Those That Which Are Talented: Chapter Four (Part Two of Three)

Chapter Four (Part Two of Three)

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“I’m sure they will talk about you during lunch,” Lysander said.

“What? Who?” I asked.

“The teacher’s,” Lysander said. “Because of what just happened in Mr. Romanovich’s class.”

“Wow, seriously,” I said.

“Yes, you’re new, yet so amazing. I’m sure you've captured the eyes of many, students and teachers alike.”

“Amazing?” I repeated unsure if that was true.

“Yes, amazing,” Lysander assured me.

“Like you!” I said. “You play the violin so well! It’s like you were born with the thing attached to you!!!”

“I get that a lot,” he said. “I've really always enjoyed music. Give me an instrument, I’ll play it.”

“I cannot wait to see you play again,” I said.

“I’m sure,” Lysander said smiling with pride.

“I take it you enjoy being complimented,” I said.

“Well, of course, Lysander Keen is someone to be praised,” he said and I laughed.

“Oh, look it’s the lad from earlier,” Lysander said putting his hand to his cheeks. “Shall we say hello?”

“Yeah,” I said with a smile. The boy noticed us though and ran and gave Lysander a hug.

“Wow, I would like to think everyone wishes to do the same thing to me,” Lysander joked.

“They’re just jealous,” Ozias said.

“Aha,” Lysander exclaimed putting his fist in the air. “The root of all problems: jealousy!”

Ozias looked at him as though Lysander was the most important person in the universe. It actually made me want to laugh.

“I want to be just like you when I’m older,” Ozias said. He had all the innocence a child should have, but you could tell he was just as bad as Lysander was.

“No, you want to be just like yourself,” Lysander said to him. “You see, it is not about being like anyone else in this world, because if you are trying to be like someone else than who are you? You have lost all identity, all sense of control, all feeling and emotion, all that was ever yours. Instead, you've become someone else, a fraud, a mask, an escape from the truth, someone under control, someone who fakes it all, someone who will never be happy. That is what happens so you must take my words of advice child and put them deep down in your mind and take them whenever you are sad or confused and use them wisely.”

Once again Ozias hugged Lysander. Lysander was a good brother, I wonder if he looked at Ozias as a brother or perhaps maybe even as a son. They didn't know each other, but it was as if they knew each other their whole life. Why would his parents do this to him? It only made me mad.

“So lady, I heard you have singing talent,” Ozias said.

“From who?” I asked.

“This girl in my class, she’s really obsessed with you actually,” Ozias told me. “I told her that I’m pretty sure it was you I met and she started freaking out. She even got mad.”

“Because of me?” I asked.

“No, because of a cactus,” he said sarcastically. “Yes, because of you! Anyways, is that true, you have singing talent?”

“Yes,” I said.

“Wow, you look more the artsy type,” he said staring at me. “You’re pretty.”

“Oh, thank you,” I said.

“Well, it’s true. You shouldn't thank people for telling you the truth.”

“You’re not very modest,” I said. “Even for other people.”

Ozias started laughing and he came over to hug me. “You’re so pretty!”

“Wow, thanks,” I said.

“No, you say I know,” Ozias corrected me.

“No, that’s rude,” I said.

“No, it’s not,” he said.

“It is,” I said.

“No,” he said.

“Yes.”

“But…what if someone you don’t like tells you that?”

“Then you don’t reply,” I explained.

“But that’s rude!”

“I guess this is a fight I can’t win,” I said.

“No.”

“Okay.”

“Lysander, do you think she should tell people thank you for being called pretty?”

“Wait, did I tell you my name even?” Lysander said.

“I told him,” I said.

“Ah, Kalliope, giving out my information,” Lysander fake scolded me.

“Well, do you?” Ozias said.

“No, she should drown in compliments every day and never have to say a word back or else her precious lips will be too weak to kiss me. If she drops something, she should never lift a finger to pick it up. She should let someone else pick it up for her or else she’ll be too sore to touch my body, specifically the nether regions. Understand?”

