THE HALLWAYS WERE ALMOST EMPTY. My footsteps echoed, hitting the locker as I rushed to my last class. I already contemplated skipping and going home, but I still didn't have a reason to go through with it... until Randy came around the corner, swinging his keys around his fingers, almost bumping into me.

      "Randy, hey. Perfect timing. Where are you going?" The words flew out of my mouth just as the late bell rang.

      He stopped, startled and confused. "Hey. Hey? Aren't you supposed to be in class?"

      I raised my eyebrows. "Says you." I tapped my foot, anxiously. "Look. We can't afford to just stand here staring at each other. If you're planning on skipping, then I'm joining you. So, we better get a move on."

      He stared down at me, sighed, and walked right past me. Stunned for a bit, I just stood there. Then, "Are you coming or what?"

      I rolled my eyes. So passive-aggressive.

      "So, what's going with you?" Randy asked as we hopped in his dark gray Silverado.

      I stared out the window. "No 'tiger' or 'paisa' today, huh?" He didn't say anything, interestingly. It was like he did a whole one-eighty. Like I was meeting an entirely new person today. "Anyways, nothing's going on with me. Just didn't feel like being around there anymore."

      Truth be told, today just didn't feel right. Like something was lurking in the shadows, and I didn't know when it was going to jump out at me. I'd been on edge all day and endured it. Usually, I wouldn't skip because school was too important, but my nerves were biting me. I couldn't sit for another hour listening to logarithms and derivatives.

      Thankfully enough, Randy didn't press. Well, he never seemed like the person who would. But the silence was unbearable. Being around a person who usually held the conversation together was so awkward when they went silent. So, we rode together. In silence. With the wind aggressively slapping my face. Not exactly the way I thought this was going to happen. Sighing, I just looked out into urban Tucson, watching the trees and people and buildings mush into an entire entity of living. It was a dark day today and the upsetting feeling looming over my shoulder didn't make it any better.

      I was simply waiting for the rain to fall.

      Sooner or later, Randy pulled into a little cafe, and I realized we were on the edge of town. Turning to me, he gave me a sly smile. "You know, I thought you would be a better liar."

      I scoffed. "What gave you the impression that I would lie?" Technically, he wasn't wrong, but I wasn't going down that easy.

      "Takes a liar to know one."

      "Well, now I'm gonna have a hard time believing anything you say."

      He smiled. "Good." Then, he killed the engine and hopped out of the truck. Entering the cafe, we slid into the blue and black booths at the back. The place was crowded, surprisingly, considering it was early Wednesday afternoon. "So, what was the rush?"

      I checked my notifications, noticing I had a text from Mom. "The rush?" I said to Randy as I responded to her "We need to talk." text.

      Later, I replied and shut my phone off.

      Randy folded his hands across the table, and this situation became strangely familiar. Like we were back at Drinks On Me!. "The rush to leave school so fast. Aren't you aiming for valedictorian?"

      I raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you?"

      He shook his head. "Not really. I'm just good at school."

      "Well, you're sitting here with me, aren't you? So, both of us have our reasons, but I'm more intrigued by yours."

      He shot me a challenging look just as a waitress came to our table.

      "Good afternoon, sorry for the wait. I'm your waitress, Cassandra." The lady flashed us a smile, and I noticed the gap between her front teeth. Cute. "Can I start you off with anything to drink?"

      I smiled at her. "Water is fine."

      Randy's eyes were still on me. "I'll take the same."

      When she came back with the water, there was also a plate of lettuce wrap-type hors d'oeuvres. "On the house," she said and winked at Randy. "Nice to see you, again. Enjoy."

      I chuckled. "Seems like you come here often."

      "My Aunt owns this place. Anyway," he waved his hands in the air, dismissing the topic, "we're straying away from our original conversation."

      I squinted my eyes at him, taking a bite of one of the wraps. Leaning back in my seat, I became nosy. "What's your goal, huh? Why are you so interested in me? We've never spoken before, let alone crossed paths, just barely. And now, all of a sudden, you've become a known face in my life. What gives?"

      He didn't even try to think about it for two seconds before speaking again. "Well, I'm wanting to know why you're so defensive. Maybe, I just wanted to make more friends in my last year of high school. I'm pretty sure you're trying new things this year, making new friends. Dating new people."

      I refrained from rolling my eyes. Couldn't be sassy if he was right.

      "Okay, fine. But why me?

