Ashes to ashes

1. Stevie

There was something in the air, something strange, just like calmness before the storm, and Stevie could feel it too. Everything seemed usual but you could just feel it in your bones that nothing was alright. The unpleasant feeling circling in her body made her feel like throwing up. Banging inside her head was too loud for this calm morning. She couldn't help but wonder what is wrong with her but she already knew because that feeling is something she's already used to. She had known for years now, but still, every time she wakes up she hates herself for it, she wants it to go away once and for all. It's a part of her now and she accepted it, she didn't want to fight it anymore. Deep down she knew but her body didn't and that's why she feels like this every time she opens her eyes. While she was preparing herself for the day she was thinking about a place that calms her mind every time when she's feeling like this. That small, cramped apartment, far far away from her hometown where she has never been but still she feels that it's calling her. "-This is not where I belong, isn't it? And my body knows it. That's why I feel like this. " she was thinking out loud. 

Her mom already left for work. She left the messy kitchen after her hurried breakfast, she was probably late, she hasn't get used to waking up that early. She never thought of herself as a morning person. Stevie made herself breakfast even she wasn't really hungry but she wanted to take her mind off everything she was thinking about at that moment. While she was chewing on a toast the doorbell rang and disrupt Stevie in her morning thinking. "-Well hello you grumpy, you ready for this beautiful September morning?" the girl's squeaky and energetic voice asked. "-Of course Sasha, you know how much I love to socialize with other people in our school". "Sarcastic since morning I see..." The girls knew each other their whole life. Sasha lived just two houses away from Stevie and while growing up they both became very close. There weren't really that many options in their neighborhood back then, they called themselves the natives of their street because they were one of the first people that bought a house there. Sasha had an older brother but being the only girl in her family wasn't quite easy so she was determined to have some females in her life so when she moved to a new neighborhood she immediately made a new friend and it turned out to be Stevie. They were both so different, everybody could tell you that, but they believed that they were destined to become best friends. Sasha was Stevie's shield, she protected Stevie from anything and anyone who she saw as a potential threat, and Stevie was one of the only females in Sasha's life so she understood her better than anyone before. They were each other's half, Sasha's witty, energetic and wild-hearted personality and Stevie's adventurousness, composure, and prudence. They called themselves "The duo" and they were invincible. There were no secrets between them, no shame, and no regrets. Once they even got married. They made themselves a wedding with a huge crowd of plush animals. On that day they promised to each other to be there for one another in good in bad in sickness and in health. 

While they were walking to the school Stevie felt the urge to just go back home and be alone but she knew that wasn't possible. Sasha also felt that something wasn't alright so she tried to comfort Stevie as better as she could. "-You know, you can come to my house after this torturing is done and we can do whatever you want, I'll even let you paint on my walls. Just try to think about that, think about what you could paint on my wall ok?" She knew that Sasha was trying her best to comfort her but that didn't help, it never helps because nobody can help her besides herself, and she felt so vulnerable and pathetic about it. Halls were crowded as usual but it felt like everyone forgot about that. Friend groups were gathering together and bragging about their holidays, professors were talking to each other, and freshmen were looking disoriented. Stevie's social skills weren't really thriving so she clung to the walls. Deep down she was wishing for her quiet room and empty house. First-class has started and Stevie was sitting in the back of the classroom. Professor Anderson welcomed the class and started talking about the new school year and what is waiting for students. Stevie was visibly distracted. Everything felt odd and uncomfortable. She was looking through the window and daydreaming as usual when suddenly professor Anderson called her name, "-Stevie, is everything ok?". Blood rushed straight to her face and suddenly Stevie felt hundreds and hundreds of eyes on her. She hated that feeling; feeling of being visible to others. "-Yes, everything's ok" she murmured. "If that's so then I can finally introduce you all to this year's first school project. We will have one this semester and another one next semester so please try to not look this excited everyone. You will all be in groups of two and I will be selecting groups because I think that's fair. The theme for this project is one of the greatest theories of all time and the ultimate question for humankind and that's the Machiavellian theory- whether the goal justifies the means. You all need to choose one kind of media, whether that is television, social media, literature, or some else,  find arguments for and against and process your theme. Both of you in groups need to do the same amount of job and be well prepared. You have this whole semester for your research and work and during the last week of school before winter break you will present your PROJECT in front of your class so do your best because I will look at every detail. Is everything clear? If you have some questions please ask now." Mr. Anderson explained.