Catlin Frey
5th period
4 April 2014
From Deep Within
Everyone gathered in the auditorium of the big, brick building neurotically awaiting the spectacle to be unveiled. One by one they began to quiet down as the red curtains parted revealing two tall boys named Elijah and Derek. They began the Talent Show by introducing themselves.
“ I’m Derek,” said the tan skinned boy, with curly brown hair, and almond eyes.
“ And I’m Elijah.” said the the blond haired, blue-eyed boy nervously.
Both were smiling as they welcomed everyone to the Talent Show, they then began to introduce those who had entered starting with a short boy with high cheek bones, deep blue eyes, and raven black hair. He thus began to recite a dark poem called “Death’s Embrace,”
“ Life
Life which has chained me to this earth
Relinquish me from this pain you call life
And bring me to your sweet elysian
Free my spirit, so that I may grant you my soul…”
After he finished his poem the audience sat in a awkward silence only to be broken by Derek,
“Give it up for Adrian! Next we have Katherine performing…”
A girl with long, wavy flaming locks of auburn hair, vibrant emerald green eyes, and fair skin stepped onto the stage with such prowess as she made her way to the microphone. She began to bellow out lyrics from her favorite song "Black is the Color" by Cara Dillion,
“ Black is the color of my true love's hair
Her lips are like a rose so fair
She's got the sweetest face and the gentlest hands
I love the ground whereon she stands
I love my love and well she knows
I love the ground whereon she goes
And how I wish the day would come
When she and I can be as one
I go to the Clyde and mourn and weep
Satisfied I never will sleep
I'll write her a letter just a few short lines
And suffer death ten thousand times..."
Slowly she began to captivate the crowd with her voice, as she lost herself in the song, almost as if she was putting them in a hypnotic trance. Once the last words of the song ended the crowd grew into an ecstatic frenzy, clapping and cheering her name,“ Katherine! Katherine! Katherine!” Politely she bowed to the audience, grinning from ear to ear as she walked behind the curtain. Suddenly the nefarious Melissa and her clique were called to the stage for their dance performance, begrudgingly eyeing her when they crossed paths. The rhythmic beats of music spouted from each speaker as the group began to dance, moving sequentially to one another. After their dance ended, the other competitors went on the stage to perform their talent, which ranged from magic, music, comedy, and dance. When all of those who had entered the Talent Show were done, Derek and Elijah made their way back onto the stage, Elijah was the first to speak,
"Ladies and gentlemen I would like to thank everyone who came out today and for their performance, but now it is time for the winners of the Talent Show."
"And in third place we have..." said Derek.
Pause, now rewind all the way back to the beginning…
Katherine sat quietly as Mr. Wilson began to introduce their new assignment,
"Listen up, starting today we will begin to work on a historical presentation of 1900s, where you and a partner will create of PowerPoint along with a presentation of a figure of the 1900s, such as Theodore Roosevelt, Marilyn Monroe, or any other person of your choosing. To mix things up I have chosen partners for the class: Bekka and Hailey, Heath and Robert, Katherine and Lucas, ..."
Once Mr. Wilson finished the list everyone began to partner up, Katherine sat quietly as Lucas began to make his way over to her searching to see who didn't have a partner, Lucas was the most popular guy in school, he had broad shoulders, dark brown hair, chiseled features, and captivating grey eyes. She had always been the type to go unnoticed because she was too shy to talk to anyone, so she was use to this by now, but secretly she wished she could be like Melissa, she was the most popular girl in school and Lucas’s girlfriend. Melissa was the girl everyone wanted to be, but if you ever got on her bad side she make sure you wish you had never been born.
"Are you Katherine?"
"Yea," she said almost mumbling.
"I'm Lucas," giving his usual smile that made a girl’s knees go weak.
"I know."
"Do you have any ideas, I thought we could do Henry Ford."
"Umm...sure."
