Aya and me start another song when suddenly I notice Miss Dimple standing at the corner of the room, smiling slightly. 

"I'm sorry ma'am, I didn't realize you were listening!" I say reddening with embarrassment.

"No, no, it's all right Elsa!"  says Miss Dimple kindly, "You play the piano really well!" she says looking at Aya.

"Thank you!" says Aya looking embarrassed.

"Would you like to play the piano during the play?" asks Miss Dimple.

Aya looks at me with disbelief, "Yes, sure ma'am!" she says excitedly.

"Very well!' says Miss Dimple pleased, "You go on the main stage and I'll get the piano."

Anne quickly walks towards the stage, smiling broadly.

"Elsa, you can go back to class now, take this script home and go through it once again, okay?" Miss Dimple inquires.

"Yes ma'am!" I say obediently.

 "You sing well Elsa, you should sing more!" says Miss Dimple politely.

"Thank you!" I say blushing slightly.

I'm about to leave when Miss Dimple stops me, "Elsa I almost forgot you need to go to the stay back today."

"But why ?" my voice filled with surprise.

"There are a lot of prompts that are supposed to be ready by next week, you have to help in making them," says Miss Dimple.

"Ok ma'am. But I go by bus so........" 

"Don't worry about that Elsa. We have already informed your parents, one of them will come to pick you up!" she says, "Now off you go, you don't want to get late for Miss Honey's class, do you?"

"No ma'am!" I say quickly leaving.

Miss Honey has started the new chapter in English, I knock at the door.

"Elsa, come in!" says Miss Honey politely.

"Yes ma'am!" I say quickly going and taking a seat.

I notice Nancy's seat is empty. She hasn't come yet, maybe she's practicing. But I can't see Maddie or any of the girls she was hanging out with too. Is it possible that Nancy has bunked class and gone somewhere with them? A cold feeling creeps through my spine, if Nancy does that she's going to be in deep trouble. What if Miss Honey finds out?

I really need to stop worrying so much! Maybe Maddie is also in the play. Nancy not stupid, she will never get herself in trouble. I try to get my mind off the topic and pay attention on the chapter we are studying in English. 

At the end of the class, Miss Honey comes to me and says, "Are you participating in that fest I told you?" 

"Yes ma'am!" I say happily.

"Good," says Miss Honey, "You need to sing a song, anything you like. You also need to bake something."

Bake something? I don't know even know the b of baking. I have never helped mom when she would bake cakes for us, how am I supposed to bake an entire cake by myself?

"Ma'am I don't really know how to bake!" I say reddening with embarrassment. 

"Don't worry Elsa, your parents and sister can help you bake!" says Miss Honey laughing. 

My elder sister, helping me? That's impossible, she has never even spoken to me properly! All she can do is put me down and make me feel miserable about myself. Katherine would only help me if it benefits her in any way. She wouldn't do anything for me, I'm 100% sure about that.

"Elsa, it's never too late to learn to bake!" says Miss Honey, noticing the worry on my face.

"Okay ma'am," I say gloomily.

"Anyways, should we have our usual singing session today?" asks Miss Honey.

"Yes ma'am!" I say, my face brightening immediately.

"Or should we practice the script?" inquires Miss Honey, "The script is in the form of a song too, right?"

"Ok," I say removing the script from the bag and showing it to Miss Honey.

I close my eyes and take a deep breadth. I clear my mind and try to remove all other unnecessary thoughts from my mind. I start singing. When I'm done, Miss Honey says, "It was really good!" 

"Thank you ma'am!" I say pleased.

"But Elsa you changed a lot of words in the script and also missed few stanzas," says Miss Honey.

"I haven't learnt it that well ma'am, I'll practice it better next time!" I say.

"Good, we'll practice again tomorrow. I also want you to decide which song you will be singing in the fest, okay?" asks Miss Honey.

"Yes ma'am. I'll let you know tomorrow!" I say putting the script carefully inside my bag.

"I think that's all for today then!" says Miss Honey, "Off you go, we'll meet tomorrow!"

"Thank you Miss Honey!" I say leaving the class.

"I'm really happy that you have the confidence to participate in the fest Elsa!" says Miss Honey before I leave.

"It's all because of you Miss Honey!" I say, turning back.

Miss Honey gives me the warmest smile before I leave the room.

I quickly run towards the auditorium. I'm sure Nancy will be there, But to my surprise the auditorium is empty. The lights  are off and not a single person is there. Nancy might have finished practicing and gone to the cafeteria. I run towards the cafeteria but Nancy not there either. Where is she? I hope Nancy hasn't gotten herself into trouble! I don't have my phone or else I could have called her. Suddenly someone taps me on my shoulder. That must be Nancy. 

"Nancy where were you?" I say turning back.

But to my shock, it's not Nancy it's Luke.

"Are you all right Elsa?" he asks concern lacing his face.

"Oh yes!" I say, smiling slightly.

"Why do you look so worried?" inquires Luke.

"I'm just wondering where Nancy is," I confess.

"I'm sure she'll be somewhere around!" says Luke politely.

" Yes!" I say, "I'm worrying for no reason!" 

"I thought you were going to call me yesterday," say Luke.

Oh no! I completely forgot about that.

"I was really drained yesterday," I say, "But can I tell you about the fest now?" I ask.

"I need to go to the basketball match now!" says Luke.

"Then I'll call you today," I say.

"Cool, okay then, bye!" says Luke giving me his charming smile.

"Okay!" I whisper.

At the end of the day, I quickly rush towards the art room. I don't want to get late. I reach there and there are one or two girls who have already started working.

"I'm sorry, I'm late!" I say.

