An unforeseen problem has come up.

This was rare since I had a whole year to learn the ways of the loner. Of course there were problems at first, but those experiences had helped in preventing any of them from occurring again.

Up until now my new school year had looked pretty good, but all good things must come from an end. I know that better than anybody. But still, I never expected things to go so wrong. Every now and then I get the feeling that I was a real dick in a past life, since karma really loved to ride my ass.

I can't help but feel pissed. A whole year of learning had just gone down the drain.

My lessons weren't as simple as I thought.

It turns out that being alone in school actually had steps to it. First you would start with mastering the morning, then move on to lunch, and lastly the final bell.

Mornings were tricky. I had to leave my house early – still do – and I would head straight for school at first. However, doing this was not a good idea. If I got there too early, then I would be sitting at my desk for a long time and risk someone walking up to me and start talking. So I did the opposite.

I would walk around for a while and then come to school as late as I could without being late. This solved the problem of sitting in a classroom full of chatty people, but it also caused most of the people in the classroom to turn their attention on me for being so late.

Now I arrive at my class at exactly seven minutes before the bell rings. This gives me enough time to settle in my desk while other people are talking, get my notebook out along with pencils and stuff, and if an old friend looked my way, I could just pretend to be looking for something in my backpack.

Of course, now I don't have to worry about old friends trying to talk to me since they appear to have given up.

This worked for my first year in high school, but today my process was challenged. I even looked at the clock in the hallway to make sure that I was right on time and it looked like I was.

So why was she standing outside of my classroom talking with a couple of girls?

She and I had different classes, so why was she here?

Well, not like I can't be late for my first class.

She still hadn't noticed me so I skillfully hid my presence and headed for the one place where anyone could hide in school.

The restrooms.

I heard some of the hardcore loners would eat their lunch there but it would be incredibly arrogant of me to put myself in their level. Maybe some day...

The clock marked that class started in just six minutes so the restrooms should be empty and I could stay there until after I heard the bell.


Exactly two minutes after the bell rang I was making my way back to my classroom. It was a bit pathetic how I went out of my way to avoid her, but I couldn't help it. There was something about her that triggered my flight-or-fight response, and I wasn't about to box her.

As I turned to the small hallway where my first class was, my legs stopped moving and I had to keep myself from groaning when I saw that she was still there, standing against a wall all alone.

With no other people in the hallway to drown out my footsteps, she noticed me without problem.

"You're still late for classes," she giggled with a smile. "Still a lazy bum I see?" She added playfully.

"What are you doing here?"

If my tone carried any of the dread I was feeling, it didn't appear to affect her.

"I'm sorry I had to run yesterday, but I really meant that I wanted us to hang out more. It feels like it's been forever," she walked to my side and punched my shoulder lightly. "I want my best buddy back."

It only took you a year to want your best buddy back? Sorry, but I'm not buying it. She has to have an ulterior motive for this. Maybe the clown with silver hair is not paying enough attention and she is trying to make him jealous. Yeah, that has to be it, why else would she suddenly start asking about me?

"I'm a lot busier than I was before."

Not a lie.

"With school and stuff to do at home, I don't have a lot of free time."

"Come on Sora, that doesn't mean we can't hang out on the weekends or something."

Why was she so freaking stubborn? Granted, I'm not outright saying 'no' but this is getting ridiculous. Now I remember that she really can't take a hint or read the mood. It was both a curse and a gift since she never realized my feelings for her back then.

Taking that into consideration I decided to cut my loses and give in, that way she would leave sooner and give me time to think of a way out, ""If I'm not doing anything, I'll call you or something."

"Great," she smiled and ripped a small piece of paper from the notebook she was holding at her side. "I have to go to class so here's my number. Call me when you get the chance so I can add you to my contacts."

Shit. I thought for sure that she wouldn't give me her number thinking that I already had it.

"I'll see you later Sora," she waved.

I waved back weakly and watched her leave. Once she was out of sight, I leaned against the wall and let out a sigh.

That was a confrontation narrowly avoided.

Dealing with her through texts should make it a lot easier to make up excuses. The first thing I needed to do was send her a message so she would get my number, otherwise she might confront me personally again.

I have no intention of being her friend again, so I need to work twice as hard to avoid her. I doubt she would wait outside my classroom again, but I need to prepare in case she ever does it again.

Just thinking about it is giving me a headache.

To think it was just the beginning of the day...and I had to deal with the blond bitch after school.

Great.


"Today we have our first anonymous request," Aqua announced in an overly excited voice. How she managed to do that after a day of school was beyond me.

Both Namine and I remained silent as the student teacher went on.

"These should require advice more than anything, and you two are going to write back anonymously. I will check both of your suggestions first to make sure you two are taking this seriously."

With that said, Aqua left the envelope on the table in the middle of the room and left.

I looked at the lone envelope from my seat but noticed that Namine was looking at me, with a fiery gaze at that.