When the bell rang she quickly gathered her belongings and tried to rush out the door, but she suddenly tripped scattering her belongings on the floor as she collapsed to the ground in a loud thud. A burst of laughter erupted amongst the class, at that moment she could have died from embarrassment, what was even worst she had fallen right in front of Lucas. Frantically she grabbed her things, got up and walked out the door brushing past everyone trying to make her escape, fighting back tears. Once she got home no longer able to hold back her tears she silently cried knowing that tomorrow everyone would know what happened, since Bekka and Hailey were part of Melissa’s clique and they would surely tell her, she would be the laughing stock of the school until something else happened. Sluggishly walked to school, with the hope that something would happen causing attention elsewhere rather than herself. As she walked through the door of the old brick building she could feel the glare of everyones eyes stalking her like a predator and its prey, her attention was then drawn to Melissa and her clique with their mischievous smirking,
“Look at me,” said Bekka as she collapsed to the floor laughing.
Everyone began to laugh and point, trying to block everyone out she walked to her locker, as the day went on the constant giggling and pointing continued. By the end of the day she couldn’t wait to get home, when she walked through the bright red door of her house she went to grab a snack and found her mom and her Aunt Rachel, her aunt was one of her favorite people in the world and she could always make Katherine feel better no matter how bad she was doing. Her Aunt Rachel, was a tall, elegant woman with high cheek bones, auburn hair, vibrant green eyes with flecks of amber, and the personality that attracted anyone around her.
“So how’s my beautiful niece doing?”
“Good,” she said in an emotionless tone.
“Are you sure? You don’t sound too good to me,”
“Yea.”
“Julie, can I talk to Katherine alone for a minute?”
“Of course,” she said, “I have to go to work soon, so take your time.”
After Katherine’s mom left Aunt Rachel gave her that look that said ‘So you gonna tell me what’s wrong with you or am I gonna have to get it out of you myself?’ In a manner of seconds Katherine told her aunt what had happened the other day and how she was now the laughing stock of the school.
“Why do care if people laugh at you?” eyeing her dubiously, “What happened to my niece who wanted to take on the world?”
“Aunt Rachel its different now, I’m in highschool, you do something wrong or embarrassing once you’ll never hear the end of it.”
“You know what I think, you need is a makeover. Come with me.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“I am now come on.”
Reluctantly she stood up and followed her aunt to the bathroom, first taking out her ponytail her aunt then grabbed a pair of scissors.
“Wait! What are you doing?”
“I’m going to cut your hair into layers, now turn around I want the final result to be a surprise.”
Her aunt then proceeded to cut and curl her hair, she also applied mascara to her lashes. She then guided her to her room grabbing a pastel pink dress, that fit Katherine in all the right places and emphasized her petite figure, but she had to been to scared to wear.
“This is perfect, put it on.”
Obediently she slipped the dress on along with a pair of tan ankle boots, rushing her to the bathroom her aunt clasped her hand,
“Aunt Rachel, you should just give up I’m invisible and I’m perfectly fine with that…”
Stopping in mid-sentence she stared at the girl in the mirror, she looked absolutely beautiful, with soft auburn curls that emphasized the contours of her face, emerald green eyes framed by thick lashes, and a smile that could light up the world, Katherine then realized that the girl in the mirror was her. She broke out into tears, tears of joy, as her aunt hugged her,
“Now there’s my niece, the one who couldn’t be put down by anyone.”
“Thank you,” she murmured between sobs.
That morning when Katherine woke up she felt like she could do anything, grabbing a v-neck shirt, a leather jacket, a pair of jeans, and thigh high boots she got ready for school, ready take on anyone. Shocked her mother could barely come up with any words,
“You look different…”
“I decided to take Aunt Rachel’s advice and not let anyone stand in the way of my dreams and who I want to be.”
Walking through the front doors of the building, head held up high, she walked through the hallway no longer hearing the laughter and whispering. As she walked to her locker, she ran into Lucas,
“Hey,” he said almost stunned.
“Hey,” as she continued to walk.
“You look different, I mean amazing.”
“Thanks, I decided to change it up.”
Grabbing her binder and other class supplies she started to walk to first period,
“Why don’t I walk you to your first period?”
“Aren’t you suppose to walk Melissa?”
“She’ll be fine”
“Okay then.”
