Serotonin

Chapter Three

Camila flopped onto her bed, sighing deeply. She had two papers due by the end of the week and hadn't started on either. She stared at her laptop that sat idle on her nightstand.

"There's always tomorrow," she said quietly to herself before grabbing her phone and pulling up Facebook. She scrolled for a while until her long time friend's pictures popped up and caught her attention.

Hailee Steinfeld was Camila's very first friend. The two had grown up together, there was a time that they were inseparable.

Camila quickly exited out of the app and instead, pulled up Hailee's name in her contacts. Her eyes scanned over the string of numbers and out of impulse, she pushed the call icon.

She held her breath as the phone rang, it had been way too long since they last spoke. She had tried calling her a few times but was never able to get ahold of her.

One ring became three and just as Camila was about to hang up the phone, a bubbly voice sounded over the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Hailee. It's good to finally hear from you," Camila said as she tried to mask the disappointment in her voice. Hailee never bothered to call Camila back and it was almost a full week before she had answered the phone.

"I'm sorry about that, Mila. I've been incredibly busy... you know how university is."

"No, actually I don't. Since you know, I don't go there and all," Camila said a bit harshly into the phone.

"Well, it was your decision to take time off school," she reminded her, like the brunette had forgot. Like the thought didn't nag her every single day.

"It wasn't my decision though, Hailee. You know what I've been dealing with... life has been extremely difficult."

"Life has been difficult for you?" The sound of Hailee's scoff that came next annoyed Camila. "I'm up to my ears in debt and homework but life is difficult for you? Seriously, Camila, you have it made. You live with your parents, you're saving a shit ton on school... what more could you want?"

"I want to be able to do more in my life. I want to feel happy. I want to have a brain that's healthy and not trying to destroy me. " she said slowly. Her friend had knew of her struggles, but didn't really seem to grasp or understand them.

"Camila, seriously... don't you think you're being a bit dramatic and selfish? Many people want more out of life and want to do more, but they can't. It's just how life is--"

"I don't even know why I bothered to call you," Camila spat, gripping her phone in her hand angrily.

"Yeah, well I have things to do anyways," Hailee said as her tone softened. "Look, I don't want to fight with you, Mila. You're my best friend and even if I'm all the way in Cancun vacationing-- did I mention that, by the way? I'm going to Mexico for spring break!"

"Ugh," Camila thought bitterly. It was like everyone had made plans for the break but her. For the next week she'd log onto her social media sites and be bombarded with photos and videos of happy college kids living it up in their spring break destination of choice.

"No, you didn't tell me that, but I'm happy for you. I need to go."

"Alright, Mila. I'll call you?"

"Yeah."

Camila was about to put down the phone, when suddenly Hailee spoke up for the last time.

"Camila, wait."

She paused. Maybe this time, Hailee would actually sound considerate. Or maybe realized how annoying she was, not understanding her depression, and actually apologize. Camila was hoping for too much out of her best friend, but it wasn't what she wanted to hear.