Frozen in time

Chapter one

Nobody told me it was going to be like that. Nobody ever said to me: ''Get ready. Because it will be hard''.

When I played hide-and-seek with my friends on the street, when I was ten years old, no one told me it wasn't going to be like this forever.

When we only have to worry about finding the friend who is hiding...

When we just have to worry about choosing a pretty dress for the doll...

That's how I wanted my life to be forever.

But I knew this wasn't going to happen as soon as I entered high school.

***

Eliza.

I'll start by introducing myself... Hi, my name is Maria Eliza. But you can call me... well, Eliza. Where did this name come from? I have no idea. And don't think that my mother was inspired by an ancient queen, or the first woman to do something in the world, or even some famous actress...

Because that's not true.

They've called me that since I was born, and that's all I know about it. Well, I don't have much time to talk about myself, as my busy life will soon begin. So here we go... I'm seventeen, my sign is Scorpio, my favorite color is red, and I live with my parents and my younger brother. I'm an ordinary girl as far as I know, I'm not a d**g addict, I'm not an alcoholic, a smoker, a p********e, but I'm not a nun either. I just do an internship at a hospital and I have exactly three weeks left before I graduate from high school.

Like I said, I'm a very busy person, and my busy life starts... well, right now.

I get up from my bed like that super hero... what's his name... Flash, or something. And after stretching my arms, I go into the bathroom to brush my teeth.

As soon as I finish, I look at myself in the mirror. I see that girl with a little Snow White face looking at me, she doesn't even look like me, in fact, she looks less tired. My short black hair needs a new dye, and I look like I haven't slept in days. Technically, I didn't sleep at all, I woke up all week at seven to go to school, and in the afternoon to the hospital. After the hospital... I spent every night rehearsing for the play Auto da Lusitânia, for the Literature class.

Worst of all, this routine never changes. Before my internship at the hospital, I was teaching dance lessons to some children at a day care center. But since I'm going to study medicine, they gave me an internship so I could go on training. For now, I just serve soup to the patients, accompany them to the operating room, and give medicine to children with cancer.

When I finish getting ready for school, I grab my backpack, an apple from the fridge, and knock on my parents' bedroom door.

- Dad, won't you take me to school? It's already half past seven.

- Of course daughter, I'm leaving.

My father was the one who took me to school every day. Sometimes he refused to wake up. So I was going with my mom, with the seatbelt tight, and praying we didn't run into a pole.

He never speaks. But I know he hates getting up so early. But I like it, it's the only twenty minutes I have to talk to my dad, as I haven't seen anyone in my family all day.

- So... how are you doing at work, daughter? - my father says, looking straight ahead, with his hands on the steering wheel.

- Everything's great.

- That's good. Are you enjoying the place?

I never stopped to think if I liked the place. I always dreamed of being a doctor. And I loved everything connected with it. But lately, I've been uninterested in things that used to interest me a lot.

- Hmm. Yes. And the salary is great.

My dad smiles. And me too.

- You look tired. Is it getting heavy to have to work and study?

- Hmm. Do not.

I lied. I was tired yes. But I could never tell my dad that, because he was going to give me that big ''You don't have to work this early'' speech. I've been working for two months now and I'm starting to make my dream come true, I don't want to go back.

He glances at me quickly, then refocuses on the road. Where at the moment, we are passing through a narrow, tree-lined street.

- If your mother and I had conditions, you know that we would give you the tickets for your trip, don't you?

- Yes. - I give my ''I understand'' smile. - I know that.

I'm saving money for my trip to New York. My dream has always been... to tell you the truth, to live in the United States. Get on a plane and never have to come back. Work as a doctor in any hospital there. Buy a house in some small town over there and live my life. I just... love America since I was little. There's something there that attracts me.

But I recently learned that things don't work out exactly the way we want them to. So, I decided to save money to at least travel to the United States. I'm a long way from just getting a one-way ticket, and I wanted to travel after my graduation, so I do my best to save more than half of my salary.

After saying goodbye to my father, I enter high school. Is empty. Which means I'm already late. So I run to the classroom, where I find Math teacher Dayla, filling the blackboard with problems and equations. I walk into the room with my head down, and after saying ''good morning'' to the teacher, I go to sit in the back of the room, behind Alice.

***

Alice.

While Professor Stella, from Philosophy, tells the story of Socrates, I take the opportunity to talk to Eliza, who again arrived late for class.

- What happened this time friend? - I say, whispering.

- I woke up a little late.

