Playing Pretend

Chapter 1

TYLER

I hear the screeching of my alarm go off on my bedside table signaling I need to get up. I look over and realize it's already 6:30. I need to shower, get ready, then make my parents breakfast.

I leap out of bed grabbing blue skinny jeans and a yellow t-shirt. I sprint to the bathroom and hurry to shower and brush my teeth.

When I'm dressed I run downstairs careful not to make too much noise and start on breakfast. I quietly get the pan and eggs out doing it as quickly as I can. As I cook I think of what today is, the first day of high school. I'm scared but also excited! Maybe my friends will pay more attention to me or maybe I'll make more friends!

I pop back into my mind space as I realize the eggs are done. I get out plates, cups, silverware and then set the table. Once I'm done I sit in my spot as I wait for my parents to wake up and come downstairs. After 5 minutes of waiting I knew needed to leave but I couldn't because I have to wait for them to wake up. The rules are I have to cook, watch them eat and then I am allowed to leave and head to school. I will get in so much trouble if I leave but then I'll be late. I was about to get up when I remember last night and I sit back down quickly, I'd rather get in trouble at school.

After 5 more minutes of waiting my parents finally come down. They sit at the table and start eating hungrily. My stomach clenches in pain as I watch them. I'm so hungry but I will get in trouble if I eat. I'm only allowed 2 meals a week and that's when parents are happy with me.

"Leave now" my father says when he finishes eating before he gulps down more of his coffee.

I hop up fast and slowly make my way out of the house but as soon as I get out I set off sprinting. If I can run fast enough I'll get to school on time! I'll get to first period just as it starts.

I finally make it to school and I am slightly winded although not much considering I run— a lot. I find my first period as quick as I can and sit down just as the bell rings. I let myself calm down while the morning announcements are playing. Then I realize I was supposed to meet up with Luke and McQuaid before class. They were going to be so mad at me. I lay my head down on the desk in shame.

The first period bell rings, and I run to find Luke and McQuaid as fast as I could.

After a couple minutes of searching the halls I finally find them at what I assume to be Luke's locker. I quickly walk over to them to greet them.

"H-Hi guys" I say staring at the floor full of disappointment for myself.

"Tyler! Where were you!" Luke says to me angrily.

"I-Im s-sorry my a-alarm didn't go off but I promise it won't happen again." I said putting back of my happy facade.

"It's fine let's go" Luke said walking away with McQuaid neither of them waiting for me.

~timeskip~

After our first 5 periods, lunch finally comes much to my dismay. I dig around in my bag finding a book that I can work on my reading with to distract me from the thought of food.

We all sit down at a table when I pull my book out and start on my practicing.

"The raven flem a-across the valey" I read out loud looking up when McQuaid corrected me.

"The raven flew across the valley, Tyler come on it's literally a fifth grade book we're in highschool!" McQuaid said to me impatiently.

I was about to reply with a sorry when I was cut off by shouting from the middle of the room.

"You think I'm some kind of slut!" I see a girl yell when a boy yells back.

"No I know your a slut, slut!" He yells back. I'm astonished at what's going on and I feel sad for being caught in the middle of someone's fighting that sounds a lot like my parents fights.

They keep yelling at each other for a little bit more until they pretend to kill themselves; hmm I've thought of doing the same thing so many times.

They start talking about some play that's going on called Uncle Vanya. I keep staring at them in confusion when I make eye contact with the boy who just smirks at me. I quickly turn my head to hide my blush and continue my attempts in reading.

As soon as the bell rang I hurried to my next class with Luke and McQuaid ignoring me. I get to my class and quickly find a seat in the back.

Right before the class started the boy from the lunchroom came in and sat next to me.

"Hey" i heard him say so I looked over at him and pointed to me in a question manner.

"Yeah you I saw you in the lunchroom are you gonna try out for the play?" He asks in his silky and seductive voice giving me a small smile.

"Oh! No I'm not very good at acting I could do stage crew though if you guys needed!" I said cheerfully trying to be nice maybe I could make a friend!

"Yeah that'd be cool meet me after school so you can come over to my house." He said making me confused as to why he was asking.

"Huh? Why?" I asked tilting my head in confusion.

"Because I need someone to help me run lines." He replied giving another of his seductive smirks making my mind run wild with... thoughts.