Singled Out

Chapter 1

My name is Denise, Denise Moon, and school is just a week away. I am not ready, but if I'm being completely honest, when am I ever? Exactly, never. High school is literally around the corner, and here's what I do with the given time before the first day: lay in bed, listen to the rock version of Fake Love by my all-time favorite Kpop group, BTS, and wonder how I'm going to reinvent myself for freshman year.

Eighth grade last year was a beautiful mess of chaos, disorder, and toxicity. My so-called friend group from middle school ditched me this summer, so I'm practically forced to make new friends once I start attending Nickelbrooke high school. That is, except the one group I've been able to keep around right now, so to get back at the fakes, I plan on showing them just how great I can be by being myself. For once, I actually have confidence, and boy, is it a whole new perspective to adjust to, but I'm not a complainer.

Just think about it, isn't it great? Have the one of shyest girls you will ever meet attempt to make new friends on her own, and sure, I may be an ambivert, but I'm more introverted than I am extroverted. The term isn't a divisible number by just 2, but rather like a number with multiple factors. And I'm doing it again, comparing my life and thoughts to math. What can I say? Math is one of my strongest skills, and my favorite subject. Algebra I last year was a breeze, so I mean, yeah.

Sighing heavily and slapping myself back into reality, I grabbed a pastel scrunchie from the top of my spruce drawer and pull my long, dark brown, bleached hair back into a low ponytail as I run downstairs to find my sister, Avery, in the living room playing her video games, and my parents in the kitchen. Just like my typical summer afternoons, I hug Avery goodbye, kiss my mom's cheek, and high-five my dad before heading out of the house. I usually do this sort of routine-like thing every few days each to week to bike over to Ashton McClain's house and hang out with him and Jake Dudley. You know, my REAL friends.

The three of us are one of the weirdest groups of people you will ever encounter, but we're always there for one another, and that's just it. It's what makes us one of the most ideal groups people wish to be. We've been a trio ever since Jake moved to Golden Lake City about a year ago, but I don't want to get into full detail of that story just yet.

I made my way to Ashton's home and out on the porch, swinging on the hanging bench, was Jake, reading another one of his sci-fi novels again.
I approached him closer and greeted him with, "Hey." Now that's something I have a problem with: whenever I have a crush, or even strong feelings of romantic attraction for someone, I say "hey," instead of a, "Heyo," or a, "Hi," towards my other friends. For Jake, I have a huge, and I mean HUGE thing towards this guy. Crushing on him for almost as long as I've known him really racks my nerves, huh.

"Hey, Dee!" he replied brightly.

I leaned against the wall next to the swing and put my hands into the pockets of my denim shorts and said, "So, what're you doing out here? And by yourself?"

"Just thought it'd be fun to sit around. Besides, it's a nice day today. Why spend inside cooped up in a room with artificial light when you can be out here enjoying the real deal?" he said as he scooted over to the right of his seat and invited me to sit next to him.

I could feel my face burn a tad bit red as I took his offer; I chuckled under my breath. "Yeah, I guess it is a nice out."

Just a tiny silence made its presence until I spoke again.

"Say, where might Ashton be? Do you know?"

"I do not. Maybe he's..."

As Jake's voice trailed off, I could see him looking forward, so I did too. Ashton was walking up to us, but not the way he would usually. He dragged his body strangely, which was very unlike his cheerful atmosphere. He took gradual steps, and it sparked curiosity within me immediately.

Jake and I ran up to him as fast as we could with great concern. I put my hand on his shoulder, wearing almost a motherly look, the kind of look a mother would give after finding out her child had been involved in an incident. I frantically questioned him, "Ashton, what happened? What's wrong? Who did this? Are you alright?"

He slowly opened his lips and slipped the words, "I broke up with Mayleen..."

Ouch, I thought. Mayleen June and Ashton had been dating for about six months, until now I suppose. After a few weeks of the start of their relationship, Mayleen had moved all the way to California while Ashton lived in Golden Lake Avenue, GA. Apparently they believed that they were soulmates or destined lovers or something of that sort, so they tried to maintain a long-distance relationship like the ones I've seen in drama shows or sappy romance movies. I'm guessing It didn't work out, sadly.

Ashton told us that Mayleen became extremely suspicious about everything about Ashton. I inferred that his limits were pushed to the extent where he had to break it off. She was worried that she'd be cheated on with another girl or being ignored on purpose. It's gotten to where she would text him almost every 3 minutes. She even accused me of being one of the girls Ashton cheated with! In my defense, I know him well enough to confirm that he would never and if he did, he'd be insane to me. Just because one of his close fiends happens to be a girl, it doesn't automatically make me an easy pawn of his. His loyalty and commitment applies to all of the liaisons he has, and that's a fact. It doesn't matter if the connection is Eros, agape, or philia; Ashton deserves so much more than whoever Mayleen is anyways.

I hugged him tightly, as Jake did too. He accepted our compassion and let out a sharp sigh.

I hadn't seen him upset since... who knows how long. I don't think I can recall a memory where he's like this. He's usually so optimistic and encouraging whenever he sees someone down.

I ponder, what do we do? What do I do? What CAN I do? Do we buy him tubs of ice cream in various flavors like the stereotypical aftermaths of a breakup? If anything, Ashton prefers raspberry frozen yogurt with gummy bears and a crap load of sprinkles, but I highly doubt he's in the mood to go anywhere at the moment.

I figured it wouldn't have an impact on him, so instead, Jake took him inside to his room as I ran ahead and tidied up his bed so he would be able to wallow his feelings out.

I stayed until 7pm, which was my set curfew since I had to be home by that time to eat dinner with my family. As I biked back to my neighborhood, I couldn't stop worrying about what happened today. To see someone I care so much about hurt made me feel a similar way, and it was unbearable.

I tried not to think so much about it, for I'll visit him again tomorrow. Only thing is that I'll bring a homemade basket of items for Ashton to cope with his misery.

Another day is tomorrow and tomorrow will be better, I told myself.

I guarantee it.