Electrify

Chapter 7

Stupid, Stupid Mateo. What business did he think he had, instructing me to disappear?

It's just the fact that I went along with it, running away.

You didn't think my feelings were actually hurt, did you? You should know me better than that. I was just being a drama queen. A little lesson doesn't hurt.

Plus, I needed a little break from school. My parents told Strauss to excuse me for the next two weeks. Either way, she could kiss my heinie.

I was at my parents' private condo in Los Angeles. Don't ask me how I got a flight so fast. I premediated this entire thing. So yes, I booked a ticket way earlier.

Ha.

I'm so fabulous.

Maybe I was a terrible person for startling all my friends. But honestly, everybody deserves to be stressed out. So, I always have to startle everyone if I prank one person. It's a me thing.

I was drinking coffee due to the fact that I was up all late watching re-runs of Friends. I'm in love with Chandler, so... you should understand.

I woke up quite early today. I always do, actually. So, I had to drink coffee as black as my heart.

Being alone had so many advantages. Nobody to stress me out, not having to watch Denise and Ivana acting all lovey-dovey in the lounge, not having to glare at Mateo in frustration because he was being his usual infuriating self, not having to listen to Andres play that damn guitar just because he knows Terulah loves listening to him. It was a nice silence. Not the type of awkward silence there is when everybody retires to bed and it remains just Mateo and me.

His gaze was a bit too intense for my liking.

It's been one week since I came here. I'm thinking of getting a fresher appearance before I go back to school. I've been leaving my phone on Do Not Disturb, but occasionally checking up on Terulah. But now, my phone was flashing with a video call from Terrie. I had to pick, although begrudgingly. "Terulah, what is it? I told you I wasn't going to dye my hair baby blue!" I stated, tired because she wouldn't shut up about how blue is 'totally so fetch!' I told her to stop watching mean girls. She just wouldn't listen.

"I'm not calling for that, Naana." She deadpanned after briefly taking a sip from the drink she was holding, which I assumed was boba. She loves Boba, "I'm just calling to tell you that Mateo's losing his balls over here. He's become like, 10 times grumpier and so detached. It's depressing! Just come back already."

I blink once. Twice. "No."

Terulah groaned. "It's not even funny!"

"I'm not laughing, now am I? He caused this whole thing. Last time I checked, he wanted me to leave so bad, he had to shout it in front of the entire school! So, Terulah, I'm. Not. Coming. Till. Next. Week. Bye." I hung up.

Look, I know, I know. 'Terrie is such a cinnamon roll! How could you?' Sweetie, this is the 30th time she's called me today, and I picked all the calls. Excuse me for wanting some peace!

So after this whole thing, I went to go get some groceries for my remaining one week in the condo. The drive was a nice wake-up call to the fact that I wasn't the only person in the world at this moment. There were people. So many of them, and I'm just a decimal compared to everyone else.

I was playing 'Cry Baby' by The Neighbourhood. I wasn't exactly listening to the lyrics. I was busy thinking about the fact that I was a villain in so many people's stories, most of whom I didn't even know. They probably all thought I was some sort of self-conceited girl who terrorized other people for fun.