Since we were both sitting on opposite ends of the room, and we had to get up to get the envelope, I had a good idea of what she was trying to get me to do.

Well, screw you, I'm tired and am not getting up to get the envelope.

Namine clicked her tongue and went over to the table.

"What's it say?"

She smirked, placed the paper back on the envelope and took out a paper to write on.

Damn it, of course she would make me get up anyway, I would have done the same.

With a sigh I got up and took out the paper.

"My friend and I had a fight. I'm trying to make things go back to normal but I can tell he doesn't. How can I make up with him?"

Hey, this is a lot easier than I thought, there's an answer in my mind already.


"Absolutely not," Aqua argued with my paper crumpled on her tight fist.

"What's wrong with my answer?"

"You're not taking it seriously! I told you to find a solution to the problem."

She slammed my paper on the desk for emphasis, giving me the chance to read it over again.

"Your friendship is most likely dead. Bury it in peace."

"I see no problem with it."

Aqua ran a hand through her hair in exasperation.

"Just write some stupid answer," Namine joined in. From the way she was sitting with her arms crossed and fingers drumming on the side of her arm I could tell that she was getting impatient. "She won't let me go home otherwise."

"Fine."

I took out another piece of paper, wrote something down on it, and handed it to Aqua who quickly began to read it.

Hey, what happened to the whole 'anonymous' thing?

"If you feel your friendship is really important, then swallow your pride and apologize for fighting," Aqua read with a pensive look before smiling in satisfaction, "See, you can write good advice if you put your mind to it."

"I thought they were supposed to be anonymous," Namine stated.

"Oh," Aqua appeared sheepish but quickly gathered herself and cleared her throat, "They're anonymous to the people you're sending the letters to. How else am I supposed to know that you two are taking this seriously?"

Just so you know, it's in incredibly bad taste to change the rules when you don't like them.

"Anyway, the two of you can go home now while I drop off these two letters."

"Drop them off where?" Namine asked.

Aqua smiled proudly, "We have our very own bin at the teacher's lounge. Students drop their letters there and no one else is allowed to read them except for us."

I was already at the door when she finished.

"Don't forget to come tomorrow!"

How could I? Besides, tomorrow is one of those days when I have to stay away from the house for a while.

This was very bothersome in the beginning since I had nothing to do and would aimlessly walk through town, but nowadays I would go to a library or a fast food joint with internet access.

Now, I don't think of myself as a special little snowflake, but was I the only person who would get paranoid when going somewhere out in public all by himself?

From feeling hundreds of eyes on me, to imagining everyone thinking I am a loser for going out all alone, there wasn't a single second when I felt comfortable. Of course, like everything, the more you do it the more natural it becomes. Slowly, my paranoid brain realized that no one was looking at me, they all had their own shit to do. No one cared about some random kid.

Not to mention that I got so good at making my presence barely noticeable that hardly anyone spoke to me in public...

It's not as sad as it sounds.


'Here it is, lat-'

Nah, too strange.

'I sent you my number-'

Too robotic.

I leaned against my seat and stared at my phone with a frown. Putting off sending her a message until I got to the public library had been a mistake. At first I wanted to just send a blank message, but that would warrant her to send something in exchange.

Let's see...

'Hey Kai-'

Delete. Delete. Delete.

'Hey, here's my number so call me ma-'

How the hell do I still know that song? And why is it so difficult to send a simple message?

'Hope you had a good day in school.'

That's something a friend would say, right?

'Anyway, just messaging you so that you'll have my number. Later.'

Okay, that was passable.

And send.

With that done, I can now go back to checking random sites on the internet. It was still only six, three hours until I could leave, and I'm already bored. Great.

Maybe I should try to do my homework for once? That would help kill time.

Just as I reached for my backpack, a foreign vibration struck my leg. At first I was thrown off but realized that it was only my phone.

Did she send something back?

'I had a good day! :) What about you? I don't see you much at school... Maybe we could have lunch together again? It's been a while.'

I take it back. I take it back!

It's not easy at all to deal with her through texts!

I remained quiet for a moment, thinking things through until a thought finally struck me.

'Sorry, I can't tomorrow. A teacher wants to talk to me.'

Not bad. I could even go talk to Aqua myself to make it legit just in case she doesn't believe me.

Once again, my phone vibrated and I opened the new message.

'Too bad. :( '

Hmm? Looks like she gave up-

Just as I felt great relief, my phone vibrated once again.

'Hey, why don't we hang out right now? I'm at home doing nothing, maybe I could drop by your place?"

Not happening. My home was not the place to visit in this particular day of the week.

'I'm not at home right now, sorry. A couple of friends invited me out.'

'Oh okay. I'll text you later then. Have fun :)'

Gah!

That was exhausting. While it doesn't look like she's going to give up easily, at least I was finally freed from the strand of messages.

Just you wait, I've pushed all of my old friends away, and you won't be any different. It's time to get you out of my life for good.