Page 48 - The Muse 2021

Through the Façade
by Nina Rodriguez
8th Grade
Blue Ribbon
No one tells you how dangerous adrenaline really is. It gives you the feeling that you can do anything, and that in itself, is fatal. I really don’t know how I got myself caught up in this mess. When I was younger, my father always told me, “When you're in the moment, the energy consumes you, and it can make you do anything; be careful with that.” Of course, he was talking about playing the piano, not dangerous and elaborate, possibly-illegal stunts. If my father saw me right now, he would definitely ground me forever, but he would also really angrily tell me the story about my name’s origin. Luna Viotto. The name Luna is of Hebrew origin and it means “dweller,” or thinker. And when I did what I did I definitely wasn’t thinking very clearly. I blame the adrenaline. My last name, Viotto, means “life,” which is kind of ironic now that I think about it.
My life has always been boring. Well, how can it
be interesting when I live in Flint, Michigan in 2010.
Nothing interesting ever happens here. My brother has
always been the pride and joy of our family. And by
family, I mean my dad, my brother, and me. My mom left
when I was little, and along with her, the hope of having a
big, loving family. Carson Viotto. He is captain of the lacrosse team, straight A student, and an “overall nice guy.” He’s a big deal in our school, Flint Central High School. I’m only one year younger than Carson, he’s a senior and I’m a junior, but it feels like I’ve always been living in his shadow. It felt safe when I was younger; I didn’t have to worry about messing up because no one expected anything of me. But now, I don’t like the shadow anymore. It’s annoying when people refer to me as “Carson’s little sister.” My father gave up on me a long, long time ago. Now he just focuses on my brother and how he’s doing. That can cause some pretty big damage for a kid.
And that leads us to the day. The day that I either made a really stupid mistake or a really smart...mistake. I was walking down the colorful school hallway, filled with posters and brochures about the school’s different educational programs. Then, three girls with highlighted hair and very strong perfume walked up to me. The three princesses, the three musketeers, the three barbie dolls. You can call them whatever you want, but I decide to call them the three evil spawns. Lexi Berned, Isabel Alvarez, and Ellie Diaz. Those are their real names, but I prefer mine better. “Laura!” Isabel practically shouted.
I slowly turned my head up from my phone to see that all three of the girls had a bunch of flyers in their hands. I wasn’t the least bit excited to find out what they were for.
“It’s Luna,” I explained, but I knew that they already knew my name.
“You should come to the fall dance Saturday night,” Lexi said while handing me a bright orange flyer, “I know that you don’t have any other plans.” The other girls giggled as Lexi made a sort of pouting face to mock me. I snatched the flyer right out of Lexi’s freshly manicured hands. Her nails, or should I say claws, are always perfect, since she practically lives at the salon.
“I’ll be there,” I grunted as the girls looked at me and slowly walked away.
As they were leaving, Ellie turned around and shouted, “Say hi to your brother for me!” I was used to that, but it
still felt like I had just been punched in my stomach. I continued walking down the hallway and then I saw him. Asher Henderson, the most perfect boy alive. Too bad he doesn’t know I exist, and I’ve had a crush on him since freshman year. The highlight of my day is inhaling the waft of cologne that Asher leaves as he walks past me, not even glancing at me. He goes into his classroom, so I decided to do what any sane person would do and follow him. I leaned against the door frame of the class as I saw Asher talking with the three evil spawns. I couldn’t help but overhear their conversation.
“Did you hear that Carson’s freaky little sister is going to the dance Saturday night?” whispered Ellie.
48
Tessa Weinstein, Grade 8