I hit another bad note. My voice cracked under pressure, I guess. This is the first time I'd ever taken up singing lessons. I never was interested, but my parents used to say I had potential. They felt I could do better than all of the students in my chorus classes. I couldn't wrap my head around the idea of singing as a lifelong career though. It just isn't something I care about.
My name is Elizabeth. I just turned 20, and still live with my parents as I head off to college. It's been my goal to make something good for the world; to create something I could share with the rest of the world. I suppose you could say I'm the joyous happy-go-lucky type of gal that can't help but get butterflies in my tummy when I see a cute kitty on videos - y'know. The ones where they mewl at the camera and use their cute little paws to ... well, y'know. I'm more or less that type of girl. I grew up around a lot of life-pampering things. Life was full of color and every day would be a new but similar day of happiness that I could share with my friends. The world was fluff and clouds for me. Was.
Throughout my high-school years, I developed an interest in medical research. I'm not sure what I want to do just yet, but I know that I do want it. I began by putting efforts into becoming more involved with a very broad variety of activities throughout my senior high school year and freshman college years. Although I was more along the side of a tomboy at first, I eventually grew out into a weird mega-combination of everything. I'm actively supported by my track team, the boys in the other sports seem to like me a lot (it's the body)... I've joined performance arts clubs, and even tried to get involved in a competitive video game. I've had a busy life, but it all balanced out every interest I had. This would benefit me in the long run after all. Although this wasn't exactly necessary, I was dedicated to get to where I want.
This is sort of where my next story comes in... You see, I also joined a singers club. Part of the club's activity is to sing for a health charity. This would greatly reflect in my resume, especially because there is also a hefty scholarship I want in the end of my current semester. It's not something I can let fly by. The money would cover so many of my expenses and reduce the amount of debt I would put myself through in the long run... so I need this. I need it far more than the person I am competing with right now. Guess I kind of forgot to mention her.
I'm not one to judge or... well, bitch. However, there is always that one person in life that will always look for every way in particular to stand in the way of something you want. No. I don't feel you understand exactly how she stands in the way... She is an exact replica of myself (aside a few small details...). The idea that I would take the exact same types of lessons with the exact same teacher in the exact same timeframe for the exact same reasons is just... astronomical. I can't even begin to fathom how the chances could turn out this way. It's weird, it's all weird.
The small details? Well, she's not exactly interested in the best field... While she's doing boobjobs and facial reconstructions to create more barbie dolls like herself, I am actually helping people survive. Let's leave it at that, and you can use your imagination a little to guess every scenario involving her, a chainsaw, and I. Well... Then there's the whole body thing. I can't say that I feel much for that but... nature tells me I should feel just a tad intimidated at the fact that she could be considered a little more attractive than myself. She does have a good shapely body. Yeah, her boobs are nicely shaped and plump, a good handful for any horndog out there. But so do I; my body is just as good... A quick jiggly grope reminds me I do have a nice set, but that's not what I want men to see me as... My hip curves are a lot sexier than that, no? And judging from what I see in the mirror, I do have beautiful eyes... Right?...
Anyways... Point is, I have to deal with that witch in the one thing that virtually determines my entire life. Obviously, I'd never let anything, or anyone, especially a nobody like herself, get in my way. Not that I'm the type to do drastic things. I am a fair girl, and I like to keep my work clean and honest. I can get by easily without cheating in any way possible, unlike others. Well... sort of. With the events that have been occurring since the past... week or so, I am not sure what to consider this. I can't even tell where it's going but... I think it's okay.
Continuing where I left off (before my little rant)... I've been taking singing lessons. This is the most important extra-curricular activity I've had to date. Mostly because it coincides with my other extra-curricular as a volunteer (for the sake of this account, I won't disclose where I am volunteering). The charity work being done is for that volunteer. It would be entirely illogical to consider it anything less than an opportunity to improve my stature and more forward! Thing is, out of all the things I've done in my life, singing was never my best.
Yeah, my parents encouraged me to sing. I did have fun, especially when I played the role of an angel in a play, singing with my sweet, smooth, innocent, lovely voice. But that was then. And those compliments were from my parents. Now that I need actual talent, it's a different story. Therefore, I am in dire need of a singing teacher. Luckily, I found someone about 17 miles away from my neighborhood. Not close, but good enough. I would drive there for hour-long lessons every day. Every day, I would have my appointments set right after... I'll just call her Becky. It's not her name, but it has a prodding ring in my head when I think of her. Anyways, Becky would walk out just as I would enter the building. It's actually a house, owned by Ms. Enola Cross, my singing teacher.
Ms. Enola Cross is actually pretty young; 28, and fairly average in build. I think she goes to the gym, especially since I've noticed she has a lot of specialized running shoes. She got her Masters in music theory when she was turning 24. Not only that, but she was involved in plenty of research programs for hearing impaired. That's mostly what turned me to her direction, since I saw that she had similar interests to myself. I wasn't sure I could ever find a reason to turn her lessons down over some other cheap trick trying to pass as a music teacher. Sorry, I wasn't exactly thinking that... Just had my thoughts on Becky for a minute there... Speaking of which, I meant to ask Ms. Cross about her...
Greetings passed, welcomes given. In the comfort of her own warmly, oddly soothing home. Closing into her studio room...
- Ms. Cross, I actually wanted to ask a quick question about uh... the girl that just left. She's actually a classmate in my college. We don't really see eye to eye much but, I was curious about what she was doing here. I know she's going for the same program I am, but how did she become involved with you? You've told me you don't begin appointments until my hour, the earliest in your schedule...
I lied about us being classmates, she's actually part of a rival college. I casually met her through some friends involved in a science program that reaches the other college. I just want to see what I could get out of her...
- Oh! Yes... she is actually participating in special lessons. Nothing against you darling, but her parents volunteered to donate to the charity I am sponsoring. The time she arrives here is the best she could do, given the other activities she has going on through her day, but that's as far as I know.
I can't say I was surprised the spoiled little brat was getting her way through daddy's pocket change. Uh... Ahem... Pardon my language there... I'll admit, it is a little upsetting. But maybe I'm onto something that could give me an edge over her! Definitely so...
- My daddy is an investment banker. And I'm involved in a local hospital internship program. I can get my daddy to chip in, and I could even help with the money I get. Ms. Cross, you know how much this charity means to me. I'm as honest a human being could get. I try to be empathetic and sympathetic to every person that I meet, even though life sometimes isn't fair, even to myself. Is there any chance you could help me out as well? I have a lot of free time, and there isn't anything I wouldn't do to help others. That's also why I'm in this to begin with. You know my story... As much as I love singing, I am doing this to help the charity. That cause would help me in the end, and in return I give more back to the world! Please, you have to help me...
Ms. Cross gazed at me with what seemed like empathy. She was a very understanding woman, and I'm certain she knew what my plea meant to me. She gave a big sigh, I can't tell what it meant but... she seemed concerned. The next moment, I see her walking to a cabinet full of wine bottles. She pours a darkly colored drink into two glasses. At this moment, I assumed it was meant for the both of us. This could be part of the lesson... Reasoning it, it could be to relax the throat. Reducing anxiety makes sense, since the last few lessons were pretty bad. I was okay with it; 20 years old is just enough for me, and it seems like she doesn't want me to tell anyone else. We sit on a couch in her studio room, and she sets the drinks on a small table in front.
