Shifting Masks

2

Lily Evan's

I look over at James, trying to figure out what to say, but he's already looking at me.

"What?" I ask, slightly laughing.

"You're pretty..." He says really, really quietly. I'm about to answer when the bell rings, signaling that the doors are open to go into the school. I stand up and smile at him before walking into the school.

About 5 minutes later my 2 best friends, Izzy and Anna Woods show up. And yes, they're twins. The strange thing is, they look nothing alike. Izzy is a red head, who's gorgeous and always looks like it, while Anna has brunette hair that she's dyed blonde, simply because she thinks it looks better on her. She extremely carefree and confident. That's something her and Izzy have in common. They're best friends too, which makes it easy for me to be friends with them so, because they never fight.

We all walk into class, my Science teacher gives me a sympathetic look. All my teachers know about why I was gone, thanks to my mom. She thought it would be a good idea to tell all my teachers. Did it ever occur to her that she could just tell them that I wouldn't be at school for a few months, but I would still do my work?? Obviously it didn't.

I take my old seat. I've been told by Izzy that it hasn't been taken by anyone else. Everyone else starts to file in. James takes his seat next to me, just my luck. once everyone else is sitting the teacher goes to the front and gives me a weak, sympathetic smile and starts talking.

"I hope everybody had a good weekend." Mr. Thompson, the Physical Science Teacher, pauses. "Now, if you all haven't noticed, we have one of our classmates back. Everyone, welcome Lily Evan's back to school." I could DIE. And I wanted to. I should have told him not to say anything! the only thing I hate more than anything is being the center of attention.

I put my jacket hood up over my head, trying to draw less attention to myself. The teacher starts class, and I stay silent, not really paying attention. I'm just glad I'm at the back of the class where nobody can really see me.

"Where were you? I mean, Mr. Thompson said you were gone, so...?" I hear James whisper to me.

"I was places." I whisper back, not wanting him- or anyone, to know where I was.

"Huh?" He starts to say, but the teacher starts talking again. I lean back in my seat and sorta try to pay attention.

**********

The rest of the school day went by really easy. None of my teachers made any comments about me, or that I was back- Thank God. I had just about every class with James, which I didn't mind. He seemed nice. He didn't ask about where I was.

After last hour, which was American History, I walked outside with Izzy and Anna. They had Volleyball practice to go to, so I would be all alone for the next 2 and a half hours.

I decided to just walk to the local park and stay there for a while, since I wasn't expected home after school until at least 8pm. That's when my parents usually notice that i'm not there. I made my way down the school hallway, out the doors. I took my earbuds out and plugged them into my phone, putting the earbuds in. I clicked on a random playlist and "Treehouse" By Alex G and Emily Yacina started playing.

I walk to the park and sit on the stage the city built a few years ago in an empty pavilion. It doesn't have any uses, since it never gets used. It's usually just where kids and teens go to hang out after school. Today, there is nobody there. Except me.