SHADOWS AND SPOTLIGHT

Chapter 3: Into her shell

DARELLE

The next day comes and after the usual boring school routine, I decided to go straight to Liz's house after hanging around for a bit. Since I had already informed mum the previous day, she would know that I wouldn't be home until later that day.

I walked into the storey building as I rung the doorbell. Liz’s mum was the one who opened the door.

“Hello dear,” she said, flashing me a beautiful smile. She had bright blonde hair and icy blue eyes. She was beautiful and it was correct to say that Liz took after her. The only difference was that she wasn't nice.

“Hello ma,” I replied.

“Come in,” she said, opening the door for me to enter.

“They're upstairs. It's the first room by your right.” I nodded and thanked her as I turned in the direction of the stairs.

As soon as I opened the door, the whole room went so quiet that I even had to wonder what went wrong. I could hear their loud chatter from a distance just a moment ago.

The four of them were already seated and it seemed like I was late. Liz, Dory, Acton and Max.

Their eyes were fixed on me and the same awkward stares I was very familiar with returned. I had once tried speaking to Dory but after the others told her about my father, she withdrew and gave me the cold shoulder.

“Hi,” I said and walked to an empty seat beside Liz. They resumed talking about the scene we were going to act in and I just kept on looking since I didn't even know what they were talking about.

“Darelle, I think you need to take this part.”

Liz spoke up.

“Uhm no, I don't think I can,” I answered immediately.

“You heard Mr Finn. We have to participate. If you don't, we will all be affected including you.”

She emphasized you so much, so as to get me to change my mind. Her eyes were fixed on me as she awaited my response.

“Okay, fine,” I sighed in exasperation.

She passed me the book and asked me to study Ophelia’s character.

They all continued talking until Liz spoke to me again.

“Are you ready?”

“Uhh,” I answered in confusion.

“I'm talking about the scene,” she said, her eyes darting to the book in my hands.

“Oh yes I think I am.”

I took a deep breath.

“That’s the only scene you are acting in,” she said to me in an attempt to make me feel better.

In the play Ophelia drowns after her father's death as a result of grief and that was what I had to do.

After Liz finished explaining to me, I nodded and stood up as Liz pointed to the center of the room in the middle of the chairs they had set.

I walked there and started acting as I tried to imitate the scene. The room was quiet and when I was done, they had no comments. However, I could tell that they were impressed since no one thought I would be able to do it well.

I had loved watching movies and acting since I was young, maybe that explained why I loved Mr Finn's class so much.

After a bit of deliberation, the rehearsal came to an end and we decided to meet once more before the test.

★★★

The day of the test and presentation had finally come and I could say that we were well prepared. After the 2nd group was called out to present, we were the next. Everything was going on well and Mr Finn took a seat as he graded each group and the individuals in it.

As soon as it was our group's turn, the five of us filed out and everyone started playing their roles until it got to my turn. As soon as I started, they started whispering among themselves.

“Even her,” I could hear them say.

I decided to not mind them and continued doing my thing but they paid less attention to me and some were even making fun of me.

It all went wrong when Liz decided to make the scene more realistic by sprinkling water for the drowning scene and then I slipped and fell face flat.

Everyone burst into laughter and I was in pain.

I couldn't get up on my own and someone had to help me to the nurses office. Mum had to pick me up eventually.

Liz apologized by saying it was not deliberate and there was no way she would want to hurt a member of the group.

However, I felt that it might have been another tactic just to bully me.

After that day, I got the nickname, slippery legs. It became another round of torture. I vowed never to show my face or to think I could do better again.

I got home and cried so much. I was tired of the torture, first being an outcast, now this.

“Can't I live like every normal kid?”

I asked mum amidst tears.

“They are so mean. I used to love school so much as a child, because I did not have to deal with his troubles. Not until he came and took that away from me.”

“Now, no one wants to talk to me anymore. I'm literally alone.”

“I'm tired mum.”

“Can't I change schools?” I asked while wiping my tears.

“No you can't,” she frowned.

“You're almost done already. Changing school would mean a farther place.”

“Just don't listen to them. Kids like to tease.”

“Your father would not approve either,” I frowned at the mention of the word father and she noticed it too because she stopped talking immediately.

“You would be alright, okay?” she consoled and patted my back.