- But the Literature play was yesterday. What did you do to wake up late?

- It's just that I was organizing the schedule of medications for new patients.

- You made a list of these last week. - I make a face at her.

She laughs.

- It's not my fault if the kids get sick Alice.

- But this way you'll end up having to sign a warning.

- MS. Alice?

I look up and see Professor Stella with her eyes glued to me. As is the whole room.

- What teacher?

- Are you paying attention to my class? - She crosses her arms.

- Of course I am. - Smiles, a little nervous.

- Then you will know how to answer this question... How did Socrates die?

I look around, and see my classmates hiding their faces, and stifling giggles.

But I know the answer. One time, Eliza and I were sitting at break, listening to one of our colleague Eric's funeral stories, he was complaining that everything was going wrong for him. And then he said: ''one of these days, I'm going to do like Socrates, and drink hemlock to die.''

- He was sentenced... hmm... to taking a poison called Hemlock. - I say, all proud.

The teacher narrows her eyes, but then smiles.

- Congratulations. You are right.

Everyone applauds me with irony. I breathe a sigh of relief, then look at Eliza behind me.

- That was close.

- And even. - She laughs.

The break is the only time I have to do something. And it's only thirty minutes. I have to eat, text my readers, and I still have a little time to write a draft of the next chapter of my book.

That's right. I am a writer. Not those professionals who work at a famous publishing house like Kiera Cass, Alyson Noël, or Cassandra Clare. But I'm famous, yes, on my Blog, on my Twitter and on my i********:.

I have thousands of readers who love my books, but they don't know me by my real name. ''Alice'' is for intimates only. On social media I'm known as: Aly Black. This name came up when I went to publish my first novel: Born for Each Other. My friend Sophie called me Aly, and I liked the name. And Black. It's because... I'm just in love with the color black.

And now, I'm known by that name. If you look for Alice, no one will know anything. But Aly Black is very well known in the World of Books, which is the site where I publish my books.

- Alice? Alice!

I glance absently to my right and see Eliza, finishing her piece of chocolate cake. And beside her, Sophie, wearing a baby pink cardigan.

- What happened?

- Nothing. It's just that we've been talking to you for about two minutes. And you just stay there on this cell phone!

- It's just that I was reading the new comments about my book. And most are positive. - smile. - But what were they talking about?

- It's just that my next photo shoot is tomorrow... - Sophie says. - In a clothing store, where I'll be the poster girl. But I have the dress fitting for my pageant show on the same day. And I don't know what to do.

I laughed. I can't help but laugh. I was always very busy with my books. But seeing someone so distressed about having to wear clothes and take pictures in the same day makes me laugh a lot.

- Hmm, can't you schedule the dress fitting for another day? - I say, still laughing a little.

- How can you laugh, with the distress of others? - she pretends to be angry. - That is wrong! But I can't unmark, it's two o'clock.

Sophie tosses her long hair into a bun, and then starts typing something into her cell phone hysterically.

- And then? - I ask.

- I sent a message to the group, saying that I'll be a little late for the test. - She takes a deep breath.

- And ready! - I laughed. - Problem solved.

- Friend! This is serious. It's not because you don't like these things that they won't be important anymore.

- It's ok. Excuse me. I'll try not to laugh at your ''very busy top model'' stories.

I can't help it and burst out laughing. Lucky for me, Eliza and Sophie laugh with me too.

As soon as I finish reading my readers' comments, the bell rings. Which means my time off is over.

The three of us walk towards the classroom of Professor Beatriz, from Chemistry. A funny trio, me and my friends: Eliza is the shortest one, with short black hair, she likes to listen to rock music, like me. But Sophie is tall, very thin, with long brown hair, and... my God! She loves the color pink. Every day she's wearing something that's pink, even a miserable earring. But she has to be wearing pink.

I already told her I hate the color pink. I hate colorful dresses, exaggerated makeup, dots, and all things related to misses and models. Only in her case it's different, she's nice. I never liked these spoiled girls who only care about the color of their nail polish. But Sophie is a smart girl, and Eliza and I like being friends with her.

Anyway, we are a very different trio. But we are linked by our friendship. And even though we are all very busy and lost in time, we always find a way to have fun together.

***

Sophie.

I've never stopped to think that there are so many cells working for every movement in my body to get done. I love thinking about it. It's as if they were our servants for life!

I've never been a big fan of Biology, but I learned that when you're studying in high school, with just a few weeks left to finish your studies, you're bound to be a fan of every subject.

