Okay, this one's a Patrome story, with a little Fabina, Micra, and Amphie.

I sighed as, once again, one of the teachers glanced hesitantly at me while she passed out some textbooks for us to take home. I rolled my eyes. Typical.

As a gypsy it was something I got used too, but it still annoyed me to death. "Okay, class dismissed," Ms. Andrews said.

I stood up and pushed my chair in. I grabbed the book and slipped it into my favorite black backpack.

I sat down in Drama class, irritated to the max. It wasn't long before Mr. Winkler was calling the class to attention.

"Okay, class, everyone is to perform in a play before the term ends…" I zoned out. Why not? I'd already been in a play this semester. I thought about how not even Ms. Andrews could give me a book with faith it would be returned the next day. Unbelievable.

"Patricia?" I looked up at Mr. Winkler. "Sorry," I said, then went back to thinking. Most people didn't know I was a gypsy, because most people got scared off by my dark clothes and extensions, so they didn't want to get close to me.

I listened halfheartedly as Mr. Winkler kept talking about the plays coming up- The Sound of Music, a play someone wrote in class called Cleopatra, and another original play called Romance At Sea.

I knew these plays were just going to be weird little romance stories that kids got forced in to. Everyone else seemed pretty bored, except Mara, who always sat with rapt attention. That was why she was one of my closest friends.

The day trudged on. And on. And on.

Finally, we were home. It was the same as usual- Mara and Mick all happy-go-lucky while they studied, Jerome and Alphie pranked, Fabian and Nina whispered, while Amber and I were discussing the only thing we both wore the same way- eyeliner.

Finally, after a torturous argument about whether or not waterproof eyeliner really worked, Trudy called us to dinner.

Everyone scattered into their regular seats. I got up and excused myself. It was time for the only thing that kept me going on days like this: the packages.

I snuck into me and Mara's room and closed the door. I took out a cardboard box from under my bed- the new one. My hands ripped through it.

On the inside was a letter, pictures, and something special. I read the letter first, which was done in my mom's handwriting.

Dear Patricia, I read, we miss you so much. It was a shame for you to miss your cousin Sarah Fina's wedding, but we sent your love and the pictures cover most of it. Pease send us a letter once you have the time. Love, Mom and Dad.

I looked through the pictures. Sarah Fina's dress looked like something a princess would wear- but as usual it was way to over the top. The dress sparkled, the train was huge, and the skirt could probably fit at least seven of me in it.

The special thing was a bottle of my favorite black nail polish. There was a note there.

To my favorite sister

Love, Fiona

Oh no. Now my sister wanted to talk? I picked the note up gingerly and threw it in the trash can. No way was I going to even look at Fiona.

"Patricia?" I turned to see Mara standing in the doorway. I stuffed the pictures in the box.

"Hi, Mara," I said casually, while trying to hide the box.

"Patricia." She said. I could tell that Mara wasn't going to go away. I sighed. "Mara. These are personal," I explained.

That settled it. As BBFs, and roommates, we had to know every single personal detail. Except that I was a gypsy.

In a flash, Mara was rifling through the pics. When she finished, she raised her eyebrows at me.

"Okay, okay!" I dropped my voice to a whisper. "You can't tell anyone- not even Mick. I, Patricia Williamson, am a gypsy."

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