      He shrugged. "Why not you?"

      "I'm a stranger."

      "Don't we all start like that, though?"

      "But now seems a little late to start anything new."

      "I call bullshit on that." He laughed incredulously. "It's never too late to begin again, paisa. Where would anyone be in life without that?"

      I stared him down, unable to spit out another rebuttal. Remembering how he admitted to being a liar, I had a hard time believing he was only looking for a friend. Friendships begin with familiarity—you're in the same class, seated next to one another, you take the same bus home and get off at the same stop, you sit at the same lunch table, or you're oddly someone like Dana. It was a recurrence and made you acquainted with them. You'd want to talk to them, usually. And the next thing you know, you're talking every day and getting to know each other.

      But was that how you met any of yours? My inner conscience ratted me out on my own fake beliefs. And like always, it was hard to ignore the truth.

      I sighed, taking a bite out of my third wrap. "I don't think I like you."

      Randy smiled. His real smile, the one that'd been absent for days. "Probably because we're the same person."

      I almost snorted. "Impossible. You're pretentious."

      "Ah, but you're overambitious." He paused. "Get it? 'Cause, they're synon—"

      I scowled. "I know what they are."

      He laughed and relaxed in his seat, taking his first chomp out of the lettuce. "So, let's start this over, shall we?" I sneered at him, but he wasn't threatened. "Now that we've got that out of our systems, are you ready to break a boundary today?"

      I hesitated, huffing like a child. "Meaning...?"

      "You tell me one thing, and I reciprocate it." Knowing him, he'd probably ask the weirdest questions, but I found myself going along with his plan anyway. He tapped the table, happily. "Awesome. Now, some ground rules: you can choose how you want to give your answers—specific or not, for example—but you have to answer the question. Sounds fair?"

      "More like interrogating," I mumbled, but agreed anyway.

      "Anything you'd like to add?"

      I thought for a moment. "They've got to be open-ended questions. Ones we can both answer, so no one's sharing more than the other." I was a naturally private person, and so it seemed he was too. This way, we'd both have equal footing.

      He nodded. "Fair enough. Ready?"

      "Take it away."

      "Why'd you leave school today?" No hesitation.

      I had a feeling he would circle back to this question. Sighing, I took a sip of my water before answering. "I'm paranoid about this certain feeling I've been having all day. Looking at numbers for another hour wouldn't be possible if all I can think about is tragedy." I glanced at him. "You?"

      "Well, let's see. What should I go with today?" He tapped his chin, and I did all but roll my eyes. "Ah, I know just the one. Recently, I've been worried about my mama. She's been sick a lot lately, and we don't know why."

      Instantly, I frowned. "That's awful. I wish her the best and your family, truly."

      Another text came to my phone, and Dana's name popped up on my screen. Did you leave already? Came by your class and you're not here.

      I glanced at the time, noticing school just let out. I quickly shot back my reply. I skipped with Randy. Don't worry, I'll see you guys tomorrow.

      She sent me a wink, and I chuckled, placing my phone back in my bag.

      "Anyway, I do believe it's my turn," I said, refocusing on my little situation.

      Randy nodded, taking the last lettuce wrap. "Go for it."

      I hummed, trying to come up with a question. I wanted to ask him personal things, but it meant I'd have to share my side as well. A catch twenty-two. But when I thought about it, Randy wasn't all wrong. I couldn't deny that I felt we were the same person. There was a different level of trust when I was around him. I couldn't explain it. I wasn't staring into a mirror, looking back at myself. This was more like... a window. A window of a person I could become.

      And I knew the exact question I would want to ask them.

      "Say, do you want to be friends?"

      The corners of his mouth lifted a little, as if curious by my question. He leaned back in his chair and shrugged. "Well, if you insist." He tapped his fingers on the table. "You?"

      My smile said it all.

      And so, for the rest of the afternoon and into the evening, I spilled my heart out. Not to a stranger, but a friend.

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

      Randy was a great listener. Somehow, I found myself entrusting him with every fragment of my life. And when he drove me home, I apologized the entire way there for venting and trauma-dropping. It'd only dawned on me how much I was holding in and letting it all out cleared my entire sky, but he didn't deserve all that. But while he reassured me about how it wasn't a big deal, I still couldn't help but feel embarrassed.

      I barely said goodbye, before grabbing my things and running up to my front door. Closing it behind me, I carelessly dropped my stuff on this couch before hammering my head into the wall repeatedly.

