You guys are the best readers. Give yourselves a big pat on the back from me. And a hug. Maybe even tell yourselves Good Job. Just a suggestion.

Even though I only know a few of you...I love you all! Stay strong and keep your heads up!

With love,
Dee

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The smells of chocolate cupcakes wafted through the entire house, and despite it being pretty late, I couldn't make myself sleep. I was icing the desserts, trying to make the superman symbol on top. The digital clock next to the sink's numbers's kept changing, numbers flashing by the screen. 10:00....10:30.....11:00...11:45... after it turned midnight, I called it a day, placing the mini cakes into the fridge and snuggling into a fuzzy blanket on the couch. You may wonder why I wasn't on my bed....1:00 am came and I heard shouting from the outside of the door.

And that's why I slept on the couch.

Dragging open the door, I found Logan and Xavier on the other side, yelling over each other. I wanted to scream, and after patiently waiting for a while, that's exactly what I did.

"YO!" The two guys turned, but only Xavier having enough decency to look a tiny bit sheepish. "What the hell ate you doing at my house at," I glanced at my watch, "1:05?!"? Logan opened his mouth to speak first, but Xavier glared at him.

"She doesn't want to listen to you dickwad." If looks could kill, Xavier would be ten feet under.

"Then please oh wise one, tell me why the hell she would want to listen to YOU!" Logan's voice echoed down the street. I rubbed my eyes, exhausted.

"Guys, I barely get any sleep as it is and right now is a night where I could have potentially gotten a solid five and a half hours." They both began to look guilty. Xavier ran his hands through his hair and said,

"We're sorry. We just needed to clear something up." I raised my eyebrow, everything beginning to register in my molasses like brain.

"Talk."

"Logan heard a rumor about what happened a few nights ago with your brother and everything." I sucked in the cool night air.

"So you two idiots," I spit out the word idiot before continuing, "decided to wake me up from my few hours of sleep, to prove that a RUMOR isn't true?!" They both seemed scared of my tone, which was wonderful. "I suggest that we discuss this tomorrow because there is no WAY that I'll be able to approach the situation FULLY AWAKE AT THE MOMENT." Timidly, Logan said,

"That makes sense Lottie." I nodded.

"I'm very aware." With that, I shut the door in their surprised faces and stumbled back to the couch, muttering to myself about boys and how unnecessary they were.
---

The next morning I woke up tired, but that wasn't out of the norm. I threw my dirty blonde hair up into a messy bun, yanked on black leggings and pulled on a maroon shirt with a jacket over it. My neck was cold from the chill in the air, so I grabbed a grey infinity scarf from the hook and my sun glasses, before walking out the door.

I was totally not in the mood for the bus so I took the twenty minute stroll to school, letting the chilly air wash over me. Calmed by the still atmosphere, I entered the hell hole silently, ready to simply focus on school. Jason was being dropped off at Mrs.Shmitt's from his sleepover and Ryan was going right from our dad's to his class. I was freed from all of the sibling responsibilities for a day, ready to just work.

"Hey Will." I smiled at my step brother, who was standing next to Maria. I gave her a grin, despite the glares she was sending me and the words she had said the day before. "Hi Maria." I didn't expect her to respond, and I wasn't disappointed. But Will didn't even acknowledge my existence. "Will?" I saw his shoulders relax in a sigh before he turned his face towards me.

"Leave me alone bitch." Not again. Maria smiled in triumph.

"You heard him honey. Leave us both alone, you should know when you're not wanted."

"The smartest thing that's ever come out of your mouth was a dick Maria. Don't honey me." With that, I sent Will a blank stare (I hoped it was blank at least) and then walked away, as Maria's jaw dropped to the floor.

"Bitch!" I heard her yell towards my back and I gave her a small smile over my shoulder.

"I'm kind of busy now Maria. I'll ignore you another time." With a final wink, I strutted into homeroom, ready to ace some tests.
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It was lunch and I sat at my normal table, not even caring if anyone came and sat next to me. Logan and Xavier and both come up individually and apologized, but I brushed them off, too focused on the day to really care.
I was bent over my Science text book, three highlighters beside me, and my notes spread over the table.

"Studying hard?" I glanced up and saw Jesse, a guy who was a year ahead of me, towering over my table. He and I had talked previously, but we weren't super close. Him and his best friends Caleb and Gina kept to themselves, their books and their music.

"Uh yeah I guess." He slipped into the seat next to me.

"Where're your friends?" I raised my eyebrow.

"Why?" He shrugged, his chiseled jaw line tilting slightly to the side.

"Don't know, just noticed you look lonely." I gave him a small smile and motioned to my books.

"I've got stuff to pass the time."

"Pass the time with us." I was speechless. Jesse and his friends rarely invited people to sit with them. They were a year older and he was totally waaaaaaay higher up on the social ladder than I was...but why in the name of all that is good and holy would I say no?

"Lead the way then." He laughed and I picked up my stuff, following him to a table in the corner.

Pervs. There were other people there too.

I hear your dirty thoughts.