People then began to notice Katherine more, people who didn’t even know she existed now wanted to befriend her and hang out. She didn’t mind the attention, but deep down she knew that they only liked her now because she looked different. Once Mr.Wilson’s class began, Lucas and her paired up to work on their project.
“Katherine I was thinking we should work on the project at my place. What do you think?”
“Sure it will give us more time to do the project. Can I come over Thursday?”
“Of course here’s my address,” grinning as if he was the luckiest man in the the world.
Rumor spread quickly that Katherine was going over to Lucas’s house, when Bekka and Hailey told Melissa she nearly snapped.
“Who does she think she is, she think she can steal Lucas from me then she has another thing coming.”
“What are you gonna do?” asked Bekka.
“I’m gonna make sure she knows who’s in charge around here,” Melissa said wickedly.
The next day Melissa was waiting for Katherine in front of the school by the stairs.
“Katherine, can I talk to you for a second.”
“Actually, I have to go right now I’m kind of busy.”
Lashing out, “So you think that just because you’re suddenly getting some attention, that you're better than people?”
“That’s not what I’m saying, I’m busy I have to go.”
“Hold on, don’t think that just because Lucas invited you over his house that you're special and that he actually likes you!” grabbing Katherine tightly by the hand.
“There’s no need to worry about that, I don’t even like Lucas in that way. I did, but he’s just like everyone else he only notices me now because I’ve changed. I want someone who's going to love me for me not just how I look,” wrenching her hand from Melissa’s grasp.
She then began to make her way to the door. On Thursday, she almost didn’t go to Lucas’s house, but then decided to go instead to finish the project. When she arrived at the big white house with a huge lawn decorated by many flowers, she was greeted by Lucas,
“Hey come in, my parents aren’t at home, so its just me and you.”
“Are sure it will be okay with your parents?”
“Yea, my room is just upstairs, come on.”
Following Lucas to his room, once upstairs she noticed that his room was white, a bed with black silk sheets, a fireplace, soft black rugs, and a desk.
“Have a seat,” pointing at the desk chair, “Do you want anything to drink or to eat?”
“No, I’m good.”
“Then let’s start on the project,” pullin up a seat next to her.
They started by researching Henry Ford, but as time went by Lucas began to inch closer and closer to her.
“Katherine do you like me?” he asked.
“Of course, everyone likes you.”
“Really?” he then suddenly kissed her.
“What are you doing, you have a girlfriend!” thoughts were racing through her mind.
“Yea, but things haven’t been working out between Melissa and me lately, plus I really like you.”
“You only like me because I look different now!” Katherine said finally snapping, “That’s the only reason you want be with me. I’m sorry, but I don’t like you in that way Lucas, you're a great guy I just think you should be with Melissa.”
“Okay.” sounding disappointed.
“I have to go.”
After that at school it was really awkward seeing Lucas especially getting dirty looks from Melissa and her clique. When it was time for lunch all she wanted to do was be alone, so she went to the library, but when it was time to go to Mr.Wilson’s class she found herself dreading to go. For the first time in her life the boy she always dreamed of being with was the one face she wished she never had to see again. The minute she walked into class Lucas atoned her.
“Can you forgive me for yesterday?”
“Yea, thanks for be nice about this.”
“You don’t like me in that way, I can’t force you to.” giving her a slight smile.
“Thanks again.” as she sat down.
Later on the announcements, it was announced that there would be a Talent Show and anyone who wanted to compete needed to sign up. Remembering what her Aunt Rachel said, she decided that it was time to start doing things that she wanted to do and what better way than to enter the Talent Show.
Fast Forward back to the Talent Show…
“And in third place we have Atomic Bomb,...” the crowd clapped as Heath, Liam, and Caleb went up and received their award.
“In second place we have Melissa and her crew,...” instead of grabbing the award, Melissa stormed off the stage in anger with her clique following in tow. You could hear as she through her tantrum backstage.
“Lastly, in first place we have Katherine!” the crowd erupted into applause. Katherine began to cry.
Silently to herself, Katherine thanked her aunt for helping her become her true self. Without her she wouldn’t have been able to shed her cocoon and become the butterfly that she is and grab life by its horns.
