A/N: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, situations, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
The Boy
"You're going to chew through the entire length of your thumb if you keep doing that," Jasper murmurs quietly while Alice goes back, again, to look for another costume. We've been sitting in this damn shop for over a damn hour because Alice can't make up her damn mind. I've seen her as an Eskimo, a military brat, a vampire and an Indian. By this point, I would usually want to get up and throttle her, but my mind is focused elsewhere. Specifically, on Edward, which makes me the most pathetic person alive.
I look up at him and realize I have my teeth tearing into the skin around the nail at my thumb. Realizing how dumb I look doing this, I immediately stop and give him a small smile.
"Everything okay?" he asks, sitting down next to me and fiddling with the belt on his jeans.
I sigh and don't answer, because I'm not even sure I have one. Ever since we left the office, I've been overIrinalyzing every possibility about why Edward would be there. Is he stalking me? Is he meeting someone there? Does he have some sort of mental instability?
My money is on option number three.
And then there is the whole bit during my session when Dr. Platt freaked out on me when I mentioned his name. Does she know him from somewhere? An ex-patient? A current patient?
"Hello! Earth to Bella, come in Bella!" Jasper waves his hand in front of my face.
Did I space again?
I laugh at my own short attention span and give him a look of reassurance. "Yeah, I'm here."
He quirks an eyebrow in question, not even really needing to say the words.
I give him an innocent look until I huff in exasperation. "Well what was he doing there?!" I ask, frantically throwing my hands around.
He shrugs and looks towards the changing room again.
"He probably has a problem he needs working out, Bells. He's just human," he retorts quietly, and before I have a chance to call bullshit on that, Alice emerges wearing a peacock outfit.
"What do you think?" she asks, twirling around in annoyingly cheerful circles.
"You look fabulous," I automatically reply.
"You're not even looking!" she stomps and I realize I'm looking at the floor in concentration. I snap my head up and put a sheepish smile on my face.
"Sorry, you do look great, though. Right, Jasper?" I divert, feeling bad about not giving her my full attention.
He simply nods and smiles at her, not saying a word. He doesn't have to, though. The way he looks at her, and her elated grin in return, is enough to flip my stomach. I look off to the side at some little kids' costumes, trying to distract myself as much as possible.
Is that a genie costume for little girls? It looks like a stripper outfit!
"Great! I'll get it then!" she says, flitting back to the dressing room.
I hear Jasper chuckle and turn around to see him shaking his head.
"You have got it so bad," I tease, nudging him playfully with my shoulder. He shrugs his shoulder and goes back to messing with his belt.
"I love her, in all her craziness. But don't think that will distract me from what we were talking about," he returns, with a pointed look at me.
Damn.
I roll my eyes in annoyance. "I know it's obsessive, but you didn't hear this guy. He was all about giving me a ride home, then he called me helpless, then he almost bowed over himself to apologize. Then, Dr. Platt almost shit herself when I mentioned him, then he just happens to turn up at the place where I go to the crazy doctor?"
"It sounds like you've overthinking this. A lot. Just relax. Just because a guy wants to give you a ride home, doesn't mean he has ill intentions," he reasons.
"Do you think he knows?" I whisper, my eyes widening at the thought. I feel my stomach tighten and I think I may be sick.
He places a comforting hand on my shoulder. "There's no way he could possibly know. People in your family don't even know the whole story, Bells," he reasons, patting me reassuring.
I smile slightly at him, although I don't feel better. Something about him being at that doctor's office doesn't feel right.
"Besides, don't you think Dr. Platt has the decency to respect doctor-patient confidentiality?" he points out, lips pulling up into a small smile.
I huff and cross my arms, not having anything to combat that with. He smiles in victory when I see Alice come toward us.
"What are you two talking about?" she inquires.
"Nothing," I say too quickly, followed by Jasper who laughs. I shoot him a glare and stick my tongue out in defiance.
Yeah, that will teach him.
Alice looks back and forth between us before shrugging and cMcGintyng over to me.
"It's your turn, now!" she cries, clasping her hands together under her chin.
I groan from my seat, but she comes over and unceremoniously pulls me up and literally pushes me into the dressing rooms.
"Now, just wait there while I find you something super cute!" she squeals.
