Chapter 3 First Encounter With Lucia

I remember clearly Lucia's plans to relocate...she wanted moving from New York to Los Angeles. It wasn't for business purposes though, her parents had just bought a new home over there...a very luxurious home to be precise...more than a five star hotel. Her parents were already stinking rich before her invasion into the movie industry.

Their house workers were moving down the tens of gigantic boxes that had all the clothes of the Greens through the stairs. Lucia had an infant brother then, he was only two years old then.

The Greens were seated in the living room as the workers did their thing. Lucia was having her pedicure...from one of their female workers. The pomposity she carried was something else.

"I don't like the way my big toe's like, it's not polished like the rest", she complained.

"I'm on it right away", the worker picked up the nail polisher.

"Where's our pooch?", Lucia's Mum called on a worker that was walking past them.

"It's having its bath right now Ma", he replied. He left after a while, when she asked no more questions.

Lucia was now done with her pedicure and the worker walked away, taking the make-up box with her. Lucia admired her toe nails. "They're really beautiful", she remarked.

"Have you decided on the high school you'll be attending at LA?", her Dad questioned her.

"Yes Dad! I made up my mind last night", she replied. She took a selfie of herself and snapped her toe nails. "Got some photos to upload baby!", she exclaimed.

Her parents looked at each other and shook their heads in disappointment. They could see their Lucia's obsession with her phone gradually becoming a menace.

* * *

Lucia's Dad had a private plane...that was what they used to travel, with all their boxes also in the airplane. Mum and Dad sat down together with Mum feeding the baby with some cereals.

Lucia sat alone, her eyes on her cell phone at all time. She was on Instagram checking out the comments on her latest post, a recent picture she'd just taken in the plane, captioned, "Moving to LA permanently guys".

Their pilot walked in and informed them;"We're about to take off."

"Oh okay", Dad replied. He saw Lucia still making use of her phone. "Switch to airplane mode darling...we're about to take off."

"I'm on it Poppa", she replied and did just that. She then decided to play games on her phone.

* * *

I was in my study room...also where I wrote my stories most of the time. I was busy writing down a story when my brother barged into the room in excitement.

"Hey Jorge! Guess what...Lucia Greens just posted on Instagram she's moving down to LA permanently", he jumped in the air out of happiness. My brother had never done because of a female...like he always had girls around him to choose from. What was so special in Lucia Greens? Because she was a celeb?

"LA's a big place dude. She moving down to here doesn't mean you'll get to see her one day", I replied vaguely at him, feeling it would make him come back to his senses.

"But what if we get to see her almost everyday?", he nodded his head at me, like a lizard with a happy but a stupid face.

"We?", I asked, mainly to make him really know I wasn't interested in seeing Lucia in person a single bit.

"Sorry...IMPORTANT PERSON", he mocked me.

"Please I'd like to go on with my writing if you don't mind", I didn't want to be bothered by what he'd said to me.

"I miss the old you a lot bro", he said to me and walked off. I looked at him as he left, what he said actually touched me. But no...I didn't want to be heartbroken another time, so I kept on with the behavior.

The next day, we did all the preparations for school except having our breakfast...my bro and I hated going to school late.

"You guys should have something...at least something little before heading off to school", my mum looked at us intently.

"Okay Mum!" We ran into the kitchen and got a food flask each. We ran out of the kitchen and turned our food into the flasks and closed it.

"Bye Mum! We both ran out of the house in a hurry. My mum prolly must had been finding it difficult to fathom the behavior we showcased before leaving.

* * *

We were in a cab as usual, being driven off to school. I began having the feeling I'd sneeze and tried holding it back. Didn't like sneezing in public, it made me feel imperfect. I know everyone's not perfect but...I don't know, I felt that way.

Just when I thought I won't sneeze in the cab, it came back suddenly. I sneezed unexpectedly, not even quick enough to cover my nose. I felt ashamed and inclined towards the window, looking outside to avoid seeing the driver prolly looking at me.

Gesundheit!", my brother giggled. That was another way to say bless you when one sneezes. I turned to say thank you but what I saw got me fazed.

Sanchez was way too happy for it to be usual. I could clearly see sense be was in a state of frenzy, I could guess he must had found out Lucia Greens was coming over to our school, I clearly saw her picture on his phone as he agreed with so much intent.

"Wild guess...Lucia's going to be schooling in our school right?", I said to him vaguely, mainly because I felt it wasn't true and possible.

