A Sky Without Stars

Part 14-The Month When Everything Changed (September)

Warning: yes, this is an extremely long chapter. But please read the whole thing, I promise you that it will be worth it. This chapter and the next one are the very best. Make sure to stick around for next Friday, when I'll be posting the LAST CHAPTER!!

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Looking back on things now, I'm pretty sure that Freddie had good intentions with his plan. Well, sort of sure, anyway. I've never really asked him if he meant to cause trouble, or actually was attempting to fix my pathetic love life. Either way, his poor execution left me in a situation I wouldn't care to be in again. Ever.

It started out one ordinary day in which I just so happened to text Freddie. To this day, I don't even remember why I texted him. Probably something about math homework, or maybe some event our friends were planning. That didn't matter. All I remember was that I was über-stressed, and I had no idea why.

Okay, that was a lie. I had a lot of reasons to be stressed.

Bailey was still a crazy mess of a human being, even with her several medications and counselor. She often times would lash out at me for no reason, insulting me with the rudest names, but I didn't really get upset over it anymore. In fact, I felt sorry for her, even though I was the one who would end up feeling hurt. The thought of what had to go on in her head made me shiver, and I pitied the poor girl. I didn't even tell my mom that she was still yelling at me. By now, I knew the consequences. Bailey would find out I was talking about her, she would throw a fit, and I would be harshly punished yet again for doing absolutely nothing. Was it unjust? Of course. But I knew that Bailey's depression and constant anxiety caused her and my mom a lot of stress.

Bailey wasn't the only reason I was feeling the pressure. My parents were more than a little bit pissed at my sub-par grades, which were dropping my GPA to about a 3.7. Last year, my GPA had been high above a 4.0, and I was among the top students in our grade. Now, I was becoming just a regular face, and I couldn't take it. I had always wanted excellence for myself, and my high expectations were quickly sinking into reality. Looking at my grades online made me sick to my stomach. And even though my parents didn't say anything, I could see the sheer disappointment in their eyes. That alone caused me to frantically try harder in school, resulting in only four or five hours of sleep every night. The bags under my eyes were becoming permanent, and since I wasn't allowed to drink coffee (another rule from my parents), I was exhausted 24/7. Waking up in the morning was becoming a chore.

Of course, I still had the task of looking out for Andrew, who was sad as ever. But lately, I'd seen a change come over him. He started liking some girl I didn't know; Eliza, I think he said her name was. Andrew was finally acting somewhat...content, for the first time in months. Which made me happy, of course. But deep down, he still had problems that I knew needed professional help...yet, I remained silent. Everything would simmer down after awhile, I was certain, especially if this girl liked him. It was all going to work out perfectly, for everyone.

That was a lie, too. But I somehow forced myself to believe it. Maybe the sleep deprivation was finally starting to get to me.

On top of everything, I still found myself fighting with my feelings for Isaac, which were growing stronger every day. I couldn't help it, hard as I tried. My brain was still telling me I should stick with Castor, but I knew where my heart was leading me, and to be perfectly honest, I didn't like it.

Sure, Isaac was a dream boy. Which is exactly why falling for him was so out of the question.

In the fairytales, the perfect Prince Charming always goes searching for the fairest maiden of them all. And he usually finds her at a time and location that's, well, just right (no Goldilocks pun intended). The birds will be singing as she twirls down the meadow, batting her eyelashes and smiling. The dress is beautiful, stunning (not to mention pricey), hugging her stick-thin body and probably exposing a little too much cleavage. Prince Charming and the princess instantly fall in love and ride off into the sunset, and they all lived happily ever after. The end.