"Don't you think I should pick out my own shit?" I call, but she doesn't answer. I roll my eyes again, and sit rebelliously on the chair in the room. I notice that there is a full-length mirror in the tiny space, and I can't help but stare. My hair was pulled up in a high ponytail, but now it's fallen down some as the day has gone on. My plain, white, capped-sleeved shirt was a little rumpled and my worn jeans were still fraying at the hem. I sigh at my reflection, noting my tired countenance. My eyes look dull and lifeless, most likely due to what happened last night. I can't believe that I freaked out so epically. I must be the biggest freak if I can't control my emotions like that. Dr. Platt and I have done some good work. Why freak now?
Then again, I catch a glimpse of the cut on my lip, and I remember why I broke down so easily.
My eyes water and I rub at them, frustrated at how easily upset I'm getting. I'm about to storm out of the room when I get bombarded by costumes as they are flung on top of me.
"What the actual fuck?!" I cry, ducking my head against the onslaught.
"Watch your mouth, and try those on! I bet you'll find something good to wear for Riley," Alice answers.
I groan loud enough for Alice to hear, and decide to get the torture with over as quickly as possible. Picking up the first costume I see, I quickly put it on as fast as I can. Turning around to look in the mirror, I see that I'm wearing a blue playboy bunny costume, complete with ears and cufflinks. I turn around in horror to see that a bunny-tail rests innocently on my butt. The corset hugs my figure and although I'm not a voluptuous girl, I feel like I might pull a Janet Jackson in this thing if I so much as breath wrong.
Groaning, I shove the curtain separating the dressing room from the rest of the store away to berate Alice.
"Are you serious? You have got to be kidding me with this sh—" but I don't get to finish my sentence, because standing there with a Batman mask in his hands is Riley McGinty.
Dear Jesus, if you could just open the ground and swallow me whole, I promise to take this vile costume with me to its depths.
Okay, thanks.
But Jesus doesn't hear my prayer, and if he does, then he's the biggest asshole in the world because the ground doesn't magically open up. Instead, Riley turns to see who is making such a fuss and his eyes widen in shock.
"Bella?" he questions, his whole body turned to me now.
Thanks a lot, Jesus.
"Hi, Riley," I giggle nervously, feeling my face heat in embarrassment.
His eyes remain wide and drop down to take in the rest of my attire, or lack thereof. I have never felt more naked in front of a guy, and of course it's Riley McGinty. I'm thinking that the gods of bad luck are just laughing their asses off right at this moment.
"Nice costume," he remarks with a raised eyebrow.
I can't really tell if he's being serious or sarcastic. From the look in his eyes, it's probably more the former. I internally squeal like a little girl while my hands nervously pick at the hem of the costume.
"Uh, thanks but I'm not wearing this," I sputter, gnawing on my lower lip furiously.
He shrugs a shoulder, "Too bad. It looks good on you." He smiles then, and I feel butterflies in my stomach.
I smile tentatively at him, and subtly try to pull the hem down further on my costume. The thing about that is that the more I try to cover my ass, the more my boobs show. It's a lose-lose situation.
"Thanks. Have you seen—" I start.
"I found something perfect!" she shrieks.
"Alice," I state, simultaneously calling her over here and finishing my sentence to Riley.
He chuckles a little. "You know, I think I saw her somewhere," he fakes contemplation and puts a finger to his chin in thought. He winks slyly at me while Alice charges at us, oblivious.
"It's not exactly a costume, but this mask would look divine with that white, Grecian-style dress you own and I think you would be a good goddess," she rants, waving a gold, Venetian mask in front of my face.
"Indeed," answers Riley behind her, his arms crossed in front of his chest in amusement.
Without even flinching, she turns around and smiles exuberantly at him.
"Don't you think the bunny thing is too much? It's a fabulous outfit, of course, but I think she should pull off something more…" she trails off, contemplating her next word.
"Elegant?" he tries.
She nods animatedly. "Yes. Elegant. I like it."
"Hi. I'm still here. The person you're talking about," I wave dramatically at the two of them.
"Well, I'm right, aren't I?" she asks rhetorically. I nod, seeming to agree with her. And knowing Alice, it's just better to bow out when you know you've lost.
A wicked glint caught in Alice's eyes and I was suddenly very terrified for my life.
"So Riley, I hear you're going to the Halloween dance," Alice starts, batting her eyes innocently at him.
Oh shit.
