Alice, please call me. -Demetri
Al what's going on? -Isabel
Hey, you should probably clear things up with my little bro. He hasn't left his room since like 1 in the afternoon. -Jerome
🍴? I want you to try something. -Shandra
Alice, can we still be friends? Talk to me. -Isabel
Man you are good at disappearing. Demetri said that dfmvjgfkddk he ked dfmvjgfkddk can't rkfkfkfdkdkdk stop dfmvjgfkddk thinking sfjfkfkedkd about skdkfkrkekdd you. -Jerome
Please just say something. -Demetri
I'm coming over. -Isabel

I'd been ignoring the texts that came to my phone all day.
Well technically, all night.
I was getting ready for school when the last one caught my attention. She most certainly was not coming over.
"Dad let's go, now!" I said to my father.
"What? Why?" He asked
"No reason just come on." I said as I walked out the door.
"Do you have something to work on at school?"
"Yeah I have to be there extra early."
"Alright I'm coming."
We'd pulled out of the driveway and started down the street as Isabel's car pulled into our driveway.
I felt kinda bad. I was her only friend.
Then it hit me.
Where was I going to sit at lunch?
I hadn't spoken to Peter in forever, the Shadows were obviously not an option, and Vanessa's table was always full. I guess I need some new friends.
Well...I did have extra time.
Now I felt even worse. It was a nice day. And the school was so close. Why is Dad driving me around the corner?
He pulled up to the curb.
"See you later." I called to him.
"Yeah." he said. Then he drove away.
I ran into a girl on my way up to the school.
"Sorry." I apologized.
"Whatever." She mumbled.
"Sky!" Another girl yelled.
The girl I ran into looked up.
She had green eyes and glasses, and her long dirty-blonde hair was pulled into a ponytail.
"What?" She demanded. I guessed that she was busy.
The girl that called her came running over. She had dark brown hair and brown eyes, also, she had freckles.
"Sky! I'm going to the new anime museum!" She squealed with delight.
I'd heard about that, it was a contribution to famous anime artists and their work.
"Wow." Sky said. "That's only like the hundredth time you've mentioned that."
"Yay! I'm so happy!"
Sky noticed me watching and said,
"What? Do I got something on my face?"
"No, sorry." I said
"You apologize too much." And she went back to what she was doing.
"Hey," the other girl said. "I'm Zoe and that's Skyler."
I smiled and nodded.
"You're Alice." Zoe said.
I nodded again.
"That's Alice?" Skyler asked.
I kept nodding.
"Man, you're practically famous." Skyler said
"What?" I asked
"You're dating Demetri Shadow. Everyone adores him."
"I actually broke up with him last night." I said.
"Nice. Do you wanna sit with us at lunch? We have two open spots."
"Yeah that would be cool." I said
"Oh! And that's Emily, Hannah, Sophie, Ava, Lily, and Clara." She said, gesturing to the other girls.
"Okay see ya!" I said while I walked away.
That was so easy.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I gave Demetri the silent treatment all through math class.
He wouldn't leave me alone. Blah blah powers. Blah blah get back together.
News flash. I'm not getting back together with him.
In study hall I noticed that Skyler was in that class. She was sitting next to some boy. I walked over to where she was and asked,
"Mind if I join you?"
"Nope." Skyler said.
I sat down.
"This is my boyfriend Flynn by the way."
I smiled at him and started my homework.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

By lunchtime, the gossip about my break up with Demetri was all over the school. I didn't care, but Demetri looked like he was about to explode or cry. I sat down next to Zoe and the other side of me was empty. Isabel came walking over.
"Skyler." I said
She looked over and I pointed at Isabel.
She nodded her head and grabbed Flynn from a nearby table and put him next to me.
Isabel stopped, then kept going and said.
"Alice, I know you're trying to avoid Demetri but, we're still friends and I want to talk to you."
"I don't want to talk." I replied.
"Can we be friends?" She asked.
"Yes, but right now everything is just really complicated."
"Yay!" She squealed as she ran back to her spot.
