//------------------------------//
// I'm Lyra 
// Story: Anthropology: Lyra's Tale 
// by Starkvenger 
//------------------------------//

	
~ ~ ~ Freshman Troubles ~ ~ ~


It was an average day. I woke up early that morning at 7:00 to get ready for school. I was happily snuggled up in my bed, until my alarm clock decided to ruin my peace. The clock beeped it's ear splitting tone, tearing me away from my sweet dream. "Ugh.." I moaned. I leaned up in bed and hit the snooze button on the evil machine. 
Rubbing my eyes, and threw off my covers and swung my legs to the side of my bed. I stood up slowly and stretched, my back popping as I did. I stood up and yawned, rubbing the tiredness out of my eyes. I opened my door and trudged down the stairs. I soon made my way into the kitchen, grabbing a plastic wrapped muffin from the counter. I sat down at the table, unwrapping the treat and taking a big bite. The muffin was creamy and warm, odd for a packaged muffin. I thought nothing of it as i finished it off. 		
After eating, I walked back to my room, feeling in a peppier mood now, and started getting dressed. I pulled on my favorite mint green sweater and some kaki pants. I glanced at my clock, and my heart started pounding when it read 7:45. I only had fifteen minutes to get to school. So, I pulled on my favorite sneakers, pulled my messy blonde hair into a ponytail, and grabbed my backpack. I dashed out the door, eager to get to school without being tardy.

I ran down the street, my backpack slamming against me as i ran. I pulled out my phone to check the time. 7:50. Good I still had ten minutes. I picked up speed, dashing across roads and past bus stops. Finally, the school was in sight. I made a break for it, running across the football field, dodging the oncoming tacklers. Some stopped and stared, others tried to aim for me, but some even applauded. 
With one last quick dodge, I pulled myself up and over the schoolyard fence, and walked up the sidewalk to the front doors. Panting and sweaty, I looked around for my best friend. Being careful not to run by Ms. Parker, I slipped past the front desk and over to my friend Bonnie. "Hey Bonbon." I said, trying to stay cool. 
"Hey Lyra." she said, not looking up from her book. I sighed and started tapping the desk with my fingers, hoping she'd get agitated. After a few moments, she finally closed her book. "What is it Lyra..." she asked impatiently. 
I chuckled. "Oh nothing...I was just hoping to see if we could hang out after school today." I asked. Bonnie smiled and closed her book completely, putting it under the front desk.
"I'd like that." she said happily. I silently cheered and did a little dance. She chuckled and pulled out some attendance sheets. "OK not get to class. You don't want to be tardy." she said, handing me an attendance slip. I smiled and picked up my bag, walking down the hall and turning the corner. I walked down the hall and into my teacher's classroom, setting down my stuff by my desk. The bell rang, and I started to zone out. 
After what felt like hours, the teacher finished his lecture and we were free to go. I grabbed my stuff and ran out the door, weaving my way through the crowd of students. I continued this endless pattern until 9th period, where I could actually have fun. I walked into the band hall, the sweet scent of brass polish filling my nose. I smiled and took my seat, pulling out my Lyre from my backpack. 
Only a few people were in the room, left over from the previous class, so I decided it might be fine if I played a few chords. I set up my fingers just right, making sure I wouldn't strum the wrong chord, and lightly ran my fingers along the thin wires. Some smooth light sounds came from the wires, echoing through the empty room. I ran my fingers along the chords a little faster, creating a louder, quicker sound. 
I repositioned my hands to go again, but then people started walking in. Startled, a nearly dropped my lyre. Students slowly trickled in, one by one, and took their seats accordingly. Once everyone was in their seats, Mr. J made a motion with his hands to quiet us. "Hello class! Please get out your instruments." he said simply. The others did as told, some of them already having them out, others struggling to grab their instruments.
"Oh! And we have a new student." Mr J told us, grasping our full attention. He motioned for a girl with raven black hair and purple eyes to walk in. As she walked, I noticed she was wearing a grayish purple sweater and blue jeans. "Class, this is Octavia. She plays the violin." Mr J told us, sending murmurs throughout the room. 
Octavia spoke up at this. "Actually sir, I play the cello." she said as she grabbed her cello case off the floor. "So sorry Octavia. My mistake." he told her, his face turning scarlet. She smiled at him. Mr. J motioned for her to take a seat, and she chose the chair next to me. 
I leaned over to her. "Hi. I'm Lyra." I whispered. I smiled at her and she returned it, but half hearted. Soon, class got under way, and since it was Thursday, that meant we would take turns presenting the class with a sheet of music we had created. Mr. J looked around at the class, all of us eager to go first. "hmm...How about you Lyra?" he asked, pointing his instructor's baton at me. I smiled and walked slowly to the front. 
I pulled out a folded piece of paper from my pocket. "I call this, Humanity. It's not finished yet, but here's the first part." I said, setting the wrinkled paper on the holder. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I got rid of any stress or fear that had built up and blew it away. Then, I opened my eyes and set up my fingers on the correct chords. I started slowly, but soon started playing to my full potential. I strum each chord and felt the vibrations inside of it. 
As each wire snapped back into place, a harmonious tune filled the air. It was gentle and calm, not to soft, but not too loud. It was refreshing and catchy, but not catchy like a song that gets stuck in your head for days. I got lost in my music, playing the chords in a smooth tone. Soon, I stopped playing, seeing how my song didn't have an ending yet. 
Most of the class applauded, not like standing ovation, but genuine gratitude. I bowed and picked up my music sheet, stuffing it back into my pants pocket. I then took my seat and waited until class was over. Half an hour later, the final bell rang and I dashed out the the band hall, stuffing my lyre into my bag as I ran. I darted out the front doors of the school, eager to get home. I ran across streets and down sidewalks, around shrubs and over gardens. I said hello to some neighbors, and turned the corner to my block. I then picked up speed and made a mad dash for my house. 