"Oh, uh, yeah. I mean, I don't have a date yet, but yeah I thought I'd go," he starts nervously, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Hmm, that's interesting. Don't you think that's interesting, Bella?" Alice asks rhetorically, although if you didn't know her, you would have thought she was being serious.
"Alice…" I warn.
She ignores me and turns back towards Riley, "Well, I think it's interesting, because you don't have a date and neither does Bella. Weird, right? Anyway, I'm going to go find Jasper. You two should talk."
She scampers off to go find Jasper, but not before I feel heat flare on my face in embarrassment. I slap my hand to my forehead to so hard, it hurts a little. But nothing will hurt compared to what I'll do to that little—
I hear an amused laugh and look up with shame-filled eyes to see Riley laughing at Alice's retreating figure.
"She's not exactly subtle, is she?" he retorts.
I huff out a breath of air and roll my eyes in annoyance. "She's not a lot of things. My friend, for one, at this moment anyway,"
He shoves his hands in his pockets and wears a small grin. "She's not so bad," he muses.
I shake my head and drop my head towards my feet, digging the toe of my sneaker into the ground. I hear Riley clear his throat before he speaks.
"So are you going to the dance, too?" he asks, shifting from foot to foot.
I shrug and try to cover my upper torso subtly, although I'm dying for this conversation to end so I can go put some actual clothes on and maybe find a nice hole to hide in for the rest of my life.
"Well do you have a date?" he pries, and a nervous weight settles in my stomach.
"Um, no. Definitely not," I mutter, edging towards the changing rooms.
He cocks an eyebrow as though he has an obvious question that doesn't need to be asked.
"Well…would you like to go with me?" he finally gets out, making me halt in my quest to change.
I bite my lip and glance back towards the cash register, where Alice and Jasper are waiting for me. Alice looks like she's about to internally combust from excitement, holding on to Jasper's arm for the sake of keeping her still. Jasper, although a wry grin on his face, has a questioning look in his eyes.
"Bella?"
I look back to Riley, to which I now realize I haven't answered him yet.
"Oh! Right, sorry. Yes, I'll go with you," I answer, watching his smile light up his face.
"Excellent. I'll pick you up at your house at seven?" he asks, stashing the Batman mask away and heading towards the entrance.
Panic, the likes of which I haven't felt in a while, floods through me at the thought of him meeting my mom and dad.
And worse, having Tanya see him.
"No!" I shout quickly, aware of the curious glances some of the other patrons give me, probably wondering if my mental faculties are working. Riley looks confused and a little hurt at my sudden outburst and I talk quickly to ease him.
"I mean, I can just meet you there. My house is a total mess and I never really have guests over…" I lie, the words sounding false to my ears, but he buys it. Understanding graces his features and I'm struck again by how pretty his face is.
"Okay, then I'll meet you outside the school? The parking lot maybe?" he hedges, hands in his pockets.
I nod and he gives me a quick goodbye before darting out of the store. Blowing out a breath I didn't realize I was holding, I retreat quickly into the dressing room and all but rip off the offending costume. A small thrill runs through me that I am, in fact, going to a dance. For the first time in a very long time, I feel like a normal girl with normal problems. Like what to wear to this dance, because it sure as hell won't be this stupid thing.
Stupid bunny costume.
After I stuff the costume back into the bag and hang it up, I scour the store to find Alice waving energetically at me at the entrance. I walk over to her when I notice a bag in her hands.
"Did you buy the mask?" I ask, walking with her and Jasper out the door towards the parking lot.
She nods her head and smiles, "I figured this could be an early birthday present from me. Well, part of it at least," she ends with a giggle.
"I could have paid for it," I mutter, a little sullen at the prospect of her buying me crap. It's not like I didn't have the money to pay for it. Then the full extent of what she said hit me.
"Wait, 'part of it'?" I groan, turning to Jasper for support. She just laughs and walks steadfastly on, not even bothered by my hesitancy.
He laughs lightly and pulls me under his comforting arm. "Don't worry. I talked her down from the original present," he whispers in my ear.
"Somehow, that's not comforting," I shoot back sarcastically.
My weekend is spent with me wondering between my date/dance with Riley, and whether or not Edward Cullen is just as crazy as I am. I ponder both options with my butt on the couch and a pint of Ben and Jerry's Chubby Hubby in my lap, as this is the best way to logically formulate a theory in both instances.