5th period
4 April 2014
From Deep Within
Everyone gathered in the auditorium of the big, brick building neurotically awaiting the spectacle to be unveiled. One by one they began to quiet down as the red curtains parted revealing two tall boys named Elijah and Derek. They began the Talent Show by introducing themselves.
“ I’m Derek,” said the tan skinned boy, with curly brown hair, and almond eyes.
“ And I’m Elijah.” said the the blond haired, blue-eyed boy nervously.
Both were smiling as they welcomed everyone to the Talent Show, they then began to introduce those who had entered starting with a short boy with high cheek bones, deep blue eyes, and raven black hair. He thus began to recite a dark poem called “Death’s Embrace,”
“ Life
Life which has chained me to this earth
Relinquish me from this pain you call life
And bring me to your sweet elysian
Free my spirit, so that I may grant you my soul…”
After he finished his poem the audience sat in a awkward silence only to be broken by Derek,
“Give it up for Adrian! Next we have Katherine performing…”
A girl with long, wavy flaming locks of auburn hair, vibrant emerald green eyes, and fair skin stepped onto the stage with such prowess as she made her way to the microphone. She began to bellow out lyrics from her favorite song "Black is the Color" by Cara Dillion,
“ Black is the color of my true love's hair
Her lips are like a rose so fair
She's got the sweetest face and the gentlest hands
I love the ground whereon she stands
I love my love and well she knows
I love the ground whereon she goes
And how I wish the day would come
When she and I can be as one
I go to the Clyde and mourn and weep
Satisfied I never will sleep
I'll write her a letter just a few short lines
And suffer death ten thousand times..."
Slowly she began to captivate the crowd with her voice, as she lost herself in the song, almost as if she was putting them in a hypnotic trance. Once the last words of the song ended the crowd grew into an ecstatic frenzy, clapping and cheering her name,“ Katherine! Katherine! Katherine!” Politely she bowed to the audience, grinning from ear to ear as she walked behind the curtain. Suddenly the nefarious Melissa and her clique were called to the stage for their dance performance, begrudgingly eyeing her when they crossed paths. The rhythmic beats of music spouted from each speaker as the group began to dance, moving sequentially to one another. After their dance ended, the other competitors went on the stage to perform their talent, which ranged from magic, music, comedy, and dance. When all of those who had entered the Talent Show were done, Derek and Elijah made their way back onto the stage, Elijah was the first to speak,
"Ladies and gentlemen I would like to thank everyone who came out today and for their performance, but now it is time for the winners of the Talent Show."
"And in third place we have..." said Derek.
Pause, now rewind all the way back to the beginning…
Katherine sat quietly as Mr. Wilson began to introduce their new assignment,
"Listen up, starting today we will begin to work on a historical presentation of 1900s, where you and a partner will create of PowerPoint along with a presentation of a figure of the 1900s, such as Theodore Roosevelt, Marilyn Monroe, or any other person of your choosing. To mix things up I have chosen partners for the class: Bekka and Hailey, Heath and Robert, Katherine and Lucas, ..."
Once Mr. Wilson finished the list everyone began to partner up, Katherine sat quietly as Lucas began to make his way over to her searching to see who didn't have a partner, Lucas was the most popular guy in school, he had broad shoulders, dark brown hair, chiseled features, and captivating grey eyes. She had always been the type to go unnoticed because she was too shy to talk to anyone, so she was use to this by now, but secretly she wished she could be like Melissa, she was the most popular girl in school and Lucas’s girlfriend. Melissa was the girl everyone wanted to be, but if you ever got on her bad side she make sure you wish you had never been born.
"Are you Katherine?"
"Yea," she said almost mumbling.
"I'm Lucas," giving his usual smile that made a girl’s knees go weak.
"I know."
"Do you have any ideas, I thought we could do Henry Ford."
"Umm...sure."
