Changed.

"Mom, tell him to get out of my room!" I yelled for what felt the millionth time. "Adam, get out now!" I hollered. "Cara, I was just looking for some stuff" said Adam looking into my eyes. His shoulders slouched over with this sentence. I immediately felt guilt swell up in my stomach. "I'm sorry Adam. What were you looking for? Maybe. I can help find it." I told him. His eyes lit up and I knew he accepted the apology. "I was looking for my phone. Have you seen it anywhere?" "Sorry, but no. I only have mine." He looked slightly disappointed but took off to his room to keep looking.

*********

I walked downstairs to find mom leaning over the stove and my father sitting at the table discussing some basketball game that had recently happened. "You shoulda seen it, Em. His leg bone just popped right outta the skin!" said my father. "Why would I wanna see that, John?" she answered. They laughed for a second until they noticed me and mom tried to strike up a conversation. "How was today, Cara?" she questioned. "It was fine, mom. Mrs. Johnson decided to give us a crap load of homework and it's all due tomorrow." "Well, did you get it all done?" she asked. "Yea, of course." "You have one B and it needs to be an A." "Mom, it's literally one point from an A." I responded. " Imagine how good you would feel if you had straight A's!" "I'll try." I told her wanting to change the subject. " It's about time for bed." Mom yelled so Adam and I could both hear. "Mom, I'm 17. When are you gonna stop treating me like a kid?" I heard my voice quiver at the feeling of being trapped. Why did everything in this town have to be so boring? Why did everything have to be so simple? "I don't feel like arguing right now. Just go to bed." She responded. I walked up the stairs, feeling like nothing was ever going to change.

*********

I took a shower, combed my hair, and hopped into bed with my laptop. I turned it on and quickly logged into Tumblr. God, my dash was empty tonight. I logged off after 10 minutes of nothing catching my eye. I texted my best friend, Anna, hoping she would entertain my restless mind. When she didn't reply for about 5 minutes I knew she must have been asleep. I rolled over and stared at the ceiling. "Just tough it out." I thought to myself. "Only one more year, and you'll be at NYU and living your life." I fell asleep humming a Lana Del Rey song I couldn't place the name of.

Everytime I close my eyes, It's like a dark paradise.

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