“You’re gross Lysander,” I said.

“Surely, you must understand that is all men think about,” Ozias explained.

“Yes, but I find it gross,” I said.

“Fair enough,” Ozias said.

“Ah, if only she didn't find it gross though,” Lysander said. “I’d never have to worry about putting my hand down my pants.”

“Wow,” I said. “In front of a kid.”

“I’m mature,” Ozias said.

“Yes, he’s mature. He’s practically the same age as us.”

“No, he’s not and just because he acts it still doesn't mean he’s the same age as us when we act like we’re 20 something!”

“I suppose,” Lysander said. “You will have to excuse me, Ozias.”

“Don’t worry, I’m taking this all in and writing it down in my mind.”

“You’re so wise Lysander,” I joked. “All the boys want to have the same amount of wisdom as you.”

After laughing for a while I felt someone staring at me and when I looked sure enough Malerei was looking at me. I smiled, but she turned around. It was Devin. It had to be. Teagan said he was talking about me in his poem and Malerei surely understood what it was and she was mad at me!

I looked at Lysander and told him, “Did you know that Devin kid likes me?”

“Well, he made it quite apparent the day he invited you. Even before you had gotten there he kept asking me questions about you. I was quite livid about that actually.” Lysander rubbed the sides of his temples and sighed heavily.

“You didn't tell him to back off?” Ozias asked.

“Oh, of course I glared at him and subtly told him not to even think of dear Kalliope, but men are all animals. They don’t care too much about whether it matters to someone else or not.”

“Well, you know Malerei, she likes him and I just looked at her and she looked away,” I said.

“Good riddance, she is so very wishy-washy, I do not wish to be acquainted with her to tell you the truth.”

“She doesn't strike me as one to do such a thing,” I said.

“No, she’s quite fake in my opinion. Always trying to be mysterious simply to catch Devin’s eyes,” Lysander explained.

“I don’t think so, but whatever,” I said shrugging. “I’m going to go over there and talk to her, okay?”

“Okay,” he said. “I’ll await your return.”

“Good luck!” Ozias told me with a big smile. He looked so adorable, just like Lysander. Just like Lysander.

I went over to Malerei who was drawing something at the moment. I sat down across from her and asked, “What are you drawing?”

“The girl who stole my soon-to-be boyfriend,” Malerei said continuing to draw without glancing up. She was well aware that it was me, but she would not let herself see me. She wanted to be in the world of her drawings.

“Who might that be?” I asked.

“Someone who’s obviously better than me,” she said. “I just thought he wasn't into going out with anyone. A free-spirit!”

“Malerei, Devin is absolutely nothing. He…He’s fake and I think this little infatuation he has doesn't signify anything at all but the stupidities of youth.”

“Devin is everything and not the least bit fake. It’s not infatuation, he’s a poet. He loves you!”

“Poets will always have different muses,” I reminded her.

“Why can’t I be his muse?!” she asked me.

“Because he’s too stupid to see an interesting girl in front of him,” I said.

She looked up from her drawing and I could see she had been crying.

“Malerei, you must not ever cry over a guy!” I said firmly and she seemed to be taken aback by my tone of voice.

“K-Kalliope?” she said.

“I’m serious Malerei, they will only take advantage of you if you keep doing that,” I said.

“I…I guess you’re right, but can I ask you a question?” she said.

I nodded my head and she didn't want to tell me at first, but after a few minutes she looked me straight in the eye.

“You don’t…feel the same way about Devin right?” she said.

“Of course not! I’m probably as shocked as you are!” I said.

“I’m not actually shocked, you’re really pretty…” she said.

“ME!!! Ha, that’s funny!” I said.

“No, seriously, you are,” she said.

“Well, thanks.”  So much of me wanted to say ‘I know’ because of Ozias, which is why I started laughing.

She looked confused and asked, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I just forgot to ask, are you going to Devin’s party tonight?” I asked.

“Yeah, of course,” she replied. “You’re going of course.”

