Fraud: I never knew him.

s her silence. "Morgan, can you please take

, No. I'll just gi

zy to even s

om on top of the table. I dial my mom's

ng with her, because something i

k me up?" I speak quickly and ca

minutes. And how many times have I warned you not to call me w

ch I don't consider so because

rom my ears, admitting my

on't get to call her? She should be grate

I thi

Morgan interrupts. And I c

you home then," Tracy sa

rtunate me

She wears it over one shoulder, and taps on her phone. "Guess it

t to take a step out,

happy. Who knows how high her

prop out my cheek

is way better

acy, thinking it might be disrespectful. It's no

e free tonight

that, but certainly not e

heeks twitching. Despite having a thin body and a

I wiggle my eyebrows,

U

I interrupt her relu

ve much to do after my extra class," sh

you to," Morgan tells her, and I

ge juice. This is

icks her

y says trying to contain her enthu

t her. And Tracy leaves

home. Presumptuously. He should be happy. I'm talking to him, sitting with him and riding on

I don't have to wait for sunburns bef

ngine and horns for me to get in. I fold my hands and peep around to se

his is the first time I'm seei

m annoying, because he is,

one hand more

off him. And the fact that his eyes are pinned to

ore I can turn my gaze away. I look at him from the corn

mbled beneat

at way." He is looking at the road, and he just speaks in

then gives me the look that makes

d turn to

He adds, and I veer t

proud face." His eyes dart back and for

yes and sha

seen me smile." I turn back to

so much that even at the sight of him

ay." He says like

head to his ga

pier than Tracy whe

at him, his gaze

xplain wh

iness matters to me a lot. Since she likes you, th

at's the

that she likes me

es. And don't pretend you don't like her back

t even a slight gaze. He says it like it doesn't matter how

rehead and tig

men aren't my interest," I reply after se

look out the window. I

hen everything was normal with me. I wish he never h

rt of it brings me back to reality. I sl

he does as well. I strut to the door, I reluctantly open it,

" Morgan asks. I don't know why he feels the need

vel t

" I tell him and

the door with

ing my best not to think about him, I even went for therapy because my mom and everybody in Roosevelt high presumed I wa

hing but downcast. A mood of melancholy

ime, I'm happy

outside leanin

itiful eyes. I'm so glad he's still here, and

is hands into his pockets. And God! I'm trying not to cry. I don't want to cry in front of him. But

k you if yo

s okay

e him or if he annoys me. I just want to let it

and my face strea

't resist as I clutch his shoulde

.why? Why did he

live without him..

he rubs his hands

~~

e noise coming

to my room and how I m

appened, how I

run downstairs, re

ioning Morgan. and Morgan just stands, his face wraps

hair. Finding no words to

le sl

us questions. They both turn to me, and I bounce down to them. I stand b

glares at me be

know you've got a new friend," my mom add

w much about m

cause I called him my friend. I am shocked by it. I didn't think a day like this

re he's a responsible one and he should suit

t least he still gets his smile after s

teeth as I

hat." I thumb to

it's already 7:30 pm, and I ha

eap watch to confirm. Then I look out the window and see the shadows of the dark. I can't b

brows as I move a little t

face closer to my ears.

immediate sensation I feel. He beams at me one more t

~~

y bed in excitement as I open the windows. It's a beautiful morning. A fuse warm light

s to my head. It's a per

op of my bed cabinet. I post on Roosevelt's high school

an both do some shopping. And I ask Lucian to help plan the party at my ho

happy to remind m

ver. Her sunshine skin is smooth and glowing. her lips covered with pink lipstick. She curls the down of long hair, which is da

with her laptop s

rating on a little boy's brain. I put my eyes away

a successful one," she says

course it was, you are good at w

t me. I don't want to get

small voice, as I swing m

ut my car. I hope she doesn't see it as desperati

nd put the laptop on her lap, whi

not minding to know my

d drop my hands at the top of t

ally gulp

y," I say, pressing my b

mini black leather bag close to her. She ransacks through it and brings out my car keys. I smile at the

again. And this time I reluctantly take it

e sink down to the couch and banter the shopping bags on the floor. After all the selection and trudging around the mall, we feel so tired. Half of the moon shines

your mom?"

I do. If my mom finds out about the party I will be triple grounded

you know exact

worry, she's work

uddenly blast through our souls, causing my ear

I bolt up and see Lucian dancing his head to the young DJ's upsetting

an. After seconds of staring, I realize it's just a waste of time. I'm s

e us, as he keeps on

tell the DJ to turn off

ging. Lucian opens his arms at the DJ, in

frights. Lucian follows his g

slides his hands into his jean pocket. standing in

From there I sight, drinks and turned-down p

ious

ear down the house or alert the neighbors that a seventeen-ye

ic?" He thumbs over his shoulder

et guy but his love fo

se and mouth with one

hakes her head with her hand

remove my hands. Not giving myse

your breath, it's disgu

nows, she might have perceived it. The odor is so

palm. And I'm like gross,

it's more than di

ts it

at me and the th

h full focus on the door, to see who it is. Me? I'm praying it shouldn't be my

k short and red painted toes

s, but when Lucian says, "the

it's V

ally ge

at took her

I don't want them coming to my partie

vier and Daniel. "Hi, Sam, Tracy..

at veronica. I nudge Lucian bringing him back to

er and Daniel look like her bodyguard, as they stand beside

ards the flat-screen TV and drags out a book from the wall shelf. He gl

ve his dad. Daniel is a croak. Too cocky, very mocking, and

friends with the

tell Veronic

as she ambles to the dining. She trails. her hands o

's her house, she's

nvited," Daniel says, an

iel. He smiles a lot, but i

l people not crack heads!" Tracy barks

ust so she doesn't go further, cau

k on the couch, s

oming out of the kitchen with a plastic red cup in

tings." Lucian steps in-between with his ha

g she chokes on whatev

he shopping bags from beside Daniel's legs. Trac

bikini, you don't know what lies ahead." Ver

s on the stair. I shouldn't waste my time on her, sh

y house, my territory." I threaten. An

ch! I scowl at the two teenagers making out. The lights are dim, which makes it hard to see the crowd's faces. I'm glad the music base is not as high as before, but it o

o contain everybody. The door is wide open

y girl spills it on me. I gasp, looking down at my dress. Not again. I raise my head and contort my face with anger, growling like an angry bear. I feel like crushing her. She holds the cup to her