elements.

twelve

Awkwardness is something I'm so used to, it's a norm to me. So when Marlene pointed out that Luke and I seemed awkward, I just raised my eyebrows and shrugged.

Everyday's the same to me. I wake up, I take the bus, I go to-

I don't go to my classes that much.

Well, at least not all of them. I stay till lunch then I walk out of the school, under pretense that I'm heading out for lunch but I never return.

I don't come back home on time either.

I come back late without any reason and say that I stayed back in the library. Lying is a norm to me.

-

I flop on my bed, admiring the little stars that were now dangling from my ceiling. I sigh, after a long day of just hiding somewhere and doing nothing.

"Trinity, honey?" Mum says from outside. "Are you okay?"

No. Not exactly. I don't know. Maybe.

"Yeah," I reply, and she opens the door. "Honey..." she says, sitting on the bed and stroking my hair.

"What is it?" I roll over to my side, my back facing her.

"I got a call from the school today," she states and I tense up. "Why haven't you been returning to school after lunch?"

I hug my pillow tightly and say, "Because I hate everyone." Thankfully, the pillow muffles my voice.

"Why do you hate them? Aren't they your friends?"

Shit. She heard.

"I just hate them, okay?"

"Tell me why."

"Why, why, why!" I lost it. "That is this only thing that matters! Why do you do this? Why can't you be more of a girl? Why is it that these elements mean so much to you?

"Well, I'm obsessed with elements, okay?! Just like how you're so obsessed in naming all your kids a specific number and believe in the fucking stars!" I am standing up now, glaring at her, hot tears streaming down my face.

She sits there with a shocked look, but doesn't do anything about my outburst. She takes a deep breath and regains her composure.

"Trinity, I want you to attend all your lessons from now on," she says, sounding slightly pissed. "I don't want you skipping school. I don't know what reasons you have for skipping, but I want you to go for every class and come back at your usual time. Do you hear me? Turn in for the night."

I don't respond, I just turn around to look outside the window. The autumn leaves were slowly falling to the ground, awaiting the time to be either crushed, or swept up.

I wish I wasn't a leaf. All I am right now is crushed, awaiting to be swept up.

Mum sighs again, leaving my room this time. I pull the sleeves of my sweater down, feeling shivery. I then see a motorbike cruising down the street and stopping outside my place.

Luke.