"Lucia's uploaded a post on her Facebook page. She'll be coming over to our school and then decide if she'll school here or not", Sanchez screamed the second sentence to me.

Woah! I could hardly believe it. Of all high schools, it was ours she chose to check out first. It wasn't even an expensive school. I was lost in my thinking until my bro brought me back to myself.

"What are you thinking about Jorge?", he asked me with a grin.

"Nothing important", I replied, "Just wondering why she chose our school when there are certainly more expensive schools around", I scratched my head to make him know I was really thinking about it.

"I don't know and I don't care", he replied, "Don't you get the good news I'm telling you?", he looked at me in amazement.

"Well...I do. Your celeb crush in the same school you are in is such a good news", I felt like ribbing him.

"She could help me act and get me into the movie industry with my acting skills", he explained to me, totally ignoring what I said.

"Yeah that's true. I hope she loves your acting bro. For me...I love it", I tried to make him happier.

"Thanks bro! I really appreciate", he replied with a smile. There was silence then until we got to school.

* * *

We both arrived the school and I noticed every single person involved in a chitchat in groups all over the school. I knew something special was happening at the moment. Sanchez left me for his friends to find out if his dream was true.

I was able to see the only person I'd call a friend then, shortly after. His name is Billy. We had our signature handshake and I asked him what was going on.

"The latest famous actress in Hollywood, Lucia Greens came to school today. She wants to school here", he replied with both hands in his pockets. I could clearly observe the happiness on his face. I turned round and I saw the whole school, even the staff were delighted.

"Follow me", he held my hand and dragged me along. We went to the school's walkway...where all the lockers were.

"The last time I checked, she was in the principal's office. Let's wait here", Billy said to me. I had no choice but to listen...we are best friends after all. There were other students in different groups, all enthusiastic in seeing Lucia come out.

Lucia shortly after, walked out of the principal's office alongside a bouncer. The principal came out after them. His gawky behavior made it obvious he was also a big fan of Lucia. Everyone, including Billy, ran to meet Lucia and prolly get her autograph but the bouncer stood on their way, signalling at everyone to back off. They all were calling her name but she gave them deaf ears.

"What a proud girl!", I thought and squeezed my face in irritation.

"Let's check out the school Sir", she said to my principal.

"Of course!", he gestured for her to walk forward, "Ladies first", he smiled cheekily. They walked off, the students still calling on her name.

Uh! Ain't you guys clearly being ignored? Why still call on her name? My school though...always annoyingly awkward when it came to having celebs around.

After the walk round the school, Lucia was in the principal's office with him. Her bouncer stood outside, in front of the closed door, preventing every fidgeting and happy person from getting into the office.

"Your school's nice. The environment's neatly kept...the school generally is beautiful naturally", Lucia remarked, in her usual pompous way. The principal didn't mind that...he was also a big fan and besides, he was joyous as heard the remarks from Lucia.

"But I don't like the wall paintings...they're way too gaudy", she pointed at the walls for him to see.

The principal expressed concern. "I'll make sure I repaint them to what you like", he promised, adjusting his neck tie feeling nervous he wasn't dressed perfectly.

"Repaint them to what I like?", she laughed over it, "You shouldn't repaint your school just because I felt its paintings are gaudy", she shook her head in amusement.

"But not repainting it could make you change your mind schooling here right?", the principal slightly turned pale.

"No! I never said I won't school here. I've heard a lot of things about this school. You guys always boast of one of the best sets of students in schools, always boasting of good grades. I'm a fan of education and good grades so...I'm in", she nodded her head.

"Yes!", the principal jumped up from his seat in excitement. He realised his faux pas and clumsiness when he saw Lucia totally startled at what he had just done.

"Uhmmm...sorry", he cleared his throat and wore a serious look. He sat down and adjusted his already perfectly worn neck tie.

He joined his hands together and placed on table, holding a pen. "So what's your age and what grade were you before moving down here?", he asked.

Lucia waved away from her mind what had happened and replied casually;"Well...I'm 16 years of age and I was in Grade 11 in my previous school."

"That's it. We'll go through the necessary things to be done so you could begin schooling here", the principal spoke, tapping on the table with his pen.

"Okay Sir...can't wait", she replied cool-headedly.

A knock was heard on the door and the principal asked for who it was. Lucia's bouncer opened the door, with his head alone being seen, peeping in.

"A man named Mr Wallace said you want to see him", he informed the principal.

