It was Monday and Antonia was in the library after school with Donna, Karen, Mal, and Joseph. She took out sticky notes and tabbed different pages. She needed to study for her health class. They were focusing on the effects of drugs and alcohol on the human body and needed to remember the important facts for the quiz on Wednesday. Karen was finishing up on some math homework and Donna was writing her speech for her debate class. Mal and Joseph were listening to different Christmas songs for their band concert in a few weeks. Everyone was busy with something and was in their own world. Buzz. Antonia ignored her phone trying to stay on track of her studying. Buzz. Her phone went off again. She looked at her phone and it was Nicole.
Hey are you busy?
Can you call me?
Antonia thought to ignore her this one time since she had been procrastinating a lot. Buzz.
It's really important.
"Are you going to answer that?" Isaiah peered over the top of her head while she was sitting down. She smiled at him. "Oh hey… And yeah. Nicole needs my assistance." She walked out of the library and called Nicole. "Hey love, what's wrong? Is everyth-" "They broke up. Kori told me. I'm with them at Hobby Lobby right now." Antonia was standing in place silent. She looked back at the library entrance and walked down the hallway. She whispered just to make sure no one could hear her. "What the hell? That wasn't very long. When did that happen?" Nicole was looking at the yarn, touching the threads with her finger tips. "It happened yesterday. They had dinner and Rachel was saying it was just not going anywhere." Antonia leaned her back against the wall. "That's just mad to me. I mean I was just sitting there next to him at the library and he was acting perfectly fine. Maybe I'm just not paying attention to him." Nicole took a deep breath walking around the corner. Kori and Rachel were looking at the candles not that far away. "I mean, Rachel does seem a little more down than usual. I know Kori had to basically drag her out of her room." "Maybe it's just best that you keep to yourself. You don't want to get involved with something that is none of your business." Nicole chewed on her inner lip. She had a million thoughts going through her head. "Can we talk about this more later?" Antonia perked up. "Of course love. If you need me to pick you up just let me know, okay?" "Okay. Bye, Toni." The hallways were quiet. An orange glow engulfed the school making it seem like a sunset fantasy. The type where the sun never disappears making it always daytime. Antonia walked back to the library and saw that Isaiah pulled up a chair next to where she had been sitting. She sat down trying to keep the secret from her friends. What if they already know? She thought to herself before being interrupted by her own thoughts. "You good?" Antonia flashed back to reality when Isaiah waved his hand in front of her face. "Yeah, sorry mate. I was on my own planet." Mal looked at the girl and smiled. "Are you able to come to our Christmas concert? We plan on going to Waffle House afterward." Antonia nodded, "Sure! I've never been there though." Karen cocked her head to the side. "You're joking. Right? Toni, say you've been there before." Antonia began giggling. "I actually have not been to most places. Like for example, Applebee's. Never been there and I don't plan to. There's also Denny's, IHop, Texas Roadhouse, Subway.." Everyone's jaw dropped. Mal leaned back. "Nah. I don't believe you girl. You're lying." Antonia was now fully laughing and so were her friends. "She suffers from rich girl syndrome." The group began snickering leaving Antonia giving Isaiah a mean look. Donna put her hand on the table. Her eyes were closed and her lips were pressed together. "It's not Toni's fault she isn't experienced with the world. She just has a lot to learn about." Isaiah was still laughing and Joseph made a facial expression that read "meh". She grabbed her textbook and put it close to her face. "You guys act like I'm from a different planet or something."