My eyes opened at the sound of my alarm, the sunlight just barely peeking through my window curtains. I reached out to my phone to turn off the alarm. I was already awake before it went off, so it wasn't that hard for me to get up. I began to check the messages on my phone, "yo mel, u down for the mall again today?" read the text message, along with a string of similar messages from a few of my friends. I let out a loud sigh and stretched before putting on some music and opening my windows. "I hope today will be enjoyable, the last 2 days were crazy." I muttered quietly to myself. I'm lucky my mom didn't notice I was gone for an entire day. I just told her I was at a friends house and with the help of my sister, she believed me quite easily.
I got ready for school with a bit more energy than usual. I picked out my clothes, hopped in the shower and brushed my teeth; all so mondain it was second nature to me. I took out leftovers my parents had put away and ate it in my room as breakfast. At this hour they were both out to work, it was only me and- "Wahhhh Wahhh!!"....my broke ass brother, his family and my other two siblings.
We were four siblings, previously five. Even after missing one, there's rarely a moment in this house were its completely silent. It's either my older brother's baby or my younger brother coming in my room to annoy me but regardless I do love every single one of my family members, even if I don't show it directly. Even if I actively pray for them to magically disappear from my life.
"Ughhhh... should I even go today? I should just stay home and do whatever notes they send me. That would be so much less stressful."
"Emily come on. Lets go catch the bus, or are you gonna stay home like the past 2 weeks?" My older sister said in a slightly annoyed voice.
"No no I'll go. I don't want dad to get a court order or something.", there was no response from her. She just closed the bedroom door and started calling to my brother. "Nathan! If you don't get ready in 15 minutes we're leaving without you!"
"Shut up! I'm coming oh my god! Can you be patient?!"
I rubbed the bridge of my nose with annoyance. The yelling was a constant thing for everyone-
"Emily get down here!"
"Fucking hell... I'm coming! Don't rush me damnit!!"
-even from me. You could probably say that's how we showed our love? "Eh not really, but I guess that makes it sound less toxic." I checked my schedule for today. "Ughhh, I have an unfinished part of my project due today. Oh well! I'll finish it in school." I packed my bag before making my bed. "At least I have something to look forward to today, but I'm sure everything else is going to be the sa-"
"Emily!!"
"For fucks sake! I'll be there in a minute!" I grabbed my bag before going downstairs. My sister was waiting with an agitated expression. I found her yelling very annoying, but I have to give her credit. If it wasn't for her this house would be falling apart since she does most of the cooking and cleaning. It was strange because she was just the second oldest now, but she completely took on the role of my mom. Even though I don't usually say it out loud, I really love her more than anything. I don't know how I'd manage without her.
"Mely! Look at this funny tiktok I just saw!"
Oh, and my younger brother. He's... alright I guess. I do love him, but he can get really annoying at times.
"Hah! That is pretty funny not gonna lie." I laughed a bit, mostly to satisfy him, but also cause it was a bit funny. Was it funny enough to laugh? Not really. But I figured giving a fake reaction is better than a bitter one.
"Are you guys ready to leave now? Alright let's go." My sister interrupted and replied for herself, not even giving us a chance to say anything.
"Wait! I forgot my perfume!" I said, rushing back up the stairs to get it.
"Ughhh Emily?! Fine! We're gonna leave without you then!"
"Katie you bitch! Just give me a second!" I shouted as I grabbed my perfume and ran back down the stairs. They were only a few feet away from the house as I caught back up with them. Thankfully, we reached the bus stop just in time.
We all got on and sat in our respective seats, away from each other. I took my usual seat next to a close friend.
"Yo Mel. Did you see my text?"
"Nope, it just says "read" for no reason. Of course I saw it."
"Yea well, you didn't reply. You think you're a celebrity or something."
Not replying to text messages is a bad habit of mine. I really don't like talking to people when my social battery is drained, and when it's through text, I don't force myself to reply. This usually makes me seem really distant, but I just can't help it.
"I'm sorry Amelia! I just... needed a second to think about your message."
"As usual, you slow bitch. Anyways, I wanna talk to you about something later."
"Why not now?"
"We're almost there anyway, just wait a little; I'm pretty sure Zander and Aria wanted to talk about it together."
"Jeez, for what?"
"I just told you girl, I'll tell you when we get to school. You impatient ass bitch."
"Okay fineee."
I could already tell what they what wanted to talk about; how I kind of ditched them when we were at the mall a couple days ago. I didn't wanna address it, but I guess I should've expected this.
Now that I think about it, why the hell did I do that? I'm one hundred percent sure that this thing with me and Daniel can't end good, but you know what? I don't really care. Besides, I stopped him from committing suicide, and that's what matters most. I enjoy talking to him too, so I don't think I have any regrets-
"Yo hoe, you there? We gotta get off now."
"Oh right yea!"
Amelia and I got off the bus together, still conversing.
