Please, don't leave me! Don't leave me here alone! I'm lost. I don't know what to do. Come back to me! I don't want to be alone anymore.

Sarah, your smile always brightens your face. You're much prettier that way.

I sat straight up on my bed. I scorned the night and my dreams. My scowl, which no one could see, deepened. The sun had barely climbed the sky, but I could still see the glow. I figured I'd get an early breakfast and go for a walk.

The old lady was awake, as well. She was doing some cleaning around the manor while the other children slept, or were otherwise out, getting drugs, no doubt. I often wondered why the old lady cared and also how she was so able to keep them from getting into trouble with the law. Perhaps she was more powerful than most of us gave her credit for.

I offered my services to her, if she wanted them. She smiled sweetly at me, but declined. She said she could do it on her own, but she would like some water. I fetched her some then made my breakfast. I did, however, help her hold the couch as she vacuumed under it before I left for my walk. She wished me a good day at school and gave me some money for lunch. I thanked her again and went on my way.

By the time I left the manor, the sun was out. It was far too bright for my tastes. I ran into some other teens by the playground on my way, who tried to force drugs on me. They didn't offer, they forced. I bluntly reminded them about what happened to the last kid who did that, who is still recovering in the hospital, and the teens allowed me to go on my way.

Near the bus stop where Cassie had boarded the previous day, I saw her standing there again. She smiled when she saw me and came to my side, walking with me. For the first time, I didn't object. I guess I was secretly hoping she'd be there. Talking to her was better than listening to the day.

"How are you this morning?" she asked. She looked tired.

"How long did you wait there for me?"

"Oh, not too long." She was lying. I know she was. Her eyes looked dead. I assumed she was there for at least an hour.

When I gave no response, she added, "Another nice day, huh?"

I scoffed. "It's too bright."

"But at least it's not raining."

"Rain is comforting."

"Rain is depressing."

I sighed. She didn't understand, and I had no intention of trying to explain. "We grew up differently."

"Yeah. But here we are together anyway, so I guess Fate has a purpose with us."

"You can't seriously be telling me you believe in Fate." She shrugged. "We make our own decisions and our own path. We make our own Fate."

"And your decisions have led you to me, and vice versa, therefore our lives have something to do with each other."

"Believe what you want." It was too early to argue with her. Cassie was too much of an optimist. I guess I was too pessimistic, but my life had not been easy. Hers was probably care-free and normal.

When we passed some younger kids playing on some equipment outside their own school, Cassie looked at it longingly. When she saw my confused look, she chuckled a bit and said, "I wish we didn't have to go to school."

"We don't. We're going because we choose to."

"If we don't, we'll get in trouble."

"But you're speaking as if it was impossible not to. Again, you're assuming some higher power is making you do things. If you don't want to go to school, then don't."

She laughed. "There is a higher power controlling me. It's called Parents."

I rolled my eyes. After she stopped laughing, I admitted, "I am rather bored with school. With the exception of History, I have already learned everything being taught there. It's all stuff I knew for years. And what use is History? I have no intention of growing up to be a teacher of History."

"Most of the stuff you learn at school is useless, but you have to get that out of the way before you can proceed." I huffed. After a few moments, Cassie asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up? Ever gave it much thought?"

"I'm not sure I'll be around that long," I whispered. I could have sworn I said that in my head, but when Cassie looked at me confusingly, I realized I had said it out loud. "Never mind," I added.

"I want to be a vet, like my parents. I love animals."

That was the last bit of conversation until we reached the school ten minutes later. As soon as we entered, things were less chaotic than they were the last time I came into the school. I still had my scowl on, but I guess with sweet, innocent Cassie by my side, I looked a lot less frightening. She said she'd meet me in class and went to where Rachel was standing. The blonde and I exchanged a sneer before I headed off to science.