"Here,  paint this!" instructs a girl, with blonde hair and thoughtful grey eyes, passing me a     sketch of trees and bushes, "When your done, cut it!" she says and walks away.

Slowly many people start coming in and helping. Some people are painting, some are drawing, cutting and the whole place is filled with noise. I'm actually kind of enjoying this. It's fun, I should paint more!

"Hey!" someone says.

I look up to see Luke.

"Hey!" I say happily, this is just getting better and better.

'"I didn't expect to see you here!" says Luke.

"Nor did I," I say.

"Can I help you with painting the trees?" asks Luke.

"Sure!" I say passing him a sketch, "You can paint this."

"Cool!" says Luke.

After some time, I look up to see what Luke has painted. God! His painting is so messy!

"Luke, no offense, but you paint really badly. It's so messy!" I say looking at his work.

"Oh really!" he says, "Well the way your painting your never going to finish!" says Luke.

"I'm a perfectionist you know?" I say, trying not to laugh.

"Oh really, I'm really quick in whatever work I do, I like to get done with the work!" says Luke, laughing.

"The way your painting, you'll have to redo everything!" I say.

"No I won't! It's not that messy!" says Luke looking at his work.

"You need specs!' I say smiling, "Here give me your brush, let me teach you how to paint!" I say, smiling broadly.

"You'll teach me what?" asks Luke in disbelief.

"To paint!" I say, "Because you clearly don't know!" 

"Oh really!" says Luke, "You should focus on your painting because I think the way your going you'll not even be able to finish even a single one by today!"

"Is that a challenge?" I ask, my eyes gleaming.

"Yes!" says Luke.

"Fine, challenge accepted!" I say putting my hand forward for a handshake.

"Fine!" says Luke shaking my hand.

"Luke!" I say, "You put paint all over my hand!"

"Oh sorry!" says Luke laughing.

I quickly take the paint and splash it on Luke's shirt. 

"What?" says Luke in disbelief.

"Served you right!" I say laughing loudly.

"Oh really?" asks Luke, taking the paint and splashing it on me.

"Hey!" I exclaim rolling with laughter.

In the end of our paint fight my entire face, hands and shirt is splashed with paint and so is Luke's.

"You look like a joker!" I say trying to control my laughter.

"You don't look like that beautiful either!" says Luke laughing loudly, tears rolling down his cheek.

"What are both of you doing?" asks someone from behind.

I turn to see a girl with spectacles standing in front of us, staring at both of us in disbelief. 

"Weren't both of you supposed to be painting and helping all of us?" she asks angrily.

"We're really sorry!" Luke and me say together, "We'll just freshen up...."

Most of the paint gets washed except my shirt still has paint stains on it. It was really not a very good idea to splash paint on each other. Mom is really not going to be happy seeing the stains on my shirt. What excuse am I going to give her?

"You didn't complete your challenge!" says Luke while washing his face.

"You distracted me!" I say.

"Oh really?" inquires Luke.

"Yes!" I say smiling widely.

"You have paint on your cheek," says Luke.

"Oh!" I say washing my cheek, "Is it gone?" 

"No," says Luke. He comes close and slowly rubs my cheek. My entire body has frozen. He is so close to me I can literally feel his breadth, his hands are cold and his sea-blue yes are staring at me. I feel an instant connection with Luke, why do I feel all these emotions only with Luke and not with anyone else? I feel a different kind of connection with him.

We both are just standing here, staring at each other, trying to read each other's mind. I feel like this moment can last forever and I want it to. 

"Luke!" a sharp voice breaks the moment. 

There's a girl with curly brown hair, hazel eyes and perfect eyelashes standing in front of us. She looks super angry and her knuckles are red.

"Luke, what are you doing here?" she says.

"I came to help." says Luke, clearly not happy to see her.

"Your helping a lot, Luke!" she says sarcastically, "And who's she?" she says pointing at me.

"This is Elsa, my friend," says Luke, "Elsa, this is Mia, my ex-girlfriend."

"Oh!" I say in shock. No wonder she's staring at me like that. I didn't know that Luke had an ex-girlfriend. 

"Anyways, I need to leave, see you later!" says Luke.

After he's gone I make way towards the exit ignoring Mia. But she blocks me.

"You do know Elsa what kind of person Luke is, don't you?" she asks slowly.

"What are you talking about?" I say confused.

"Luke's never serious about anyone. He only plays with other girls feelings. The only person he ever had feeling for was me!" she says.

"I don't believe that!" I say trying not to make eye-contact.

"You will believe in it soon," says Mia confidently," Luke's only playing with your feelings nothing else. Why would a boy like him be interested in a girl like you?" she says in a soft creepy voice.

I look up, my eyes filled with tears.

"I'm just saying it for your own good, you know!" says Mia, giving me a fake smile before walking off.

Suddenly I feel scared and a shiver runs down my spine. What Mia's saying can't be true can it?

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Author's Note:

Hi Everyone! How are all of you?

I can't believe it's been close to 2 months since I have updated! I am really really sorry for the delay! My imagination just stopped and I really couldn't think of anything! Thank you so much all of you for so patiently waiting and motivating me to write further. I really hope you all liked this chapter and it met your expectations. I really worked very hard on this chapter. I really will try to update sooner from next time.

If you liked this chapter, please do vote and comment I will really really appreciate it. Also, if its not too much to ask, please f possible give this book a shout out. I really want it to spread to as many people as possible.

Thank you so much for reading. I love you all so much!

I know I haven't been reading or writing any books lately, but from now on I will also start reading and supporting all your books too!!

Also I will be giving a shout out to some really amazing people here on Wattpad.

Please tell me what you thought about this chapter in the comment section.

Love you all, take care and stay hydrated!

Love,

Vanshika.