And I just love ice cream.
Spoonful by spoonful, I come up with more and more reasons or excuses as to why Riley decides to pay attention to me now, after almost two and a half years of me not even being a blip on his radar. Whatever his reasons, this will make it insanely more difficult for me to stay out of Tanya and her band of merry whores' line of fire. No doubt I will get burned for trying to climb the social ladder with the school's top basketball player.
I wonder how they'll punish me. Is there a protocol for girls going out with guys out of their stations? History and fiction would suggest that being locked in a stockade in a public square would be appropriate, or perhaps embroidering a red letter on all of my clothes. Either way, I know that as soon as those girls learn of my date, I'm as good as flogged.
Deciding that that train of thought is too unpleasant, I switch over to the Cullen problem. Not really a problem, more like a Rubik's cube, shoved into an algorithm and wrapped in a formula. There's no doubt in my mind that he is a little nutso, but then again, that's the pot calling the kettle black.
Running out of ideas, and ice cream, I push my thoughts into a box labeled "do not open before Armageddon" and stash it away into a dark corner of my mind.
Now that it's Monday, I feel a little better, if not a couple pounds heavier. I've come to the conclusion that definitely took way too long to come to. And I think it's something that women all around the world need to realize before it's too late: boys are weird and will never make sense.
Now, I am negotiating with my locker to open its door. In exchange, I have promised to never kick it ever again. Seeing as how we have had many battles over the months, I feel like this is a fair trade.
The tardy bell blasts through the hallway and I'm about to renege and kick the stupid door in when an ominous shadow blocks my light.
"You, stupid bitch," a feminine voice calls behind me. I whip my head around to see Irina Denali glaring daggers into my very soul.
"Um, excuse me?" I ask, incredulous. I have a distinct inkling of what this is about, and why I deserve the slur against my character, but I'll play dumb if it will buy me a few minutes of life.
"You just couldn't leave well enough alone. Nooooo now you have gone out and slept your way to the very top of the social hierarchy," she fumes, her nostrils flaring so hard that I think it will slit her nose into thirds.
While a part of me is mentally clapping at her use of a big word like hierarchy, I'm also starting to calculate my escape options.
"I don't know what you're talking about," I reply coolly, looking left and right in the now-deserted hallway. Of all the possible times for her to confront me, she picked the best time. The halls are empty, and all the doors are closed. Nobody is here to save my ass from this gum-smacker and I wonder if I can outrun this girl.
"You know exactly what I mean," she retorts. "I'm talking about you and Riley McGinty going to the dance together this Friday. I told you to stay away from him. Was I not clear?"
"Perfectly. But he was the one that asked me, not I him. He approached me," I emphasize, pressing my back into the locker door.
She rolls her eyes and smiles derisively. "Please. Why would he ask you?"
The tone in her voice clearly indicates that she thinks I am delusional, which angers me to no end, but it also makes me very nervous. I can feel my heart pounding and my palms start to get slick with sweat.
Breathe. Just breathe. She'll go away, she won't hurt you.
"He must have good taste. It must kill you to know that he would rather go with a nobody like me than a skank like you," I snap in what I think is an angry voice, but it comes out small and scared. Irina smells my fear and pounces on it.
"I'd watch it if I were you," she snarls. "Wouldn't want you to have another incident and be permanently removed from this school, would you? It's not like we don't know you're hiding underneath those ridiculous clothes. He's leagues above you, and you're nothing but a worthless, stupid slu—"
"Damn, where's the popcorn when I need it?" a voice questions amusedly.
Both of our heads snap to the source to find, of all the lousy people, Edward leaning casually against the locker two down from mine.
While I outwardly breathe a sigh of relief, I'm left reeling from his presence. I know this hallway was empty. There's no way that he could have crept up that close without one of us hearing him approach. You just can't tiptoe in heavy biker boots like the ones that decorate his feet right now.
Irina visibly straightens and takes a couple steps away from me. I press my lips into a line and narrow my eyes at his presence.
What does he think he's doing?
"We were just talking, right Bella?" Irina says, giving Edward a simpering stare which makes me vomit.
"Looked like a very interesting conversation," he flirts, smirking that stupid half-smile at her, making Irina giggle. I think he even winks at her. I swallow down another wave of nausea and push off the locker, my back sore where my skin dug into the metal.