When the bell rang she quickly gathered her belongings and tried to rush out the door, but she suddenly tripped scattering her belongings on the floor as she collapsed to the ground in a loud thud. A burst of laughter erupted amongst the class, at that moment she could have died from embarrassment, what was even worst she had fallen right in front of Lucas. Frantically she grabbed her things, got up and walked out the door brushing past everyone trying to make her escape, fighting back tears. Once she got home no longer able to hold back her tears she silently cried knowing that tomorrow everyone would know what happened, since Bekka and Hailey were part of Melissa’s clique and they would surely tell her, she would be the laughing stock of the school until something else happened. Sluggishly walked to school, with the hope that something would happen causing attention elsewhere rather than herself. As she walked through the door of the old brick building she could feel the glare of everyones eyes stalking her like a predator and its prey, her attention was then drawn to Melissa and her clique with their mischievous smirking,
“Look at me,” said Bekka as she collapsed to the floor laughing.
Everyone began to laugh and point, trying to block everyone out she walked to her locker, as the day went on the constant giggling and pointing continued. By the end of the day she couldn’t wait to get home, when she walked through the bright red door of her house she went to grab a snack and found her mom and her Aunt Rachel, her aunt was one of her favorite people in the world and she could always make Katherine feel better no matter how bad she was doing. Her Aunt Rachel, was a tall, elegant woman with high cheek bones, auburn hair, vibrant green eyes with flecks of amber, and the personality that attracted anyone around her.
“So how’s my beautiful niece doing?”
“Good,” she said in an emotionless tone.
“Are you sure? You don’t sound too good to me,”
“Yea.”
“Julie, can I talk to Katherine alone for a minute?”
“Of course,” she said, “I have to go to work soon, so take your time.”
After Katherine’s mom left Aunt Rachel gave her that look that said ‘So you gonna tell me what’s wrong with you or am I gonna have to get it out of you myself?’ In a manner of seconds Katherine told her aunt what had happened the other day and how she was now the laughing stock of the school.
“Why do care if people laugh at you?” eyeing her dubiously, “What happened to my niece who wanted to take on the world?”
“Aunt Rachel its different now, I’m in highschool, you do something wrong or embarrassing once you’ll never hear the end of it.”
“You know what I think, you need is a makeover. Come with me.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“I am now come on.”
Reluctantly she stood up and followed her aunt to the bathroom, first taking out her ponytail her aunt then grabbed a pair of scissors.
“Wait! What are you doing?”
“I’m going to cut your hair into layers, now turn around I want the final result to be a surprise.”
Her aunt then proceeded to cut and curl her hair, she also applied mascara to her lashes. She then guided her to her room grabbing a pastel pink dress, that fit Katherine in all the right places and emphasized her petite figure, but she had to been to scared to wear.
“This is perfect, put it on.”
Obediently she slipped the dress on along with a pair of tan ankle boots, rushing her to the bathroom her aunt clasped her hand,
“Aunt Rachel, you should just give up I’m invisible and I’m perfectly fine with that…”
Stopping in mid-sentence she stared at the girl in the mirror, she looked absolutely beautiful, with soft auburn curls that emphasized the contours of her face, emerald green eyes framed by thick lashes, and a smile that could light up the world, Katherine then realized that the girl in the mirror was her. She broke out into tears, tears of joy, as her aunt hugged her,
“Now there’s my niece, the one who couldn’t be put down by anyone.”
“Thank you,” she murmured between sobs.
That morning when Katherine woke up she felt like she could do anything, grabbing a v-neck shirt, a leather jacket, a pair of jeans, and thigh high boots she got ready for school, ready take on anyone. Shocked her mother could barely come up with any words,
“You look different…”
“I decided to take Aunt Rachel’s advice and not let anyone stand in the way of my dreams and who I want to be.”
Walking through the front doors of the building, head held up high, she walked through the hallway no longer hearing the laughter and whispering. As she walked to her locker, she ran into Lucas,
“Hey,” he said almost stunned.
“Hey,” as she continued to walk.
“You look different, I mean amazing.”
“Thanks, I decided to change it up.”
Grabbing her binder and other class supplies she started to walk to first period,
“Why don’t I walk you to your first period?”
“Aren’t you suppose to walk Melissa?”
“She’ll be fine”
“Okay then.”