      Then a hand touched my shoulder and I jumped back, hitting the wall since there was nowhere else for me to go. I looked and Mom stood with a small look of concern on her face. She was still dressed as if she had just come back from work—a nice jumpsuit with a blazer.

      I sighed in relief. "You scared the crap out of me."

      She raised her eyebrow and laughed, something I hadn't heard her do in a while. "You were the one ramming your forehead into the wall like a woodpecker."

      There was no tension in her voice, but then I remembered her text from earlier. What did she need to talk about? But instead of bringing whatever that topic was, she chose something different.

      "You're home later than usual."

      Which was true. I always beat her home.

      I cleared my throat. "Yeah, I, uh, made a new friend today. We went to this place and talked for a while after school."

      She nodded. "I'm assuming this was after you decided to skip your class?"

      I froze. "How did... you know?"

      "I went up there to bring you home early, but strangely, you passed right by me before I even got in the building." She took a seat on the couch. "Does this new friend of yours drive a gray truck by any chance?"

      I had no words. "Are you mad?"

      She pointed to the loveseat across from her, and I sat down, picking at my skin. "I found out today that you are on the track to being valedictorian. And I was wondering why you never told me. But even I know we don't have the best relationship."

      My skin prickled. Her beating around the bush made me nervous.

      "I'm not mad," she said, probably noticing I could jump out of my skin any second. "I'm more so disappointed in myself for my behavior and how I've been treating you. And it shouldn't have taken this long for me to realize this, but today, I had an eye-opener. And before I let you know, I just wanted to take this time to tell you that..."

      Her voice began to waver, and my heartbeat picked up. "Mom? What's wrong?"

      She sniffed as she pulled out an envelope from her jacket. "Nothing can excuse my behavior and harsh treatment I'd given you over these years, and I'm not asking for your forgiveness, but... just know that I do love you, Valentine. You're my baby girl, and I've always loved you."

      A tear slipped from my eye. "Mom, I know. I know that you love me. I've always known that." I paused, taking a moment to catch my breath. "What's in the envelope?"

      She sighed shakily. "This is a statement from Child Protective Services, and I was informed today that, beginning January, I will be investigated on a claim of negligence."

      "What!" My voice could've broken a sound barrier as I marched up to snatch the paper out of her hands. My brows were furrowed with anger as I read before scoffing. "How did this even happen?"

      "Someone reported me anonymously."

      I ran my hands through my hair. "How is that even a right? They should've minded their own business." I paced back and forth, trying to calm myself down. "Mom, they can't do this to us."

      She frowned. "I'm afraid they can, sweetie. It's already been set in stone. We're just going to have to tough this one out."

      I plopped down on the couch in disbelief. "No, I'm going to find a way. This can't happen." I looked at her. "Why are you letting this happen? You don't even sound angry. Why aren't you angry?"

      "Because it's true." Her tone shriveled in defeat. "I appreciate you for being angry on my behalf, but I have to reflect on the things I've done. I have to face my crimes. All I can do is sit back and let the universe decide my verdict."

      With that, she got up with a sad smile and walked back to her room, her shoulders slumped. And me? My skin decided to dry out and crumble into pieces.

      My feet were heavy as I trudged outside, looking up at the sky. The sun peeked behind the trees as it set, surrounded by the pink and orange haze of stretched-out clouds. Truly beautiful, and everything I used to hope for, but my destiny was straight. And straight ahead were broken trees down a dark road. I almost laughed. I knew today wasn't right. My entire universe was never right. But Mom had faith in hers, and I could only wish that ours weren't entwined. Because in mine, there was a black hole sucking in all my hope, my faith, and my entire world. And I decided, then, that this was the last time I'd let myself wander because these beasts were impossible to see until you're already being stretched and torn into pieces.

      At that moment, I carried my rout down my dark path and considered myself another strayed person who crossed over the event horizon.

: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWT DIGGEDY DOG.

What a chappie, aye? Talked about some things in here, and this is where shit starts hitting the fan. I hope you're ready.

ANyways, thank you guys for your patience. We're going on five fricking years now, and I literally say this every year (let's keep this tradition), but I feel like this is the last one. I'm gonna knock this book out of the water.

Whelp! Bout time I be hitting the ol dusty trail...

How's your lotion in your cabinet behind your mirror in your bathroom?

BYE!