Hi, Life

"Man, I am so hungry!" Ryan complained.

"It is break time," I answered unsatisfied. "What do you want from me, Ryan?" I asked.

"Your biscuits please!" Ryan beamed with delight. I rummaged through my huge lunchbox and took out a container full of biscuits I usually don't eat. I handed it over him and he took it. "Thanks, Grendel!" Ryan said. "What a good friend he is, right Vincent?" Ryan nudged Vincent in the shoulder.

"Did you see that? Ryan bullied me!" Vincent screamed. Everyone laughed at the table. "Oy, why is it always me." Ryan sighed. He gave back my container with a fake gloomy expression. I opened it up- one biscuit left. "Hey, anyone wants a biscuit?" I asked.

Ann swiftly snatched it and literally demolished it, ruining her good feminine looks. "Thanks!" Ann said.

"Have you ever heard of manners, Ann?" Donnie, her big brother, asked in an irritated tone.

"I did say thanks…" Ann didn't seem to get the point. I sighed. "Oh Ann, so light headed,"

"Hey!" Ann screamed at me. I chuckled as she sat back down.

This was the Originals. The first group of friends I've had ever since coming in this school. The red headed pony tail is Ann, the dark curled hair boy is Donnie, the skinny boy is Ryan, Gwen, the white hair girl who's been quite the whole time, Vincent, our newest member, and of course- me. We've been the happiest bunch who actually enjoys school. Well maybe not all of us. Vincent is a pretty shy boy. He gets bullied by most of our classmates, even Ryan sometimes. But we got his back. We've been the only ones who accepted Vincent so he's pretty confident around us.

"What are you thinking about?" Gwen finally spoke. Gwen is not necessarily a shy kid. She just gets her head above the clouds sometimes. She's great at designing things so I'm pretty sure she's going to be an inventor. She's those type of people who forgets things frequently, except for really important stuff. Homework: not included.

"You're most probably going to be an inventor," I spoke truthfully. She slumped back down on the table giving a nod, "Okay." She replied, closing her eyes. She's quite awkward but fun to be around with.

"What was that?!" Ann asked Gwen. She's shocked by the response she gave. I'm not surprised. Ann always tries to be in the subject. She always asks about everything, very nosy you might say. Ann is about the same age as me, but I think I'm a month older than her.

Ann turned back to me and blushed. "W-what are you looking at?!" Ann croaked. She realized I was staring at her. I know that Ann likes me more as a friend but I don't really see her that way. I want her to be my best friend for the rest of my life. "Just thinking about you," I smiled.

"M-me?" She turned her head away with embarrassment. "Ah, is this love I smell?" Ryan finished his biscuit and spoke. "Another rumor to go around, eh?" Ryan continued.

Ryan is… let's say really annoying, but a cool kind of annoying. I guess that's why he was my first best friend. The first time I met him was in kindergarten, I went to go for a drink at the water fountain when I found a kid bullying a boy in my class. It didn't look like that the boy was getting bullied because he had this stupid smile on his face as the bully rose him up, grabbing his shirt. The boy just laughed every time the bully intimidated him. I grabbed a cup of water then went to them to resolve the situation. "Hey, what's going on?" I asked. The bully dropped the kid and pushed me back. "This is none of your business, freak."

"Well, it's my business now," I replied like a total bad-ass. I was sooooo awesome back then, and still am! (Grendel- super badass!)

I took a quick glance at the boy to make sure he was okay. He just smiled then laughed. To this point, I thought there was something seriously wrong with this kid. The bully cracked his knuckles and then cracked his neck right to left. "You leave this boy alone or else," I threatened.

"Or else what kid?" The bully laughed. "Tell the teacher?"

"What a great idea!" I splashed water on his face, grabbed the boy's hand and dashed to the principal's office. After that, the bully got suspended for two weeks and then the boy- Ryan- became my best friend, pretty epic right?

"What's this all about?" Donnie raised his voice. Of course, the big brother who protects his sister no matter what. I heard Donnie beat up a gang who was harassing Ann. Scary. Donnie was the eldest out of all of us. He's in a higher class than all of us and is not too bad with his grades. He's, what you call, a jock, he loves sports. He's popular with everyone in his grade but hangs with us. He fights for us, even if we don't need help. I guess you can say he's our big bro too.

"Donnie, is it true you got rid of a gang because Ann got harassed?" I asked confidently.

"Hey, don't say it in front of Ann," He whispered to all of us. I checked Ann- she's still not looking at us, or rather, me. That's the problem with me, I don't think about others. I mean I do but not with their past horrors or feelings. It's too dramatic. I get over stuff pretty quickly, probably because I think life is video game, a test if you may.

