The Company She Keeps

It's funny how life can change in one year. A year ago I was the top five of my class, now I'm on the run with one of the most wanted men on the country. Do I regret it? No, I don't. I am crazy, I know that. But I'm also finally free. No more faking, no more being forever the second place, no more loneliness for me.

"Hey baby, what's up? You look weird." William asks me with a slight hint of worry in his deep voice. I look at him and smile.

"I'm okay, I'm just thinking." My voice sounds a bit weird, I know that, but I'm hoping that he won't hear it, or maybe choose to ignore it.

"Are you happy?" His brows slightly furrow. This is the eighth time he has asked me if I am happy since we met.

Happiness has a lot of meanings, being the most popular one "the state of being happy." Happy is satisfaction, or well at least I thought so. A year ago my life was satisfactory. I was a freshman at Berkeley, second place of my class, I had quite a few friends, I had a scheduled life, and a lot of ambition. I hated being second, with all my heart. I was willing to do everything in my power to be the best. The final exam was to come up with a note about something happening right now, "Mafia". The word instantly came into my mind. There had been a lot of things happening recently in Los Angeles, and the best way to document it was being a part of it.

Most people would say it was a stupid decision, even I, sweet innocent Scarlet Ballad knew that, but I was so obsessed with being the best, I ended up doing something I should regret, but I quite don't.