"I don't really want to go to school today, mom..."

"Why? Is everything alright?" My mom asks me in concern.

"Yeah, everything's fine... I just feel a little sick," I look down, avoiding eye contact.

"Do you need to take a day off?" She asks, feeling my forehead.

"Probably, I mean, I wouldn't want anyone else to get sick," I shrug.

"Okay, why don't you go up to your room and I'll call the school and let them know you won't be there today," my mom says with a sad smile.

"Thank you."

I slowly move up the stairs, my feet hitting the ground hard with each step to prove the point that I'm not up for it today. Although, it isn't actually a sickness I don't want to go to school today for.

It's because of the video.

People are going to laugh when they see me and remind me of what an idiot I am. I don't want that. I don't want that kind of judgement. At least, not today.

When I get to my room, I shut the door softly and fling myself into my bed where I wrap the covers around me and bury myself away.

There's a soft knock on my door.

"Come in," my voice is muffled by the blankets around me.

The creek of the door tells me that they obeyed.

I peek out and see my mom setting a mug on my dresser. She pulls her jacket on and flicks her hair out of her face.

"I have to go to work, so you'll be here alone," she explains. "But I brought hot chocolate so that should make up for it."

"Thanks, mom," I smile.

"See you in a bit," she starts to leave the room. "Call if you need anything." Then she's gone.

I let out a long breath and sink further into my bed. My eyes close and relax and my mind grows tired. I'm about to allow myself into sleep when I feel my bed vibrate. I slap my hand around my bed trying to locate my phone, and when I do, I pick it up, one eye half opened, and try to focus on the screen.

'Where are you?' -Drew

It takes a few minutes, considering I'm only using one hand because the other is warm under my blanket, but I type my reply.

'At home... Sick.'

'That's too bad. I was looking forward to seeing your face today. But I was disappointed when I came to English and your chair was empty.' -Drew

'Are you flirting with me?' I let out a small laugh but still can't help my cheeks from glowing red.

'Maybe, is it working?' -Drew

'Not at all.'

'Ah, crap. Well, old Bennett is looking at me with his beady eyes so I'd better go.' -Drew

I bite my lip and keep from smiling too widely writing the reply. 'I guess you're just going to have to get through a day of his torture without me. Have fun.'

'Don't die too quickly.' -Drew

I'm just about to fall asleep once more when my phone vibrates again, waking me from my half-sleep.

I pick it up with a groan, fairly annoyed at being bothered.

'I see you're too scared to face the world today.' -Shelby

I take a deep breath and count to ten before my vision turns black and I yell things I'll regret tomorrow.

'Sorry to demolish your ideas, but I'm sick.'

'Yeah. Sure. The perfect excuse. I just hope you know how much people are enjoying your presence here... No, not you personally. In your famous debut as the school laughing stock. Thanks for that entertainment, loser.' -Shelby

'Wow, I'm honored to be the topic of conversation.'

In all honesty, my insides begin to crack seeing those few words written on my phone. I just can't let my weakness show. She can't use that against me.

I'm not one to get revenge, but all I want to do right now is take a box of Legos and dump them all over her bedroom floor.

I don't of course.

But it's a great way to occupy my imagination.

'Oh, I almost forgot. Brendan told me how embarrassed he was when he came to school. He didn't even want to be seen near you anymore.' -Shelby

I furrow my eyebrows in confusion. Would he really say that? Shelby could make up anything she wants to get to me. I don't let myself believe what she tells me.

'Check his profile.' -Shelby

This pulls at my curiosity. So, I pull out my phone and search up Brendan Marks. Sure enough, there's a new status. It says, 'Have you seen the latest video of some girl at my school? If not, check this out. It's hilarious. She's freaking clueless.'

I cover my mouth with my hand as I click on the link. It is, sure enough, me. It's the video. I can't believe it. Shelby was right.

I feel worse than I did before, if that's possible.

I curl up into a ball and finally drift to sleep with no interruptions. Or, should I say, no outside interruptions. My insides are buzzing with sadness as I go under.

•*•*•

"Lili!"

I shove the blanket over my head.

"Lili!"

I try to block it out.

"Liliana Carol!"

This time I sit up so quickly my eyes start to go black around the edges. There's a banging at my door. I look around my room in confusion. Somebody's here. Why is somebody here?

I throw the blankets off of me and hurry down the stairs to see who's calling my name continuously and knocking on the door.

I open it to reveal Danny, Drew, and Brendan. They all seem relieved to see me. I take in the sight of me, confused. Danny is grinning at me, holding a pot, oven mits over the handles. Drew is beside him, holding a bundle of flowers. He's looking at me curiously. Then there's Brendan. He is watching me with such focus, it makes me uncomfortable. He holds three balloons each reading 'GET WELL!'

I awkwardly smile an allow them inside. That's when I realize I must look like a garbage bag. I'm wearing sweats and a t shirt, and my hairs in a sloppy bun on top of my head. There is zero makeup on my face.

