I've been sitting in class for the last hour and a half, thinking, 'I don't belong here in this world' while friends around me talk about the upcoming project for that class.

My best friend Jessica is taking first year mathematics right now.
For the fourth time now.
She may just be an idiot, but I could never tell her that. Even though I really should, I won't.

She's so possibly stupid that she can't even see that freshman drooling over her. It's been months now and I'm the only one in the group to have noticed.

Whatever-his-name-is is freaking me out now, 'cause sometimes he'll just sit in the back of class, groping and kissing the air all whilst mumbling Jessica's name over and over again.

Although I'm creeped out by him, I feel so bad for the kid.

Sometimes, I just want Jessica to open her eyes and set this guy straight. Tell him that he's got an unhealthy obsession and that he should seek professional help.

But... knowing Jessica, as you've seen, she'll never do it.

Yes, I know you exist.

But that's besides the point right now.

The bell's rung. I gotta go. If I have time, we'll talk later...

"How was math, Jess?" I ask Jessica nonchalantly as we leave first period, her class sitting across from mine. "Fun. Just finished a test actually, a lot of tough questions. Hey, what's four times five?"

I roll my eyes. "I'm genuinely surprised they haven't put you in 'locally developed' yet."

Jessica just giggles that fake giggle that she thinks makes her sound cute. "You are so funny, Gwendolyn. I--"

I stop tuning in to what Jessica had to say to turn all of my attention onto a guy passing by in the hall.

Oh my God, it's the guy. That freshman who's crazy about Jessica. Yellow Shirt is what I'm gonna call him from now on, because why not.

I seriously don't know why I care so much about this kid's feelings but I'd rather put him down gently myself than to have him keep chasing Jessica's tail, which by the way belongs to Brad. That dickpipe.

"Guys, I--I'll meet you up with you guys in Chem. I've gotta go get something from my locker."

Following Yellow Shirt down the hall, I try my absolute best to stay inconspicuous. He didn't pay any mind to me, that is until...

"Hey dollface." Two hands pull me back by my hips. I groan mentally. "Hey Connor. Wanna let me go? I've got a class to get to."

"You and I both know that's not where you were headin' off to, sweetheart." his annoyingly forced hunky voice ringing in my ear.

"Not. Now." I push myself off him, only afterwards realizing that I've lost him.

"Crap..."

~~~~~~~

"Hi darling, how's my little doctor-in-training?" Dad greeted me from the kitchen, cooking something that smelt heavenly.

"Who says tha--? Ugh, yeah Dad, I'm fine. School was fine. Everything's fine with me." I mumble as I sleepily drag myself upstairs and into the hallway. Making a left, all the way down at the very last door lay our Calico cat.

"Hiya Pancakes. Move."

He ignores me. Bending down to his level, I try to pick him, only to have him claw and hiss at me before retreating downstairs.

"Bitch-ass cat..." I murmur to myself before stepping into my bedroom.

The aroma of the strawberry candle I lit yesterday still present and still as strong as it first was. Taking in a deep inhale, I shut the door behind me and drop my black knapsack besides my desk.

My room was pretty spacious; it had a twin-sized daybed up against the wall opposite from the door with pastel purple bed sheets, white transparent curtains over my window to the right of my room's entrance, a white desk with a vanity on the left of the door, and my two white closed doors on the left wall opposite of my window.

My painted yellow walls were mostly covered with posters of Warren Beatty, Richard Beymer, Frankie Avalon, Marilyn Monroe, Jimi Hendrix, and The Beatles.

Don't judge me, I like the classics.

Dad was even cool enough to get me a pink record player last Christmas, all the more to encourage me to buy Pink Floyd and The Who records from the town's only vinyl record store.

So yeah, that's my room. Like it?

I slipped off my white Chuck Taylors' and walked across the carpeted floor to plop on my incredibly soft bed. I was dead exhausted. School's been nothing but stress right now, I've got nothing but work under my belt that I'd much rather get done now than on Sunday nigh--

*ring ring ring ring*

*ring ring ring ring*

"Christ." I sigh, reaching for the baby pink rotary phone on my white nightstand.

"I've got it, darling!" Dad calls from downstairs. I mean, it's too late to back out now, I've already got the receiver up to my ear.

"Hello?" Dad asks.
"Gerald, hi! How are ya?" The next door neighbour asks.
"Amazing, Jerry. How 'bout you?"
"I'm good, thank you. Oh, it's been forever since I've heard from you. How was the trip? How's the family?"
"Well, Gracie loved our trip to Florida, but you know Gwen, she can be a little Debbie Downer sometimes."

I roll my eyes. Thanks, Dad.

"So, I called to see if you were doing anything tonight? Maybe you could bring the family over and we could all talk over dinner, y'know like the good ol' days."

I stifled a laugh. What 'good ol' days'? Our family's been in this neighbourhood for three years now and somehow Dad becomes childhood besties with the neighbor.

Unfortunately for me, they heard me.

"Gwen, hang up the phone, sweetie."

He didn't have to tell me twice.

~~~~~~~

So I sat in my room, completing the last of my homework, the best for last: Chemistry. Although I'm disappointed most of my science classes are during the second semester, I'm pretty chill with having Chem as my second period class.

I'm sitting at my desk, my wind open wide enough for a slight breeze to slip in, when I hear a familiar car pull up into the driveway. Hearing Mom shut the door to her Prius and fidget with her keys to the house, I hear her enter, greeting me and Dad.

Mom's high heels click on the wooden steps as she heads up and towards my room. She knocks twice before I allow her in. Slowly creaking the door open, I see Mom in her red suit and neat low bun.

"Hi dumpling. How was the history test?" She smiles, peeking half of herself in, not wanting to step on the carpet. "It was more of an in-class essay but other than that, easy peasy." I shrug.

"Oh, I'm so proud of you, honey." She squeals. "Finish up and meet me and your father at the Smiths' house, alright?"

I nod before she dismisses herself, loudly walking down to the other end of the hall to her room.

I really, really did not want to go over there. Not once in the three years we've been here that I've gone over to actually get to know the neighbours.

I mean, I guess just this once I could go over to say hi, start a conversation maybe.

After purposely taking a half hour to finish with my work, I take a super long shower, brush out my hair and try out four different braided hairstyles before deciding to wear a messy bun, and debate over whether I should wear dark-wash or light-wash denim.

An hour and a half later, I check myself out in the long vanity behind my door.

Looking good in a black long-sleeve tucked into a light-wash denim skirt with white Converse shoes, I take my keys and head out across the street after locking up the house.

I knock on the door a few times. No answer.

... Ok, weird.

I try ringing the doorbell obnoxiously before I finally hear footsteps.

Expecting the door to open and for someone to greet me, I instead see a large green hole underneath me just I sink into it.

Where I end up next, not even God knows where.