-Kerrigan

"Such noises bother me, I told her. I'm not going to bother with other people, they just annoy me with their talk of relationship drama and last week's parties."

This is around the part when Miss. Annabel shook her head and looked at me as if I was absolutely insane. Those disappointing yet shocking eyes hung on me, though the one on the left was lazy. It was hard to notice unless you really took a look, but no one ever does.  If only she knew why I thought this, what other people see in me after learning just a little about me and whoever else is in my family, not that there's much in there anymore. But no, she just had to go on about how teamwork is so important and how necessary it is in the world around us. Yeah, I get that. But I can't work with people, not under these conditions, where everyone is too immature to take the work seriously and carry on with whatever they feel like talking about. This English class isn't all it's cracked up to be, even though it's up with students in a grade 10 levels with a lenient teacher. I still couldn't care less, I know what I know, and that's good enough for me.

She apparently couldn't care less about what I personally knew, she still wants me to co-operate with others. Ok, whatever. As long as it's not someone who's so extremist about building up a relationship or anything, asking the usual questions like "What's with the pale purple hair?" or "Why do you never talk to anyone?", I can't complain all that much. I won't complain anyways, they don't care about what someone like me has to say. This argument carried on with about fifteen minutes of "You got to do this", "You got to do that" before she finally got fed up with me and sent me away from the school halls and out the door. Good thing it was the last class of the day, or else I'd have to stick around for another round of torture.

I just carried on to my locker while the teacher scolded me, hands on her wide thighs, and seeing as how my locker is pretty close to her class, she could still talk with that speakerphone of a mouth while I prepared to walk home half an hour before the end of the day with a black cloud over my head once again. I just ignored her while I grabbed my lunch bag, which was still half full from yesterday and my headphones so I wouldn't be bothered to be disturbed by other people on the walk home. I slammed my locker shut and locked it up, and the teacher slammed the door hard enough for me to hear through Admit it by Say anything, the music about to burst into my ears.


-Amity

Whoa! I just learned that a heavy door slamming is enough to wake me up from a conversation with my friend in the back of class and some texting with my friends in other classes. It's a good thing Miss Annabel didn't look my way, otherwise she'd probably have taken my cell away. Then again, she is pretty chill. Maybe she wouldn't have taken it away. Probably do what most teachers do and cheat the rules ,leaving us to our conversations.

She apologized for the inconvenience of having to talk to some student, I don't know who. Oh well, if there are two things I could think of about this thing, it's to be thankful to that other kid for getting rid of the teacher for a good fifteen minutes and why they went at it to begin with. Maybe I should try to find out something about this. Normally I'd know because I know everyone here personally, but this kid is one of the few that I haven't made friends with in this town.

I asked Sky if she knew him, since she's best friend. Of course, she always sits next to me, so she knew about as much as I did. The teachers always know to put us two together since we work well together and play at the same time. Well, they don't know about that "playing" part. Of course, she didn't know anything about what went on between those two, just that now Miss Annabel is not the happiest teacher in the school anymore and that other boy wasn't coming back to this class until Monday.

The class went on with us to the end, and I waited for the other students to leave before asking the teacher what happened with that other student. I was hoping she'd be open to questions about it, but she didn't seem to be. Well, she gave me an answer, but wasn't too happy about it. "Oh, Kerrigan? He's just being hard-headed. He complains about our group projects, he'd rather do them alone" she said. I guess that answers my one question, but now I can't help but wonder why he thinks like that. It was just my 'desperately-wanting-to-get-to-know-everyone' impulse, but that's not the point.

My friends waited for me outside of class, like they usually do when I have other little stuff to do inside the class. We said our goodbyes, since we'd miss each other over the weekend, but at least it's only two days. Plus, Sky gets to come back with me, since she's sleeping over. We hurried onto the bus, Sky texting and me with some music, and my imagination slipped away with the muse. Something else I had in mind that poped in my head a little later, and this did not go away with just any music I had. I kept asking myself the base questions about Kerrigan and had no answers. What he really looked like, what his personal life is like, his favourite things. The main question that kept ringing in my head the whole bus ride was pretty simple, but hard to answer. Who is Kerrigan?

