She woke up that morning sweaty and cold promptly heading towards the bathroom to clean up. She knew she was anxious, she normally was but today was a big deal. After she had showered and brushed her teeth she threw on a pair of grey dress pants and a red blouse with a floral pattern. She walked quickly to breakfast trying to avoid people. Zari smiled when she saw her two new friends Angie and Emma just sitting down a few tables away. Grabbing her food she walked over to them and placed her tray next to Angie's sliding onto the bench.
"Morning" Angie greeted joyfully shoving a forkful of eggs into her mouth.
"Morning! How was your night?" Zari replied happily
"Mine was great!" Angie answered looking at Emma
"Same" She replied shyly.
"So what's your first class?" Angie asked before continuing to eat.
"I have musical theater"
"Fun! We both have history" Replied Emma much to Zaris's surprise. She nodded and looked up at the clock, she did want to continue talking but she also wanted to be early for class.
"Nice talking to you guys! I'm going to go to class. I want to be early" They both nodded and wished her well. She threw her things away and made her way to the theater, it had a building to itself and was beautiful. She stood in awe taking in the stage imagining herself dancing and singing in a show.
"Well well well. Look who it is" Zari recognized the voice immediately and spun around.
"What do you want Sophie?" She sarcastically asked, taking a seat at the front of the theater pulling her notebook out.
"Nothing. Just surprised to see you that's all"
"What, You thought I would be taking some business class?"
"I didn't mean that. I just didn't take you to be a theater person"
"Well, I am. I'm surprised you are though" Zari watched as Sophie walked up and sat down a few seats away from her.
"Ya I get that a lot. I actually really love theater. Always have"
"What happened last night?"
"What do you mean?" Zari sighed
"You know what I mean Sophie. You left me there, angrily. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine"
"You know I get that you hate my family and all and believe me I wish I didn't have to carry around their name but, I don't want you to keep treating me like this, at least not when we are alone" Sophie took a breath and fiddled with her fingers anxiously.
"I get it and I don't want to be mean to you. I really don't, it's just that people are watching, my family already dislikes me enough as it is." Zari nodded and looked ahead.
"People need to think you don't like me I get it"
"Look I am really sorry about this. And I don't mean what I say around other people, you know when I'm talking about you"
"Ya, thanks" She looked over at Sophie momentarily getting lost in her eyes.
"Ah! You two are early!" Exclaimed an enthusiastic voice from the far end of the theater causing both girls to just a little.
"Well don't be shy what are your names, first and last please?" Zari gulped looking down at her feet.
"Hi, I'm Sophie Mklean" The teacher nodded in approval.
"Well nice to meet you, Sophie. And who might you be?" She said looking at Zari.
"I'm Zari du Pont" She replied quietly hoping her last name would be drowned out.
"A du Pont wow! That's quite a family you got there, you must be from Delaware then and I correct?" Zari nodded trying to plaster a fake smile upon her face. By this time a few more students had entered the theater taking their seats. A few minutes later around 15 students had arrived and the teacher was sitting cross-legged on the stage waiting patiently.
"Hello everyone! Welcome to musical theater, let's go around the room and introduce ourselves, shall we. Sophie, you may start and don't forget to tell us where you are from and your age"
"Um hi, everyone I'm Sophie I'm 14 and I'm from California, the bay area" everyone went around, and when the class was finished the teacher pulled out a bunch of scripts and handed one out to each of the students.
"As you can see this year we are going to be putting on a production of Wicked. Auditions will be in two weeks time, I will send out an email with the songs and we will be doing the dance auditions today" All of the students got up on stage putting themselves in a neat line like they were instructed, and began to follow along with the teacher who had still failed to mention her name. Zari tried to keep up, dancing was never much of a strong suit for her but she did her best. At the end of class, they all walked out of the theater some students chattering others silently looking at their feet. Zari knew she wanted to audition for Elphaba, she had seen the show a year ago with her family and loved the songs she sang. She wondered who Sophie would audition for. Her last class ended at 3:30 and she had a whole hour of free time before sports. She made her way back down to the theater having previously noticed a way to the roof. She climbed up laying down her face turned to the right to look at the mountains and trees.
"Zari?" she sat up frightened quickly seeing Sophie sit next to her.
"Sophie, why are you here?"
"Honestly I followed you after class and wanted to make sure you were ok. I heard your math class was a bit hard" Zari Rubbed her hand on her face.
"I'm fine" she responded coldly
"Ok, well can I hang out with you?" Zari nodded and sighed again.
"My mom texted me an hour ago. She told me to stay away from you, which obviously I won't because I want to hang out with you" Sophie turned to look at Zari Causing the same unwanted feeling in Zari's stomach.
"That's nice," She said awkwardly hugging her knees to her chest.
"Ya, Hey how about this is our meeting spot? When you wanna talk to me write a note and slip it under my door" She felt a slight blush creep up her cheeks.
"Sure, that would be nice I guess"
"Alright sounds like a plan. I do have to get going now though I'll see you later?"
"Ya I'd like that" Zari smiled at Sophie who stood up walking carefully over to the edge of the roof and climbing down. Something about that girl made Zari want to smile and laugh. She really wished she didn't have the du Pont name, that way maybe she would be able to freely hang out with Sophie.
After sports When Zari was heading to dinner a rock landed loudly in front of her.
"Hello Z. How's daddy's money treating you here at school?" Sophie mocked causing a handful of girls she was around to laugh.
Zari tried to ignore Sophie by walking faster but Sophie just kept walking alongside her with her friends. One of the friends Grabbed her hood and yanked it back causing Zari to fall to the ground in a painful thud. She heard more laughing and she felt a few feet push her around slightly. "Nice one Ava!" One of the girls laughed as they walked off towards the dining hall. Zari brushed the dirt off her jeans and sweater and slowly stood up rubbing the back of her head. A tear slowly slid down her face as she ran back towards the dorm shutting herself in her room. About an hour later she heard a piece of paper slide under her door. She got up out of her desk where she was doing history homework and opened the piece of paper.
I'm sorry about what happened earlier. I never wanted you to get hurt I swear. I really wanted to help you and yell at them but I couldn't. I do hope you're ok. If you still want to, will you meet me at the same time tomorrow? I really don't want you to hate me and I want to explain what happened if you let me.
From, You know who :)
Zari looked down at the note thoughtfully before crumpling it up and tossing it in the trash. She would decide what to do in the morning.