The Normal Project

Chapter 23-Baby Steps

hi guys.

oh my god, there are like 3.47k guys now that i have to greet.

you all are totally welcome to join my cult btw.

it's an open invitation.

but really, i still can't fathom all of you people wanting to read my trashy writing.

it seriously makes my heart swell every time i see a new follower or a new reader. like seriously, who would think me, pathetic little 'stupid, depressed, hated, moronic, idiot' (as said by many people many times) could write a story with over a three thousand views?

i know i didn't.

but i really thank everyone of you for sticking with me for this past year (?) and through all of these silent few months.

I love you all, all the way to the bottom of my heart<3

(and also, i dedicated this to theclockworkwriter because she sent me the cutest inspirational comments, so a huge thanks to you!!!)

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With all of the windows down, my hair blew all over the place, the brown locks concealing my sight as I let out a squeal of delight. I could only thank god that there were no police men present on the roads Dylan was taking, otherwise we both would be stuck with a very pricey speeding ticket. Dylan continued to speed down the roads at at least a hundred miles per hour, the large mansions beginning to turn into blurs.

I shut my eyes and smiled to myself coyly as my hand continued to dangle through the open window, the hard winds nearly tearing the skin from the bone. Dylan let out a loud whoop as we passed by an elderly man, which then lead to the New York Times flying past our heads. With that, I could no longer conceal my laughter. My usual cackle of a laugh soon decided to show itself as we flew past the angered man, his middle finger appearing in our review mirror. Our laughter, both Dylan's and my own, began to slowly blend in with the roars of the wind.

Who knew that spending five minutes in a car could make up for hours of dread?

"Ev!" Dylan screamed over the wind, his eyes staying glued to the street as we flew through a stop sign.

"Yeah?" I screamed back, my hair whipping in and out of my mouth.

"You know, Alex really does care!" Dylan screamed out, his eyes never wavering from the black tar in front of us. My eyes, finally opening after my long moments in sweet serenity, glared at the pristine looking dashboard as I crossed my arms over my chest, my face once again turning sullen at the thought of him.

"If he did then he wouldn't have freaked out, would he?" I yelled back as I forced my eyes towards the window, the sour sent of enmity radiating off of me. Dylan waited a few moments before he responded, his windblown hair continuing to blow around his perfectly formed face even while his jaw feathered. Before the words reached his vocal chords, I knew he was going to try to draw me into some long lecture.

And I sure as hell did not want any of that.

"Ev, he's just rash-" Dylan started as he turned the steering wheel, suddenly sending me shifting out of my comfy place. We swerved around the corner, the tires squealing at the motion, the scream of the rubber shrill in my ears. Before Dylan could get another word out of that full mouth of his, I interrupted his shouts with my own.

"Dylan, please don't bring him up again. I know you want to be nice and get me to forgive him or whatever, but it's over. Understand? He chose a nasty witch over me just because I didn't tell him something, so obviously he doesn't want me back." I said over the wind, a small sigh coming from my mouth as I cupped my chin with my palm.

"Just think about it, please." Dylan said quietly, just barely loud enough for me to hear him over the wailing winds. I hadn't even realized it, but we were already pulling up to the curving sidewalks that surrounded the school's massive parking lot.

I glared out the open window as the scenery began to still, the picture cast in front of me starting to form once again. As I kept my eyes focused on the plain sidewalk I had to blink a few times to keep myself under control and to fight off the pressure behind my eyes. All the rage and emotions that had been lurking inside of me for the past few days finally decided to say hello again, and let me tell you this hello felt more like a good slap to the face.

No, I thought to myself as I clenched my fist, my short nails digging into the soft skin of my palm. No more of this pitying myself.

I took a deep breath through my nose as Dylan turned the ignition off, his hand swiftly flicking the key into the air just for him to catch it once again. My thighs were already sticking to the shiny leather even as the sun started to go down, the radiant orange hidden between a thin layer of gray clouds. The air around me was uneven as I shuffled my feet slowly towards the car door, my fingers hovering over the unlock button.

Baby steps.

I slid on the seat until my feet dangled over the onyx colored ground. I ran a hand through my hair, letting my fingers trail all the way down to the tips for a few seconds before I finally put both of my hands at my sides and took the leap for the ground.

The soles of my shoes made a loud slapping sound as they connected with the tar, the plastic-rubber bottoms turning out to be a horrible support as I attempted to keep my feet grounded, my quaking knees being no help.

It's just a football game, I reminded myself as I shut my eyes, a sudden wave of nausea hitting me.

A game with over a thousand kids attending.

Breathe Evelyn, I told myself as I rubbed a hand over my temples, tiny beads of sweat dripping from my hair line.

I took a shaky breath as I closed my eyes once again. I stared at the darkness of the underneath sides of my eyelids as I took yet another breath through my nose, attempting to summon any calm around me.

Just baby steps.

"Evelynnnnnnn." Dylan sang from the sidewalk as he spun around on his toe.

"If you don't hurry, we'll be late." He said in that same voice as he began making his way towards the school doors. I nodded my head in agreement as I ran to catch up with him, my feet barely touching the ground as I went.

"Now, I won't be able to allow you inside until you smile." Dylan said as he threw his arm over his chest, his shoulders blocking the entrance indoors. I turned to him, a smile as plastic as the soles of my shoes on my face. Dylan laughed as he used his free hand to pull at my cheek.

"I think that was the fakest smile I have ever seen, but it'll do." Dylan said through his laughter again as he pushed open the glass door, his other hand gesturing inside.

Well, I thought, it was now or never.

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it's so short because inspiration levels are so low, whoa.

i haven't updated in so long i wanna cry, but you guys keep giving me so many nice comments and oh my god i want to give you all a nice bearhug.

also, this was written like a million months ago but I kinda forgot about it.. oops!

but anyway, enjoy:)

(oh and btw i am no longer an immature 12 year old, now i can successfully call myself a teenager since april 10th ;) yay me!)