"You did what?" Gwen asked.

"Yes, it's true," Donnie revealed. "I took out a gang for my sister."

"Talk about sibling's love!" Ryan screamed.

"Be quite!" Vincent warned.

I laughed. Everyone looked at me with confusion.

"What?" I asked. Then they laugh.

"What did I miss?" Ann's back to her usual self again. "I don't even know," I pretended to say, trying to make a confused face. They laugh even more. "I suck at drama," I thought.

School's over. Nothing's changed, just the same. I walked back home with Donnie and Ann as usual. They're my neighbors. Donnie, Ann and I talked about video games. It seems that's the only thing we talk about these days. I wanted to do something else other than staying inside, staring at some stupid screen, getting sweaty for playing a game with no hardcore physical exercise. I wanted to go outside. For example: I would love to go out into the forest in winter, with all my friends, climb a tree, build forts, play a snowball fight, heck I'd even make a snow angel. Maybe dare Vincent to lick the snow. That would be hilarious.

I went back home, ate lunch, went back into my room, changed clothes, then went onto my laptop. I have plenty of homework, but I don't really care. I'm too smart anyways. I could have graduated this year but I didn't want to leave my friends. And who would want a job anyways? I haven't decided on my future yet, but I fear I'd have to do it soon. (Really soon…)

Grubbs got a Brazilian football equipment from Gret. That's nice but I got something better. I got new headphones! How did she know my old one broke? But anyways, this just raises suspicion even more. I sense Grubbs is feeling this too so I decided not to share any more of my conspiracies. He's a man now. Grubbs can make his own decisions.

The past couple of days, the Grady's household had a strange atmosphere. My parents our walking around like mindless zombies, barely blinking or talking to us. Gret's been in the kitchen or in her room, stuffing food down and playing chess non-stop. Sometimes I would hear her weep a lot. It feels like the time when Grandma died. It was odd. I sure was normal, even though I loved Grandma. Everyone else had a hard time except for me. They took leave out of school for a week except for me. I didn't share my 'worries', I just assumed "Hey, maybe I still haven't realized my Grandma is dead!" That was a bit melodramatic…

I wanted to ask my parents "Hey guys! Have you been taken over by aliens or something?" But that would probably put me in an asylum or something. (Who knew that it would…?)

Grubbs and I are watching some football while eating ice-cream (Yum, chocolate chip cookie dough!). I don't like football but it's better than playing video games all day right?

It was the start of the weekends. Glorious! I like school but I also like weekends. It was the time where I can just relax and take things slow.

The goals were 3-2, seems normal. The losing team will most likely win because their best player just got off the benches. Football is really hard for me. The only thing I'm good at is kicking and being the goalie.

Dad came in the living room. "What do you guys think about ballet?" He asked. I replied "Art." while Grubbs, "Boring!" Dad gave me a 'thumbs up'. I nodded. He turned to Grubbs. "Boring? Didn't you ever want to see The Nutcracker in stage right in front of you?" He asked. Both Grubbs and I replied "Nope."

"Aw. Then that means the other two tickets are out." Dad said. So they're planning to go to watch something after a long silence… interesting. "Okay then. What are you going to watch?" I asked.

"The Swan and the Lake," Dad replied. "They came into town?" Grubbs asked. Dad nodded. "So that means we can have the house for the night?" Grubbs pushed it.

"I thought about it…" Dad replied. "But your mother said it would be safer for you guys to stay and Aunt Sherry's house."

We both groaned. Aunt Sherry is okay but way too okay. She treats us like the way she treats her cats. Snuggles and stuff. Also, she smells weird.

Funny how Dad said 'safer', the neighborhood is usually safe. Plus, Donnie and Ann could have come for a sleep over.

My family dropped me and Grubbs at Aunt Sherry's. We walked up to the porch and were welcomed with a big hug from Aunt Sherry. "Please get off of me," I said rudely. The beast released us and said "Boys! I missed you so much!"

We turned around to say our goodbyes to Dad, Mom and Gret. "Bye!" Grubbs waved. "See you guys later!" I screamed. Now this is the part that gets even scarier. Dad waved rather gloomy and not as usual, his smile as well. "Bye boys! I'll miss you so much!" Mum cried, really, all tears and stuff. Gret also cried as she said "I love you guys!" Then they drove off.

A long pause occurred while we were standing outside, staring at our car. "What the hell is going on?" We both asked each other.