“Ok, Em, that’s enough,” said Jenny hurriedly, who cupped a napkin over my gaping mouth and slapped my cheeks. “And what the hell is so funny anyway? You sing REALLY well, and I really think you can make it. You should TRY OUT at least, anyway.”
“Hehe! Whatever. I don’t sing THAT well, and I’m not pretty enough. Hello, have you seen Boa and Eugene? They’re gorgeous! And most importantly, they’re SKINNY. You have to weigh like under 110 pounds.”
“Diet! Get surgery!” chipped in Melissa, who was busy stuffing her face with spaghetti. “I can help you with an exercise program, Em, and design a diet for you. I’m good at that.”
“Yeah, just like you’re good at playing the piano and singing and badminton,” snapped Jenny, looking at her crossly.
“I’ll bet you are,” I added flippantly. “Anyway, Jenny, even if I DO try out, there’s gonna be a MILLION people there and there’s NO way I’d make it. And I’m not gonna go alone!”
“I’ll go with you!” voiced Melissa, springing up off of the bench to grin excitedly in my face. “I’m a REALLY good singer, and I can give you voice tips!”
“Oh my god!” exclaimed Jenny, turning disgustedly from Melissa to complain to Ada and Leticia. “Listen to her BRAG! God!”
“Shit, Jenny, what’s your problem?” said Melissa, eyeing her with contempt. “I’m just trying to help her.”
“Yeah, whatever,” muttered Jenny, crossing her arms and rolling her eyes.
Ada, Leticia, Elaine and I swiftly exchanged uneasy glances. This bitch-fighting had been going on for weeks, and lately we were all scared that it would accelerate to something more than just familial tension…
“Um, ok…so, children, tell me HONESTLY now, ok? Tell me the TRUTH. Do you really think I could make this audition?”
“No,” came a low voice behind me.
I spun around on the bench and confronted the person who had spoken. I stared into the dark brown eyes of a guy that I judged to be junior or senior. He stood at around 5’11” and was donned in dark baggy jeans and a red DKNY shirt. Strangely enough, I was also attired in dark blue jeans and a red DKNY shirt. His hair was gelled into spikes and his tanned skin gave the impression of athletic occupations.
In response to my raised eyebrow, he grinned and winked at me. “Just playin, sweety,” he drawled, flashing even white teeth. “Sorry, heard you talking about that audition and thought it was strange ’cause I planned on going to that audition too.”
“Really,” I said; it wasn’t a question. “That’s fascinating.”
I turned back around to my friends and was about to pose the question again when I felt a hand on my shoulder. “I’m sure you’ll do fine,” the guy whispered huskily, looking at me with a serious expression from his mahogany eyes. Smiling at me again, he liberally took one of my curly fries and walked away from my table.
I stared after his retreating figure and couldn’t help but notice what a nice physiognomy he had. Not heavy-set, but not skinny; he seemed toned and full of energy.
“Whoa, E-MI-LY!” exclaimed Elaine, enunciating each syllable of my name with perfect conciseness. “Who the hell was THAT?”
“I don’t know,” I said, turning back to my table.
“Oh, you guys don’t know? That’s Eric Mun, the new senior. My brother knows him from some classes.” Leticia copiously supplied us with this information while gazing intently at me. “Eeeeemmmmillly,” she said, drawing out my name in a whining tone. “Well, I know someone thinks SOMEone is hot!”
My children all laughed and commenced teasing me. “Wow, move over Tony Ahn!” exclaimed Melissa, smiling radiantly at me through a mouthful of spaghetti. “Emily, ask HIM to the dance! He’s WAY cuter than Tony, AND he’s a senior!”
“Yes, I think we’ve all noticed that,” said Ada. “And anyway, I thought we were helping Emily decide on the audition?”
“Thank you, Ada,” I whispered gratefully. “Ok children,” I said again, glancing round their shining happy faces, “what shall Mommy do?”
“Go to the audition!” cheered Jenny, putting her arm around my neck. “Really, Emily, you should go.”
“Ehh…I dunno…I don’t want to go alone…I know! I will only go if Mel, you,” I slung my arm around Jenny’s neck, “and Leticia accompany me.”
“Oh, god,” mumbled Leticia as Jenny drew back from me in horror.
“Woman, you’re crazy!” shouted Jenny, hastily backing up from me. “You—”
“Damn, woman, watch where you’re going!” said Andy Lee, a notorious sophomore for his ways with playing girls.
“Ok, god, sorry,” muttered Jenny, flipping off his back when he kept walking.
Mmmmm…I thought I just saw Elaine look curiously enough at Andy…
“Anyway,” said Jenny, with the air of one who has had a great injustice done to them, “I—”
BRRRIINNNGG!!!!
“Oh, too bad,” said Melissa, gathering up her lunch wastes and pulling on her backpack. “Emily, will you throw away my trash for me? Thanks. Love ya.” And off she went.
“God, that BITCH,” exclaimed Jenny, taking it upon herself to throw away Melissa’s trash. “Can’t she ever just throw away her own fucking garbage? Goddamn!”
Once again, Ada, Elaine, Leticia, and I gave warning glances to each other. “So,” I said, in hopes of smoothing her ruffled feathers, “Jenny and Leticia, think about the audition, ok? They’re in two weeks. Tell me if you’re interested tomorrow and I REALLY hope you two will want to come. I’ll see you guys later, ok? Good-bye children!”
The kids waved to me and I caught up with Veronica’s crew. “Hello children!” I said cheerily, greeting Melody, Annie, Peggy, and Kate.
“Mommy!” they exclaimed. After chatting about the easily-aced math quiz we had had earlier that day, we split up and Veronica and I walked to our fifth-period classes.
“Hey, Emily, did you see that hot new senior? Eric something?”
“Haha, yeah I saw him,” I said nonchalantly. Unknowingly, the name brought a frown and drawing-together of my eyebrows.
“Let me guess—you think he’s HOT, right?”
“Well, ehh…yeah. Hehe. Sure, he could be considered hot stuff, I guess.”
“Not as hot as Tony, right?” said Veronica slyly.
“What?” I whirled upon her, but she was too quick; instead of receiving a deadly headlock from me, she only got her razor-straight black hair loosened from its inexorable bun.
“Hahahahhaah! Have fun in health, Emily! Hehe!”
“Grrrr…” I gritted my teeth and prayed for no more crossings with hot guys for the rest of the day.
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