Fake it til' You Make it

- Chapter 4 -

*5 years ago*

I sat in the classroom fighting the urge to fall asleep, the teacher was talking about fractions or something which i hated.

Math was my worst subject, although my mom loved math and always helped me. She wanted me to be a smart person and get into any college i wanted when i was older.

I wasn't worried about that now though, after all i'm just an 11 year old girl.

The teacher continued to speak, but suddenly another faculty member opens the door pulling the teacher to the side.

"Hold on class, give me a moment." my teacher said, locking the door behind her

i wondered what that was about, they seemed so serious.

After about two minutes the teacher came back into the classroom, only this time she had a pained expression painted on her face.

She then looked directly in my direction, chasing me to perk up a bit.

"Geneva... please follow me outside..." She says with a bit of a crackly voice.

I was a bit scared, did i get in trouble for something? Had I done something wrong?

The whole class watched me, making an oooh sound as if i was going to get in trouble. The teacher shushed the class and i followed her outside the classroom.

"Did i do something wrong Mrs Riley?" i ssked s bit nervous.

"No Geneva you haven't done a single thing wrong. We just received news from the police..." She began speaking softly.

"Police?" i questioned, what did i have to do with the police.

"Your mother.. she um... Geneva your mom had sadly passed away in a car accident... I'm so sorry." My teacher spoke to me, i could tell it was hard for her to tell me that.

My face froze. My body froze. My heart froze. My brain froze.

As if i was a statue i stood there, in complete and utter disbelief for what felt like an eternity.

"Is this a joke? please i'm begging you... tell me it's a joke!" i said tryna to laugh like i was in a prank video or something.

My teacher grabs me into her arms giving me a warm embrace.

"No it's not, i'm so sorry about this." she softly spoke

I felt tears escape my eyes quickly. They just kept coming out as if they had been imprisoned within my eyes and finally were free.

I slowly feel myself hyperventilating, and then it comes out.

I screamed the loudest scream i've ever let out in my entire life. Pain was felt from scream.

Teacher came outside checking on the situation. I fell to the floor and not much was remembered after that.

My dad was worse than me, i had never seen him like this.

He looked like he wasn't my dad anymore, like he had everything ripped from him. His dark circles were emphasized and his eyes lost its shine.

Thankfully through the whole thing we had each other.

I also had another person in my life who was there to keep the light shining in me.

"Ver! atleast let me win once! mercy" i begged while vigorously clicking buttons on the controller.

"Mmm let me think about it... NOPE!" he said while clicking on the controller harshly, and the tv read "K.O!! CoolestGamingNinjaVee234 wins"

"That username makes me laugh everytime i see it. what was 3rd grade you thinking!" i said holding my stomach laughing.

He playfully punched my arm yelling shut up while i let out a sarcastic ow.

Vernon Grey, my best friend since 1st grade. We met due to arguing about ninjas vs princesses, it's adorable actually.

We were inseparable from them on. Vernon and me got closer and closer the older we got.

Our favorite thing to do together was take walks around the neighborhood. We would have conversations about all kinds of stupid things about things like putting cereal then milk.

But then our conversations would drift to things like what we wanted to do when we were older.

"I'm gonna definitely be famous, i got the charm and the smile perfect for TV!" Vernon boasted giving a smile.

"Pfft and i'm gonna become president. Also your so called "perfect smile" is red-stained teeth?" i laughed.

He looked confused and then opened his phone camera and saw his teeth were stained rain from the popsicles we were eating earlier.

"S-shut up! whatever, it's still perfect!" he said embarrassed.

We were just two sixth graders wandering around talking about the most stupidest things, and i loved every single moment of it.

classmates would jokingly ship us, but we would always say the same thing

"I would rather drink expired milk than date him!"
"I would rather drink expired milk than date her!"

It was quite funny, middle school was a blast... until it wasn't.

After my moms passing, me and my father moved to a further place. We tried to start new.

Her passing had affected me horribly, i ended up falling into a depressive state and i lost almost all my friends. I didn't care to talk to anyone.

I just wanted my mom.

After we moved, i lost all contact with Vernon. and it remained that way. When i think about it now that i'm mentally better, i feel horrible about it.

Mourning does a lot to a person, but while i was hurting i ended up hurting another.

It was four years ago, i couldn't just contact him out of nowhere and say "Hey, sorry i ended our friendship abruptly in 6th grade and stopped speaking to you. I'm here now though."

So i did what i had to, i moved on. Life goes on, and i had a new goal in mind.

I was going to work extra hard for my mom. I wanted to make her proud from above, so i focused completely on my studies and grades.

I did just that, which brings me here in the Gray Forest dining hall.

Staring at the very familiar face of my old friend, Vernon Grey.