Living With Reality

Chapter 1

Starting off school this year wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Usually the first one to talk to me is my reflection in the mirror–asking myself why it was so hard to look beautiful.

The first one to talk to me this year was Levia Smith. We've known each other for a few years, but in the past few months, we've gotten really close.

The second I walked to the cafeteria to sit down, she was there waiting on me. Once I reached the bottom step, she ran up against me and I almost fell backwards.

Even if I have had a bad day, I can count on her to make me feel better. 

I went and sat down beside Levia and some people I recognized from last year. 

"Hey guys!" I say sitting down.

"Hey Lanaeyah!" they say back to me.

They were the only people who cared enough to actually asked if I was okay when something was up.

*

I was looking something up on my Macbook when I heard a girl squeal. I look up to see Meghan Stevenson running to her best friend, Delilah Jane. 

Behind them, I see someone coming to the cafeteria from the front of the school. It was him. DeAndre Harris. I knew he was aware that I existed. Some of his friends told me that he liked me a couple of times last year. 

DeAndre and I were a thing last year... for a week. We only separated because of my mom's decision on the guy. She said I could do better and said he was a bad influence. 

Trying to fight the urge to cry, I told him about it and he said he still loved me. Coming back this year, I don't think he's interested anymore. But I'm interested in him. He may not know that, but I am. I think he has feelings for the girl he sits by in Algebra 1. Alexus Ross. They sit a few rows in front of me to my left. I see them laugh with each other. Sometimes he never takes his eyes off of her. 

I admit that I do get jealous, but he was at least one of my friends and I should be thankful for that.

*****

The first week of school went by pretty quick. I got to go do things with my family on my birthday that week and spend time with my friends. DeAndre talked to me though. The Thursday of the first week of school was my birthday. I didn't think he would remember, but he did. He walked up to me and sat across from me. 

"What do you want for your birthday?" he asked me. He had this serious look on his face, but I didn't mind. My face felt hot and I began turning red.

"I don't want anything." I said.

"What do you want for your birthday?" he asks again. 

"Nothing."

"Yes you do, so tell me."

"A bracelet."

"What kind?"

"It doesn't matter."

"I'll give you you're gifts on Monday, but I have more than just a bracelet." he said with no facial expression what so ever.

"Okay." I say smiling.

It was the weekend now and I was happy that the first week of school was over. I was happy with my classes and I changed my schedule a few times. I ended up getting an extra class with DeAndre. And it made me a little more excited. I couldn't help but think about him and how he said he would give me a gift. No one does that.

But I figured out later that he doesn't either.