"So Mel, what classes do you have first?"
"Uhhh, english and literature I think."
"Oh damn, we don't have the same classes. Well, see you at lunch."
"Ya see you."
I watched as Amelia walked towards her class, leaving me with my thoughts once again. I began walking through the hallway as I thought to myself. "How am I even gonna explain that situation to them? They probably won't believe me. More importantly, how is this thing with me and Daniel even going to work? Is he really gonna wait? I doubt he's that much of a saint-"
"Yoooo, Emma was it?"
My train of thought was suddenly interrupted by what appeared to be a familiar face.
"...Emily."
"Eh, same thing. Anyway, we're in the same group for that project."
"...?"
"Science? With Mr. Scott?"
"Oh. Right, and what about it?"
"Well, I was just want you to pass your number real quick- not on some weird shit. Just for the project."
"...Really?"
"I'm being for real! On my soul. I just need help with the uhhhhh... sketches and shit-"
"You'll be fine on your own." Zander interjected, swiftly pulling me away from that conversation. The boy scoffed and walked away, giving up pretty quickly.
"Girly you good? Why is Ryan chatting you up?"
"We're in the same group project, but he's been tryna get all buddy-buddy with me."
"Girl he's tryna get wayyyy more than just "buddy-buddy". He's like the second biggest man whore I know."
"Second to yourself?"
"Oh! You little bitch! See this is why I don't help ungrateful hoes like you!"
"Hahaha! Okay twink, see you at lunch."
"Bye bitch." He waved as he headed to his class, and so did I.
When I finally got in class, it was as slow as ever. I was trying my best to not fall asleep, because I didn't sleep the night before. Keeping my head up in that boring ass class was one of the hardest things I've done in my life. I checked my phone, the time was 9:21am. After what felt like 10 minutes, I checked the time again. "Only 9:23am?! When is this class gonna end?!" I thought to myself as I used my last bit of will power to keep my eyes open but before I knew it, I felt my head bobbing and my eyes closing down on me. The teacher wasn't paying attention to me anyways, so I figured a little shut eye wouldn't hurt.
"And that basically sums up today's lesson."
With those words and the sound of the school bell, I reluctantly got up, yawning as I existed the class.
I started walking through the hallway then felt an arm wrap around my shoulder.
"Three periods of straight yapping, right Mely?"
"Oh, hey Chloe. I didn't realize we had the same english and literature classes."
"Yea maybe if you actually came to school, you would know."
"Okay wow, the shade is crazy."
"Haha! You deserve it for being such a lazy bitch."
"I'm trying okay! It's hard to get out of bed sometimes." I say that in a lighthearted way, but it really was true. Getting out of bed to go to school was such a task sometimes.
"Anyway, you wanna hang out with me after school?
"Nah not really, I'm going to the mall with my other friends."
"Oh, bummer. Well see you I guess." Chloe took her arm off my shoulder and started walking away, visibly let down by my answer. I was so in my head that I forgot to be a bit more polite.
"Shit, that's gonna cause an argument later on..." I thought to myself before spotting Amelia, Zander and Aria by the stairs, talking to each other.
"Yo dudes! What did you guys what to talk about?" I asked, even though I already knew what they wanted to talk about.
"There you are! Lemme get to the point; who was that fine man that you ran away from the ball with, Cinderella?" Zander inquired in a teasing manner.
"Yea, is that your new prince charming or what~" Amelia joined in.
"Emily settling down with a man was NOT on my 2024 bingo card." Aria added.
I sighed, already done with this conversation, but I didn't expect for them to take it in this way. They're more concerned about Daniel than me running away from them.
"Ugh, it's nothing really." I say that but then I start to remember the day, and why I did what I did. In the moment it seemed like just an act without any thought, but that look in Daniel's eyes, the way he was running. I knew I wasn't mistaken. I saw it all before anyway. My late older brother went out the exact same way and ever since that I've been studying psychology, to prevent that from happening with anyone else. I was not gonna let someone else die like that, not when there's something I can do to stop it. Even if it means getting into a relationship that could very easily end up being toxic. Getting a romantic partner was not my intentions but what the hell? Not like it's gonna be a bother. Plus, he seems like fun. Understanding his personality could be a great opportunity for my studies in psychology-"
"Emily? Are you gonna tell us about him or no?" Zander said as the other two stared at me with curiosity.
I smiled a bit, still in my thoughts about the past 2 days, "I'll tell you about Daniel some other time."
"His name is Daniel??!"
"Girl tell us more!!"
"Ya! We want to know more-"
They continued going on and on about this. Even after school and at the mall. I just dismissed their questions the entire time, still thinking about Daniel. Even when I got home, showered, ate and did some homework, my mind was still on that topic. My last thought before dosing off was, "I wonder when I'm gonna give him his shirt back well I do have his number maybe I'll annoy him a bit..."