* * Misconceptions * *


“Okay class, the first thing on our agenda today is to discuss the first musical of the year.” The teacher began passing out little booklets filled with music and dialogue.

“Westside Story.” Maria squealed softly to herself as she flipped through the pages of the booklet. “I love this musical.”

The teacher continued speaking. “This year we’re doing something different. Anyone one can try out for the musical. You don’t have to be in chorus.” He took in their reactions. “This year rehearsals will be after school and we’ll be doing the whole play production. That means there will not only be singing, but dancing, acting, costumes, the whole shebang.”

Liz Parker raised her hand. “Will you be assigning parts yourself or will there be auditions?”

“I will assign parts based on your performance at the auditions. Now on to the second thing on our agenda for today.”

As the teacher continued talking Maria tuned him out. “So you’re Maria.” She looked up in to a pair of sexy green eyes that looked familiar.

“Yeah I’m Maria.” She stared at him questioningly.

He held out his hand and she shook it. “I’m Alexander Evans.”

“Isabel’s brother? How do you know me?” Maria was confused. Isabel couldn’t have possibly had enough time to tell her brother about her.

“She mentioned your name when I met up with her after lunch. When the teacher called your name I put two and two together.” He smiled.

She melted. ‘He’s cute.’ “I thought you were home?”

“I was, it got boring, I decided to brave the first day. Might as well get it over with.”

She nodded. They started talking about their interest. She found that he was as easy to talk to as his sister.

Kyle Valenti butted in then. “You’re Isabel’s brother?” Alex nodded. “You two look nothing alike.”

Maria rolled her eyes and pointed out the obvious. “You look nothing like your sister Kyle.”

“I’m adopted.” Alex said.

“Okay class quiet down. Ms Parker is going to perform for us.”

Maria rolled her eyes. Liz was always looking for ways to display her many talents. She sighed and prepared to sit through the most horrendous voice she’d ever heard.

Kyle saw the look on Maria’s face and grinned. “She is a little overbearing isn’t she?”

Maria looked at him in embarrassment and shock. Shock because she had never had a conversation with Kyle that lasted more than five seconds and embarrassment because he had caught the look on her face.

She stuttered. “I um… Well she has a nice enough voice.”

“That she does but she’s no Charlotte Church.”

Maria was pleasantly surprised. “You listen to opera?”

He smiled at her knowingly. “I listen to all kinds of music. I’m not taking chorus because it’s a bird chorus. I actually love music.”

She was shamed at they way she categorized him. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

He shrugged it off. “No need to apologize Maria. We’ve all been categorized one way or another.”

Maria shook her head. “No it’s not okay. I’ve done to you what I condemn others for doing.”

Alex spoke up. “Hey lighten up Maria. It’s not the end of the world. Everyone has done something hypocritical at one point in time.”

Maria dropped it. At that moment she decided that she would go to the park later with Isabel. She realized that maybe Max was right. She was giving Liz’s crowd to much control over her life by letting them categorize her. She was her own person.

“Okay class who’s up next?” He looked down at his agenda. “Maria Deluca do you have your selection ready?”

“Yes Mr. Wyatt.” She grabbed her guitar and walked up to the front of the class. “The song I’ve selected is video by India Arie.”

She began to play:

Sometimes I shave my legs and sometimes I don't
Sometimes I comb my hair and sometimes I won't
Depend on how the wind blows I might even paint my toes
It really just depends on whatever feels good in my soul

She ignored the snickers that came from Liz’s crowd at the back of the room and continued on.

I'm not the average girl from your video
and I ain't built like a supermodel But, I Learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a queen
I'm not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I'm wearing I will always be India Aria

She became lost in the music, unmindful of the others in the room. Her soft, but strong voice washed over the students that were actually listening.

When I look in the mirror the only one there is me
Every freckle on my face is where it's supposed to be
And I know our creator didn't make no mistakes on me
My feet, my thighs, my lips, my eyes I'm lovin' what I see

I'm not the average girl from your video
and I ain't built like a supermodel
But, I Learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a queen
I'm not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I'm wearing I will always be India Aria

Am I less of a lady If I don't wear panty hoes?
My mama said ain't what she wears but, what she knows
But, I've drawn a conclusion, it's all and illusion
confusions the name of the game
A misconception, a vast deception
Something's gotta change

Don't be offended this is all my opinion
ain't nothing that I'm sayin law
This is a true confession of a life learned lesson
I was sent here to share wit ya'll
So get in where you fit in go on and shine
Free your mind, now’s the time
Put your salt on the shelf
Go head and love yourself
Cuz everything's gonna be all right

I'm not the average girl from your video
and I ain't built like a supermodel
But, I Learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a queen
I'm not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I'm wearing I will always be India Aria

Keep your fancy drinks and your expensive minks
I don't need that to have a good time
Keep your expensive car and your Caviar
All I need is my guitar
Keep your Krystal and your pistol
I'd rather have a pretty piece of Crystal
Don't need your silly comb I can find my own
What God gave me is just fine

I'm not the average girl from your video
and I ain't built like a supermodel
But, I Learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a queen
I'm not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I'm wearing I will always be India Arie

When the song finished there was stunned silence. Though Maria was in chorus no one had heard her sing so magnificently before. She always tried to blend in with everyone else and steered clear of doing solos. But a new year and a new chorus teacher brought changes and one of those changes being that for tests he required students to pick a selection to sing and perform it in front of the class.

Finally the teacher spoke. “Wow, Ms Deluca, that was great. I’m totally giving you an A+ for that.”

The rest of the class started applauding her, except Liz Parker who was in the back of the room giving her an evil glare. The thought running through her mind was, ‘How dare that bitch get up there and try to show me up.’