CHAPTER THREE

Imagine how my parents would react to my SCP. You guessed it. Ballistic. They never thought that their sweet little daughter would actually dare dream about participating an all-state competition, which would be aired on television! Another reason was that my examinations are nearing and they reckon that I have absolutely no time for anything else.

"Hey! Look. I want to do this. My results are perfectly fine! This is my dream! Whatever you say, I'm going to do it. I've already made up my mind," I protested and stormed out of the kitchen hurriedly, but not soon enough as I heard their raised voices.

"...look at her!... Outrageous! Why didn't you keep an eye on your daughter?"

I felt angry hot tears well up in my eyes and ran to my room and slammed the door shut, hoping that no one would see me in tears. How can they say that kind of thing? It sounds as if they are pushing the responsibility of taking care of me to each other! I buried my face into my pillow and cried myself to sleep.

Some moments later, I was woken up by the ringing of the house phone.

"Hello?" an extremely sweet voice, which I almost couldn't recognise,floated through the phone.

"Rain, is that you?"

"Huh! What? Oh, yes, it's me, you fool. I thought it was your - Oh, never mind. Er, anyway, how's your - SCP coming along?" Rain stammered.

"It's alright. And, I've got a feeling you weren't expecting me. You were expecting someone else. Like, Jason?" I teased Rain, picturing her clutching on to the phone, blushing terribly, while waiting anxiously for my brother to answer. Jason, who was my younger twin brother, has captured Rain's heart ever since he went through the 'ugly' stage of puberty, taken off his braces and has shot up from 151cm to 174cm. It is weird calling my own brother cute, but I have to say that he is not bad looking.

I spilt the contents of the argument with my parents to Rain, willing myself not to cry.

"Don't worry, it'll all work out," Rain assured me.

CHAPTER TWO

After revealing my Singing Competition Plan, I headed home to prepare for it. I picked out the songs which I plan to sing and tried it all. A few hours later, i received a knock on the door.

"Hey babe! I heard about the SCP. Are you sure? I mean it's that with schoolwork and all. It's an important year. Well, if you're really, really sure. Of course I'll support you!" Tara, my other best friend, appeared and rambled.

I shot her a what-the-hell-look and started giggling. It was so just Tara to say everything in one breath.

I have known Tara since eighth grade and we've gotten from then on. She was the rock-and-roll girl with multiple earrings type. Whereas i, am the total opposite of her. Not that I'm bragging or anything. But I'm the perfect straight As student who is being chauffeured to and fro from school. The kind who has strict parents and has to sit round the dining table for all my meals. Well, as the saying goes, opposites attract.

You may be wondering if my parents would approve of Tara. No, no. This story isn't something like the movie Spider Lilies. We're straight. Perfectly. Well, yes, my parents approve my friendship with Tara. Because, although Tara does not look like your typical the-girl-next-door kind, she is a great friend and makes a even better babysitter for my baby sister, Jeanette.

Despite all our differences, we have one thing in common - our parents. Currently, my parents are undergoing WWII and her parents are having the Cold War. Conversations in her house would go like this, "Tell him to pay the bills", "Ask her where my tie is"

So anyway, I told Tara the songs that I've decided to sing for the auditions and we even had a trial too. At the end of the song, I asked her for her opinions.

"Hmm... Alright. But, this song is sooo slow. It's like a lullaby! Maybe something faster would be better. You know, like, Jimmy eat world's Always Be? That's so muchhhhhh better!" Tara suggested, then started singing the lines of the chorus. I stared at her, and burst out laughing again, amused.

CHAPTER ONE

“Guess what,” Rain looks up from her book and raised her eyebrows at me. We were studying at the library for the holidays.

“I’ve decided - tell her - to go for it,” Rain raised her eyebrows a little higher.

“The competition. You know, the singing competition?” Rain stared at me, searching my face for signs of me joking. But when she found none, she frowned.

“Are you.. sure?” I responded by nodding earnestly.

“Sure, you’ve a great voice and all. But, aren’t you being a little, say, ambitious?” Rain replied uncertainly.

I sighed. “I know, but you do know how much I enjoy singing. I would also really like to know if I actually do have the potential. Forget about what people will say. I just want to go after it. After my dream.”

“But...”

“Don’t try to discourage me. I’ve made up my mind. I’m prepared to face embarrassment and all. I am,” I cut her off and smiled gently at her. Rain shrugged and went back to her book. Well, at least I think I am.