5

Being at school is the last thing I want right now. My back hurts from falling asleep on that stupid chair and my tired brain doesn’t really feel like taking in new information. Fuck you, quadratics — go die☺

My eyelids are so heavy, my brain feels like a brick. I slam my head down on my desk just as the bell rings. I sling my bag over my shoulder and instead of walking through the door like a normal person, I walk into the doorframe. I hear snickers in the hallway.

“Cass? Are you okay?” my teacher asks because that’s her job.

“I don’t have a concussion, so that’s something,” I groan, then put on a comically large smile so she knows the only thing keeping me alive is sarcasm, “have a good day Ms. Anderson!”

I trudge out the door and to my locker. I check my list in my mind, focusing on mentally checking off my boxes.

* Get to school without being hit by a car

That was easy enough. There was jammed-up traffic everywhere I went. Rush hour is no joke.

* Avoid any/all human interaction

It’s been easy, but getting through the first two periods of the day with no social interaction is child’s play. I’m sure it’ll get worse…

* Any free time will be used for doodling

I haven’t had any free time so far and I want to explode. Physically burst into flames. End me now.

Stolen story; please report.

* Do homework during lunch/Virtual meeting with Dr. Andreev

I slam my locker door shut and bang my head against it.

I peek into the caf. It’s packed. I never thought I’d see a cafeteria this packed outside of a coming-of-age movie. I don’t really want to go inside. Fuck it — I’m just going to go in and sit down until my appointment starts.

I take a step in — get a whiff — and run out as fast as humanly possible. I just smelled a combination of shit, piss, BO, and french fries. You couldn’t get me to go back in there if you held me at gunpoint.

I find a small corner in the library, plug in my headphones, and prepare myself for the pure bundle of disgusting joy that would appear on my screen.

“Hello, Cassy!” Dr. Andreev flashes me a smile brighter than the sun, “How are you doing?”

“It’s Cass, and I feel sick,” I scowl, “if you’re just going to beam your happiness at me for half an hour I’m just going to pass out right now so my ears don’t bleed in the middle of school.”

“HAH!” please shut up, or at least be quiet. It’s like he’s never heard of an inside voice, “That’s a funny joke, Cassy!”

I want to genuinely off myself :)

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After telling Andreev how my day has been, my mood, and why I want to die, he lets me log off of the meeting.

I push my palms into my eyes until I start seeing fireworks. Colourful pinks, oranges, greens, and blues. I don’t ever want to open my eyes. I want them to close and stay closed. I want to fall asleep and never wake up. I want to dream forever. My eyes eventually pry open. It stings.

The bell rings. There’s no use wanting to die this early in the morning. I continue trying my hardest not to punch obnoxious kids I see in the hallways in the face and make it to the end of the day.

I sigh in relief and walk to the bus stop right outside the school.

A figure catches my eye. It’s the girl from last night. The same shoulder-length dark hair with bright red streaks. She doesn’t notice me at all. She gets into the bus waiting area with me, stands next to me, and stares ahead. I notice I’ve been looking too long and turn my head, I stare at her through my peripheral vision, hoping she catches my stink eye.

The bus arrives and she gets on. I follow a few seconds after. She sits in the back, and I sit in the front, right behind the driver. We both get off at the last stop. We both walk the down the same streets and turn the same corners,

She walks into a store and I sigh. She’s finally gone, and I can relax. I look up at the sign of the store and mentally shit my pants.

Murray’s Antiques.

Well, fuck me.