"Well as much fun as this chat has been, Irina, I think I'll be going to class now," I state, giving up on my locker door and just heading to class. Mrs. Delta can just deal with me not bringing my book to class.
Irina looks over to me, a little of that anger still in her eyes. "I'll see you later, Bella," she says, although it sounds like a warning.
Edward smiles a little wider at Irina, "A pleasure, Ms. Denali," he coos, his voice like cool water over a hot burn. She giggles again and I frown in disgust.
I stomp past Edward when I feel him turn behind me and follow me to the staircase. I start to ignore him, stomping determinedly down the stairs at a brisk pace.
"I must say I thought you to be a little more fiery than what you showed her," he comments, keeping up with me easily.
I grit my teeth and think of pleasant thoughts so as not to give this kid the time of day.
Pupppies. Rainbows. Edward Cullen's head in a vice grip—
"I mean, when I offer you a simple ride as a gesture of friendliness, you all but snap my head off. But when such a cow like Irina Denali comes charging at you, you all but cower at her," he continues, unaffected by my silence.
"I don't know what you're talking about. I don't know how long you were standing there, but I wasn't cowering."
He continues on like he doesn't hear me. "I mean, it's not like if it came to a physical fight, that she would have the upper hand. What she has in height you make up for in muscle. But that's beside the point, because she would never want to mess up her hair or face or whatever. Although, I'm not sure how she could mess her face up any more than it already—"
"What do you want?" I snap, turning around abruptly and almost running into him. I am secretly amused that he called Irina a cow, but I don't want him to know that.
He looks affronted for a split second, before returning his cocky stare
"Ah, there's that temper of yours. Don't get me wrong, it's very attractive, but I wouldn't expect it out of a girl who looked like she was trying to disappear into her locker five minutes ago."
I narrow my eyes and roll my shoulders back, trying to look as intimidating as I can. But I hate the fact that he is dead on. I was trying to disappear. I didn't like Irina's reaction to me being Riley's date to the dance.
I see his eyes zero in on my lips, and his eyes grow cold.
"What happened to your lip?" he questions.
I bite it on instinct, and instantly wince at the slight pain. It's raised where the cut has healed, but he sees my expression.
"What. Happened?" he repeats, lowering his voice dangerously.
I'm a little startled by his tone. It doesn't scare me, but it does disorient me. He just went from playful to anger in 2.5 seconds.
"Nothing. Nothing happened," I lie instantly, but he sees it.
"That's bullshit."
"No it's not."
"Isabella…" he warns.
"Edward…" I counter sarcastically. I'm trying to deflect this conversation for however long I can think of a plan to run away. So far, my options include screaming or flashing him, confusing him just long enough to run the other direction.
That last one wouldn't be a bad idea per se…
"Fine. Don't tell me," he answers, his voice curt. I abandon any thoughts of streaking and go back to just being annoyed by his presence.
"Why do you care? And why are you following me down here? Are you stalking me?" I ask in rapid fire, thinking he'll say something derisive if I pause long enough.
And just like that, the anger is gone, replaced with wickedness again.
"Why? Do you enjoy it?" he asks, stepping closer to me. My back is against the railing on the stairs, and he can see that I'm cornered.
"No," I spit. "I'm concerned for my well-being."
His eyes light in amusement at my reaction and they rake down my figure, making me blush furiously. "Mmm, yes, very attractive…but also arrogant," he states, walking past me on the stairs and to the left, towards the music class.
"This happens to be my next class. Good day, Ms. Swan." Without so much as a backwards glance, he enters the room and shuts the door.
At some point, I realize my mouth is open in astonishment, and also embarrassment. I quickly snap my mouth shut and scurry towards my class, red-faced and apologizing to Ms. Delta for being late. A few snickers from the class at my flustered appearance enter my subconscious, but I can't bring myself to care. Ms. Delta continues with her boring lecture and I immediately drift off into my own world.
I'm a little puzzled over Edward's weird behavior. It's obvious he has some sort of contempt for everyone in this school, but he acts like he is everyone's best friend. What's his deal? I bet if he tried hard enough, he would be the most popular boy in school. Instead, he just sort of hangs on the outside of the circle, never really settling into one place.