"Yes! Yes! Let him come please", he replied.

Before the bouncer could turn, Mr Wallace barged into the office and stuck out his tongue at him childishly. Mr Wallace turned to the principal and greeted. He also greeted Lucia, fidgeting in happiness on seeing her. The principal was feeling embarrassed and cleared his throat loudly and weirdly for Mr Wallace to comport himself sanely.

"I had a feeling you were in Grade 11 before having this conversation. So I sent for Mr Wallace...he's a proprietor of Grade 11, Arm D...that's going to be your class."

The principal turned to Mr Wallace. "He's one of the best teachers in our school...so I guarantee you sound learning under his custody", he assured Lucia.

"That's exactly what I wanted to hear", she then turned behind to face Mr Wallace, "Let's get going to my new class then."

* * *

In my class, we were a lil bit noisy because the teacher was absent. A person was chitchatting with at least a person in the class. I was having a good time gist with my best buddy Billy.

The teacher, Mr Wallace walked into the class so suddenly and we all kept quiet. He left the door wide open. I could see the happiness on his face as he spoke to us.

"We got a new student guys", he said, with his hands in his pockets. We all murmured amongst ourselves, wondering who was gonna be the one. I had a feeling it was gonna be Lucia but I didn't want to believe so.

"Come in please", Mr Wallace bowed towards the door. The person slowly walked into the class and we all got shocked...it was Lucia!! Everyone but me wanted jubilating I was still taken aback by everything.

"Shhh!", Mr Wallace stopped them from doing so, gesturing for everyone to stay calm, "I know we should be celebrating but we can't disturb the school", he gave out a wide smile.

Everyone comported quietly as Lucia walked to the center and stood in front of the class. "Hello everyone", she waved at us with a smile.

"Hello Lucia", all but me responded. I just didn't feel like saying anything...you could call it pride.

The principal barged into the class and instructed Mr Wallace to follow him.

"I'm leaving guys...please stay quiet", he pleaded. He and the principal both left us alone in the class with Lucia.

With how she addressed us earlier with a smile, I was beginning to have a lil good impression about her. "Well...seems she's a lil bit not gruff like I felt she would", I thought. You know celebs and their usual pomposity whenever they meet ordinary people right?

The lil good impression I had just felt about her soon went down the drain...almost immediately though. She looked for a seat that was unoccupied and began walking on that lane to the seat. I felt she was actually gonna sit down there but guess what happened!

She stopped by a dude's seat and gazed down at him. I felt sorry for the dude that day...he looked up at her, forcing himself to hide his excitement...though not completely perfect. He prolly felt a movie star was crushing on him especially when Lucia gave him a sarcastic looking smile. He smiled back, not knowing what was going to transpire almost immediately from then.

"Go over to that seat...I wanna be sitting here from now on", she quickly changed to a frowning face.

The dude got confused and looked back. "But I don't like sitting at the back", he replied, swallowing his bravery. He felt he shouldn't have spoken back at her. That was how he was, always very timid.

"Get your ass off this seat and go over there dummy", she demanded again. The guy didn't argue and began putting his books into his backpack.

People around him supported Lucia and told him to get up when they saw he was slow in doing so and Lucia was getting angrier. They spoke to him calmly though, unlike the queen of pride. The dude left the seat and went to the one at the back.

Lucia then took over the seat, sitting down. Plenty people surrounded her immediately, some asking for autographs, the rest asking her random silly questions. She replied to them because she felt they were COOL!

The boys and girls who felt they would be ignored especially after seeing what happened to the dude earlier remained on their seats. Even Billy and I reminded on our seats. I know I was never one of the hottest guys, biggest guys in school but I didn't remain on my seat because of guilty conscience, I remained there because I hated what she did to that dude. I was developing hatred for her at that point.

I felt bad for that dude really. His name is Bruce. I know he was a nerd that had some insane behaviors. He was picking his nose almost all the time...that was what he was doing actually. Maybe that was what made Lucia saw him as not cool and treated him that way. Asides that, he was not good at dressing...I gotta be honest. His taste for fashion was very bad.

But I don't think he deserved such, no matter what! Nobody deserved such treatment but Lucia did that to him and people around supported her. This was what made me to really hate her in person then. I looked at her with a frown on my face.

Ooooooh! That's really rude from Lucia right?

From the lil good impression Jorge had, it has now become hatred.

I wonder what he's gonna do to Lucia now...

Quick question: How would you treat anyone that feels he or she is important?