Be Like You [COMPLETED]

| CHAPTER ONE | Leaving Home |

Blindingly bright light flares into my eyes as I push open the heavy front doors of MidTown Tech, my high school. A steady flow of chatter and drama-filled conversations encaptivate my surroundings, put there by the many students who are leaving the school just as I am. 

     Among the many students is Ned Leeds, my best friend since sixth grade when he transferred to my elementary school. He babbles on about his excitement for a new film arriving in theatres as we walk down the front steps and out the large gate. 

     "I mean, in the last movie, the cinematography wasn't exactly great," Ned says as we make our way into the parking lot. "But, based on the trailer, I have high hopes for the sequel."

     I pinch a bit of my sweater firmly between my fingers, ruffling it back and forth in an attempt to cool down my rising body temperature. "I, uh, haven't watched the trailer yet," I confess. 

     Ned looks at me, an astonished look present on his features. "What?" he says. "Bro, you need to."

     Putting my hands up defensively, I say, "Hey, I was going to last night, but the wifi got all weird." The man beside me gives me a skeptical look, apparently unconvinced. "What? I didn't think it'd be worthwhile to watch it if the video would be buffering the whole time, so I decided to just wait."

    "You couldn't use your data?" the brunet confronts. 

    "Oh. Uh, no," I begin, suddenly wishing we could drop the subject. "May hasn't actually been able to afford all of the usual bills. Our data plan isn't really a necessity so it, uh, had to go."

    The skepticism suddenly melts off Ned's features. "Oh, shit. Man, I'm sorry," he says, voice full of sympathy. I simply nod in response, unsure of what to say, if there even is anything. "Is there anything I could do to help?" Ned asks after a moment of relative silence. 

    I shake my head, not wanting the man's help even if there was something he could do. "No, no," I insist. "W--We're fine."

    "If you ever want to come over to my place, you're always welcome," Ned offers. "You haven't been over in forever so I'm sure my mom would be happy to see you."

     I find myself facing a distant sensation of guilt around my friend's words. I know it's irrational to feel bad for being too busy to hang out, but I find myself feeling as such despite this notion. 

     "I know, I know," I say. "I've just been really busy with everything. I've got homework after school, sometimes Decathlon meetings obviously, and I've got to deal with finding dinner, plus I've got the--" I hold up air quotations with my fingers. "--'Stark internship' every night, basically all night. I just have a lot on my plate," I say with a sigh, secretly hoping my friend will offer support for my next to an impossible situation.

    "That's okay, man. Don't worry about it," the brunet replies, easing a few my frantic thoughts. "If anything, I'm sorry you've got to deal with that basically every night. Aren't you tired?" he continues, worry evident in his tone. 

    My eyes wander out to the parking lot, searching for Aunt May who had texted me during lunch, letting me know she'd be picking me up from school today. "No, Ned," I say with a sigh. "I've told you a million times: I appreciate your concern, but I'm alright," I reassure, my eyes scanning the lot until eventually landing on May's. "Oh, May's here. Gotta go!"

    And, with that, I rush off toward the woman's car, desperate to get out of the situation I was in. I hear Ned let out an exasperated sigh as I walk away.

     I sit down on the passenger side of the old vehicle silently, dropping my bag on the ground between my feet. May, of course, sitting in the driver's seat, doesn't take a second to glance in my direction, but instead starts the car and begins the drive home.