I was shocked to see Billy there already. I thought he'd need to take a day or so off to recuperate. However, when he saw me come into the classroom, he shrieked slightly and backed away a few chairs. He had a bandage over his nose and he was protecting it with his hand. If my lips hadn't been frozen in a scowl, I would have snickered.

The bell rang five minutes later. Billy, who was usually the loudest kid of all, was actually very quiet. In fact, for a good portion of the lesson, he barely said a word. Jokingly, the teacher took me aside during an experiment to tell me, "Thank you for sedating him." Cassie, beside me, chuckled at that.

Math class was not much fun, either. Marco, who I hadn't 'sedated', was still very loud, sarcastic and annoying. He kept poking fun at me for one thing or another, mostly to take away from the fact that I was more intelligent than him. The math teacher gave another pop quiz, which I mastered, and then, after class, gave me a book of 'Super Hard Logic Puzzles'.

"See if you can solve those. I'll give you extra credit if you get them all done by Monday."

I thanked him and left the class. Cassie met up with me shortly thereafter. Marco also joined us. "Hey, Cassie, why do you hang out with her?" he asked Cassie, completely ignoring my presence. The fact that he could do that while everyone else weaned around me, very much aware of me, was almost impressive.

"She's my friend. Sarah, do you want to sit with me at lunch?"

"No," Marco and I said at the same time.

"See? Even she agrees," Marco scoffed. "And what do you mean by friend?"

"I mean someone you like and enjoy hanging around. Come on, Sarah."

"I said no. Is this 'Ignore Sarah' day today?"

"Yes," said Marco. He decided then to leave. Cassie stayed by my side until I started to leave for the café, too.

"Why are you always following me?" I asked, before we reached the doors.

"If you really wanted me to go away, you'd try harder." Silently, so as not to allow Cassie to know, I agreed with her. I guess I really wasn't trying. Did I want a friend, or just someone to talk to? Perhaps both, really. But I would not admit that out loud.

"There's a free table over there," Cassie pointed. Marco and Jake sat at a table far from where she was pointing. I did not see Rachel.

At least, not until she came up behind us. "Cassie, come sit with me. Ditch the brat here."

All I did was growl a bit. "No, Rachel, I'm sitting with Sarah today." Rachel was shocked at that. Then again, so was I.

"You've known her for less than two days and me how long?"

"I sit with you every day. I'm sitting with Sarah today."

"Fine, I can take a hint." And with that, Rachel grabbed some lunch and sat with Jake and Marco.

Cassie and I made our way to the café lady and got our respective lunches. It wasn't until I sat down at the table that I finally asked, "Why did you choose me over her?"

"I didn't. I just decided to make time to share with all my friends."

"You are not my friend."

"But you need one, so here I am." She took a bite out of her sandwich and made a disgusted face. "What do they put in here? Mystery meat?"

"I don't need a friend."

She put down her lunch and looked at me seriously. "Come on, Sarah. You can lie to yourself, but not me. Every time I see you, you look as if a storm cloud is hanging over your head and you have no one to help you get rid of it. You think rain is comforting which only means you've had some kind of disaster that you think water can wash away. Whatever you're facing, you don't need to do it alone."

"That is a fascinating theory, but oh so wrong," I said finally. Anything to shut her up. She was perfectly right, of course, but I didn't want to hear it.

"I can help you, if you want. Provide a shoulder to cry on?"

"I don't need to cry. Besides, everything I tell you goes back to them." I nodded towards her friends' table. She glanced at them, but looked back at me.

"I promise I won't tell them anything you tell me from here on."

"As Rachel said, I've known you for two days. I am far from trusting your word." I ate my soup in silence. For a while, Cassie tried to start some minor conversation, but I ignored her.

Near the end of lunch, Cassie spoke again, "I asked my parents if I could invite a friend to sleep over tonight, since it's Saturday tomorrow. I was wondering if you'd like to."

"Ask Rachel." I got up and left the table. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Rachel instantly get up and go over to Cassie. Whatever. I've known her for two days. She was not my friend.

At least, I kept telling myself that…