Stuck in Fantasy (#JustWriteIt #Wattys2015)

The Former

At first, the urge was a background feeling.

As time passed, it became uncontrollable.

I needed it.

I craved it.

It grabbed my hand and whispered, "Run."

And I ran with it.

Into the darkness we fled light, reality, a sense of oneness.

It taught me how to write, read, and cope.

This is the story of a fangirl, and she is me.

It all started out on a Thursday, like any other day.

"Are you going to drama today?" Clara said, accidentally bumping into me.

"No, I told you, I have too much homework," I pushed my glasses up with my index finger, "my mom's cutting drama until I can pick my grades up to A's."

"Oh right. Well. Until tomorrow," she smiled and waved me off in the hallway.

I made my way on the right side of the buzzing hallway, and found my locker after a good two minutes. "Twenty-eight... Forty-three... Sixteen..." I mumbled, and quickly pulled on the flip.

The locker stayed shut. "Shit," I said as the first fifth period bell rang.

I fumbled with the locker for a few more minutes until I felt someone hovering behind me, "you need help?"

"Yes please," I moved out of the way.

Clara stepped in and looked at me.

"Oh it's twenty-eight... Forty-three... Sixteen."

Clara swung the locker open with ease, "ta-da." She quickly left to get to her class on time, unlike some of us.

I hurriedly dug my math textbook out of my backpack, and power-walked all the way to Math.

And even then I was nine minutes late.

After class, I stayed behind to get extra homework. Not only did it match my academic level, but this way the halls were mostly clear by the time I was walking them.

"Thank you," I smiled at my math teacher.

"Have a good day, Sophie."

"You too."

I strode a slow pace even though maybe eighty feet ahead, I saw Clara talking with her boyfriend as they turned into the gym.

Why can't I do drama...

It's true, I could've been in choir, and it's during school, I'm just... Not a people person, even though I'll act in front of crowd. I'm not me when I act. I'm a completely different person.

I checked my watch again, and by then it was almost four, which meant I was late.

Very late.

I sat up in my bed, yawning.

My bedside table alarm said it ten past twelve.

Papers were spread all over my blanket, and some on the floor.

"Shit," I forgot to finish my homework.

Drowsily, I gathered the papers and tried to remember what I had left to do, "math... Uh english... I have a test!" I scrambled around for my science notebook, "alright, so I'm studying part five..."