I’m lying in my bed with the sun beaming into my room. I sit up and slide my hands through my hair. A letter attached to my finger by a string of yarn kept smacking me in the face.

Dear Ashley,

I enjoyed the time we had together. After an hour of holding an ice bag to my forehead, I snuck back into your room and left you this. Look at your nightstand. There’s something else for you there too. Don’t worry; I am working on a plan to see you again.

S.C.

I look over and find a red rose on my nightstand. As I go to pick it up, Madison walks into my room.

“Who gave you that?”

“Oh, Umm, Aiden is trying to get back together with me.”

“Aw, well get ready. We have to go to school.”

“Okay Mads, I’ll be down in a little.”

She leaves my room and I can hear her yelling at Chelsea for having another boy over. I get out of bed and get dressed for the long day ahead. I hide the letter under my pillow. After putting the rose in a vase, I grab my back pack and head downstairs.

The usual morning ritual is unfolding in front of me. Madison is kicking some guy out of our house, Chelsea is still in the bathroom getting ready, and Kyla is eating a bowl of Fruity Pebbles. The only difference is that Kyla keeps giving me weird looks.

I hear Arthur through the speakers telling us to hurry up and get to school. He is such a dad. I wonder if he ever had children of his own. I don’t think he ever had a life outside of headquarters.

I’ll ask him one day. Now, I have to worry about being the only person to survive an encounter with Spencer.

We all start heading over to the car. We get into our usual seats, and before Madison can start the engine, Kyla jumps out of the car, “Oh, my gun!”

“Ay, la puta madre…hurry the fuck up Ky,” Madison crosses her arms.

I close my eyes and try to take a small nap on our drive to school. I feel Chelsea poking at me to wake up when we arrive.