Papa and I were taking a walk in the countryside. We were just celebrating his birthday and we had a wonderful dinner.

"Come on Papa. Let's go home." We went home and I went up to my room. I stood just looking at my surroundings. The outside decepted people. Inside it was quite modern. Granite counter tops in the kitchen, metal non-stick pans for cooking and baking, and carpeted stairs. Upstairs there were five doors. My bedroom was on my right and closest to me, another my papa's bedroom on the left and closest to me, I had a library in the door farthest down to the right, my papa had a office for his work furthest down on the left, and the last door was a guest bedroom at the end of the hallway. I went into my bedroom and looked out the window, and saw a beautiful sunset. I pulled the curtains closed and got dressed for bed. Once I was ready for bed I got into the bed there and I fell asleep instantly. I was awakened by the sunlight filtering through the curtains. I got up and got dressed for the day. I trudged downstairs to find Papa eating a piece of toast with a mug of hot chocolate.

"Good morning," I grumbled still not fully awake.

"Belle, would you go into the village and see if there is anything in the mail?" Papa asked me. I sighed. It's 2022 and people still didn't want waste the gas it took to drive out two miles and back to deliver mail.

"Sure. I'm going to get breakfast while I'm there."

"Please take the bike when you go."

"But Papa, the hoverboard will be so much faster."

"Please for the environment."

"Fine. Whatever, but next time I'm taking the hoverboard." I grabbed my backpack and helmet and headed into the garage. I grabbed my bike and bike lock and headed towards the village.

"Please take the bike when you go."

"But Papa, the hoverboard will be so much faster."

"Please for the environment."

"Fine. Whatever, but next time I'm taking the hoverboard." I grabbed my backpack and helmet and headed into the garage. I grabbed my bike and bike lock and headed towards the village. It took nearly twenty minutes to get to the edge of the village. It took ten minutes from the edge of the village to get to the mail office. I dropped my bike outside and ran inside. Once there they pointed to a huge bundle of envelopes and a brown package with my name on it. I grabbed them and put them in my backpack. I hurried towards the window and looked around. 'Good, Gaston is not around yet. I think I can make Dana's.' I hurried outside and picked up my bike and started to get up on it when I heard a raucous noise coming from my right. I turned left and pedaled away. 'Hopefully Gaston and his goons didn't see me.' I thought as I took another left to circle back around and avoid the noise. Gaston, to most girls, was the hottest boy in town. Brown hair, a muscled body, athlete all-star, and a smile that would probably make you melt on the inside. I was one of those people who didn't care much about him. Here are some reasons why. One: he is the most stuck up person ever, two: he's got enough people swooning over him, three: he is a spoiled rotten little brat. Plus he's been chasing me since the first time I came into the village. And the villagers mutual feeling of disgust for me didn't help either. It got stronger as I pedaled through the crowd.

"There she goes!" I heard Antonio yell. I sighed and pedaled harder. 'Unless they have their hoverboards, I think I can make it.' I thought. Then I heard a whir behind me. I sighed and thought 'If I can't outrun them then I am going to have to out think them.' I took a hard left, and heard voices ahead of me. It was Gaston and Ramone. I groaned inwardly. I walked right into their trap. Now I think I'll have to break Gaston's little heart as kindly as I could. I rolled to a stop, and right in front of me was Gaston.

"Hey beautiful," Gaston flirted with me. Ugh, lust was rolling off him in waves. Other's feelings came pouring into me. I just shut them out, keeping their feelings private.

"Gaston, I don't need your petty compliments," I snapped back.

"Whoa, I wasn't asking for a fight."

"Well, most girls swoon if you flash them a smile. On the other hand I'll probably punch you. Now leave me alone." Trying to remember my manners.

"She a snappy girl, Gaston!" Doug yelled from the back.

"Leave us alone, Doug. Right now it is just between me and her." Gaston said back moving closer to me. To close for comfort.

"Well Gaston, you spoiled rotten brat, you are just going to have to bandage your wounds elsewhere. I have places to go to and work to do."

"Come on Belle. Take a break from those books of yours. Plus you have better things to worry about. Like me."

"I'm sorry, Gaston, but I don't really want to spend any time with you," I said, "Now if you'll please excuse me I have to get to my breakfast." After that I slid onto my bike seat and pedaled away from Gaston. I arrived at Dana's bakery, locked by bike to the bike port outside, went in, and sat down in an empty spot in a corner. Dana came over.

"Anything happen on the way here?" Dana asked.

"Yeah, Gaston asked to spend some time with him. Told me to get my head out of the books and focus on something 'more grounded'."

"Like him?"

"Yup. Anyway, I would like the usual please."

"Two pieces of bacon, one pancake, and two eggs on thirteen please!" I heard Dana yell once she was in the kitchen. Five minutes later I had a plate of bacon, eggs, and a pancake. I waved over a waiter and asked for a mug of hot chocolate. I started eating. A couple minutes later I got that drink I asked for. I finished and payed for the food and left. I swear Gaston must have a cheer squad on his side because he came strutting down the sidewalk.

I got up on my bike, ignored Gaston's calls, and pedaled towards home. Once I got home I went through the house, put the mail on the table, along with the package; I hung my backpack up on a hook near the front door, and exited through the back door. I fed the animals and saddled Starfire for a ride. I rode her to a hill about a mile from my house. I tied her to a tree then sat down next to her. Starfire was my only friend. I can tell her anything, and she'll know what to do at the right moments. She cuddle me if I am feeling sad and neigh when I yell out in anger, not because I scared her but because she sensed my anxiety.

"Gaston is such a little brat. He thinks he is so much more important than my own wishes. He is a hot headed, spoiled, blown up jerk. I really want him to stop bothering me." I was about to say something else when my phone vibrated. It was Papa. He needed me at the house real quick. I untied Starfire and galloped her all the way home. I led her to her stall and took care of her.

"I need to take Starfire to the convention tomorrow. So she needs her rest. Please help me with lunch?"

"Sure, what are we having?"

"The same as yesterday."

"I am done having turkey sandwiches for lunch. We are going to have mac and cheese. Nothing more nothing less. Except for milk."

"Fine make it then." Then he left me alone. I made lunch and ate my part and brought the rest up to him. I went back downstairs and grabbed the package. I went upstairs and then went into my library. I opened the package and inside the package was 'The Helper', and the first two books of Curtis Jobling's 'Wereworld'. I set them down thinking that I would shelve later. Then I picked up the 'The Rainmaker' and sighed. I just couldn't get into that book. I set Rainmaker down and grabbed 'The Helper' before plopping down into the armchair in there and started reading it. About halfway through the book, I stopped reading and stretched. I went into the hallway and I went downstairs to find I missed my supper. I ate some cheese and an apple. Then I went to my room and got ready to sleep. I didn't know when I fell asleep, but I knew I fell asleep thinking about how lonely my life was.