Chapter 3- Ooh Shit, I'm Doomed.
LILA =+=
Alexa bit her lip, looking a little deflated for a second, but then she perked up again.
"Yeah, about that… the draw is actually starting right now."
I blinked, caught off guard.
"What? I thought you said it wasn't for another ten hours or something."
She grinned wider.
"Plot twist! Registration closed last night. I applied for both of us right before the deadline, and they're starting the broadcast early this year. Like, any minute now."
"Well then," I said, rolling over on my bed and pulling the blanket up to my chin,
"congratulations in advance on losing again. Enjoy the show. I'll be right here, catching up on my series."
But Alexa wasn't having it.
She stepped closer, her voice turning all whiny.
"I want you to come with me. Hold my hand or something."
I peeked out from under the blanket.
"Hold your what now? Your hand? For what?"
"For moral support!" she exclaimed, waving her arms around.
"Please? I need you there."
I stared at her, deadpan.
"Why not just hold your own hand and march yourself right into another disappointment? Or better yet, hold hands with the TV when they announce some random rich kid's name. That sounds way more fitting."
"You can say whatever you want, Lila," she said, crossing her arms and planting her feet.
"But you're following me to the sitting room to watch this lottery draw. End of story."
"I'm not going anywhere," I shot back, grabbing a handful of chips and munching them extra loud just to annoy her.
I pressed play on my laptop, and the dramatic music from my show filled the room again.
"Yes, you are," she insisted, her voice firm.
I ignored her completely, focusing on the screen where the male lead was about to confess his undying love or whatever.
Crunch, crunch—another chip down.
But then, out of nowhere, Alexa lunged forward and slammed my laptop shut with a loud clap that made me jump.
"Alexa!" I screamed, bolting upright.
"What the actual heck is your problem?! If you end up breaking my laptop, I swear your next three months' salary is going straight to fixing it! And all for what? Some useless draw that won't even call your name? This is ridiculous!"
She stood there, hands on her hips, not backing down.
"I'm not leaving until you come with me. Come on, it's starting!"
I groaned and flopped back onto the bed, pulling the duvet over my entire face like a shield.
"Fine, whatever. I'm sleeping now. Goodnight."
But nope, she wasn't done.
She grabbed a pillow from the end of the bed and smacked me right in the side with it—thwack!
"Ow! I'm sleeping!" I snapped, swatting at her blindly from under the covers.
"Not anymore," she said, yanking the duvet away in one swift pull.
I glared up at her.
I hissed like an angry cat, but deep down, I knew she wouldn't stop.
Alexa was like a dog with a bone when she got like this.
"Fine! I give up! I give up, okay? I'm coming with you. But listen to me good—don't you ever drag me into this stupidity again next year. I know you'll apply again, because you're like a persistent mosquito that just won't quit, but leave me out of it. Deal?"
She squealed so high-pitched it could've shattered glass and threw her arms around me in a tight hug.
"Thank youuu! You're the best sister ever!" she said in the sweetest voice—right before she suddenly pulled back with a dramatic wrinkle of her nose.
"Ugh. Get off. I forgot how bad you smell."
I gasped, stepping back from her. "That's so mean! Take it back!" I snapped, glaring at her.
"I… I didn't mean it like that, my beloved Lila."
"Fuck you," I muttered, turning away and heading for the door.
She pouted and hurried after me. "Wait! I'm sorry! You don't stink at all. You smell like flowers and expensive perfume and fresh morning breeze. Please don't change your mind now."
"Suit yourself," I muttered, shaking my head as we headed down the hall to the sitting room.
The house was quiet otherwise—Mom and Dad were probably out running errands or something.
We plopped down on the couch, and Alexa snatched the remote, flipping straight to the channel where the lottery was broadcasting.
"See? It already started! I'm late! All because of you and your stubborn butt!" she whined, fidgeting like crazy.
"Beat me then," I said, rolling my eyes and leaning back into the cushions.
"Not my fault you're obsessed."
She groaned and clutched my arm tight, shaking it.
Her nails were digging in a little, and she was breathing all fast.
"Stop shaking like a broken blender," I told her, trying to pry her hand off.
"I already told you—you're not gonna win. This is rejection number four incoming. Brace yourself, girl. Deep breaths."
"You're such a hater," she mumbled, but she didn't let go.
Her eyes were glued to the screen, where some fancy announcer in a suit was droning on about the academy's history and all that jazz.
Then, the music swelled, all dramatic and suspenseful, and the announcer's voice boomed through the speakers.
"And the winner of this year's Sterling Academy lottery draw is… Lila Harper!"
I barely even looked up from picking at a chip crumb on my shirt.
"See? Told you. You didn't win. Congrats to whoever that is—probably some rich kid like always. Now, don't bother me with this next year, okay? I'm out."
But Alexa wasn't moving.
She was frozen, her mouth hanging open.
Then she screamed,
"WAIT! That's you! Lila Harper! YOU WON!"
I froze mid-crumb-pick, my brain short-circuiting.
"What? No way."
She grabbed my shoulders, shaking me now instead of just my arm.
"You won the scholarship to Sterling Academy! Oh my god, Lila!"
"You're joking!" I said, my heart suddenly pounding like a drum in my chest.
"Stop messing around, Alexa. That's not funny."
"You won!!" she screamed again, jumping up and down on the couch like a maniac.
I shook my head, trying to make sense of it.
"It's gotta be someone else, Alexa. I'm not the only Lila Harper in the world who must've applied. Coincidence, right? Has to be."
But just then, my phone buzzed on the coffee table—an incoming call from an unknown number.
I stared at it, totally confused.
Who calls with no caller ID these days?
I hadn't given my number to anyone new lately.
Maybe a scam?
Or wrong number?
"Pick it up!!!" Alexa yelled, lunging for the phone.
"Why should I? I don't pick up unknown numbers," I said, reaching to end the call.
But before I could, Alexa snatched it from my hand, hit accept, and put it on speaker.
"Hello, are we speaking with Ms. Lila?" a polished female voice asked from the other end.
I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry.
"Uh, who's asking?"
"We are from Sterling Academy," the voice said cheerfully.
"Congratulations! You've won the lottery to study at our academy."
"Oh shit," I whispered, my stomach dropping like a rock.
"I am doomed."