"We've been waiting out here for about five minutes, banging on that door..." Danny smiles as he walks past me with his pot.

"I bet that got heavy," I say in an apologetic voice. Darn my deep sleeping habits.

"It sure did," he laughs lightheartedly. "But hey, these babies have got to be on point for the ladies." He sets the pot down and flexes his muscles in an over dramatic manner.

"What, move your noodles, I can't see the muscles..." I squint my eyes.

"Ha. Ha. Very funny," he says.

"Alright, what are you all doing here?" I ask suspiciously, though I think the balloons and flowers are clue enough...

"Is it not blatantly obvious?" Brendan asks.

I can't even look at him without feeling sick to my stomach about what he wrote about me. I can't bring myself to see his bright eyes that laugh at me and hate me though they may seem innocent.

"We're here to celebrate your soon to be healthiness," Drew says, nodding.

"How do you know I'm soon to be healthy?" I ask. "I could be on the verge of death right now."

"So anyways, here's some chicken noodle soup. Oh, and flowers. Plus the balloons. Those are good too," Danny says.

"Thanks, guys..." I say, smiling. "I didn't realize you cared this much."

"We do. Hey, I've got to run, I have my mom's birthday dinner to attend," Danny salutes his goodbye. I yell a thanks for his soup and promise to give his pan back.

"So, how was school?" I ask awkwardly.

"Fine. Boring. I can't believe we used to at through days without knowing you," Drew says, looking concerned.

"You would have, if you turned around in any one of your classes during the past four years..." I shrug.

"You know...... That's... Yeah, I've got nothing," he says.

"I, for one, am very tired," Brendan says.

I don't move a muscle. I don't blink. I hold my breath. He can sense my discomfort. I let out a slow breath.

"What's up with you? You haven't looked at me once, so much as spoken a word in my direction," Brendan says, sounding irritated.

I find his deep blue eyes instantly, and regret it because I can feel emotions brewing inside me at the sight.

"I saw what you wrote. Your nice guy act is over. Your cover is blown. Go back to hating me. Stop pretending to be someone you aren't to me," I blurt out before I can stop myself.

"What are you talking about, Lili?" He asks, looking confused. Another part of the act. Innocence. I don't buy it.

"You're unbelievable," I shake my head slowly.

"I don't even know what you're talking about," he shakes his head in frustration.

"The post about the stupid video? The one you decided to say was hilarious, that some girl at your school was clueless and they should all see it? Yeah, that sure felt great coming from somebody I thought was my friend. Thanks for that blow to my confidence," my voice becomes strong. "Get out. Get out of my house."

"Lili, I didn't-"

"Get out! I don't want to see you here again! Don't pretend. Just go," I shout, before the last line turns into my voice cracking and I fall on the couch in tears.

Brendan backs away slowly, still looking confused and concerned. I can't look at his face without grief and fury clouding the scene. Don't always trust those you think are there for you. In the end, there's always some reason for them to turn away from you.

"Come here," Drew says quietly.

I move into his arms and silently cry onto his shoulder while he rubs my back and whispers words into my ear about how he made a horrible mistake, that I'm so much more than some girl. He tries to assure me. But I know there was some truth behind Brendan's words. And that's what affects me the most. I am some random girl at his school, clueless, and trying to fit in where I don't. I'm like a puzzle piece trying to be shoved into the wrong shape. I don't fit here.

"You weren't sick today, were you?" Drew asks quietly.

"No," I whisper, barely audible.

"It wasn't bad, Lili. I promise," he says.

"That's because I'm not there to laugh at yet," I mutter hopelessly.

"I won't leave your side. I won't let them say a word to you about that stupid video," Drew assures me. I still have my doubts. What can he do, duct tape every mouth in the school closed? Growl and hiss at those who say something? There's no way to stop it from happening.

"Why don't we have some soup?" He suggests, and I move away and he takes two spoons. We eat directly from out of the pot and it is better than I expected. It warms my throat and I want to fill myself with more and more. That's when I realize I haven't eaten a bite today.

"It's good," I nod my approval.

"Good, because I made it. Mostly," he says with a wink.

"You know, I don't think you're that bad," I think out loud.

"Really? Well that's a relief," he says, eyebrows raised.

"I mean, no, I mean I thought you would be so rude and cocky when I saw you at school... Well I guess you're still pretty cocky-" I get a slap on the shoulder "-but you care. And you're capable of being nice. That's a good thing. It's better than I ever thought."

"Thanks, Lili. I appreciate your kind words," Drew says with a smile. "And I thought you hated me and would always hate me when I first met you."

"I thought I would."

"But you turned out to be one of my best friends and I like talking to you perhaps more than the other guys. Plus, you're pretty so it adds to the benefit." He winks. I blush.

"Thanks," I say. "For coming here."

"Of course. But I hope to see you come to school tomorrow," he says.

"I will. I have to face them sometime," I shrug.