FACADE

Chapter 41

 I awoke to a loud drilling noise from outside my room and yawned as I lazily sat up. I was about to stand up to check when I felt something strange with my legs.

 “My child is still in there!! Hurry up an impatient yell sounded from outside, and I recognized to be my mother's.

 Wait break the door? Which door? I hastily stood up when it dawned on me that it was already late in the afternoon. But. It was 28. My mind drifted to the letter and my mom's incessant urge to the person trying to break the door awoke me to reality.

 “Wait… Am alright” despite the pain in my thighs, I still managed to stand up and wobble to the door.

 “Cather what is wrong with you? Why would you lock yourself in? Hurry and open the door. Now!” it was my dad's voice this time and I wasted no time to open it.

 “What is the meaning of that Cat? I deserve an explanation”.

 Her tone was harsh, and I knew I had gotten her real mad this time. Naturally I wouldn't intentionally play a prank on her but since she thought that, I didn't bother to explain as I was too lazy to. Instead, I lied that I fell asleep earlier yesterday and was just waking up now. Even if she didn't want to, she had no other choice than to.

 “You really made me worried. Thank God nothing bad happened to you.”

 I was told I didn't come down for dinner no matter how much they knocked and at first, my mom thought I was full, so she didn't press the matter. But this morning when she sent Kara to call me down for breakfast, the other knocked and called to no avail, when she heard no response after waiting for a while she went downstairs to inform them.

 She had furthermore explained that she thought I was just throwing a tantrum and didn't think more of it but this afternoon when I didn't come down even after Kara knocked, she knew immediately that something was up, so she sent Kara to get her the spare key since the door was locked but no matter how hard they searched, they couldn't find it.

 So that was why… My mind flashed, and I tried to remember what happened last when my memories came crashing this time I was able to fully grasp the pieces and I got little information.

 When I felt a headache coming on, I massaged my forehead and came up with an excuse to go back upstairs.
...

     Time went by, and it was finally time for us to leave. I wasn't the least sad about it but instead was ecstatic. I felt restricted being in a place I wasn't familiar with and couldn't be happier for resumption.

 It was normal to be late on the first day of school, but unfortunately I was a perfectionist and wouldn't even tolerate such from myself, so I got up earlier and dressed up. Biden is still the one that drives me and I couldn't help but cast a pitiful glance at my poor bike that now lied unused in the garage.

....

 “CAtherrrr” Unexpectedly, it wasn't Becca or shayne this time, and I was surprised when I saw Lisa hopping her way towards me.

 I didn't fret or hide like I used to which was a first, and I would also be lying if I said I knew when my lips curved into a smile. Maybe it was because, other than Matt and Edward of course I didn't have contact with other people during the holidays, so I couldn't help but feel happy when I saw Lisa, so I waved back.

 “Oh my. Your number has been unreachable all through and all my Snapchat, IG messages were ignored. Tell me, are you planning to break my heart?” I rolled my eyes at her snide comment and stuck out my tongue.

 “Of course not. I was out of town and I haven't been using social media for the time being” I lied, by this time, I was already done, so she followed me to class.

 “Ooh. I thought you were ignoring me.” She didn't inquire much about the reason why I took a break from social media and stuffs and I couldn't help but be grateful, she had such a great attitude.

    “Nah, I wouldn't dare” I was also surprised by my words as usually, I wouldn't be this chatty and I stopped abruptly, before brushing it off. Maybe it was because I had not seen her for so long.

   We talked for a while, or should I say, she kept bickering about how her holiday went, and I did the listening. Since we had both arrived earlier, there wasn't many students in class since they would always wake up late or be delayed by whatever it is.

 When the bell rang for first period, we disentangled, and I was surprised when I saw her take a seat behind me. I shot her a questioning look, and she mouthed 'I got good grades last semester, so naturally I would be here'.

 It was reasonable, as the classes were divided by grade, in alphabetical order, that is A for the top 20 students and others in a depreciating order.

 Usually, we would even sit according to our grades which of course made me wonder how Edward managed to be put here, especially beside me.

 I hadn't thought much about it earlier but now thinking of it, I could smell some foul play and I couldn't help but wonder what means he used to take this seat. Not to brag, I usually took first, so my seat was at the forefront, naturally the second would be seating beside me, but instead we have Edward.
...

 In the middle of second period, the door opened and in walked a tall devilishly handsome looking male. His bag was lazily slung across one shoulder and on his wrist was the latest Rolex watch, his custom-made blazer fitted just right on his body and his appearance from head to toe screamed playboy. Brown lips, blonde hair and short wavy curls. Even though he was wearing our school uniform which added a little childishness to his appearance, his appearance still stood out like a sore thumb.

   Needless for the introduction, it was the almighty Marcus. I could hear the whole class gasp and even the male students had a look of sheer envy. Rolling my eyes, I labeled him a show-off in my heart and continued drawing the music.

   I didn't even need to wonder why he was here, as this semester held nothing but surprises and I couldn't even be bothered to waste my time on unimportant issues.

    But one thing was undeniable, the peaceful days in Beckham high are almost over.

...

  Third Person P.O.V

 Hills and Towers hotel, New York City

 In a VVIP room, a shutter could be heard, coupled with a director that was walking around like there was fire on his butt.

   The director was particularly upset today, since Edward Miller Jones the New hotcake in the film industry just canceled out on them. The director kept receiving calls, and he kept yelling profanities over the phone.

   One fear that if whoever came closer this time would be torn apart by the furious director Josh.

   “Call, Jacky… No matter what we must get Edward on the show.”

  Meanwhile, on a giant king-sized bed lied our famous actor, flipping through the pages of a famous magazine. His manager was basically on his knees and his phone kept ringing incessantly.

 “Please... Even if it just for a miEven if it just for a minute, it's OK. You can come up with an excuse to leave after but please don't flake out on this show” His manager had tried different methods of approach from begging, forcing, crawling to kneeling but no matter what Edward refused to go. In fact, he had even said.

   “I no longer care about that industry thingy. Just tell them I quit. What's the hassle about” He found this workaholic manager of his particularly noisy, and he couldn't help but comment.

Indeed, he had agreed to go before, but that was before he found out that he was to be paired with one lousy actress, for a cook off. There was no way he would pair with such a shrew moreover, he couldn't imagine what Cather would think about him after, so he bluntly refused.