Anisa sat disinterested in class, thinking about what her dad would send this time. He had a habit of taking minor trinkets from his digs and sneaking them to her through the mail after proper cleaning. He kept saying he could be arrested for doing it, but she didn’t buy it. Last time it was a single bronze earring that was too big for her piercing. As she spaced off, the teacher asked her, “So, what’s the answer to the equation?”

The teacher was smirking like she was clever as Anisa looked at the math problem on the board, “Am I solving for x or y?”

The teacher laughed a little at her, mockingly responding, “If you were paying attention you would know.”

Before the teacher could move on, Anisa used some of the math tricks Gena had showed the group and answered, “X is 4Y and Y is X divided by 4.”

The teacher sighed and nodded, seemingly more annoyed at her efforts to prove she wasn’t dumb instead of accepting that she should just be paying attention to the class. Ms. Jones wasn’t a bad teacher, but this little game was a waste of her time. She was pulling down straight As. What did she care if she paid attention in the class? This wasn’t even that hard a class. Algebra was just a logic problem. She couldn’t wait until the bell rang and she could finally get some air. Returning to her daydream, she began to ask herself if there would be a show to watch from the hill today. They were safe from any danger so far from the big city, but it was always fun to watch.

Before she knew it, the bell had rung and she grabbed her bag and walked for the door without glancing around. She needed to clear the door before the crowd of students between her and the teacher thinned out. Once she cleared the threshold, she couldn’t help but smile and break into a jog. She was finally free from petty politics of people trying to parent her. She had been fine so far, why would it matter?

She made her way through the school halls, peeling off from the masses heading out the front entrance to slip out a side door. Stepping out she smirked as she saw her friend Shawn sitting on the ground near a pillar trying to read a book in the shade of the school. “Sup, Hemingway?” He held up a finger, finishing reading the section he was on before putting his pen in the book like a bookmark. Putting it away in his backpack he grumbled under his breath, clearly disappointed in himself yet again. “That bad?”

He was about to explain when Terry showed up, Maria holding his arm around her shoulders like she had taken it hostage, “Hey, Nisa. I’m gonna have to cancel practice for tomorrow. Maria’s uncle is coming to visit and she wants me to meet him.” That was typical. She shot him a glare causing Shawn to shift uncomfortably. “Look, I get it. If we want to get our sound heard we got to start early but-“

“Terry, don’t worry about it. I’ll just mix it myself. You go have fun.” Her tone could freeze a cup of tea solid.

Terry nodded and sighed before turning to Shawn, “What’s up, Bookworm?”

Shawn chuckled, “Not much, Flake. And, hey, Maria.”

Maria kept the arm captive as she leaned forward and hugged Shawn with her free hand. “How are you doing, Shawn?” Anisa winced a little, knowing Maria is trying to check on his mental health. Not a good time and not the best way.

Shawn, the same gentle boy he has always been, said distantly, “I’ll be okay. I’m not alone. We will be fine.”

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Terry smirked, “Hey, maybe we can all hang out at your place tonight. I mean, your old man isn’t gonna be around to say no.”

Shawn clenched his jaw to that one but he managed to control his tone, “No... I’m fine for now. Thanks for trying though.”

“Dude, it is such a waste to have an empty house and not have your friends over.” Terry was frustrated and when he met with a glare from Shawn, he was clearly debating beating the crap out of his friend. Anything to get him to break free of this funk, but eventually Terry sighed, “Maria and I have to go or her uncle will be pissed.”

Maria elbowed him before cutting in, “What he means to say is that he’s sorry about your mom.” Anisa shot her a look and Maria stammered, “A-and we are sure you didn’t want to be reminded. If you need us, we will always be around. Okay?” She dragged Terry away, her face bright red as she realized how she had just made it worse.

Shawn stood up and started to walk away, Anisa silently following after him. Noticing her, he let out a little huff before picking up his pace. She continued to follow him, knowing full well that he was trying to ditch her. His lack of exercise caught up to him and he slowed down a little, his breathing hard. She continued to tag along, eventually a red haired girl jogging up to them, “Hey, guys! I thought you had left already. Is Shawn finally going to swing by Drama club?”

He turned to walk further into the field behind the school. Gena looked concerned but Anisa shook her head, “Rough day is all. He has to spend his first summer completely alone in his house this year.”

Gena sighed, clearly still worried, “I feel so useless. He won’t talk about it and I haven’t seen him writing lately.” Anisa shrugged, knowing very well that he had been. But what could she do? Telling Gena would just make him invisible again. “Maybe we can all hang out over the summer.” Gena bit her thumb as she screamed internally. “I keep wanting to tell him to come to Cita High with me, but I haven’t even told him I’m going there yet.”

Anisa nodded, “Haven’t told him you are going yet either. Figure that’s a convo best for you two.”

She was punched in the arm, “Ani! You know him better than anyone! You know they would accept his transfer! Get him to go!”

She shook her head, “He is a contrarian and hates the extra work. That’s kind of why he and I get along.”

Gena sighed, “I’m so happy for you two.”

This time Gena got punched, and hard enough to bruise. “He and I aren’t like that! Stop being jealous and tell him!” Gena shook her head, “You two are a perfect pair of idiots. Both of you too caught up in writing the script for other people just live your own life before it passes you by.”

Gena snapped, “Says the girl who pulls down As but won’t do anything with it! Even your music you just mix in your room and don’t release it! How are you the expert on living your life?” Anisa took the shot in silence. A moment later Gena, the marshmallow she was, caved, “I’m sorry I shouldn’t-“

Anisa waved her off, “I don’t care what you say as long as you are honest with me. And that was honest.” She gave her friend an approving thumbs up before hearing a sigh of relief. Despite her words to Gena, Anisa could still feel it in her heart. She was throwing away her life by waiting, but she couldn’t abandon her friends. Especially when there was no absolute certainty that she would be able to make it at all. What was she doing with herself?

Eventually, Gena cut her gaze from the young man sitting alone in the open field and turned back towards the building, “I gotta go. Just make sure he’s okay before he gets home today, Ani.”

Anisa nodded and the red haired girl ran back to the school. Walking up quietly to the boy, she jerked her thumb towards the parking lot and said firmly, “Come on. I want ice cream and I need you to drive me.” He sighed, knowing she was preying upon his people pleasing to get him to have fun, but he nodded with resignation and started towards the parking lot just the same.