Hey, Princess

I saw her crying three days after last week on a Tuesday. I asked her if she was okay, confirmed yes and walked away. Something had told me to follow her but thought better of it and let her go. I question myself why I did. Now that it's my birthday, and the event so very long ago in the previous month, I ponder why I was ever that nice. Being sixteen changes a person.

I'm Matthew Cortex, single again and I've lost my mind entirely. No, its not because of my ex, she was way past psychotic. She threatened to slice herself every time I brought up a conversation leading up to me leaving her. She hit panic mode. But back to why I've been stung out. I have this "admirer" that seems more of a stalker, my mother is a stuck up bitch who seems to think that because I have a job and a car I can take her to see "friends" and give her money to buy "groceries". Last time I did that she made me park in a drug store parking lot and walked down the street in a dark alley way and bought crack cocaine.

I had half a mind to turn her in. I couldn't bear to do such a thing, so I moved out. Which brings me to another reason why my life is hell, my house. I can't seem to get it in order. My father was the last to live there and it's mustier than when my brother lived there. I've been attempting to clean that place for weeks and it looks like I haven'tstepped foot inside. How could he live like this for eight years, is a mystery to me. Too bad he died of a heart attack two months ago, I could have started one sooner if I had known about this place.

"Happy birthday, Matthew!" Ruby says holding out a present wrapped nicely. No creases and no rips or tares. I closed my locker and removed the box slowly from her hands. "Uh, thanks I guess." Excitement filled her face, smiling and blushing. "Well open it, Matthew!"

"Listen Ruby, I don't have time to open it now" I say, trying so hard to be nice.

"But you have to. Come on open it, you're wasting time." Angered and impatient, she gives up and walks away. I win every time. I walked off to class feeling accomplished.

I'm sitting in class, science to be specific. I normally sit in the back of the room alone with my iPod on full blast. I'm classified as the emo, the loner. I have black hair slicked across the side of my face, the "pretty" blue-silver eyes that every girl loves. It's hard being me, I come to school some days and every guy pushes me around saying harsh things. I'm not going to punk out if they want to fight me, but I'm not going to go around saying I'm tough and ruthless.

"Good morning, class. Take your seats and shut up," That's the first thing Mr. Clark says as soon as he walks in. "I have a hangover and had a really bad argument with my wife so I don't want to hear any bullshit today. So you all are just getting review packets and a partner. Hurry up, now."

"Looks like someone is sleeping on the couch tonight," said some guy in the middle row. Everyone laughed and got up and picked a partner, except me. I work better by myself, but Clark wont let me work alone. He doesn't want to deal with it though, so he leaves it be. Then, at the very last minute, Princess walks in. She looks stunning. I want her to myself for my birthday. That's all I want, to be with her.

"Anabaker, you're late," Mr. Clark gives her a stern look.

"I'm very sorry, sir. I'll be on time next time, I promise. Please don't give me a detention I-"

"Just stop. You're off the hook, be lucky I don't feel like dealing with you. Take your seat and find a partner, Princess." Relief lightened up her face. She rushed to the only seat left, the seat next to me. I can't believe how lucky I am. I haven't felt this happy since... well, ever. This is amazing. I feel like shouting out how happy I am and just telling the world how I feel. If I could, I wouldn't stop until every last detail was said, my lungs implode, and my heart bursts. I wish I could say how I felt to her, but I don't have the courage to.