Page 49 - The Muse 2021

“Ew!” Lexi shouted, “That’s so hilariously pathetic.” At this point I was holding back tears. But then something worse happened.
“Why is she gonna be there?” Asher asked without even looking up from his phone, “Who would ever invite her?” Wow. I could basically see the room closing in on me. The good news is that Asher knew who I was. The bad news is that he thinks I’m a freak who doesn’t even belong at a school dance. I couldn’t wait for that day to be over.
I went home that day, defeated as usual, and I raced upstairs before my dad could even get a word in asking about how my day was. I slammed the door to my room, and I threw myself on my bed. Why? Why is this my life? What did I do to deserve this? It wasn’t Carson’s fault, at all. It’s kind of mine. If only I pursued music, then maybe I could’ve made something out of myself...I just wanted to start over. I didn’t want to be known as the girl whose mom left her, or whose dad thinks she’s not good enough, or even Carson’s weird little sister. I guess I kinda... snapped. I couldn’t take it anymore.
Starting over.
That’s it.
And that, people, was my big mistake.
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Days passed and Saturday finally came. I had a plan, I just didn’t know if I was gonna go through with it. You see, I’m not very good at rebelling or doing bold things. I mostly just stand in the corner and do nothing. The night of the dance I got ready, put on a dress, did my makeup, and packed everything I needed in my bag. I said bye to my dad, and I gotta admit, it wasn’t that hard at all. “Bye dad! I’ll be gone for a few hours!” I exclaimed while hugging him with one arm.
My dad looked up from his phone, “Bye Luna, have fun.” A shadow of doubt passed through my mind. Was I doing the right thing? Yes. My dad doesn’t need me, I’m just a burden to him. I raced out the front door and quickly got into my car. Carson’s car wasn’t in the driveway so that meant that he was already there. Of course. As I got into the car, I heaved a heavy sigh and looked at myself in the mirror.
“You got this,” I told myself.
I drove until I pulled into the driveway, the whole way looking at the boring town that is Flint. I checked my makeup in the mirror and then walked into the school. The dance was taking place in the gym, as most school dances do. I saw Carson hanging out by the table on one side of the room, surrounded by girls and the rest of the lacrosse team. I made my way to the snacks table when Amanda Sernfield came up to me. “Hey Luna!” she said as she approached me, “What’s up?”
Amanda is the president of the school dance committee and a total airhead. “Hi Amanda,” I started, “So I was gonna ask you if you wanted me to help clean up after this is over.”
“That’s so sweet of you! We usually only have one person on clean-up duty because the gym is so small. Is that okay with you?” Amanda asked me while grabbing a handful of pretzels.
“That’s fine with me,” I assured her.
Amanda smiled really wide, “Perfect! I’ll tell the committee.” I walked away and left Amanda there on her phone. This was gonna be a really long night.
When the dance was over and everyone had left, I set my plan into action. I picked up half of the trash off the floor and left the rest untouched. Then I left the garbage bag on the floor, so it seemed like I wasn’t finished with it. I also left my bag in the middle of the floor. I knew for a fact that there weren't any cameras in the gym, mainly because the school couldn’t afford them, and also because there have been many instances where a flying basketball had broken one of them. Then I went to the far side of one of the tables where there were some candles burning and I started setting fire to the tables that were made out of wood, and the bleachers, which were also wooden. Before I could change my mind, I pulled the fire alarm and quickly put on a hoodie that I brought from home. But before I left, I dropped my favorite necklace on the ground next to the burning tables. My dad gave it to me when I was little, before me and Carson grew up. I hadn’t taken it off ever, so if it was found, my brother and my dad would definitely know that I was gone for good. The gym was being overrun by flames and smoke. I exited through the back of the school where I parked the rental car that I bought using some money that I stole from my dad. As I was leaving, I accidentally bumped into a guy. I didn’t know who it was because I didn’t have time to get a proper good look at his face. I got scared and ran off but it was just for a moment, so he probably didn’t see my face. I left the gym in a hurry as I got in the car and drove off, leaving the gym burning down and with it, my old life. Goodbye Luna.
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There I was, on the open road. Very scared to say the least. The radio station that I was listening to was already covering the fire at the school. There was a reporter at the scene who said no trace of a body was found, so it must have disappeared in the fire. I assumed they were talking about me. I hadn’t gone far. I had been driving for just about an hour
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