Waking up in the morning isn't always easy. The grudginess and the sleep still in my eyes caused me to just stay asleep. Most of the time I slept through my alarm. Hard enough as it was, on top of that I had to conserve enough energy to get work done. Regardless of what people think, homeschooling is still mentally exhausting. If anything more so since it's your parents schooling you. Never thought I'd say that. I was just glad today was just a quick catch-up day.

"Good morning, absolutely no one in particular," I mumbled.

"Good morning to you too" a voice said sleepily.

My body shot straight up. I didn't remember anyone being in my room.

Rubbing my eyes I tried to blink through my sleepiness. My room came into view slowly. My black carpet, my desk in the far corner. Finally my tv and PS4 came into view. Then I saw a shadow of someone lying on my floor. Narrowing my eyes I spoke slowly.

"R-riley?"

A voice grumbled from the casket of blankets on my floor.

"Whaaaaat"

Sighing I kicked her.

"Get up it's 10 am"

Grouching she rolled over and sat up. Her hair falling around her shoulders. Strawberries filled my nose like a fog. It was worse than ever. It used to be bearable. Now it was just too much, a drug. Not in a bad way, just like a thick fog. Not good for an enclosed space.

Ignoring this thought I just felt the need to be near her. So I crawled out and laid down beside her.

"JEEZUZ CHRIST!' she jumped up so fast I couldn't even blink at that time.

"Sorry must've been cold last night"

Shaking her head in confusion, she grabbed her hair brush and flowed through her long locks. Smiling, I just watched her. She was just...so...something I couldn't describe.

Suddenly mom opened the door. A tray in her hands.

"Good morning Hun".

"Mom we can get our own breakfast"

I looked over at Riley, toast already half into her fast. Crumbs fell as she argued.

"What?" She mumbled "I'm hungry".

Shaking my head , I grabbed my pants from yesterday and crawled into them. I usually don't do that but I was lazy. Riley just stared at me.

"What? I know you've done it too".

"No judgment" she snickered.

Finally after eating we made our way down the stairs to the living room. The smell of breakfast and paint mixed in the kitchen. Riley sat on the couch and threw the tv on. Rolling my eyes I opened a book and read. I wasn't into the whole book thing but I needed a break from screens if my brain was going to be forgetting things. Which then brought my mind to yesterday. The woman in red. Her stare. I just couldn't remember what she looked like. Just her eyes. They were red. Like her dress. Not bright red, a darker almost crimson but maybe a bit darker.

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"Ahh" I groaned in frustration.

Riley caught the book as I threw it across the room.

"What's wrong?"

"Who is she?"

"Oh the lady you saw yesterday?" She smiled "why are you so thoughtful about her? I mean you don't actually know her right?"

"I guess not".

That was it. The conversation. I wanted to talk more but I could tell it was gonna get old real fast. Especially if I can't give details. Just the eyes. It was something about the eyes.

Trying to forget about her I opened a school book and started on science. Something about protons, neutrons etc. I really wasn't paying attention to the lesson all the same.

Riley decided to join me and we worked on that for about an hour. Science this and science that. It was getting pretty boring so we decided to go get ice cream.

"Just be back for supper Kay" mom yelled from upstairs.

"Sure thing ma" Riley yelled back.

Smiling to myself I grabbed my wallet and we made our way out the door.

The rain from last night cleaned up the car. It's gleaming black exterior is almost blinding in the afternoon sunlight. I wanted a car but I prefer walking. Exercise is important and all. Riley got her car for her sixteenth and I didn't realize that had been an option. So I didn't think to ask.

Getting in, I glanced over at Riley.

"Riley?"

"Yeah"

She started the ignition and then sat back in her seat staring at me.

"Why do you like being my friend"

She raised an eyebrow, "where's this coming from?"

"I don't know, I just can't help feeling like I'm using you"

She glanced at the dashboard. Finally putting two and two together she shrugged.

"I don't think you use me, I felt a long time ago that we'd be friends".

"Thanks, I'm sorry I've just been feeling weird lately"

"You sure have been acting it" said she.

Turning on the radio she backed out of the driveway and made her way into the road.

For a while the sound of the radio is all we listened to. Then the music got old so I threw it onto my playlist. The road seemed to drag on. Almost a never ending dark strip. The daze decided to drag me back into its fogginess. Leaning back in my seat I just let it take me. A warm feeling washed over me. It felt nice. Then suddenly…

"STOP THE CAR!"

Riley pressed on the breaks coming to a stop abruptly. I sat up and just stared.

There she was again. Red dress, red lips and all. She just stood there. Her eyes pierced into me. The warm feeling was gone. I could feel her coldness. Like she was the ice and I was warm water for once. Suddenly fear washes through me as she smiles slowly. Then she just...walked away.

"Please tell me you saw her".

I looked over at Riley. Suddenly I felt guilty. Her eyes seemed worried, a scared look crossed her face. Then as quickly as we'd stopped she just started driving. Not saying anything.

"Riley?"

"Hmm?" she just stared straight ahead.

"You didn't see her. Did you?"

"Let's just get ice cream Kay"

Shaking, I just nodded. What else could I say? I mean I literally stopped her in the middle of the road. For a woman she didn't even see. That scared me.

Fifteen quiet minutes later we arrived at the ice cream shop. Riley didn't say anything as she climbed out of the car.

Feeling really small I followed her out. The ice cream shop was on the side of an intersection. Cars were passing left and right. My mind knew this.

"One strawberry ice cream" Riley unfolded a ten. Placing it on the counter.

Snatching it up I put a twenty on the counter.

"Make that a strawberry and a tiger tiger" I smiled at the lady.

Riley took her ten. A small smile parted her lips.

"Thanks avi"

That took me by surprise. Riley hadn't called me that in quite a while. It was the nickname she called me when we first met. I'd just gotten used to it after a while.

Feeling much better we took our ice cream and started to make our way back to the car. I started to walk ahead, licking my ice cream before it melted in her car. Suddenly I heard a scream.

" AVIVA!!!!"

I glanced up long enough to see the look on Riley's face. A look of absolute fear. Then…

Everything went black.