Finding My Way
Chapter 1

“Valerie? Val!” I snapped back into reality, startled.
“Yes?” I looked around and realized I was on stage.
“It’s your line, darling.” My drama teacher, Mrs. Flannigan said.
“Oh, right…” I said, putting a hand to my forehead and trying to remember what line I was on. I had been spacing out, again. All I could think about was that Loretta wouldn’t be here to see me in the play if I got the part. I was starting to think that I didn’t even want the part if Loretta wouldn’t be here to cheer me on and tell me to show everyone else up.
“Valerie, are you alright? Are you feeling okay?” Mrs. Flannigan asked me, looking concerned.
“It’s because of her sister; she’s been wacked ever since.” I heard a voice whisper and anger bubbled up inside of me. It truly surprised me how rude and disrespectful some people could be. I was going to say something, but decided it was better to pretend like I didn’t hear it. I felt too guilty when I was mean to people. I just couldn’t be mean to anyone. And while my friendliness and kindness made me be liked by almost the entire school, it also meant people could walk all over me.
“I-I’m fine. Can I just get a drink?” I asked, wishing I could just focus. I never used to have this problem. Nothing could ever break my concentration when I was on stage. I’d wanted to be an actress for as long as I could remember.
“Sure. Take five everyone!” Mrs. Flannigan announced before coming over to me where I was sipping my water. “Valerie, can we talk for a minute?”
I nodded and put my water back in my bag, sitting in one of the auditorium seats.
“I’m worried about you, darling. I can’t even imagine what you are going through, but it’s affecting your performances.”
“You know, she used to come to every show. She and my parents would always get here extra early so they could have front row seats. She would give me a little wave and blow me a kiss before the play started. And whenever she would have play dates at our house, I used to hear her brag to her friends about me.” I smiled weakly. “‘My sister’s going to be famous. My sister’s going to be a movie star!’ She was so supportive of me. I just miss her so much.” I said, looking down so Mrs. Flannigan wouldn’t see the tears in my eyes.
“I know, sweetie,” She started, kneeling down next to me. “We miss her, too. She was like family to us. I just don’t want you to stop living because of what happened. You can’t let it affect your future. You have such great potential as an actor!”
I nodded, swallowing. I looked around and noticed at least four people staring at us and I shifted in my seat.
“Hey! Why do you care what they think? You never have before, so you don’t need to now. Today was the last day of preparations before the auditions next week. I want you to go home and practice, practice, practice. Everybody knows that you’re a star. I don’t want you to miss out on getting the lead for this production. This part was made for you. I know you can do it. Make her proud.” Mrs. Flannigan said, pulling me up and hugging me. She really was like a second mother to me.
“Thank you.” I said to her. I picked up my bag and headed out of the auditorium. On my drive home, my mind was clouded with so many different thoughts.
I knew that I needed this part. Any aspiring actor needs the lead in Romeo and Juliet. It was just a role that everyone wanted, which meant I needed to be better than all of them if I were to get it. But I didn’t know how I could do that without Loretta to help me practice. My annoying little sister that I had been so close to before it happened.
She was the sweetest little girl I’d ever met. Sure, she was a little brat and sometimes needed to learn the concept of personal space, but she was everything to me. I just wanted to know where she was, who did this to her and why. Why would someone abduct my little sister? Why had I been so careless? I shouldn’t have taken her out that day. But most of all, I just wanted my Loretta back.




So this is the first chapter of my new story (: 
Please check it out and let me know what you think!
I know some of you wanted a sequel to Speechless, but I liked 
how the story ended and I don't think it needed anything else.