So what do you guys think thus far?

I can't say I knew what was on the radio, seeing as I didn't really get to listen to music that often, but I doubted I would forget that first outing with my girlfriends. It was a whirlwind of noise; turns out none of us are particularly musically inclined, but that didn't stop us from trying. I found myself giggling after I attempted to sing, and at the devious look on Olivia's face when she, and finally Casey, left Alex to sing all by her lonesome self. We caught Alex's unamused eyes in the mirror, which only made us laugh harder, and after a moment Alex joined in unable to ignore our pure joy of the situation. By the time we got to Alex's well-groomed, pristine white house my sides hurt- I hadn't laughed like that in a while.

Olivia and I got out of the backseat by sliding across the seat cover, and I couldn't stifle the wow that came out of my mouth. Looking over at Alex sheepishly, she just smiled. "It's a little much I know, but it comes with the territory. My Dad invested well I guess. Let's go inside." After we were inside, Alex lead us to her kitchen, and while I felt a bit uncomfortable, it didn't last long. "Aleex, I see you brought some friends home. Would you like a snack?" This came from one of the sweetest people I had ever met, Mrs. Fulton was a sixty year old woman, who baked like a twenty year old, and had one of the loveliest voices I had ever heard. "Ah Casey, it's so good to see you, and Olivia your eyes are as beautiful as always." She said this and gave them each a hug in turn, turning to me with a hug she said, "I don't believe I've met you before. I'm Mrs. Fulton, but everybody calls me Mrs. Sara." Momentarily stunned I pause for a moment. "Name's Amanda ma'am." "Amanda, well it's very nice to meet you." Her smile is infectious. "I've put cut up veggies on the bar, there is lemonade in the refrigerator. Enjoy yourselves girls, don't study too hard." With a wave, she is out the door.

We sort of hover as Alex pulls the food Sara left us out of the refrigerator, and my tummy rumbles; after all, I hadn't eaten lunch. "Well Amanda's hungry at least" after that, we are back to giggling, and I wonder if we're actually going to do work. "Imagine, death by giggling" I say, which only promotes our hysteria."Cause of death, amusement.""Seriously guys" Olivia says, standing up with her hand to her side, "we need to do some homework." Grabbing a carrot stick, I head over to the table with Alex, and we take out our notes for the day. "I uh, my notes aren't the best" I say showing them to her with a frown. "Then I guess it's good I took good notes then, eh?" she says this with a wink, and I let out a sigh of relief, perhaps this would be a group project where I didn't have to do everything. That was a relief.

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For a few hours, the only sounds that can be heard are those of quiet chatter pertaining to the group assignments at hand, and the sounds of the clock ching, ching, chinging every fifteen minutes."No matter how long I am over here" Casey says while she stretches long and lean like a giraffe, "I never get used to that. How'd you do it Alex?" Alex just turns to us with a smile brushing her long blonde hair behind her ear, "it's just part of the scenery." "We got so much done tonight" Olivia says stretching as well, attempting to stuff about eighty papers in one folder. "Ah Olivia" I say with amusement, "you need help with that?" "No"she says as half of the papers hits the ground around her, floating lightly, "Well, I thought I had it." Smiling, I pick some of the pieces that had drifted over to me, up. Closing the gap between us, I follow the papers. "Here, let me..." I pause, Olivia's shirt sleeve has drifted up, and I can see a purple and blue mark that looks to be in the shape of a hand print - I knew it. "What were you saying Amanda?" she asks me, her eyes amused at her clumsiness, or maybe it's my face. Forcing myself to smile, I hand her the papers "You need a bigger folder." I have a feeling my smile doesn't reach my eyes, but fortunately for me, she doesn't really know me too well quite yet, so that doesn't register on her radar.

Piling back into Alex's car, I am quiet. The others are talking, and I occasionally give imput, but not like before. If the others notice, they don't say much. I keep catching Alex's eyes in the mirror, and I notice that Olivia is giving me looks as well. Maybe I will ask her tomorrow, if I have the nerve to that is. I don't know what I could do, depending on her situation, we maybe in the same boat. Two is better than one, maybe. The first person we drop off is Casey. She lives in a modest little house with rose bushes,"I like your flowers" I call to her, but I don't think she hears me, or the other shouts of "Bye" from Olivia and Alex as she goes inside with a little wave.

Olivia's place is next, it's a grey apartment building, with unhappy looking doors. It's close to the road that leads to my house, and the train tracks I will be crossing every day until I graduate. I pause for a moment, "Hey Alex, let me out. I can walk, I really don't want to give you trouble."She gives me a look, "where's your house Amanda?" I point to the road and wave at Olivia as she closes the metal door. "Really, I don't want you to be late getting home." I hadn't thought this far into the future, what if Mamma's there? What if Kim's there? What if she has one of her latest boy toys parading around? As we near my driveway, I smile and ask Alex to stop just short. "I don't want to wake my Mum up you know. Long hours at the grocery store." She doesn't know it's a lie, and I intend to keep it that way. With a smile and a wave she is off, and I let out the deep breath I was holding. Nearing the house, I can hear the shouting. The good day I just had is forgotten in the back of my mind. "Fuck this." I find myself saying aloud, Not going to let them ruin another day.

I can't bring myself to go inside the house, the door is a peeling paint of a force field. I shiver. I need to find somewhere to stay for a while, maybe the 24hour diner close to Olivia's apartment house. I hear something crash, and before I can lose my nerve, I pull my jacket around me, and head to town. It's going to be a long night.