The Tale of Us

1

Thursday
11:48 pm
I bite my lip as I think to myself, "What are the odds. He's not going to reply anyways." I press the send button.

I look at the message, "Hey Zotto. Or Alessio. Whatever you prefer to be called. I know it's one out a billion chances that you're going to see this so I decided to take the chance. Umm, so I was wondering if you wanted to be friends. Yep, ok. That's it. Have a good day."

I inwardly groan at myself. When I get nervous why oh why do I have to capitalize my words. I mean, I realize it's stupid, but what if he responds. And is like, ew capitalization.

I do the weird nose exhale/laugh thingy that everyone does. I plug my phone in my charger and lay in bed. Hoping sleep takes me.

——————
Next Morning
5:02
Friday

I wake up and start to rub my eyes. The alarm on my phone is going off again. I pick up my phone, turn off the alarm, and chuck it across the room. Then I lay back down.

The alarm starts to go off again. "Shut up you stupid alarm. For fucks sakes I'm trying to sleep here." Then I remember. It's friday. Aka my birthday. Happy Birthday bitch.

Officially 15. Oh, Joy. I groan and shove my white covers off. Walking quickly to pick up my phone and turn off the alarm. I check my notifications and no response from Alessio. Big surprise.

Instead of getting sad I go to my bathroom and take a shower.

After my shower, I look at myself in the mirror. Disappointed in what I see. My brown hair, cut at my collar bones, is straight and boring. My brown eyes are slightly puffy. I examine my body now, my short stature coming to a stop at 5'3. I give myself one more short stare and I walk out of the bathroom and into my bedroom.

5:21 am
I open my closet looking for the perfect outfit for today. I grab a black and white striped long sleeved crop top with a black t-shirt with a wave on the left breast. I put on the two shirts and I thot knot the wave shirt. I add on some high-waisted, blue jeans on as well as my black vans.

I walk back into my bathroom and let my hair out of the towel. I blow dry it dry and put it into a loose, low bun, pulling out strands of hair at the front to frame my face.

I add some simple makeup, mascara, highlighter, blush, eyeliner, and some lip balm.

5:48
I grab my backpack off of my desk chair and I walk downstairs.
"Joyeux anniversaire mon amour." My mom says. (Happy birthday, love.) My mom doesn't know English. Even after she and my dad moved to California when I was two. She just never cared for the language. So I learned both French and English.

"Merci," I smile at her.

"ITS MY OLDEST CHILD'S BIRTHDAY TODAY!" My mom shushes him and points to my little sisters room. "Happy birthday Penelope." He walks over and kisses my forehead.

"I'm big and old now dad. But..." he gives me a look when he hears the but, "because it's my birthday, can you please drive me to school today?"

"Ma chérie, you know I can't. I've got work and your mom has to take care of Olivia." (my darling).

"Oh...ok. I just thought..." My smile falls off my face.

My dad looks at me and then at his watch, "Well, I guess if we leave now I can get you to school. Just a little early though."

My smile appears again, "That's ok! Hold on let me grab my water bottle." I run and grab my white hydro flask from the fridge and follow my dad out into the garage and into his BMW.

6:17
13 Minutes before school

As the school approaches I start to grab my backpack and put it on.

"I love you. Bye Dad!" I say closing the car door and walking up to the front.

It's gonna be one long day. Now that's for sure.