PeterPan

1. Callbacks?

-Friday-

I stretch my arms flat across the table-top. Its edges dig into my ribs as I press my cheek against its cool surface. The cafeteria clamors with students, all jumbled into a mess that could hardly ever be considered a line. A mess I would rather not get tangled in, even if it means forfeiting my meal.

My stomach gripes at me for making such a decision. I push my cheek further into the table until I am sure it has left a good enough mark to give me a solid ten minutes-worth of embarrassment.

"Would you quit smooshing your face into the table? It's painful to watch. Also, you look like a chipmunk, minus its cute qualities."

I scrunch my nose. "What does it matter to you?" I squish my face deeper into the table, giving Jordan a purposeful look. "You're staring at your phone." Jordan is always staring at her phone.

"I can see you through the camera."

"Why are you looking at me through the camera?"

"I thought if I added a filter, you'd look better."

"..."

Four weeks of my Junior year has already passed. Thank the Lord. My typical summer consists of work, work, high temperatures of 106 degrees and work. With five younger siblings to look after and two older ones out of the house, my chores lay at my job, at home, and wherever the brats drag me during vacation.

The cafeteria settles, and all hopes of getting food last minute is lost as I watch the lunch booths consolidate the left-overs and wrap up. I sit up and sigh as my stomach grumbles testily.

"Quiet that thing down, would you?" Jordan huffs, barely glancing up from her phone.

"Cut it some slack." I mutter, rubbing my belly.

Jordan peeks up from her screen. "So are you joining Track again this year?"

I straighten my posture. "Ah." I think for a moment. "I'm not sure, actually..."

She cocks a brow. "You don't want to?"

"No! No, I mean I'm just not sure if I'll be able to. Between Theatre, my jobs, homework and home life... I don't even think I'll be participating in any productions this year."

Jordan sets her phone down, completely facing me. "But don't you really enjoy being in plays? You're already thinking of giving up Track, right? Do you really need to let go of both? Isn't that too much?"

I rock backward. "I suppose I don't need to. It would lighten my schedule a lot, that's for sure." Jordan scoffs.

"Yeah right, you'd just fill in that extra time with work." She snatches up her phone, accidentally grabbing tresses of her dark hair that spilt over the table. "And if that's the case, just keep participating in plays. You don't need to work anymore than you are already." She brushes her hair off of her her arm and shakes her phone at me. "You're going to wear yourself out, you know. And you're only an average student, mind you."

"Yes Ma'am." I reply. She tunes out my nutty grin as she reverts back to her phone.

I pluck up my tray and slide out of the bench. "Where are you running off to?" Jordan questions as I dump my tray into a nearby trash-bin.

"There's something I want to check." I grab my backpack and sling it over my shoulder. "I think the Callback list is up for PeterPan, or has been. I want to see who got called."

"I thought you said you aren't participating in any productions this year."

I scrunch my face."I can still be curious." I argue.