GAGE

03| f r i d a y

I stir for at least a half an hour before I actually get up.

Having no classes on Fridays is a blessing. I blindly feel around me for my phone until I feel the cold surface on my fingertips.

I press the home button and notice that it's twelve p.m.

Why am I awake already?

In the middle of my confusion, my phone vibrates in my hand and the name, "Hails" flashes on the screen.

I instantly swipe my finger across the screen, answering my best friend.

"Hello?" I half shout.

"Jesus, J, the hell is wrong with you?" Hailey laughs.

I exhale deeply, "Nothing, you're just interrupting my sleep," I half lie, "Since you think being this rude is okay, bring me a caramel peppermint coffee with extra sugar with extra cream, maid."

She answers with an exhale on the other line.

"Thanks," I sing. Before she can protest I hang up.

I hop out of my bed, ignoring the balled up sheets and scurry to my bathroom. I turn on the shower and brush my teeth while I wait for the water to get hot.

I look at my reflection and grimace. My mascara had smudged on my eyes and my rosy swollen lips are dry.

I begin to undress myself and blare my music.

While I admire my body in the mirror, I notice it starting to fog up. I sway to the steaming shower and step in.

I sing to Pillowtalk while letting the toxins release from my body.

My mind roams to Zayn and I cry inside.

"So we'll piss off the neighbors! In the place that feels the tears, the place to lose your fears, yeah. Reckless behavior!" I scream, scrubbing my body clean.

Minutes later, I turn off the water and get out when I hear my phone ring.

I almost skid across the entire bathroom when I dash to answer my phone, "Shit." I mumble.

I smirk at the name on the screen. "Hi, Dylan." I put him on speaker and set my phone on the counter before getting my towel.

I wrap the fluffy material around my body and pad to my room.

"Hey, what are you doing tonight?" I sift through piles of clothes until I find my leather jacket.

"I'm not sure, I might have plans though," I lie, "Why?"

I get dressed while he speaks, "Plans? With me, of course." Smooth.

"Ha-ha." I remark dryly. I put on a velvet maroon skater skirt, a white long sleeved cropped shirt that revealed my cleavage, and a black leather jacket.

It's too cold for this shit.

"That's not what you were saying when I fin-"

"Anyways!" I interrupt, "I'll text you, okay?"

He laughs and says, "Sure, Josie."

I put on my black tights and manage to squeeze into the stiletto booties that I don't feel like untying.

On second thought, that would've been a good idea.

The thick heels help me balance in the high shoes as I make my way to my bathroom.

The faint sound of the vent rings through my ears as I plug in my straightener.

I play my bop of the week, Youth by Troye Sivan, before beginning to do my makeup.

I decide with going simple today and did minimal makeup, swaying my hips to the music.

The brown eyeshadow I apply compliments my exotic eyes.

I put on so many coats of mascara to my long lashes and curlthem so many times, you'd think they were fake.

Once I decide that my highlight is good enough to blind a man, I grab my straightener and clamp it over the wavy locks of my sandy hair.

It falls to the bottom of my back when I'm finally done and my doorbell starts to get lit up.

I know it's Hailey because her texts keep interrupting my music.

I turn off the straightener and grab my phone, going to my closet to find my black purse with the blood red pom pom that matches my skirt almost identically.

Before my doorbell breaks, I zoom down the stairs and almost bust my ass.

It's clearly proven that I can't successfully stair. Yes, I just made 'stair' a verb.

"Open the doo-" Hailey begins yelling through the thin wood.

"You missed me that much?" I smile at my annoyed friend and pull her into a tight hug. She doesn't hug me back.

"I fucking hate you." She scowls when I pull away.

"I know, I know." I take my coffee from her hands and I take a swig from the cardboard cup.

I choke from how hot the drink is and feel the air slipping from my lungs meanwhile Hailey laughs at my despair.

I throw her a glare, but shortly begin laughing along.

• • •

"You're coming with us to the party tonight, right?" My blonde friend, Emmy asks.

"Yeah, probably."

We sit inside some crowded restaurant, planning our night ahead.

"You know Dyl is gonna be there." Alexa wiggles her brows at me.

"I know, my God," I throw my head back, "He told me already."

Everyone begins to laugh, much to my misfortune.

"Shut up." I chuckle.

"You know you like him." Alexa chirps.

"No!" I drag, "I do not. Now stop saying I do before I shove my fork up your loose vagina."

She throws a pickle at me from her burger and I gasp.

"Face it, sweetie. You're in love." Hailey exaggerates.

I slouch in the corner of the booth and pick at my half eaten fry, "You all are annoying." I stretch my arms behind the back of the seat, "Plus," I pause, "I kinda like someone anyways." I lie.

Right now, I wish someone would shove the fork up my vagina. Or even better, in my eye.