Jeanne

I sit at my desk in solitude. The lights were blinding, making it too hard to see. The world was pulsing and breathing along with me. I could feel it slowly dying and living. Beginning and End. Birth and Death. Giving and taking. I was at peace with my place in the world.

Until my little brother jumps on me. He is so annoying, he just refuses to leave me alone. I push him off me and he giggles.

"This isn't funny, leave me along! I don't want to ever see your dumb little face again!" I pant, out of breath. He looks at me with sad puppy dog eyes before bursting into tears. No, no, no. Don't do that!

"Hey please don't cry! Do you want an ice pack?!" He runs away and slams the door to his room. Why was everything against me?! I'm the perfect child and yet that little abomination is the favorite. He was an accident!? I hated him so much. He took my parents from me, my room, and my privacy. Do you know how many times he walks into me showering and Moms just like "It's fine, he's your little brother." No it's not!

Whatever. I was meditating. Let's go back to the peace. I close my eyes again but I don't the beautiful calm. The little twerp ruined everything!

I stand up and stretch my legs. I can see if Lacey is online. She always one her phone. I take out mine and open Insta. No activity. She hasn't been online for two hours. What the freak.

I immediately call her. It goes straight to voicemail. Well I was looking for an excuse to leave the house.

I grab my bag and head down stairs. My moms working at the table, sipping a giant mug of coffee.

"Hey Mom, I'm going to Lacey's." She absentmindedly nods before getting back to work. I walk out the door before I start to cry. No use crying over spilled milk.

I take off down the sidewalk. Leaves scatter my neighbors yards. I love the fall. Nobody wants to be outside so it's just me. A season all for myself. Until Winter comes and all the little kids come out. I wish it was fall forever. I was thinking about living in a place that's fall all year round but everyone living there would also be out during the fall so it doesn't sound like such a good idea now.

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I walk up the driveway to the front door and pull the out from under the mat. Her parents weren't the most creative when it came to hiding backup keys. I pull open the door and the house is deathly silent. Weird. Lacey's family is the loudest people I've ever met. It wasn't like the house to be quiet.

I quietly walk up the stairs to Lacey's room. Was she not home? I try to turn the handle but it's locked. Is she grounded again. This is like the 5th time this month. I unlock the door and walk in. She's sitting on the floor surrounded by yarn and bracelets. She perks up when I walk in.

"Oh my gosh hey! Your finally here! I was waiting to see if you or my parents would show up 'cause I accidently locked myself in my room so I was kind stuck. Also I'm working on making friendship bracelets for all of us. I've already finished mine, yours, Maggie's, Jo's and I'm working on Cece's right now. I made your three different shades of blue and I tried this new style but It didn't work out. You can see it if you want. I also made some other bracelets just in case because I'm thinking about selling them at school for a dollar. Do you think people would buy 'em? What do people like to but? Maybe I can sell candy or answers for tests. Wait that won't work out, I really bad at math so I can't help people with that and I failed LA. I do have some candy though! Anyway what brings you here?"

I understood about a third of that. Lacey likes to talk really fast. She told me she feels like she has so much stuff to do and needs to get stuff done but she can't concentrate on the important things. Which is why I am here. To help her do her homework. She's actually really smart she just can't focus like I can. She only failed La because she forgot to write her essay's and she kept blurting out answers.

"Cool. I think it's time for homework now." She frown and hold up the unfinished bracelet.

"Wont Cece feel left out if I don't finish?" Lacey hates disappointing people. She's such a people pleaser.

"You can finish after homework so if you're fast enough you'll have enough time to finish her bracelet." I say pulling out my computer. I open it up and get to work on my essay. Lacey sadly puts down the bracelet and opens her computer too. As she looks through her tabs she turns to me.

"Can Cece, Maggie and Jo come over to have a homework hangout? I promise I wont get distracted! Pretty please with cherries on top?!" she begs me and I can't help put agree. I love her too much to say no.

She turns back to computer and start asking them in the group chat if they can come over. They all agree and plan to carpool with Jo. Jo's already got a license and her parents let her drive their car. Unfortunately she has to drive us around everywhere.

I turn back to my essay. This is due tonight, I really got to hurry. I hope Lacey started hers because I'm tired of having to stay after school with her for detention. I know I don't have to but I just can''t bear to leave her in that horrid place. Also Maggie has PRIDE club right next door so I get to visit her too. Focus Jeanne, Focus.