Slowly seeping into denial
"My world is slowly escaping me, it was without notice but it is leaving me none the less," I mumbled.
I waited... Then nothing.
I felt my eyes roll when I didn't get a reply after some time and finally turned to a bored Farkle reading on his bed. "This is where you give me some advice, oh great one,"
"You think Smackle is avoiding me again," he asked completely ignoring the prior conversation.
Obviously
"She hates you," I said easily, he finally looked at me for the first time that evening, and I could tell he was... Hurt?
" ... But she'll eventually get over it," I added quickly.
Like always
This was the truth, for no matter how evil his acts were, like a gullible moth to a despicable flame she will return.
"As if i'd ever admit that,"
"What?"
"Nothing"
_
I felt like all their eyes were glued on to me, as I slowly trekked down the hall too lazy to keep up my usual facade. I glared at the assaulting gazes of confused classmates before turning my attention to the voice approaching me from behind.
"You look awful," Smackle said matter of factually.
"Thanks," I breathed.
"So please tell me you're one of the few who knows where Maya is,"
"Sorry," I mumbled, she gaped at me a little before composing herself.
"You're joking right?"
"Do I look like the type to joke?"
With that she halted her movements, grasping my arm in the process. I turned to look at her and she sighed.
"What did she do?"
"Nothin-"
"Look I've stalked you for three years now don't lie to me,"
I rolled my eyes at her persistence before ripping my arm from out of her hold.
"Look I know you're worried, but me not so much"
"Why?"
"Because... I give up,"
_
"Riley, we're worried," dad began, it was an obvious intervention. Mom was anxiously gripping the couch , while August played with the hem of his shirt.
great...
I sighed, it was an exasperated breath that seemed to alert my family even more.
"I'm fine,"
"Riley, you are not fine, you don't even- you barley even smile anymore,"
I turned my attention to mom before shrugging, "so?"
The night air was clean, and the gentle hues of the darkening sky was putting my throbbing mind at ease. Smackle wasn't able to attend our usual meeting spot, at times like these. She was...busy.
I inhaled deeply allowing my posture to worsen as I slumped further down on the bench. Looking up at the sky once again I blinked up at the night sky admiring the newly emerging stars.
"Skittles?"
I jumped up from my earlier position and turned around to the offending disturbance. I quirked an eyebrow at him before turning back around in my seat, a silent invitation to sit which he gladly took.
"How did you find me?"
"Its a public park," he stated before popping something in his mouth. I looked down in his hand to see a bag of brightly coloured candy.
"Yes,"
"What?"
"Yes I would like some skittles,"
He smirked at me before throwing out a few in my hand. I look at them before downing the handful in one go.
"So..?"
"Its sweet,"
"No, not the- I meant why are you out hear alone?"
"Oh, I'm grounded," I answered quietly.
"Then, why are you-?"
"I snuck out,"
He rolled his eyes at my abrupt answers before gesturing to me to continue the explanation.
I looked at him warily before biting my lower lip.
What was this?... vulnerability?
I shot my eyes and then released a shaky breath.
"Hey you don't have to-"
I raised my hand to indicate he should stop talking, for once he listened.
"My world is slowly escaping me, it was without notice but it is leaving me none the less-