I stared at the old wooden table miserably. Life was low. I hated it. Not only had my boyfriend been cheating on me but it now seemed like my favourite guy in the world didn't exist. I felt like crying but I held in the tears. I was in the art room trying to paint a still life set up on the table in front of me. My brush was in my hand but it was held mid-air, paint dripping off it. I could not concentrate.
"Luciana! Finished already?".
I looked up to see Mr Garr looking at me. I shook my head. "Um, no not yet. Sorry,". I quickly dipped my brush into some green oil paint on my palette and began to paint, but it looked a mess. I couldn't keep my mind on my work.
"Luciana," Mr Garr said, coming up close and looking at me in concern. "Is everything alright?".
I shook my head. "No, not really. I'm sorry I haven't been working this morning, I'll come back later to make it up,".
"It's OK, I understand. Actually, you may be able to do me a favour. A new student is starting today and he'll be joining our class. He'll be in our lesson after lunch this afternoon. Being my start student, you could go over the past week's work with him, I think you're the best person to do that,".
I nodded and managed a weak smile. "Sure, I can do that,". Helping a new student would at least take my mind off things.
Mr Garr thanked me and went over to help another student. I looked at my canvas in dismay. The oils had smudged into each other and had too much linseed oil on them.
It looked one big mess, just like my life.
I couldn't believe the reaction of the girls when I walked through the main corridor of college. Nothing happened. No screams, no chases, no autograph signing. No-one knew who I was.
I smiled to myself as I walked through towards the courtyard outside to eat my lunch. I had spent the morning signing up for courses and finding out about the college and after lunch I would have my first lesson- art. I was really looking forwards to it. I
"Hey watch where you're going!".
I looked up and saw a I had nearly bumped into a girl. She looked angrily at me. "Sorry," I mumbled then I carried on out of the doors. This was weird, I could not remember the last time I has been among so many girls without chaos being caused! I'd be lying if I said I didn't like the attention I got but well, having it all through my teenage years, it got too much in the end. I was glad to be at college with no special treatment, just as a normal guy.
As I stepped into the sunshine I looked around. Students were everywhere, going in all directions, some sitting down eating lunch. No-one gave me a second look.
"Hey," a guy said, stopping as he passed me. "You look lost. Are you new?".
I nodded. "I was meant to start last week when the new year began but I was ill. This is my first day,".
The guy gave me a friendly smile. "You can eat lunch with me and the guys. My name's Brian, what's yours?".
"Nick," I answered, following him over to a bench where some other guys were sitting, eating lunch.
Brian. That reminded me of my best friend from the band. A wave of sadness ran over me. If this wasn't a dream and this was my life now, I would never see Brian and the rest of the band again. I hadn't realized that at first. I couldn't imagine not seeing them every day, playing pranks on them and sharing our times together on tour. Maybe I should have been back with them, touring and making girls happy. Maybe... no. I was sick of all that. Sure I would miss the guys. I would miss the fans. But I had had all that experience and now I had a new life. At last I could be a college guy and date a normal girl who didn't want me just for the fame and money.
I got talking with my new friend Brian and his other friends but then we stopped talking when some girls started shouting and laughing loudly behind us. I turned around and saw some cheerleader-types surround a girl who was on her own, looking really scared. Some guys approached and started laughing at her too.
"So you found out," the blond one said. "Well you got the message, Ocean Freak. You're dumped. I never liked you anyways!". He slung an arm around one of the girls and they started kissing in front of the lone girl.
I felt so sad for the girl. She looked really upset and had no one to stick up for her. "Who's she?" I asked Brian.
"Oh, Luciana. She was dating Scott, the blond guy but seems like it's all over now. Shame, Luciana's a real sweet girl. I have art classes with her, she's really friendly. Sure she's not popular, but she's a wonderful person. They call Luce the Ocean Freak cos she likes to sketch the ocean. She's one truly gifted artist...".
An ocean lover? Hmmm, I loved the ocean too. "Oh right. Well that's so mean what they did to her, kissing right in front of her eyes,".
I watched as Luciana tried to walk away from the crowd, but the group of girls blocked her way. She remained silent and suddenly ran, breaking through the girls and running off really fast onto the sports field.
"Uh-oh," Brian's friend Danny said. "She looked really upset,".
I stood up. How could those girls be so mean? I had been bullied at school when I was younger so all the horrible memories came flooding back to me. I couldn't let it happen to this sweet girl. "See you guys later," I said to the guys at my bench as I started to make my way across the field...