“Yeah I am, just to scope out the scene, honestly. Also, I don’t want to become even more unlikable than I already am,” I explained.

“Well, I hope we can hang out over there,” Malerei said genuinely. I was glad we talked.

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        “Next, darling Kalliope, we have fashion history, probably the easiest class you will ever have. I could easily compare it to work at a normal school where you don’t learn but just have to remember.”

        “I guess that is what you do in public school,” I said correcting him on his use of normal school, when in fact public school can be just as convoluted as this school.

        “Yes, yes, and I forgot to ask you, but did everything get resolved between you and Malerei?”

        “Yes, all is well,” I said.

“I’m glad to hear it,” he said.

We entered the class and the teacher handed me a book. On the front it read, Fashion History: The Evolution of Life and Fashion.

“Ms. Shaundrey, while taking this course have the thought in your mind that this book is your child? Alright?” the teacher told me.

“Of course,” I replied to her a little bit scared.

“Good,” she said. “You wouldn’t want to lose or hurt your child.”

“Of course not!!!” I said.

She stared at me and I was a bit creeped out by her now. If this wasn't school, I would have gotten as far away as possible from this lady. I bet she acted like this in real life, too!

“Kalliope, are you scared of Zelda?” Lysander asked me. “She is a bit strange.”

“Zelda???” I asked him.

“Our teacher! She doesn't go by a last name and she doesn't have one apparently or at least she doesn't identify herself with one.”

“Oh, that’s nice,” I said. “To tell the truth, yes, I am a bit scared of her. Only because she was being demanding and staring very hard at me. The stare could have killed me.”

“Yes, she is very…what would be the words, hmm, being in her presence is like being choked by someone and hoping they’ll let go.”

“How poetic Lysander, I don’t think Zelda would appreciate that,” the girl who smiled at me during our modeling class yesterday said.

“Isadora, do not say such things or we shall never play the violin together again,” Lysander warned her.

“And? I can play the violin alone quite fine, Mr. Prodigy Virtuoso,” she said. “Introduce me to your lovely girlfriend, Valentino.”

I blushed, that was my second compliment today about my nonexistent (in my opinion, it seems) looks.

“She is not my girlfriend Isadora, she is my significant other,” Lysander corrected her. “If she were my girlfriend, this would be going dreadfully horrible right now.”

“Ah, I see. I wouldn't like to have a boyfriend either, but a beau perhaps. That sounds more elegant,” she said with dreamy eyes.

“Yes, see my logic,” Lysander said. “Isadora, I present to you the ever so cankerous Kalliope.”

“Cankerous?” Isadora and I said in unison.

“Yes, cankerous!!! She makes me feel absolutely dreadful in my insides when I see her. My stomach flutters and my heart palpitates quickly!!! How much more cankerous can that get?!”

“That’s very romantic Lysander,” I said.

“My darling Kalliope, I’m glad to hear it!” he said. Then the teacher noticed that we were talking and she came to me.

“Wow, first day and already being a nuisance to the class Ms. Shaundrey, why don’t you tell us a bit about your personal style.” She said it with such disgust that I couldn't even formulate any response.

“Well!” the teacher yelled. “What is your style?”

“I have no style,” I said.

“Ha, that’s a laugh!” she said with the most condescending tone in her voice. “I know you must dress horribly, exhibit A right here. I mean I know we’re at a very musical school, but a Mozart T-shirt? What the hell is wrong with you? You must not look in the mirror when you wake up.”

“I do and I don’t care much for what superficial people think,” I said. “Sort of like how people don’t care about what some jerk they encountered tells them.”

I could see Isadora and she was practically laughing, but she held it in as best as she could.

“Well, then,” Zelda said. “If that’s how you want to be, well, then you won’t mind me criticizing your clothing every time I see you.”

“No, not at all,” I said.

“Good then,” she said. “I will enjoy seeing you now, because without that as my option surely every moment I saw you it would be awful.”

“Oh, that’s too bad,” I said. Then the bell rang thankfully dismissing us.