While Professor Hortência explains the function of cells, I'm looking at my fingernails. Speaks seriously! I'm not even having time to get my nails done. I've been using this lilac nail polish for days. I was never one to stop doing my nails, this for me is a priority. But I'm so full of homework, tests, research, and presentations that I forgot. And not to mention the amount of photo shoots, fashion shows, tests, and trips I'm having after I was hired by the Way Models agency.

Of course that was always my dream. And it's for me to be very happy. It is not?

Type. I've always wanted it all... and I don't feel so excited. What's happening to me? I'm so down. There are a lot of things in my head right now, like work, school, my friends, and my boyfriend. But at the same time, I feel like I have nothing on my mind. What is going on?

- Friend. - Alice nudges me with the pen.

- There! What was it? - I whisper to her.

- Can you send me the contents of the class sent by text?

- Because? You did not?

I find it strange that Alice didn't do the homework, as she is one of the smartest people in the room.

- No. I was researching a theme song for Richard and Tiffany on my cell phone.

I know Richard and Tiffany were the couple from the book she's been writing.

- Okay, I'm sending it.

- Thanks. - she sends me a kiss, and turns her attention to the teacher.

I always found the friendship between myself, Eliza and Alice very interesting: A doctor, a model, and a writer. It is very difficult to find any similarity between these professions. But that's because it doesn't have any.

We've been friends for a long time. We know each other a lot. But we've never been as far apart as these past two years. It was all easier, when we just had to choose our barbies, and put little shoes on them.

But today, the one who has to change shoes dozens of times a day is me.

It all started when my mom put me in a modeling contest when I turned ten. The first thing they said to me when they met me was ''you're thin, tall, and very pretty...you'd be a perfect model''. And so, they were right, because I passed the contest and started auditioning.

But everything was pretty easy when I had two auditions a year, a kiddie miss contest, and a photo shoot blowing kisses and posing. After I was hired, I have over fifteen shows a month, photo shoots every week, and dress fittings for the other auditions multiple times. This is getting...dare I say...tiring. Not because of work, but because of school.

It's almost impossible to study for the bimonthly exam while a person pulls your hair, and blushes your cheek. This is killing me!

As soon as I've said goodbye to Alice, and Eliza, I grab my bag and leave the room.

Enrique is waiting for me as usual, near the exit. Such a handsome boy, tall, strong, with perfectly messed-up fair hair, and green eyes.

A boy I don't deserve as a boyfriend.

He's distracted on his cell phone, but when he sees me, he looks up and smiles. A bright, beautiful smile.

"Hi." He approaches me, and gives me a quick kiss on the lips.

- Hey.

- Do you want me to help you with the bag? - He points to my bag.

I could be a more responsible student, and bring the books in my bag, but instead, I leave them all in my locker. What's in my bag comes down to: makeup, nail polish, nail nail polish, hairbrush, hair dryer, and mirror. So it wasn't heavy.

- No, thank you. - I start walking towards the exit, where there are dozens of students going in the same direction.

- What's it? - He puts his arm around my waist, and we go like that to the sidewalk.

- Nothing. Because?

- It's just that you seem distracted.

- Hmm, it must be because I have a lot to do.

He presses his lips together.

- I know you're very busy, but... are we going to catch a movie today?

- Sorry, I can not. I have to do a physics work.

I lower my head. I hate not having time for him. He's always been a great boyfriend, partner, and friend. He was always helping me, and giving me attention.

- All right. - he smiled. But I know he is sad. - When do you think you'll have time for me?

I do not want to talk. He is always so kind, so caring, and caring. He's the kind of guy all girls wanted to date. And me here... just occupying space.

- Rick, I... - I take a deep breath. - I wanted you to know that I... like you. And... I know you like me...

- I love you. - he interrupts me, looking me right in the eye.

- OK. But...

- Are you wanting to break up with me? - frowns.

I hate it when he does that. My heart hurts. But I can not do anything.

- I don't want to break up with you. But...you know I don't have time for both of us. I don't even have time for myself.

- I know. But no problem... - He pulls me into a tight, cozy hug. - I wait for you.

He pulls me back a little, takes my face in his hands, and looks me right in the eye. Those green eyes that two years ago I was in love with.

- I want to help you. You have to let me help you. And for that, you have to tell me what's going on... How do you feel?

My God. This question. I'm really scared of her. I've been avoiding her for a long time. What I feel? What do I really feel?

Well honestly I don't know how I feel.