I wake up with my eyes puffy and red. The wall is so empty without Carlos smiling at me from that poster. My breath catches as yet another painful sob threatens to surface.

I control myself and get out of bed. It's a murky start to a murky day. I can't stand to talk to Mom right now so I just grab my lunch on the way out and leave her calling my name as I shut the front door with a loud bang behind me as I leave for school.

I drag my feet through out the day. Nothing Kathy does can lift my spirits. I try to explain to her but chance my mind. She'll just agree with my mother. Classes last to long. I skip the last two. Nothing even matters anymore.

I go for a walk in the park. Kids are playing all around me as I stroll with my iPod blasting Big Time Rush - of course - in my ears. Kathy calls. I reject her call and text her that I'm OK and just need a bit of time alone. She's not happy but backs off.

The Sun makes my hair glow as I sit on a bench. Tears stream down my face. I never would have imagined that my mother's distrust in my words would hurt this much. Through my blurry vision I see a little girl come sit by my side.

- What's wrong? she asks me.

- Nothing..

- Then why are you crying?

Her worry soothes me. I reach up and caress her blonde curls and give her the faintest of smile through my tears.

- It's nothing, really. It will pass.

- Take your hand off of my child! A lady screams at me, her voice in full panic mode.

- I didn't do anything..I defend myself putting my hands up as if she would be pointing a gun at me.

- Mommy, she's upset..the little girl says as her mother grabs her upper arm and pulls her off the bench. I can not believe how this woman is over-reacting.

- HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU TO STOP TALKING TO STRANGERS!? the woman yells at her daughter shaking her by the arm - hard! I feel like I should take the girl's side - she just wanted to help me - but I realize the woman is right. I'm just a lonely, hurt, teenager, but..A shiver runs down my spine thinking of the possibilities.

I slowly get up and go to the woman shouting at her daughter. The little one is crying now, shaken by her mother's reaction. The woman looks at me trying to tell me not to get close, but her daughter's tears make my feet move forward. I lean down on my own legs to be at the girls eye level.

- Sweet heart, you mommy is right to tell you not to talk to strangers.

- But..you were crying..

- And now you are.

The little girl looks at me with wonder.

- Listen, sweetie. Some people are bad. You have no way of telling to good people from the bad people. You have to listen to your mommy - she knows what's best.

As I say those words I feel my barely-there calm begin to crumble.

- Bad people don't cry.

- Everybody cries, angel.

- Listen to her. The mother snaps behind me. I can hear it in her voice - she's said the same thing to her daughter over and over.

I look up at the woman. Her fear has now gone. She just looks tired. Very very tired. I'm half sorry for her.

- But, mommy..

- No more "but"s out of you! We are going home and no more strolls in the park for the rest of the week! The woman screams anew as she drags her daughter away.

I get up slowly. Tears run down my face again. It's now time to go home. I put my headphones back in my ears and allow Big Time Rush's music to wash over me as I walk home.

My phone vibrates in my pocket. I get it out. Kathy sent me a text to ask if I'm ok. I reply a simple "yes". As I hit "send" my phone vibrates again. I roll my eyes thinking Kathy sent another text. I open it full of anger and realize that those aren't her words.

How's your day? Want to see a movie again tonight?..Syd and I are lonely and missing you.

I read it again. And again. And again. Tears suddenly stop falling. A smile tugs at my lips and before I can control myself I jump up with happiness. In the middle of the sidewalk with people looking at me like I am insane. Who cares?! I kiss my phone twirling around in full bliss.

- YES! I shout before I can control it.

I quickly type my reply and press send as soon as I'm done.

My day is much better now, thank you ;) Movie sounds amazing. Your choice. Just make it bloody. I've had a blood-filled-movie-worthy kind of day..PS: Mimi and I have been missing you too.

I'm almost flying all the way home. Literally walking on clouds. I stroll through the front door, say a very happy and general "hello", ignoring my brother and not even acknowledging my mother and lock myself in my room.

- MEOW! Mimi sounds very upset outside my door.

I giggle and let her in.

- Sorry, you little devil! I pick her up as she strolls in with her tail in the air. She starts purring instantly and muzzles into my neck wanting affection. I indulge her, like I always do. She has me totally wrapped around her little paws.

Sitting down on my bed I place Mimi on my lap and grab that lime horror of a laptop. While it boots up Mimi decides she'd like to bite on my finger nails. I can't begin to get upset with my little monkey of a kitten, she always makes me laugh so hard. I forget my laptop for a while and play with my baby.

We're distracted when my phone vibrates. I have another text.

Gonna be online in about 20 minutes. Got the movie all picked out. Hope you won't have bad dreams after this :)

"Wow! Carlos is sending me a devil icon? What's he got planned for tonight?" I think looking at my new message. I'm really starting to get scared.."Hmm..20 minutes..that gives me time to grab a bag of popcorn and my soda for the movie" I giggle to myself, getting up to get my supplies, like a good little squirrel.

Mom stops me on my way to the microwave.

- Ree, what are you doing?

- Popcorn.

- Dinner is ready.

- Not hungry. Gonna watch a movie. Need popcorn. I pressing "start" on the microwave.

- Ree, don't be like this? You know it's for you own good..

- What's for my own good, Mom? Your distrust in me? Or making me cry myself to sleep? Or maybe the fact that I am not able to focus on anything even at school because my own mother thinks I'm so fucked up that I've lost track of what's real and what's fantasy? I say not even raising my voice.

- Ree! Watch your tongue! Mom raises her voice at me.

- No, Mom - you watch yours. You hurt me so much last night. My poster is down. It will stay down. But I will not share a table with you for anything in the world. I am going to see a movie. That's the end of it…At least until you realize just how mistaken you are. I say in my most calm voice just as a small "ping" comes from behind me. I slowly turn and take out the hot paper bag, grab a bowl from the cupboard and a soda from the fridge.

All the time Mom is watching me wide-eyed. She's stunned. I walk past her and slam the door to my room, locking it. Mimi looks up at me - I've woken her up.

- Meow!

- Sorry-sorry! I say as I dump the popcorn in the bowl.

Soon enough I'm snugged happily in my pink PJs, in bed, with my laptop on my knees, logging in to Skype, waiting for that random string of letters and numbers to lit up and say "online".