-Kerrigan

It took me an hour before I finally got home, all thanks to some construction on some new building they have downtown between my house in the upperclass village and my overrated school. At least my blaring music didn't die on me again; otherwise I wouldn't survive overhearing some idiotic comments about how I look too different from 'normal people'. A comment or two isn't enough to kill me at least, it's just enough to annoy me. Better I go deaf to some grunge instead.

I found my mom lying on the couch watching TV. She couldn't see me come in since the couch doesn't face the door, but she turned around when she heard the door close, resting her head on the cushion on the back of her seat. She said something, but I didn't hear her. I 'forgot' to take my headphones off again. I went upstairs to my room, quickly put my stuff on the floor, took off my phones, and went downstairs for a snack.

My mother came up to me and asked how my day was. "Just some other day. Teachers don't get me, students talked on and on about... Something... And I left English class early since the teacher blew a fuse at me." A simple answer is all she needed from me, and I was used to keeping it point form with her and shutting up. As I learned yet again the next instant, this is a bad thing to my mother. But she wasn't mad, but concerned. I don't get why, other than she's my mother. I grabbed a glazed mini doughnut for a snack and came into the living room with her. We sat on the lazy chairs opposite from each other to the right of the couch and the left of the TV. I explained what happened with Miss Annabel today only because she asked.

"Well, if you want to work alone, that's fine. But if you have to work in a team, I don't see what's to complain about. After all, it doesn't hurt you to get through a project for a school mark, right?" she asked. I wasn't sure if she actually meant it or not, whether it was or wasn't a rhetorical question. I supposed she could be right, but this doesn't change the fact that I didn't like what she was getting at. "I'm not going to go along with some group that can't take the work seriously. I'd rather get a lower note for good work alone than a higher note for the same work and effort with a couple of people who put no effort at all. I don't want to be carrying other people up when they don't deserve it." I said. "I think your being judgemental of these people. Give them a chance, you may be surprised by how they can work." Give them a chance?! Yeah right, I already did that when we moved here last month, and it didn't do any good whatsoever. I should have just bought my phones before we moved here, then I wouldn't have had to hear their stupidity and think so negatively about them now. Maybe if I didn't know how they already were with others, I'd actually consider giving chances. Well, that's not happening now, and if no one likes it, then too bad.

I went back up to my room with a handful of paper and some pencils, only coming down an hour later for an early supper, then going back up to do my work and sketch yet again. No one came to the door for either one of us, and I was left in peace for the rest of the night. I was just doodling and stuff while looking out the window, lost in thought about what I would do myself for the weekend and what work I'll have done to take my mind off school until it's another monday in my life. I was thinking since we're about to hit winter and it was still nice enough outside, I would go to the park not far from here. At least there, there are trees all around so not many people would see me, if I even let them. There are also some slides and swings for me to have my own little excercise and fun, so I don't really care about what goes down. As long as no one bothers me in my last trip to the park before winter hits it, I'll be fine. Just gotta be home by 9:30, or else my mother will probably have a fit from coming home from work to a totally empty house. Not that it makes much difference than what it usually is.


-Amity

I woke up Saturday morning on the couch next to Sky. Of course, now I remember that she came over. What she didn't tell me was that she told her new boyfriend that she was here, and he just had to come over. Stupid Tyler, he shouldn't have come. Sky should have told him that my mom doesn't like random boys at her house unless it's for school work, and we could all tell he wasn't here for that. Thank god he left sometime this morning before we woke up, otherwise my dad would have thrown a fit too when he gets back home.

I went to make myself breakfast, hoping that it would pass enough time for her to wake up so I'm not completely bored this morning. 9:30 AM, why did I wake up so early?

