1 B

Happiness was never easy for everyone. People had to work for it, others had to sacrifice in order to claim it, and some even had to lose someone to find it. This was how Mikaela Coraline, who thought she already found her happiness–proved herself wrong.

It was something her mom would always say to her, she didn't understand it as a kid. Sometimes being given candy every time she did what she was told to was happiness for her. She and her childhood friend, Cecilia Murphy. The two were close friends. As a child, the two would play in the park on weekends for hours. The two's friendship brought their family together and made their parents' close friends. Despite being the same age Cecilia likes to pretend to be older and act as an older sister for Mikaela. Mikaela didn't seem to mind as she liked being with Cecilia.

It was also in kindergarten when Mikaela found her talent, drawing. Cecilia's continuous praise towards her close friend made her more passionate about drawing. While Mikaela drew, Cecilia sang. Their parents didn't mind as they watched their children during playtime get more into art. These happy blissful moments seemed like they would never end. Until the moments had become memories. On a family road trip to the beach, Mikaela's parents met their end.

While her parents slept peacefully, she woke up in a hospital bed. Memories of the accident were blurry as she was just a child. Upon hearing the news about it, she only cried and blamed herself. She asked herself if she never bothered her parents about going to the beach for summer it would have never happened. Her parents protected her with her only ending with a broken leg, she cried for hours. Worrying the hospital nurses as the kid who was now alone had no intention of answering questions. Blankly staring at the window, while barely eating. They were only able to contact a relative once the police finally got all their remaining items from the accident.

Surprising the nurses, all the close relatives either didn't answer or said no. As her parents' marriage was opposed by both families, they decided to cut ties with them to live a happy life with their daughter. The only time people came to the hospital upon hearing the news was when Cecilia's parents. A very worried family heads to the hospital to visit her. Upon arrival, Cecilia who was happy to know her close friend was alright was very happy and greeted her with a hug.

Though when she looked into her eyes, she knew and felt it right there. Her best friend Mikaela was not the same person she knew before. Her eyes seemed empty, she looked at her with a straight face without a single ounce of emotion. Her days of countless crying in the hospital have ended, as it seemed she lost every tear she could shed.

Cecilia's parents took it upon themselves to take care of Mikaela. While dropping Cecilia off to visit Mikaela every day, her parents were taking care of documents to be able to take care of her. Cecilia did not give up despite Mikaela's emotionless responses. Every day bringing new art supplies or unheard news about their school. She would constantly try talking with her but to the nurses around them. It seemed like Cecilia was talking to a wall, constantly having one-sided interactions with her.

With Cecilia's effort being in vain, in the end, she gave up. Mikaela was not the same person as she used to know. She's accepted the fact that despite her living and breathing in front of her, the old Mikaela along with her parents had died in the accident. It wasn't easy, but she grew tired of it. Until Mikaela's last day in the hospital, the two had stopped talking. The two now live under the same roof, Mikaela still barely talked. In school, the two surprised their classmates as the close friends had stopped talking.

Mikaela didn't talk to anyone. After Cecilia gave up on her, she started doing more things alone. Eating alone at lunch, being the last to be picked in group projects. Cecilia had spread the word, Mikaela that they knew was gone, and should be left alone. Throughout elementary and middle school, the two continued to have a falling out. Until high school, where Mikaela became a complete outcast and a loner. With Cecilia having a bunch of friends and being part of the popular groups. Growing into high school, Cecilia had long black hair that reached her waist and blue eyes that made her charming, with a height just a bit taller than Mikaela's.

Those blissful moments were nothing, but memories now. The two have grown up, completely out of each other's world.

Mikaela could feel her world falling apart. She was in heavy shock, making her completely lifeless when she was still in the hospital. During elementary and middle school, she kept thinking of ways she could try and reconcile with Cecilia, but she never had the chance. No- she never took the chance. Afraid of what Cecilia would think of her, she gave up before even trying. Now she has just accepted that she'll always be alone. Living on the same roof as her didn't make it any better for her, constantly eaten by guilt and fear. She asks herself why can't she try to reach out this time. Their parents being busier as they have to take care of two kids in high school makes them in constant overtime. Leaving them to not notice the two's friendship has been broken a long time ago.

Cecilia is very vocal about her dislike of Mikaela. Their falling out has only brought more tension between the two. Being part of the popular clique some would go out of their way to bully Mikaela without Cecilia's knowledge. The countless days of bullying and harassment haven't stopped, but no one ever noticed.