People then began to notice Katherine more, people who didn’t even know she existed now wanted to befriend her and hang out. She didn’t mind the attention, but deep down she knew that they only liked her now because she looked different. Once Mr.Wilson’s class began, Lucas and her paired up to work on their project.
“Katherine I was thinking we should work on the project at my place. What do you think?”
“Sure it will give us more time to do the project. Can I come over Thursday?”
“Of course here’s my address,” grinning as if he was the luckiest man in the the world.
Rumor spread quickly that Katherine was going over to Lucas’s house, when Bekka and Hailey told Melissa she nearly snapped.
“Who does she think she is, she think she can steal Lucas from me then she has another thing coming.”
“What are you gonna do?” asked Bekka.
“I’m gonna make sure she knows who’s in charge around here,” Melissa said wickedly.
The next day Melissa was waiting for Katherine in front of the school by the stairs.
“Katherine, can I talk to you for a second.”
“Actually, I have to go right now I’m kind of busy.”
Lashing out, “So you think that just because you’re suddenly getting some attention, that you're better than people?”
“That’s not what I’m saying, I’m busy I have to go.”
“Hold on, don’t think that just because Lucas invited you over his house that you're special and that he actually likes you!” grabbing Katherine tightly by the hand.
“There’s no need to worry about that, I don’t even like Lucas in that way. I did, but he’s just like everyone else he only notices me now because I’ve changed. I want someone who's going to love me for me not just how I look,” wrenching her hand from Melissa’s grasp.
She then began to make her way to the door. On Thursday, she almost didn’t go to Lucas’s house, but then decided to go instead to finish the project. When she arrived at the big white house with a huge lawn decorated by many flowers, she was greeted by Lucas,
“Hey come in, my parents aren’t at home, so its just me and you.”
“Are sure it will be okay with your parents?”
“Yea, my room is just upstairs, come on.”
Following Lucas to his room, once upstairs she noticed that his room was white, a bed with black silk sheets, a fireplace, soft black rugs, and a desk.
“Have a seat,” pointing at the desk chair, “Do you want anything to drink or to eat?”
“No, I’m good.”
“Then let’s start on the project,” pullin up a seat next to her.
They started by researching Henry Ford, but as time went by Lucas began to inch closer and closer to her.
“Katherine do you like me?” he asked.
“Of course, everyone likes you.”
“Really?” he then suddenly kissed her.
“What are you doing, you have a girlfriend!” thoughts were racing through her mind.
“Yea, but things haven’t been working out between Melissa and me lately, plus I really like you.”
“You only like me because I look different now!” Katherine said finally snapping, “That’s the only reason you want be with me. I’m sorry, but I don’t like you in that way Lucas, you're a great guy I just think you should be with Melissa.”
“Okay.” sounding disappointed.
“I have to go.”
After that at school it was really awkward seeing Lucas especially getting dirty looks from Melissa and her clique. When it was time for lunch all she wanted to do was be alone, so she went to the library, but when it was time to go to Mr.Wilson’s class she found herself dreading to go. For the first time in her life the boy she always dreamed of being with was the one face she wished she never had to see again. The minute she walked into class Lucas atoned her.
“Can you forgive me for yesterday?”
“Yea, thanks for be nice about this.”
“You don’t like me in that way, I can’t force you to.” giving her a slight smile.
“Thanks again.” as she sat down.
Later on the announcements, it was announced that there would be a Talent Show and anyone who wanted to compete needed to sign up. Remembering what her Aunt Rachel said, she decided that it was time to start doing things that she wanted to do and what better way than to enter the Talent Show.
Fast Forward back to the Talent Show…
“And in third place we have Atomic Bomb,...” the crowd clapped as Heath, Liam, and Caleb went up and received their award.
“In second place we have Melissa and her crew,...” instead of grabbing the award, Melissa stormed off the stage in anger with her clique following in tow. You could hear as she through her tantrum backstage.
“Lastly, in first place we have Katherine!” the crowd erupted into applause. Katherine began to cry.
Silently to herself, Katherine thanked her aunt for helping her become her true self. Without her she wouldn’t have been able to shed her cocoon and become the butterfly that she is and grab life by its horns.