And probably the most infuriating part of all, I cannot ignore the way I react to his appearance. My god, it's not for lack of trying but it's like he has some weird…pull on me. I almost feel guilty, for getting so worked up about Edward, mainly because it feels like I'm cheating on Riley. It's ridiculous, since we aren't dating, but when has Riley asking me out to a public venue a non-crazy idea?
My god, you thought stripping naked to run away from Edward was a good idea. What part of you isn't crazy?
The shrill bell clangs loudly and I'm startled out of my thoughts. Did I just think about boys this whole class period?
I get out of my seat as fast as I can; only slightly acknowledging Ms. Delta when she tells me to be more prepared next time.
Oh Ms. Delta, you have no idea…
My day passes by without incident, although I do get a glimpse of Riley, who smiles and waves at me from his locker. Smiling tentatively, I wave back and head towards the parking lot.
It's only when I'm in the car that I'm painfully aware of the fact that Tanya's best friend has just basically assaulted me in the hallway. And that Tanya knows about it.
"I heard you've had a very busy social life nowadays," Tanya starts, making me jump in my seat a little.
Oh god, here it comes.
I just shrug my shoulders and try to use pure will to make this car go faster.
"Just know, you don't deserve his time. He's just bored and sees you as an amusement," she says rather bluntly, with no hint of malice in her voice, just simple, matter-of-fact.
"Whatever you say, Tanya," I reply, really not in the mood to deal with her today.
"I'm trying to help you here, Bella. I'm warning you against guys like him. He's using you," she continues, not troubled by my response.
A sick feeling falls into the pit of my stomach as I process her words. Use me. She thinks Riley is using me for…what? A joke? No doubt she hints at my feelings of inadequacy when I think of him, and is playing at my emotions.
"You're cruel," I whisper, angry that a tear rolls down my face. I quickly wipe at it, hoping she doesn't notice.
I hear a scoff, so I know she saw it. "Oh god, don't cry about it. Life is cruel, Bella. The sooner you wake up and realize it, the better," she says this with venom coating her words. Her fingers grip the steering wheel tighter and her jaw sets into a hard angle. Not wanting to continue this conversation, I ignore her for the rest of the ride home.
We walk into the front door with the living room, blissfully, empty. I may be imagining things, but I think I hear Tanya sigh in relief. I don't have long to wonder, as she brushes past me and slams the door shut to her room.
Oh well, I don't really feel like spending time with her either.
Jane is at ballet, I know, and I smell the faint aroma of a German chocolate cake. I follow my nose to the source, to find it sitting in a beautiful dish with a note beside it.
Querida,
I am seeing niña at ballet. Do homework. Don't eat cake.
Carmen
Sighing at the luck that I have to put off having delicious cake, I settle for an apple and rush to my room to finish my homework.
After about two hours of staring at system of equations and toying with the notion that I should just strip for a living, I hear the door slam shut and the heavy footsteps of my father.
I lick the cut on my lip instinctively, reminding me of Edward's comment. Nobody but him asked about it, not even Alice. This realization hurts a little. Like the only person who would ask is basically a stranger. A mentally disturbed stranger.
A soft knock echoes through my room, but I don't even have enough time to give my consent when he enters.
"Isabella," he greets, nodding his head.
"Charles," I answer, just as formally.
He stands a little awkwardly, straightening out the sleeves of his jacket in nervousness.
If I wasn't so anxious I would have found it comical.
"Is there something you needed?" I ask, wanting him to say what he has to say then get out.
He takes a big breath and sets his mouth in a grim line. "I just wanted to apologize about…the other night." He clears his throat awkwardly, and I lick my lips again.
"I realize that I grossly overreacted and I didn't mean to hurt you," he says, his gaze leaving mine to focus on his shiny, Italian loafers.
"It's okay, Charlie," I whisper, mentally pushing him out my door. I know that he is sorry, but for now, I just want to be alone.
He nods, satisfied with my answer. "Goodnight, Bella."
A broken gasp leaves my lips as he exits my room, leaving me in total silence. Figuring that it was late enough, I switched off my lamp and got ready for bed.
I crawl in, mentally exhausted. But before I fall asleep, I whisper into the silence.
"Goodnight, Dad."
Um…holy crap you guys. I saw that there are over 100 people reading this. You guys actually like this shit? I'm so pumped!
Shout-out to my first (and only) review from anonymous reader J. You rock and shit.