By the time I finished a bowl of Rice Crispies, took a shower and got changed for the day, she had just woken up. I got down to the basement to check on her, only to find her sitting on the couch texting her boyfriend this early. It's only been twenty minutes since I got up, and I haven't even checked my cell. Instead of going at it with her, I ran back upstairs to my room and grabbed it off my corner dresser opposite from the door next to my bed.

I got three texts last night in my sleep. One from Sky, saying 'mmmhhhhh'. She must have butt-texted me by accident, though I can't see how. She couldn't have had alcohol before she showed up here; I was with her all night. The second text was from a guy in my class, by the name of Chris. 'I <3 you' is what he said, but I don't think he means it. He drinks too much for his own good, and he isn't even that good to my friends. If he really did like me, he wouldn't do that. The third was from Mia, saying she was surprised to see Kerrigan, through the window at his house, without his headphones. She saw the window open, but no noise was in there. She was wondering if he lost them or something, but maybe he was doing something else. He could have had someone over with him, maybe.

Sky came up to the kitchen and saw me replying to Mia. "Hey, why are you texting so early?!" she shouted. "Oh, like you're any different! I answered. You were texting your boyfriend before I even got my phone!" We had a laugh out of it, and carried on with getting our makeup. I don't usually wear a lot, just the usual blush and eyeliner. Neither does Sky, but she does take forever to pick out her clothes. I waited for a while before she got out of the bathroom fully changed, with a towel over her head.

We went for a walk around town before heading off to the mall right as it opens.
After all, Saturday is the best day to spend at the mall, especially when you live so close you can just walk there with a bunch of friends instead of your parents. This way, you don't have to make a good impression in public just for them. We ran into a group of our friends, and we all hung out. Mia and Chris were there too, but I don't know why he came along. All he really did was insult us about our fashion and how all we did was go into clothing stores and gossip the whole time. He eventually left, and I was glad he did, even though it still means a bunch of our time was wasted on arguing with the idiot.

Of course, when he left, Tyler just happens to show up. He and Sky wouldn't stop being so romantically dramatic about everything we did, and they wouldn't let go of each other either. It must be nice having someone like that, who cares about you and treats you right. I've had my share of boys, but never like that.

At the end of the day, we walked around town after the mall closed. We went to the park on Hillside Street, which is pretty big. Not a lot of kids go there, so it's usually just us teens. We went up to the gated fence that showed as an entrance when Mia noticed someone on the swing, their back facing us. We called out to the person, but all they did was turn their head, but not enough for us to see who it was, then run off through the hole in the back of the yard to the right of the swing set. The hood didn't look very familiar, and out of curiosity, Mia, Sky and I went after him while everyone else stayed behind.


-Kerrigan

Dammit! I don't get why this had to happen. I just happen to go to the park tonight, and they just show up and start chasing me? What's with them anyways? They don't know who I am, so why would they bother with me? Can't they see I don't want to talk to them?

My house isn't too far from the park, so it would only take a few minutes before I go through the front door and lose them for good. That is, if I took the route I don't usually take because it's full of odd things like thorns and poison ivy. I took a left that lead to a narrow walkway through some bushes. It apparently wasn't enough for the people chasing me because I could still hear their feet slamming on the pavement behind me. By the sounds of shouting and feet behind me, there were three of them, and the voices made it clear they were all girls.

They kept calling to me, telling me to stop, or just screaming 'hey' at me. I just ignored them. I'd much rather be home alone right now or get a seizure rather than let them catch me. It didn't take long before I noticed I was getting tired, but the thought of being stuck either socializing negatively or fighting was more than enough to keep me moving. The next right carried on through a short forest park, where the trees would help me lose them. It was much help, since I almost lost them. However, one of them caught up to me quickly, so I had to keep moving. At least the other two were gone. Probably got caught between the trees or irritated by the ivy.