Sobbing my eyes out, I ran faster than ever before across the field. I didn't look back once. I had to get away from those nasty girls. Scott was bad enough but those girls... I had had enough. They were the last thing I needed. What was the worst thing was the Nick business. I couldn't live without him. He had been a big inspiration in my life. He had shown that even if you're not popular at school, you can still go on and make something out of life. He shared my love of the ocean and a love for music; I played the drums like him. How could I wake up one morning and find out he didn't exist. Maybe he had never existed. He could have been part of my imagination...
I stopped running when I reached the fence right at the back of the field. I sat down behind a thick tree trunk and closed my eyes, shutting out the world. The tears stopped for a moment but inside I was still weeping. This was so unfair. It was like my wish the night before had reversed.
Eventually I opened my eyes and looked up at the branches. They swayed in the gentle breeze. Sunlight shined on the fresh green leaves and crickets sharped all around. It looked so beautiful. Being an artist, I wished I had my sketch book with me to draw the sight.
I reached into my bag and pulled out my pocket mirror. I tidied up my face where my make-up had run and fluffed up my hair. I couldn't go back to class looking a mess.
As I put my mirror back, I felt a piece of paper in my pocket. I took it out and unfolded it.
My heart sank. It was the note Scott had sent me to ask me out. As I re-read it I realized what lies it had all been. I crumpled up the note in my fist. Tears threatened to spill again but I was determined not to let them. But it was too late. The branches above my head and bright green leaves became one huge blur. I tossed the crumpled note as far as I could and buried my head in my hands, letting off a loud sob. It wasn't fair...
Through the gaps between my fingers I saw movement coming towards me. A bad taste came to my mouth, what if it was Scott or one of the girls, come to humiliate me further.
To scared to look up, I saw the person kneel down on the grass besides me. I couldn't see the upper part of their body as I had my head down but I knew it had to be a guy. And thankfully it wasn't Scott.
I felt a hand lightly rest on my shoulder. I almost felt a surge of electricity, even though I hadn't seen his face yet.
"It's OK, Luce," the voice whispered. "They're not worth any tears,".
That voice. It was so beautiful. The whispering guy had a voice of an angel. I felt instantly better.
"Thanks," I said back, blinking away the last of the tears. "You're so sweet, who are you?". I slowly raised my head.
I began to shake and my eyes widened as I looked into the guys beautiful blue eyes. It was a miracle. An absolute miracle. Everything I could have hoped for.
"Nick," I breathed. "You're here,". It was really him. He didn't look like the cute blond superstar any more. He looked like a normal guy, but was every bit as breathtaking as he used to be.
He looked surprised. "How did you know my name?".
"Cos I know who you used to be. I bet you woke up this morning into a different life, just like I did,".
Nick nodded. "Yeah, it was weird! It's like no-one knows about my days in the band except for you, as if it never happened,".
"It'll be our little secret!" I said to him, my eyes sparkling. We shared something special that no-one else in the world knew about.
He laughed. "You're the only person who recognised me,". He looked away shyly. "Not that I mind,".
I grinned at him. "You'll love college life here. Just don't let anyone upset you. I'd warn you to stay away from that loser Scott and his girls,".
Nick looked into my eyes. "I'm sure I will love it here, it's certainly a nice change from touring. And I have no intention of giving those nasty girls any of my time, after what they did to you...".
My heart fluttered. "Thanks Nick, you're so sweet. But why are you here?".
"I know this sounds stupid..." he looked down at the ground and brushed a few bangs to the side. "..But I'd been kinda depressed recently and I was sick of being famous. So yesterday I... made a wish..." he blushed. "...To be a normal guy,". He looked up. "I don't know how it's happened but it has. I'm here," He gave me one of his cute crooked little smiles. "And I think I'm going to be happy here,".
When he said that my heart soared and happy tears formed in my eyes. "You know what? I made a wish too yesterday as I was so sad, and it's come true. I think we are both going to be happy at last!".
Nick nodded and slung his arm around my shoulder. "Yeah! Come on, I think I have art with you next. Let's go to class,".
As we walked back across the empty field in the hot Florida sun I felt in heaven. I was with Nick. Sure, he wasn't the rich, famous blond Backstreet Boy anymore but he was the real Nick. And he was with me
My wish had been granted.
.