Once I reached the house, I pulled out my key and unlocked the front door, slamming it behind me and walking to my room. I pulled off my sneakers and stretched out on my bed. "That feels good..." I said as I popped my back. I was about to get out my lyre when there was a knock on the door. "Who could that be?" i asked myself as I went to the door. I opened it and saw nobody. "Ha ha ha. Ding dong ditch. Very funny." I said as I started to close the door. 
Before it shut however, something caught my eye. "What's this?" I said as I stared at a medium-sized box, with no stamps or any sign of return address. The only thing on the box was a note that read, "TO: LYRA HEARTSTRINGS" in big bold letters. I shrugged and picked up the box, it being surprisingly light. I grabbed a knife from the kitchen and cut open the packing tape. I lifted the big brown flaps to reveal lots of packing peanuts. I dug around int the sea of peanuts until I hit something. 
Grabbing it, I lifted the object out of the box. It was a smaller box, with a shiny red covering and plastic so you could see inside. Inside the smaller box was an assortment of candies. "Awesome!" I said happily, tearing open the red box. I picked up one of the candies and popped it into my mouth. It was the sweetest, most delicious thing I had ever tasted. It tasted chocolatey, with a soft chewy center. I smiled and swallowed the treat, and popped two more into my mouth. 
I closed the box and walked back to my room, shoving it under my pillow. I then pulled out my Lyre and started picking at the chords, making them sing their sweet sounds. Soon my mom got home, and we enjoyed a mac and cheese dinner. I told her about my day, and about the new girl Octavia. After I washed the dished from dinner I went to my room to play. I popped some more yummy candies into my mouth and started to get tired. So, I pulled on my pajamas and climbed in bed. Soon, I found myself not able to keep my eyes open. I slipped into a deep sleep, enjoying it so far. Then stuff got weird.

I tried to dream of pleasant things, but a splitting headache kept me up. The only time I had relief from my head is when I thought of horses. Not regular horses, like pintos or Arabians, no, more like candy-colored horses. That talk. It took some time to get used to, but eventually I was fine with dreaming of these odd creatures, inserting myself among them, thinking about what they might do or how they may act. 
Soon, I was pulled away from my dream by a bright light. I opened my eyes to see a bright blue light covering my field of vision. My body felt hot and my head ached. "Ugh....morning..." i groaned. I tried to pull my covers over me, but I couldn't find them. I unwillingly opened my eyes fully and looked around. my covers, pillow, and bed were gone. So was my room. And my house! I think it's safe to say I flipped out.