I've never been one to follow the crowd. To wear what everyone wears and have what everyone has. To copy what they do.
But ever since she moved here, I've felt a sudden urge to become one of those people who do. She seems different, and for some odd reason that makes me want to be like everyone else. I don't know why, I haven't the faintest idea, but I know I want to blend in for once in my life.

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I'm Ruby. I'm 15 and confused. So yes like every other 15 year old you've ever heard of.
I live in Columbus, Ohio in a big house down a private road. My house has big iron gates at the front with one of those keypad microphone things.
I hate it.
The only room I like in my house is my room.
It's grey and white with loads of band merch everywhere. Not tons, just enough to let anyone that comes in my room know that I really like the band.
The rest of the house is pure white and fancy and insanely posh. Like the rest of my family.
I won't bore you with names and ages now, but I will say the only thing my parents are good for is letting me have whatever I want.

I've never been one to follow the crowd. To wear what everyone wears and have what everyone has. To copy what they do.
I mean, I have the opportunity to have an iPhone 7 so I'm not gonna say no am I? But I don't follow clothes trends and shoe trends because I see no need to.

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beep,beep,beep

It was 6:30 on a Friday. Ugh. I rolled out of bed with messy hair like every other teenager, checked my phone like every other teenager and did my makeup like, you guessed it, every other teenager.
I had 4 new messages, one from Fawn, two from Harper and one from my Mum.

Fawn and Harper are my best friends. They, however, follow every trend under the sun. They are also the most popular girls at our school, and I have no idea why they hang out with me, maybe it has something to do with the fact that we have been best friends since kindergarten...I dunno.

Fawnnn

hoe my brothers driving us to school so wear some god damn deodorant please. I'm not letting u die alone xx 6:27

Her brother is the most popular boy. And he is perfect. Moving on....

Whatever xx 6:49

I walked over to my closet and opened the doors. I picked out a black crop top and blue jeans.
When they were on I opened the messages from Harper.

Harper

babe I think chase is driving us today so wear summat nice kay?💗 5:47
also I saw a moving van outside Callums old house......idk....xx 6:50

I didn't ever really talk to Callum. He wasn't anything special. He didn't fit into a category at school, jock, nerd etc, he just had his own little group.
He lived in the house a few doors down and all I know is his dad worked at the same business firm mine does.
The thing about Callum...everyone thought he was ok, because he never really expressed emotions...of any kind...but really, at the beginning of freshman year, his mum was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Sadly, a "for sale" sign was put up by his house before anyone could give their condolences.

She died a few weeks ago, and Callum hasn't been in school since.
Then one morning a guy in a yellow jacket slapped a "sold" sticker on the post and a few days later they were moving out. The house has been empty for a while now, we thought maybe no one was gonna move in, but now there's a van and a whole new family.

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As I walked down the stairs, bag in hand, I plugged my earphones into my phone.
"Listen, Kai, if you don't eat the healthy cereal, you won't get big and strong like daddy!" Of course. Dad always tries Kai to eat Fruit n' Nut, but only because Mum would go ballistic if he wasn't.

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