I always had dreams, I was normal. They were childish dreams of candy and being a pop star, they help no meaning other than hope. They gave me, for eight hours, hope. Nightmares gave me fear, but this courage to pull through. I always enjoyed dreams, because as soon as it went a way you didn't want it to go, you could change it.

I woke up, lost and hopeless as usual. Pulling on a grey hoodie and worn denim jeans, I headed downstairs. Mom was asleep and Dad was at work. It left me to make my own breakfast and lunch, and head to school.

I hated school more than I hated home. We were a poor family and everybody could tell. I was teased and poked at throughout the days. I had not one friend, but instead a swarm of both teachers and students who no doubt talked shit about me behind my back. The popular kids would throw food and dump milk on me, and even the nerds laugh at me.

I sat in math day dreaming like I always do. All I had were dreams, they were what kept me from suicide. I felt a stinging jab nip my back just as I was getting to the part where I got my first kiss. I spun around and met the most beautiful blue eyes. They belonged to none other than Bankotsu, the school hottie. He, like everyone else, teased me. The difference was, I had the hugest crush on him. I would think about him constantly, always dreaming that he would choose me over every other girl. I loved that dream.

"Hey, dipshit, lend me a pencil?" he asked, his usual cocky smirk on his face. I sighed and pulled a pencil out of my pencil bag.

"Here," I muttered, holding it out to him. He jerked it out of my hand. "You're welcome," I murmured in sarcasm. He scoffed and leaned forward to write something. I groaned and spun around in my seat.

I'm guessing it was the end of the period because I felt a tug on my hair. I turned to see a pencil in my face. I took it out of Bankotsu's hand and smiled. He grabbed his books and stood up, and I realized everyone else was doing the same thing. "Thanks," he whispered, winking at me. I blushed and couldn't speak, so I nodded.

I got home later that day, dreaming that the world was infested with robots and I saved everyone. And of course, Bankotsu fell in love with me. My mom was actually up, and when she wasn't sleeping, she was pouring herself some vodka. She had been an alcoholic ever since my baby brother, Kohoku, was hit by a drunk driver and died. And yes, I see the humorless irony. We, unfortunately, could not afford AA meetings, considering my father worked two jobs just to keep a roof over our heads. I worked at Mcdonalds part time, and sadly see my classmates far too often there.

"Hi, mom," I greeted. She smiled and waved. I'm pretty sure she doesn't know my name. I made dinner and went up stairs to sleep. I didn't care that it was only 8 o'clock, I wanted to dream.