My house was now in sight as I ran for it. The girl behind me called out once again, saying 'I just want to talk'. I almost stopped for a second, but realized what that meant, and kept going. I looked back, seeing the one girl, all alone in the street, running at me. I bolted up through the neighbour's yard and ran up the ramp that went up to our front deck and towards the front door. She must have known this neighbourhood well, because as I was about to look around and walk into my home, she grabbed my hand from the doorknob and raised it in the air with hers.

I looked at the ground, not knowing what was going to happen next. She called her friends and gave them an address so they could find her, then waited while watching me constantly. I don't get what she wanted, but anything was better than this for me. Good thing my mother wasn't home tonight, or else she'd probably be curious as to why I brought guests here unintentionally. I was stuck in thought as to what I was going to say and how I was going to get out of their sight long enough for me to get in my own house, but I didn't have much time to think on that since her friends showed up a few minutes later.

"Hey, I know this place" said one of the girls. She had light brown hair and was wearing a plain green top and jean caprice. "This is Kerrigan's place. I told you about it, remember? That text I sent you last night?" She told the girl next to me, the one that caught me. How does she know this is where I live? Did she see me here? Is she stalking me or something? Freak! "This is the place? She said. I didn't think it would be so large for a neighbourhood home." She sounded surprised, maybe even in awe. Then she turned her attention to me. "So, who are you? And why are you here?"

"Isn't it obvious, stupid? I'm here because you guys chased me from the park" I said, not knowing what tone I should be taking, at 8 o'clock at night. I wasn't planning on telling them who I was or what I'm about. They didn't need to know, and I didn't want them knowing. The girl next to me looked at me, all shocked at what I said. She let go of my hand and looked at me with a straight face. Glad they couldn't see me well enough in the dark to recognize me. "Well, she said. My name is Amity. This here is Mia" she said pointing to the girl in the green top. "And this is Sky, my best friend" she said while moving her skinny finger towards her, as if it were the most royal introduction on the face of the earth. Sky was shorter than the other two, but it looked natural with her size. She wore some short shorts and a small purple shirt covered up with a layered white sweater.

Amity skipped from the deck towards them, all smiley and what-not, then turned around and hugged them to her sides. "Were all BFF's!" she shouted. I went back up to the door to my house, opened the door, and told them "That's wonderful... Now get lost." And with that, I slammed the door shut and went to bed. I had enough of this nonsense, and I wasn't coming back out until school came back up.


-Amity

"Well... Didn't see that coming." Sky told us, as if we didn't know what just happened. I almost actually thought I needed a reminder of what he said. The words "get lost" played back in my head again and again, and I couldn't help but feel like he meant it with all his being. "What's his problem?" asked Mia, rhetorically. I wasn't paying that much attention to what the new conversation was about; I was too busy trying to sort this out. We walked back to the park, talking and laughing on the way, and eventually, Sky noticed me walking behind them, a little slower than usual. She ran up to me, hoping to cheer me up with a hug, but it didn't work.

"What's wrong?" she asked. "Is it what that guy said?" Yeah, it is, actually. It really bothers me. "What do you think he meant by that?" I asked. I was hoping my friends would take me more seriously, but of course, they didn't. "He meant what he said." claimed Mia, talking like she was the teacher of a kindergarten class. "That's a weird question for you to ask though. You don't let anyone get you down like that, no matter what they say." I felt that Mia was somehow right, but at the same time, I also felt like there was something else to it. Something about that person that just strikes me as odd to figure out. It's mysterious, secretive and dark.

We got back to the park. The others were waiting for us, including Tyler, who all but ran right up to Sky and hugged and kissed her without even thinking that we were almost right in front of her. They were curious about what happened with that guy, and all we could really explain was what he said and where he was. Besides that, there wasn't much else to say, but the look on my face made it apparent that it was still clear in my mind. We talked about a bunch of stuff. What to do about the school celebrations for holidays, who's hot and who's not, what's going on in our classes. We carried on for another hour, and then we walked home so we could get ready for the next day.