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“Wow, Zelda does not like you,” Isadora said. “Eh, you’re new and absolutely intriguing. People hate what they can’t understand. You’re quite the buzz around school. You’re not only here by scholarship, but you’re smart and talented.”

“At my old school I was practically invisible. I’m kind of missing that,” I said.

“Oh, Kalliope, school is done now, isn't it?” Lysander said thinking about it for a second.

“Yes,” I replied.

“I’m going to get your dress, remember?” he said.

“Oh, you were being serious?!” I said.

“Lysander is very serious about most things he says, especially what he is…passionate about!” Isadora said.

“Yes, Kalliope, and as of forever I’m passionate about YOU!!!” Lysander said hugging me very tightly.

“Well, I’ll get going now,” Isadora said laughing at us. “Don’t let Lysander get freaky on you.”

“Is that even possible?” I said and she laughed waving good bye and going her separate way.

“She’s very nice,” I said.

“Yes, she is,” Lysander said. “She’s one of the people I can tolerate.”

“Wow, Lysander, you really don’t have any friends,” I said. “Except that Aloysius guy.”

“Yes, Aloysius is very cool,” Lysander said. “Don’t you agree?”

“Well, I just met him,” I said. “Plus, he hits on me and not in the way that I would like to be hit on.” I barely realized we were out of school, but I didn't care much.

“How would you like to be hit on?” he asked me wiggling his eyebrows which made me laugh so hard.

“Like that!” I laughed.

“Oh!” he said holding my waist and pulling me close.

“Like this, too,” I whispered into him.

“Yes, I quite like this, but I don’t quite like doing it in public.” He pushed me aside gently, but kept his arm around me.

“Don’t worry, Lysander. I don’t like that either because I find it gross to see other people do that in public. I wouldn’t want to be a hypocrite,” I said.

“Haha,” he said. “Well, Kalliope shall I change the subject to the subject of the party?”

“Of course, Lysander!” I exclaimed.

“Alright, well would you like me to buy you a dress for that as well?” he said with the biggest smile on his face like the only thing in the world he wanted to do was please me.

“You don’t have to do that. I mean it’s not like it’s a special occasion that I would require a special dress for.”

“Then we get you a not so special dress.”

“Um, aren't you going to spend a lot of money on that,” I said.

“Who cares how much money I spend?” he said. “I guess you probably have a commoner’s mentality.”

“Commoner’s mentality?!” I said.

“Well, I call poor people that, better than saying bum, because that’s what most of the people at this school think the lower class is.”

“Wow,” I said.

“Yes, so you should be glad I say commoner, because bum is very derogatory,” he said.

“It makes no difference to me, the said commoner bum,” I said.

“Oh, I guess that is true,” he said. “I will refrain from saying it if I can, but you know habits.”

We walked all the way to this really upscale mall that I would have never imagined entering in my life.

He led me to a store with many formal gowns. “You can choose a gown from here to where for tomorrow. I’m sure you’ll look stunning in whichever you choose.”

I think even the people working in the shop knew that I was poor, because they looked at me and pointed.

“Can we help you miss?” a lady said.

“No, thank you,” I said.

“You should probably go,” she said. “There are plenty of other cheaper malls and places to shop at, right?”

Then Lysander came out of nowhere and put his arm around me and said, “Is there a problem?”

The woman saw him and immediately chippered up and said, “No, no, nothing at all!”

“Alright then,” he said sitting back down where he was waiting for me before.

I was so glad I had Lysander or else I would have been kicked out just because of my appearance. Did I really look all that poor or did I just look like a total rebel? I think it might have been a mixture of both.

Then I saw a fabulous black gown, it had long sleeves made of black lace and the rest was just black material that was made to fit to the body. I tried it on in the dressing room and looked at myself. It was nice. I never felt confident in my clothing like a normal girl. As long as I liked it, I’d wear it without caring what anyone else said. Is that confidence??? I’m not sure.

I went out in my normal clothes and went to Lysander who looked up and said, “Are you going to buy that?”

“Yes,” I said.

