Changed For The Better

If you're gonna make me

Mai Lee and I had got back from the shops and everybody else was outside, setting up a barbecue. I remember Mike saying the takeaway was on him, but a barbecue is more traditional for a dumping ground send off.

It's weird, because I've been to quite a few leaving parties, and I've seen quite a few people go, but I never thought I'd see Mike go. Oh well. I'm not even getting involved. The others are all out there wasting their time setting up dishes and organising ball games or whatever, but I'm in here, dressed in my pyjamas, having a really chilled evening. And think, when everyone else is outside, I'll have the whole house to myself!

I can watch whatever I want, eat whatever I want, even go in the others' rooms if I feel like it. And I can always watch through the window to see what the present Mai Lee got for Mike is, if it really is that big of a deal.

If not then I'll chill, then go to bed feeling completely fine about not being at some stupid party. They'll be way more parties in this place any way. There's nothing special about this one. There's nothing special about anything in the dumping ground.

I sat on my window ledge and just watched everybody else. They were all having so much fun without me. Thanks guys. Nice to know how much you all wanted me to be there.

Mind you, I expected nothing else. I told Mike that I wasn't going. I told Mai Lee I wasn't interested. They can't force me to go and they both ow I don't want to be there. Everybody else is just enjoying their time away from me I suppose mind you, pretty much all of their time is spent away from me as it is, or rather I spend all my time away from them when I can.

My phone buzzed from the bedside table and I instantly knew it was Ryan. I jumped down of the window ledge, thumping loudly, and grabbed my phone before returning to where I was sat and opening the message.

R: Don't feel like joining in?

M: What?

R: Tyler texted me. Mikes leaving and you're not going to his leaving do

M: Well Tyler is an idiot

R: Marie, tell me you're at the party?

M: I'm not at the party

R: You're the one telling me not to isolate myself, and here you are sitting inside. You know what I'm gonna call you

Moments after receiving the last text, the screen lit up with a FaceTime call from Ryan. I don't feel like it, but he knows I'm here and texts cost, so I can't not answer it can I? I accepted the call and waited for the pixelated image of his face to show up.

He was sitting up and looked like he was at a kitchen table or something. He was wearing a dressing gown with the hood up with his headphones in, and bits of his messy hair were sticking out the sides of the hood. Must be early morning where he is.

"Heyyyyy" he said softly, dragging out the y.

"Hey" I said quietly and looked down.

"So, why is it that you aren't out there having fun with all the others hey?" He asked.

"I just...I don't feel like it"

He tilted his head. "That can't be right. The Marie I know loved parties and wouldn't miss Mikes party in particular"

"Yeah well maybe I'm not the Marie you know!" I bursted.

"Hey Marie, what's happened? This isn't like you at all"

"Maybe it is"

"Stop that"

"What?"

"Acting like you're someone totally different. I'm in different place Marie, that doesn't make you a different person. Just tell me the truth. What's going on? What's happened since I left?"