With bottled-up emotions Mikaela breaks sat behind the school, she hid under a staircase and drew. There were not a lot of people in that area as it was time for club members to meet each other. Mikaela drew as she cried upon the people who just harassed her a few minutes ago. Up until now, she has not forgotten how Cecilia would complement her drawings, and praise her. Art has been her talent for a long time now. She uses it to express her feelings and emotions she suppressed. She sat there silently drawing until a strong gust of wind had flown by completely messing up her sketchbook, with some of her drawings drawn on random paper just placed inside the sketchbook. She panicked as she placed down her sketchbook on where she sat, she ran to get her drawings that were now scattered on the ground. She bent down as she hurriedly picked up each paper.

"Throwing away art in an unconditional way now are we?"

Confused as she thought she was alone. She looks up and lets out an inaudible gasp. It was a pretty girl, with long wavy red hair that reached a bit below her shoulders. Green eyes that complimented her soft gentle smile, and her just standing a bit taller than herself. Flustered, she jumped up and took the paper away from her. She never saw herself as ugly, but always thought of herself as unattractive. Short black hair in a bob hairstyle with a deadpan expression and short height. She thinks of herself as a depressed teenager Dora.

Despite not being able to talk properly with a different person her age for a long time, she mustered up the courage and spoke. "No, the strong gust of wind flew it away. I didn't mean to make a mess." The girl looked at her filled with curiosity, "I was being sarcastic in a way just in case you didn't seem to notice it."

Embarrassed by her response, she bowed and apologized. Looking down at the floor and herself, she was a bit red as she's not great with conversations. "No worries! I was just kidding," The girl replied as she held out her hand. "I'm Amelie Silvestre, the leader of the art club." Awkwardly putting her hands on hers she replied, "Mikaela Coraline, nice to meet you too."

Amelie giggles at their awkward meeting, "You do know were classmates right? I sit in front of you. It's kinda ridiculous at this point that this is the first time we talked."

That giggle was enough to make Mikaela's heartbeat. She felt her face redden a bit but was confused with her feelings. In all her life she never really had romantic feelings for someone. She never feared guys nor had issues with them, but she never found herself having any attraction towards them. She can't deny Amelie is pretty attractive and has a kind atmosphere around her. Though her inner monologue was stopped with Amelie staring at her with a curious expression.

"Uh… Uhm, sorry I'm not great at conversations nor making friends." Realizing what she had said, she wanted to slap herself on how awkward she made it to be. Amelie just laughed and replied, "It's alright, conversations are not everyone's strengths." She then placed her arm around Mikaela's neck, "Can you show me more of your art though? You're great, but didn't even apply for the art club?"

"Sorry, I just didn't think I needed to be in one."

"Mikaela, I really love your art. What about joining the art club? It would be an honor." Athena held her hands, persuading her.

"No, I just… um… I really… I can't draw well."

"That's just a flat-out bad lie now." Athena giggles.

The two then sat side by side looking through Mikaela's sketchbook and her drawings. Leading them to chat a bit with one having fun and the other one flustered and having a fast-beating heart. Nervous that she might mess up her words or make it too obvious. Despite them just meeting Mikaela could feel as if they had connected. Comfortable with each other and being truthful with each other. It was the first time in years Mikaela had a conversation with a person her age. The happy conversation soon needed to end, as Amelie was now being called to go back to the art room. Mikaela looks down in a bit of disappointment as she knows that it'll just end here and the two will go back to knowing each other.

Amelie stood up from her seat and Mikaela prepared to say goodbye. Amelie speaks up first, "It was nice knowing you, Mikaela! I hope tomorrow you come and join the art club. Being close friends with you seems fun! Bye-bye!" She waves her hand and runs back into the school. Mikaela then covers her face out of embarrassment and squeals out of joy. "How can a person be that attractive? That's so illegal, out of nowhere like that… being kind to me and saying they want to be close with me."

After a bit, she went home. Doing her daily routine to avoid Cecilia and do all her homework just as she has always planned. Though she couldn't help, reminisce about her meeting with the student earlier.

Her red wavy long hair and green eyes left an impression on her. She has always been looking down on the floor as she walks. For such a long time, she didn't remember nor know anyone for that very reason. She only watched her feet drag her to places. Erasing it from her mind, she continued to work. Though even with only minutes passing, curiosity had killed the cat. She opened her social media she hasn't touched in years and searched for her.

Slowly her few minutes of looking through her profile, slowly minutes had turned into two hours. She could feel herself smiling as she looked through her photos. Laying down on her bed, she remembered their encounter earlier. Feeling butterflies in her stomach, her face slowly heating up. She kicked and punched her bed in excitement. Though after a while she got tired and looked up at the ceiling which featured the numerous art pieces she had drawn before.

"Fuck," She cursed underneath her breath as her excitement doesn't disappear.

She sighs in the moment of realization, "I'm really already attracted to her."

The years of denying she had, and the confusion she felt had concluded. "I'm really fucking gay then, aren't I?"