EPOV

Stupid science project. Stupid volcano. Stupid school…

I stared at the pile of still damp paper mache in front of me. I still had to paint it. And re-wire it. And make it work.

Alone.

Four months ago, this was a group project. Then Brady and Collin ran off for a couple weeks, completely ditching me.

Collin and Brady had been my best friends forever. We were like the three musketeers, except one of us was a girl…

I don't know what happened to them over those couple of weeks that suddenly made them so much more important than anything else…

The volcano started rumbling again, bringing me back to the present.

I glared at it.

If this thing was seriously considering going off again-

Stupid volcano.

Whatever, that was a stupid project anyway. It seemed like such a good idea, when there were three of us working on it.

I shoved the sticky mess further into the trash can, muttering to myself. I didn't notice when Brady snuck up behind me.

"What's that?" I jumped; a mix of lemon juice and baking soda flying out of my hair. Brady laughed as I glared at him.

"What do you think?" I snapped, straightening up after giving one last push at my failed attempt at science. "Its our science grade. And friendship apparently." I stomped off, trying my best to ignore Brady's bouncy steps as he walked with me.

"What's that supposed to mean?" His eyes narrowed at me. I sighed, Brady had always been the slowest out of the three of us.

"Where have you been?" I whispered. I knew the halls would be empty, it was already past five, but I felt like being secretive. And my voice sounded way more intense this way.

Now Brady sighed, shoving his hands in his pockets and glancing up and down the hallway wearily.

"I'm sorry Erin, but I can't tell you. I really wish I could, Collin and I both." I turned away, glaring. Of course, he still couldn't tell me.

We were best friends, for crying out loud! We had known each other practically since birth and they couldn't tell me where they had disappeared to for three weeks?

"Erin, wait." I shook my head, continuing my rampage out the school doors. Stupid guy friends. Stupid secrets you can't tell best friends that happen to be girls. "Erin!"

It was pouring rain outside, but part of me didn't even notice. Maybe it was because I was so mad; my fury overtook the intense need to run back inside.

"Erin, you'll get sick. You don't even have a jacket." I scowled as I felt Brady's too big sweatshirt envelope me.

I didn't want to admit it, but I welcomed the warmth. It was freezing.

"Brady, why can't you tell me?" I looked up when he didn't answer.

His mouth was opening and closing like a dying fish. He wanted to say something, but the words just wouldn't come out. "Of course." I shrugged off his shirt, handing it back to him.

"Erin…" He followed me all the way to my front porch refusing to leave until I was inside, with the doors locked.

I watched from my bedroom window until he disappeared down the street before picking up my phone and calling Collin.

No answer.

I groaned, throwing the phone onto my bed.

Brady had come back to school at the beginning of the week.

I knew Collin was back too, he was just avoiding me. And doing an annoyingly good job of it too.

"Erin?"

"What?" Terry smiled at me. She didn't live with us anymore, and even though I got my own room, I still missed my older sister.

"I was going to leave soon, I was wondering if you wanted to say goodbye or anything?" I sighed, but walked across the room and hugged her.

"You should just move back in, it would save so much time." Terry laughed.

"Don't worry Erry, I miss you too."

"Collin won't talk to me," I whispered into her shoulder. Terry pulled away.

"I knew something was wrong, you never stay after school to actually do homework. Talk to sister Terry." I rolled my eyes, but followed "sister Terry" back to my bed.

"I told you how they kind of just disappeared, right? Well, Brady's back and I know Collin is too, I can feel it. I'm just worried, cause I haven't seen him yet. Should I be worried? I mean, Brady's perfectly fine, so Collin should be too. Right?" Terry frowned at me.

"You have every right to be worried. He's your "friend"." My eyes narrowed at the imaginary quotations around the word friend.

Brady had often teased me about my sisters fixation with shipping Collin and I. It was more annoying than anything in the world.

"I know, but I'm beginning to think I care too much. Maybe I'm too nice, maybe-" The doorbell rang and Terry and I both looked up.

"You should get that." I glared at my sister. "I don't live here anymore, remember?" She smiled as I left the room to open the front door.

"Yes?" I froze where I was. "Collin?" He didn't look at me as he stood at the door.

"Yeah, hey Erin." He looked up slowly, a sheepish smiled on his face.

"What are you doing here?" He didn't answer. In fact, he just started at me, looking confused and slightly dazed. "Collin?"

"Yeah, Erin?" I looked around me, confused. Why was he talking like that?

"What do you want?" He blinked twice, seeming to at least come half way back to earth.

"I wanted…" He stopped himself, staring at me with a confused expression. I raised an eyebrow at him. "I wanted to make sure you were okay?" I scoffed.

"You wanted to make sure I was okay?" He nodded, seemingly still in a daze. "Are you crazy?!" That seemed to snap him out of it. He glared down at me now.

"What?" He hissed. His hands were starting to shake.

"What? Or are you just stupid?" His eyes narrowed at me. "I thought we were friends Collin," I muttered, still angry with him.

He froze. "We were. We are? Erin, what's wrong?" I rolled my eyes. Mood swing much?

"Never mind. It was good seeing you Collin." I slammed the door and his face and turned to make a dramatic exit up the stairs.

Terry was waiting for me.

"What was that?" I sniffed, picking up my Chem text book.

"What was what?"

"Erin, I thought you were worried about him, I thought you wanted to see him." I peeked over the text book to look at Terry's incredulous face.

I shrugged.

"I did. Be careful what you wish for I guess."

"You're incredible," she muttered before leaving my room.

Stupid nosey older sisters, stupid guy friends that disappear and come back unbearably attractive, stupid…

So, honestly, I don't know why I started this, but I did!

I probably won't continue it for a while, if I do at all... Tell me what you think!

If I do continue, it will get better(:

Review ?(: