Chapter 4 The Prettiest Girl In School

THREE STRANGE WORDS

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CHAPTER FOUR

I woke up stretching my arms. I slipped out of the bed. after getting my bed dressed, I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth and have my bath.

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I wore my uniform. luckily it got dried after washing it yesterday but a bit cold. this is the only pair I've got cause I can't afford another one. even my salary for the next six months can't afford it cause Woodland High School is a very prestigious school and everything is quite expensive.

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I wore my pumps and grabbed my bag. I can't believe I'm gonna spend another day as well breathing the same air with those rich, spoilt creeps. well, what can I say... Somos mas Que Vencedores (in Spanish meaning, we are more than conquerors)

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I headed downstairs to the dining section which is just a wooden table and plastic chairs. I saw a covered plate on the table. I sat down and opened it. I couldn't believe my eyes. it's a teddy face-shaped pancake. it's so beautiful... to eat. I smiled.

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Lizzy and Lisa came out smiling with Eden behind them as well as some other kids.

"We just thought to do something nice for you," Lisa said and the others nodded slowly.

"you made me a pancake. how did you manage?" I asked

"Hmm, mom Claire helped us out. do you like it?" Eden asked

"I love it. you shouldn't have"

"Thanks for the story last night. slept like a baby"

I smiled and just then the thought of them getting adopted popped into my head. I can't afford to lose any of them.

"you're like our sister Astral. we love you" they hugged me

"love you two guys" I kissed them on the cheek.

"so are we going to the fare?" Lilian asked eyes sparkling up.

"it's tomorrow isn't it?" I asked

"yeah" they chorused

"I promised didn't I?" I asked and they nodded "we're going. I'll make sure to take a day off from work tomorrow so we could spend enough time with each other" I said and they giggled

"eat your pancake" Eden urged. I nodded and started digging Into the delicious pancakes. Mom Claire is awesome when it comes to cooking.

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After eating, I bid them farewell and left for school. I met up with Kristen at the entrance. she hugged me saying good morning.

"Sleep well?"

"Yeah like a baby"

"babies don't snore"

"I do not snore," she said defensively making me chuckle. but I stopped when I noticed the daredevils, Carl and his friends leaning on their car. eyes on me. I didn't pay attention. I just kept on walking.

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"looks like Cinderella's getting hooked up" Kristen smirked

I looked at her.

"excuse me?"

"notice Carl staring at you?"

"he's just mad I walked out on him."

"OK. keep walking out and you'll earn yourself a date"

"never. I would never date Carl if my hair was on fire and he was the last bucket of water on earth" I rolled my eyes

"OK girlfriend." we talked about regular stuff as we walked inside.

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. Carl's POV

"who's she?" I asked immediately she passed us.

"We don't know her?" Brian said

"you've been in this school for almost two years and you don't know her?"

"she doesn't give anyone a chance to know her. the only person she sticks to is her friend. she's quite mysterious. she doesn't talk to anyone. no one knows where she lives. like who does that?"

he placed the device on his ears.

"you're not serious"

"yeah our school's beauty queen is quite secretive" Brian laughed and the others followed

"beauty queen?"

"she's like the prettiest girl in school"

"Nah Natalie is way prettier"

"Natalie doesn't stand a chance. The other girls are like defamed pictures compared to her. even her friend is prettier than Natalie." he scoffed

"Mxxm" I clicked my tongue.

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Astral's P.O.V.

"I won't be going to work tomorrow," I said to Kristen as we walked to the library. I need to borrow some books to take home and study.

"Why?"

"well, I kinda promised the kids that I'll be taking them to the fare" I replied

"are you sure ma'am Collette will agree to it? and what about your job at the grocery store?"

"I can't work and that's my decision. they're the boss at the store and not my life"

we entered the library, moving from shelf to shelf. the library staff gestured us to be quiet.

"OK Astral. can I come?

" yeah sure if you want to, " I said, almost like a whisper

"great"

"so why was Natalie surrounded by the entire class today? everyone seems so excited... " Kristen said looking at me in the eye.

"oh, that blabbermouth. she was all like, daddy bought me a private island and named it after me, Natalie chang" I posted making baby faces while Kristen laughed.

the library attended hushed us again

"she did that?"

"what hasn't she done. she did it when her dad got her first car"

"rich people" Kristen mocked

"maybe I'll be like, look at me, I'm Astral, a waitress. oh look, I've got straws in my pocket"

We giggled as I picked up the books and headed out of the library.

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After school, I went to work. first at the grocery store and the restaurant. My boss gave me my pay but ma'am Collette refused saying she doesn't have enough money for that. I've got to take my life the way I see it.

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Kristen and I were heading for home when I saw a flier, posted on the wall.

I checked it out. it was a job offer to work in a bakery. I tore the place containing the contact. I'd use the orphanage landline to call. I stuffed the piece of paper in my bag.

"What's that?" Kristen asked.

"it's a job opportunity to work in a bakery"

"and what do you wanna do there?" she asked hands on her hips

"I wanna work there"

"are you kidding me? you still have two jobs already. what do you want the third one for. you wanna work till dawn and kill yourself?"

"no. I'll just go for an inquiry and if the offers are good then I'd quit the job at the restaurant and take this one"

she stared at me in unbelief.

"you're not serious are you?"

"damn serious Amiga"

"but what if you don't have enough time for yourself?"

"it's a shift not for a whole day" I smiled grabbing her hands in mine.

"I need as much money I can get Amiga."

she gave a wry smile

"ok friend"

"Thanks for understanding. so how did it go with your stepbro?" I asked as we walked home

"you wouldn't believe it. I hid the money where he could never find it. he searched my bag but nothing. then I started crying telling him I've lost it"

"cocky and trickish. I like it."

we laughed as we walked home.

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I stopped at the orphanage and waved her farewell. I got inside to see Mom Theresa, Claire and Martha praying to who knows who or what?

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I ran to my room. removed my uniform and lied down on my wooden bed to rest. it has been one long crazy, annoying day but a bit fun...