Our table went silent for a minute before Flynn asked,
"Why am I here?"
"None of your beeswax, now go." Skyler said.
He stared at me long enough for just me to notice, then walked off.
"I hate you!" Skyler yelled at her laptop that she'd pulled out.
"What's wrong now?" Zoe asked.
"The stupid thing won't open the files Jared sent me!" She yelled.
"What files?" I asked
Zoe turned to me. "Sky is the president of the school newspaper. Sometimes her computer acts up and won't open some of the articles for the newspaper."
"Oh. I like to write, do you guys have an open spot?" I asked.
"Yeah," Zoe said. "I'm second in command, you can be third in command. Sky is currently dealing with some problems."
We both looked over at Skyler to see her eyes closed and she was counting.
"1...2...3..."
"It's a calming method." Zoe explained.
Skyler kept counting, "4...5...6.... IT'S NOT WORKING!!!" Then she started banging on her keyboard.
"And, in times like this, it doesn't work." Zoe concluded.
"I need metal music, headphones, and my favorite TV shows of I'm going to survive through this week." Skyler said.
"Sorry I don't have any." Zoe said.
"It's okay, I'm calm now." Skyler said.
"Hey," I said to Skyler. "I could probably get those files up for you."
She shoved her laptop to me.
I easily got the paper to come up on the screen, then I handed it back to her.
"Thank you!" She said.
She scanned over the screen.
"Jared is an awful writer." Skyler said. "Ugh why would you write about "Paper Airplanes Littering the School." That's an awful topic. Sadly, I have to put it up though."
She read two more articles, by some kids named Carter and Wayne before shutting the laptop.
"Done?" I asked.
"Yep. Now I just have to sent the newspaper to the principle to print it. Done!"
A kid with green eyes and really blonde hair came over with a big smile on his face.
"Skyler, did you like my article?" He asked
"Wayne, I told you, as long as it's a good topic I like it." Skyler replied.
"Was it a good topic?"
"Yes."
His smile got bigger. Then he looked at me. His eyes almost popped out of his head.
"A-Alice M-Maestoso?" He asked
"Yeah...."
"Y-you're r-really popular." He said.
"I noticed." I replied.
Why does everyone make such a big deal over me? It's annoying.
Wayne went running away and came back shortly with two other boys.
"This is Carter." He gestured to one of the boys who had curly brown hair, blue eyes, and a welcoming smile.
"And this is Jared." He pointed to the other guy. It was my turn for my eyes to pop out of my head. He was no Demetri, but still. He had long brown hair and light brown eyes. And also had a nice smile.
I put out my hand. "It's nice to meet you." I said to both of them as I shook their hands.
"Pleasure is all mine." Carter said.
"If one of you guys wants to sit here that's fine." I said pointing to the seat next to me.
They all started pushing their way to the spot until Jared got it. Yes! Carter and Wayne walked away.
I was talking to Jared when I noticed Demetri glaring at us. Jared noticed too.
"He doesn't like me already, I don't care."
"Why doesn't he like you?"
"Don't know, but it doesn't matter."
The lunch ending bell rang and we started toward the crowded doorway.
Someone grabbed my hand. It was Jared. I could have started jumping up and down, but I didn't.
Demetri started pushing his way through the crowd toward us. When he got to us. He yanked my hand out of Jared's and pulled me towards his siblings. When we were in the clearing, he grabbed their hands and time stopped.
"Hey! Start time again!" I shouted.
"No." Demetri answered.
I walked back to the crowd looking for Jared. He was in a walking position coming in our direction.
"Start time!" I yelled at Demetri.
"No, we need to talk." He answered.
Then I remembered something about time freezing being a natural power that everyone has.
That includes me.
I looked Demetri right in the eyes.
"Then I will." I said
Time started again. Jared came over and without a word, and we walked out together.
The Shadows had no control over me.
They couldn't make me talk to Demetri.
They couldn't make me get back together with him.
I'm with Jared now.
They'll just have to deal with it.