“Alright,” he said. We went to the register and the lady looked at me once more while putting the dress in a protective plastic and bag. Lysander bought it and let a lot of money come out. I couldn't count it, but I’m sure there was a hundred dollar bill in there somewhere. I felt bad making him buy me something I’d probably only wear once.

“I’m sure you’ll look stunning in it,” he said. “Onward to the next shop. I hope they don’t act as bad as they did with you in that shop.”

“Oh, it’s okay. They must not be used to seeing people like me in their stores,” I said.

“No, it isn't okay. If they knew you, they’d know you were a splendid girl,” he said.

“Yeah, but I think it’s human nature to judge someone before you even know them,” I said.

“You do?” he said. “That’s interesting. You don’t seem the judgmental type.”

“I don’t judge very often, but I’m not going to lie and say that I never do. I judged you the moment I saw you.”

“And what did you think?” he said blushing a bit.

“Oh, I don’t know what I thought. You were practically dazzling me. I thought you looked very regal and that you were trying to make me feel so extremely uncomfortable that day, but then you became this very intriguing person, which was a very splendid surprise.”

“Oh,” he said blushing a shade redder.

“You’re blushing Lysander, have you finally let your guard down,” I said.

“I should say the same to you!” he said. “You’re joking with me.” We both laughed and there was a silence that seemed to last an eternity, but was simply a few seconds.

We entered the next shop and Lysander looked a bit nervous actually. “Kalliope, not to make your decision hard, but you know how Devin,” Lysander gulped, “likes you.”

“Oh, you don’t want me to wear something that will attract his attention, is that it?” I asked him.

“Well, I mean it would be preferable if you did,” Lysander said blushing a bit more.

“Lysander, don’t you want me to look stunning for you,” I said toying with him at this point forgetting that we were in public. It was a little cute looking at him blush.

“Yes,” he said basically begging for it now. He was nodding his head so quickly now that I thought his neck would break.

“Well, then who cares if it attracts someone else’s attention. As long as I have your attention, I think that’s all that matters. Although, I’m not one to dress up for parties anyways so I don’t think you’ll have to worry about—”

“Getting a one hit wonder, just did!” he said.

“Do you even try to hide it? I mean your pants are quite…close-fitting for lack of a better word,” I told him.

“Ah, I see you don’t want other girls too stare at my special apparatus because you’re the only one who can look, well take a nice looky look!” he said literally tilting my head downward and putting the other hand next to his pants as if he were showcasing that thing.

“Lysander!!!” I said looking away.

“Your reaction is hysterical, Kalliope!!!” he said. “Did you get a good look, because I’m not hard anymore?”

“Lysander, you are a very confusing boy. Do you not even get embarrassed by telling a girl that?” I said.

“No, not really and might I add, you are very easy to talk to,” Lysander said.

“I am?” I said.

        “Yes, very!” he said and then he quickly sped over to another section of the store and said to me, “Kalliope, you must wear this! Be my doll!”

“Let me try it on Lysander…It’s cute that you want me to be your doll,” I said. “Why don’t you be my mannequin?”

“Your mannequin! We can be set on display together in a precious heart-shaped box!” he said.

I went in to the dressing room to try it on looking back and seeing Lysander with a huge smile on his face. It looked very much like a doll’s dress and I didn’t even think it would look nice on me, but I put it on for Lysander.

I put it on and once I put it on my waist looked extremely small. It was funny that I looked like a doll, I wanted to look like that forever! The dress was light pink and made the waist very small and the bottom was a swing skirt. It was absolutely adorable. I just had to get a bow to go with it.

When I went back out to Lysander I had a huge smile on my face and when he saw my smile he got a huge smile on his face. “Lysander, we must get a pink bow to go with this.”

“I already found one!!!” he said intertwining his hands with mine. “Seems that the saying is true, two great minds think alike.”

I laughed, “Shall we go purchase my dress?”

“Yes, we shall!” he said taking his hand in mine. The whole walk back was amazing and we were acting as though we were star-crossed lovers.

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