The desk was cold, and when I set my cheek against it to doze off a little during first period, it didn't aid me in staying awake. When I get cold, I get tired and fall asleep just like that. Probably why I have to keep my room cold when I want to go to sleep at night.

Scott was in the desk next to mine, like he was in almost every class we had together. Even with my eyes not fully open, I could tell he kept sneaking glances at me. His eyes were a bit weird looking today. Or maybe they were everyday. Or maybe it's because of my lack of sleep. It may just be a weird half-dream state that I'm in.

As the class drew on, nothing much happened. Like usual, there was a ten minute video that we got to watch towards the end. It was about what we were learning about, probably the Holocaust. We were reading this book, Diary of a Young Girl, and it was pretty much Anne Frank's diary.

Great read, honestly, and it sparked something inside me. We have it so good here in America. We can all be whatever we want to be. We can be Jewish, no religion, Christian, Atheist, Buddhist, Hinduistic... If that's a word. I know that's a religion, though. And same with jobs. We can do any sort of job we want, as long as it is within certain guidelines.

A tap on my shoulder tore me from my thoughts. "Jessica, you have to wake up." It was Scott, and he was barely whispering. The movie was almost over. I could hear the clock ticking as seconds passed.

Slowly, I swatted his hand away and rested my forehead on my arm. "No, gimme... Ten more minutes..."

Another few taps on my shoulder, then a whole hand was placed there. "Jessica. Wake up."

Oh shoot. Teacher. "I'm not sleeping, I swear, I'm just resting my eyes-"

"Get your head off the table and look forward. Please." Her voice sounded impatient, as it should have.

Wait a second... I'm in first period trig. Why the heck was I thinking about what we're reading in English class?

Seconds later, the bell rang loudly. Scott instantly shot up out of his seat to grab his stuff, then looked over at me. "You coming?" It was like he made a point to talk to me, or make rude comments every so often.

I nodded, lifting my big math textbook in my arms, along with my folder. "Yeah. Can we stop by my locker real fast, though? I am not bringing this dang book to Astronomy again." When he nodded, we made our way out of the classroom and to my locker. I stuffed the book into the back of my locker, then grabbed a new notebook from the side hanging pocket.

"Okay, done here. Now to Astronomy." The class I hate to love and love to hate. Learning 'bout space and planets and stars and the universe. How thrilling. Learning about all the things humans don't know about on a normal bases. All the possible ways the world could end and the human race would cease to exist.

Scott gave me an odd look. "It's just a fragging class, Jessica." He rolled his eyes after his statement.

Just a- wait. Fragging. What the heck is that..? "Nice language." Whatever it is, it's not probably a polite word. At least I try to refrain from cussing.

As if he tried to ignore what I said, he turned away and waved his hand. "Whatever. Come on, or we'll be late. And if we are, I'm going to blame you."

Someone would totally be on their period if they were a girl. Just saying. His emotions and just the way he acts today has been very strange.

I whistled as I got my tray for lunch. The meal was like a buffet here. You had three main options, six side dishes to choose from, a salad bar for extra, and then a buffet table for after. At the end of each group of food was a lunch lady. You swipe your card, then move on. Pretty swift. I'm still shocked my old school didn't have things like this.

The smell of freshly baked brownies and chocolate chip cookies wafted into my nose, making me almost have to close my eyes. It smelled so good. Taking deep breaths was amazing in there.

"Hey! Stop holding up the line!"

"Oh, sorry." I quickly got out of the way and made my way over to the salad bar. The brownies had nuts in them anyway. Can't eat almonds. And the cookies were chocolate chip. I'm on a diet, see, so that isn't exactly a good idea.

Scott bumped into my as I was headed over to my table. Why he does that on purpose every single dang day, I'll never know. "Watch it, blondie." Same old annoying voice of his. Such a nice tone.

Oh, how I humor myself sometimes. I'm so funny. In my own mind. Only in my mind, apparently. I laugh at myself internally. I'm just hilarious. Right?! "You're just a nice person, aren't you?"

"Is that sarcasm?"

"Is the sky blue?" I retorted.

He paused for the longest time, in which time I walked over to my normal booth and took a seat. After pulling out my phone charger, I plugged it into the outlet under the booth -do the teachers really think that the placement of a outlet will fool us? Really? Are we that stupid? I'll have to say yes, unfortunately- and started to charge my phone.

Just like he always did, Scott slid into the seat across from me and set his tray down. He eyed my tray of food. "That's not a lot."

"It doesn't take much for me to get full." That was sort of a lie. It took a little bit more to get me full, more than what was on my tray at least, but as if I was going to tell him that. "Salad and milk is fine."

"Don't you need protein and such?"

Why would he care? "Yeah, but I can get protein from beans," I shrugged.

"You can get it easier from meat, like the chicken sandwich they're serving," he said, smirking.

As if I didn't know that. "I'm vegetarian." Did it really take him that long to realize this?

He frowned, looking confused. "Vegetarian...?" Slowly, his eyes flickered, then he nodded.

What. The. Heck. Is. Up. With. His. Eyes.

After I grabbed my school bad, I slung it over my shoulder and headed out the door. The school bus was waiting for me, all aglow in bright yellow. And ugly bright yellow, I might add. And right in front of it-

Wasn't that Will and Ron's truck?

"Jessica!" I could hear Uncle Will's voice calling my name. "Come on!" As I looked, I could see he was standing next to the building, waving me over.

It took me a few seconds to focus on what exactly was happening. They never come to get me. In all the five days I've been going to school, they never try to come get me. Holy crap. This was like heaven. No riding the bus today! I might as well have won the lottery.

Happily, I ran over to the truck and flung my bag through the window and into the back seat. Luckily the window was open. I'm not sure they'd be excited about me breaking the window just to put my bag inside.

Will chuckled as he got in the front seat. I got in shotgun, and buckled up as he adjusted the radio. It had been on some old country station. He hates old country. Go figure. Ron probably drove the truck before he did.

"So, why did you come pick me up?" I asked, leaning back in my seat after he settled for an 80s rock and roll station.

He looked over at me, then focused on the road. "Aw, can't I just want to come get my niece from school every once and a while?" he teased, trying to sound sad.

I laughed. "Uncle Will, you haven't done this before."

"You've only been at this school a week!"

"... True."

Wow, this conversation went all the way to Timbuktu and back to Washington.

"Anyway. Sarah wanted to try this new hairstyle on you. Since her hair isn't exactly easy to manage, and you have.. Nice hair..."

"Thanks...?"

"Yeah, I think that's what she said to tell you."

My uncle. Such a joker. I could have gotten my joking side from Dad's side of the family.

And just like that, a wave of depression hit me. Dad isn't here anymore. And he never will be again.

This will be a long night...