Never Truly Lost |L.H.|

4: "White girl afro."

Julee

-Saturday-

I couldn't stop thinking of Luke. What is up with me? I don't even know him. I guess sometimes, you think more of strangers than of friends. I don't think I can catch up with my homework while these things are on my mind.

I head down to the kitchen to get some breakfast. I never have time on school mornings, so I try on weekends to fit in lots of food. I didn't really even bother throwing a shirt over my tank top, because I was home alone.

My parents hate how I always walk around in a tank and really short bottoms every day. They're some of those Christians where I can't wear anything but "nun clothing". Not literally a nun's outfit, but something that covers.

My mom has been working early mornings until late, sometimes the night shift, and my dad is on a business trip in Chicago. He's always away. After he comes home, we have two or three days of hanging out and catching up, then he leaves for about another month. I really miss him. He always says that the souvenirs that he brings home will keep him with me, but it brings the city closer and takes him further away.

I made myself some scrambled eggs, bacon, and nutella on toast for breakfast, and brewed some coffee. Just as I was about to sit down in the living room so I could watch TV as I ate the doorbell rang. It must be Mariah. We planned a study day today. I walk over to the door, grabbing my hoodie from the closet to cover up my top. As I swing the door open, I notice that it isn't Mariah. It's Nicole. She looks stressed and tired.

"Oh, c'mon. It's the weekend. Why do you spend it here bothering me when you could spend it endlessly frying your hair to a crisp until it stays curled?" I nag.

"You're just jealous."

I couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Of what? Your thin, blonde Barbie hair? Thanks, but I'm fine with my white girl afro." I'm not sure if that would go over as a racist remark or not. I don't mean any harm to black people, I think they're awesome. (( I'm extremely sorry if I offended anyone with that))

"Stop bitching about it. I just wanted to warn you." Nicole lectures. "Oh, and Luke, don't you dare talk to him. Don't even look at him." She threatens.

She walks off the porch. She's got some nerve doing this to me. She can't say who I can and can't have as a friend.

"Ooh, I'm so scared!" I reply sarcastically.

"You'd better be. You're not Luke's kind of girl anyway. He prefers a kind of...bad girl. Instead of the goody goody you are." She snickers. Oh, she thinks I'm a goody goody? Well then. "Don't even think you could know him like I do. I knew him back in 8th grade when we lived in Australia."

Epic facepalm. "Um, I think you lived here. Like, forever. I've known you since 2nd grade!"

"Fuck off." She spits, walking away. Another facepalm.

I shut the door. I don't want anything to do with her if she's going to do this kind of thing. I just want to run away, and go to a different school, to get away from all the brainless people and some of my depression. But I know my parents wouldn't let me transfer.

I stop thinking about crap and I go eat my breakfast. I turn on the TV to see what's on.

The doorbell rings again. I walk down the hallway to the door, and I open it once again. Now it's Mariah.

"Homework time!" she yells.

"I haven't even eaten breakfast!" I exclaim with my eyes wide.

"Oh come on! During breaks we can talk about Luke!" she teases over and over as she walks through the door with her backpack, poking my arm.