I sat in a booth at a diner, sipping on a milkshake. I had started the walk towards school before looping back around when the clock read 6:45. My mom was gone for work. I headed into town, a little bit of cash in my pocket. I had left my brown hair down to try and hide my face from any people I knew. It was a Wednesday, and the middle of the day, but you could never be completely sure. I had never skipped class before. 

I looked out the window and watched as a mom and her young daughter walked out of a shop, bags on their arms, and into the next one. 

"Hey."

I look up and see a girl, about my age, leaned back, her feet on the table, staring at me. I feel my heart lean in my throat.  I shake my head. I'm just irritated she disturbed my quiet.

"Why aren't you at school?"

"Why aren't you?" I retort.

She grins. "Bad morning?"

I give her a nod and turn my attention back outside, hoping she'll take the hint. 

She doesn't. "Do you want to go bowling?"

I shake my head, confused. "Bowling? Why would I want to go bowling?"

"They have bomb cheese fries?" she offered. "Come on, all of my friends have school."

I checked the time on my phone. 7:23. It's only been half an hour. I nodded. I needed a distraction.