all we need to do is work out what we’re gonna do for your birthday!” Jess sounds excited, she loves planning parties.
“Whaa?” What with everything that had been going on recently, I’d almost forgotten. It was my birthday four days before prom, so most people just used it as a warm-up party for a few drinks, but I didn’t think I wanted that this year. I didn’t think I wanted a party at all this year, and said so.
“Of course you need a party! Mia honey, you’re the gothic it-girl of the school! Bill Kaulitz is falling at your feet! Everyone would want to come! You have to turn sixteen in style darling!”
“Can’t we just save up for my eighteenth?” I ask, but she is having none of it.
“Of course not. You are having a sixteenth birthday party whether you like it or not.”
“Fine. Fine.” I say, “more dress shopping it is then?”
“Oh god.” Says Jess, “we’ll have to find you something that doesn’t come as a package deal with four hours of shopping hell!”
“Deal.” I reply. Maybe it won’t be so bad after all.
(Author's note)
So. A lot’s going on in this chapter. She’s with Bill (or is she?) She’s having a birthday party AND is given the opportunity to sing at prom. I’m well excited about the next few chapters, and am trying to get back into the swing of writing this story, as I’ve still got so much more to give.
