And then she's gone.

No. Distractions.

Time to go.

Wren?

Get up!

What are you doing?

Are you ignoring me?

She wouldn't want that, would she...

Don't talk about her.

There you are.

Leave me alone.

Get up. You have to go to school. We have a boy to take care of...

No. you do. I'm not doing anything to him.

Say that again.

I'm not doing it!

You know what will happen if you disobey me, kitten.

DON'T CALL ME THAT!

Get. up.

With a groan, I picked myself off the wet mattress. I had spent the whole of last night crying in my pillow, my mom stroking my back. This was probably the first time she had touched me in a long while. I stood up and yawned, rubbing my eyes. I looked in the mirror.

You look horrible. Yeah, I did. My eyes were red and puffy, and I had immense dark circles, beautifully paired with dry, flaky lips. Not.

I padded over to the door and opened it, wincing from the bright light shining from the window outside it. I shielded my eyes and ran downstairs. Mom was standing there, a hopeful look in her eyes. She had a big cup of steaming coffee in her hand. A peace offering.

I couldn't give up a cup of coffee. I walked over to her slowly and accepted the cup. She gave me a tired, small smile and sat down at the table. Nope, that was as far as I was going today. I shook my head, drained the coffee, and walked out of the door.

Are you really going to go to school looking like that?

I looked down at my outfit. A simple oversized band T-shirt paired with cargo jeans.

Yeah, torn and worn-out cargo jeans...

I don't mind.

Whatever.

I walked down the road, kicking the small pebbles on the path as I went. A flash of brown, then Lana's excited face was right in front of me. I startled, and took a step back. There she was, in a blue summer dress, smiling at me. 'I didn't know you took this path. How come I've never seen you?' I cleared my throat. Suddenly I started wishing I had worn something nicer today. 

'I came a bit late today. I usually come much earlier.'

Damn that cup of coffee.

She looked at me quizzingly. 'But why would you go to school early? It's long enough as it is!'

I shrugged. 'I like the peace and quiet in the morning.' my stomach fluttered as she moved closer to me as we walked. Her dress rode up her caramel thigh as she walked. I tried to keep my eyes on the road.

No distractions.

She opened her mouth, and was about to say something when she tripped on a rock and went lurching into my arms. I stumbled from the weight and fell on the floor. I lay there, in the middle of the road, with her on top of me. She was so light and soft. Her dress rode all the way up to her hips, and my eyes travelled up her perfect body. Our eyes met, and her lips parted. My heart beat so hard, I was afraid she could hear it. She blinked, then returned to reality. She squeaked and scrambled off me. Straightening her dress, she cleared her throat.

 'I am so so so sorry about that! I'm so clumsy, I do that a lot. Are you okay?' I stuttered and started to pull myself off the ground. She put out her hand, and I just stared at it.

What. are. You. doing??!

I ignored her hand and got up myself. A flicker of hurt passed through her eyes, then disappeared. I stammered a sorry, then ran past her towards the school gate. She stood there, confused, and I looked away. I couldn't suffer again. I couldn't go through that again. I was going so crazy, it hurt. I shook my head and dismissed her from my thoughts.

Forget all about it, Wren. now all we need to focus on is that boy. Focus on the real goal.

I got you.