November 14, 1996

Class had three more minutes until it started and that girl wouldn't stop pestering me.

"What a coincidence that we see each other again!" She smiled.

"Yeah... If you have any questions I guess I'm the person you're supposed to ask," I said, getting my stuff out.

"Cool, but like for this class" She pressed her pointer finger on the desk, "Or like all of them?"

"Just this one." Then I said in my head, I hope. She nodded her head and looked at the stuff I got out. "What?" I asked.

"Oh, I was just seeing what I needed." She looked at my desk then went in her bag and got stuff out. She got out a highlighter, notebook, and a pencil. Just what I had out. Except she kept looking over at my side. "Is that a book I get or is it in class?"

"What book?" I asked, looking at my stuff. She pointed at my journal, which I forgot to put away. "Oh no, that's nothing." I quickly stuffed it back in my bag.

"Oh, okay." She replied and turned to face the teacher. The bell rang and class started.

This class was English and we were reading a short story. I rather enjoyed english and I didn't know why. This short story was very interesting, but most of the people in this class took AP English to pass, not to learn and be engaged. I read it and even took notes for my future writing skills. The teacher started to ask questions and before I could answer that girl, which I noticed I didn't know her first name, answered them before me. She seemed as engaged as I was. She was answering left and right that I was even taking notes of what she was saying.

"Does anyone have an idea on why this passage was written? What do you think was the hidden message?" Mr. Garrison asked the class.

"I think the reason the author wrote this was to show that you don't have to be trapped by society's expectations. You see how through the story the mouse doesn't try to leave the cage. It's like when a person doesn't want to change who society places them to be, but when the mouse starts to..." She continued her explanation.

Class ended fast and what she thought about the story really intrigued me because I thought it was meant to teach us that life needs to change, not be the same old thing everyday. Just like how that mouse thought there was more to life so it tried to escape. Her idea would have never crossed my mind. As I left the class I got really hungry for lunch. I didn't focus on the girl after that thought and went to go get my lunch. I would usually sit with Chris and his friends, out of muscle, but when I saw him he glared at me and I remember that he didn't want to talk to me anymore. So I backed away and looked for another place to sit. I looked for an empty seat not really wanting to sit by anyone else. It took me a while and when I found one, I sat there not really caring about where it was until I actually sat down. It was by the corner of cafetera near the back, it was the fairest of the exit. I didn't complain so I ate my lunch. I got my journal out thinking this would be the best time to write.

November 14, 1996

Today is Thursday and something I was not expecting happened today. My parents have left for another trip. They usually leave for about four to six months, but instead this time it's a short one. They will be gone for a week. I'm happy to get another break from them, but I still have to be careful not to mess up my freedom. I also thought that school was going to be horrible after Chris spread his rumors, but what I didn't expect was that someone new would come to our school. She seems nice, but I still need to be careful just in case she is just using me. In english -

"What are you writing?" I looked up, placing my hand over my journal to cover it. It was that girl again. She sat down across from me and waited for my answer.

"I- Umm." I shook my head, "Just finishing some notes." I covered the journal with my hand and finished my sentence.

In english she opened me up to new ideas that I would have never guessed. I wondered what else she could think of that I could never.

I shut the book and put it away.

"We haven't introduced ourselves. Have we?" She asked

"No, I don't think so." I answered, taking a bite of my food. It was chicken kebabs with basmati rice and pulled pork.

"Amazing what they serve here..." She said awwing at the food I was eating. "Let's introduce ourselves," She took out her hand, "I'm Aurora Allen."

"N." Was all I said.

"That's it?" She looked puzzled, "Is that really your name? N?"

"Yeah, it is. So what?" I crossed my arms a little offended.

"It's just that I never heard of a name that comes straight off the alphabet."

"What? No! It doesn't come from the alphabet. It's short for -" I paused.

"Short for what?" She asked, her brown eyes full of wonder. Great, now I have to tell her.

"Look, my parents gave me a silly name because they wanted me to be a fresh start. 'New' supposedly."

"Go on." She smiled.

"It's Neo." I mumbled.

"And you think that sounds weirder than N?" She giggled, "You're parents must think you're really special."

"Too special." I grumbled.

"Why?" She asked.

"It's nothing, I gotta go." I said getting up.

"Okay, see you around—Neo." She smiled. I wanted to say don't call me that or something to where I wouldn't have to hear that name, but instead I smiled. Why? I don't know. She seemed different from everyone else. Kind, but not the kindness that's fake or masking away any other feelings. Only I might be lying to myself.

My next classes I noticed that she wasn't in any of them. I also noticed that more kids, even some that I only pass by, were glaring at me, shaking their heads. Okay Chris what are you really spreading? I wondered as I tried to get to class being a little afraid that I might actually get hurt. After my sixth period going to my seventh, I told myself that I was not going to see her anymore. Surprisingly, I felt a bit disappointed.

After school I felt in a hurry. I had a lot of work to do and I forgot my cell phone at home. I knew exactly when my parents were going to call and I was a bit worried that I wasn't going to make it on time. I didn't run home, it was more of a speed walk. I didn't take the route that goes through the park because that was longer. Instead I took the one that had me crossing the street about four different times. When I finally reached my neighborhood I felt a bit of relief. I'm gonna make it. I hated thinking that. I never liked being home and this phone was another chain. Forcing me back to my parents. I opened the gate to our house and as if right on que Ms. Eve opened the door.

"Evening N, how was-"

"Can't talk right now." I said cutting her off, "My parents are going to call me and I need to answer." She mumbled something that I couldn't hear because now I was running up the stairs to get to my room. When I reached the top of the stairs I heard my phone buzzing. Shoot! I ran to my room and looked frantically for my phone. Where is it?! I threw things around until I found it. On the sink in my bathroom. I grabbed it quickly and clicked the call button.

"Hello?" I said.

"N, I was worried for a moment you weren't going to call." It was Mom.

"No, no I had to put some things down." I said sitting on my chair, exhausted.

"Good, we thought you left your phone again."

"No, I didn't." I lied.

"Okay, so let me get straight to the point. Your Father wants you to try to talk to your principal on his behalf."

"Okay, may I ask why?"

"Just do it okay?" I sighed, "Work has it out for me and if we ask you to do something you do it. Just go tomorrow and say name your price alright?"

"Okay." I rolled my eyes. How will I say that when I don't even know what I'm talking about?

"Good. Don't tell me your report, leave that for your Father. Now I have to go." She hung up the phone. Guess it's homework now. I walked to my room and sat on my desk. I got everything out. I had three major classes to work on and it's better to do it now rather than later.

I worked on my homework with my cd player playing my favorite songs. It took me an hour, but when I was done I felt a sigh of relief. Now I can rest. I sat in my chair and I noticed my journal sticking out of my backpack and I smiled at it. I should go to the park and write something. To get out of this house. I looked outside my window and the sun was barely going down. I have time. I thought as I got my jacket to cover my journal.

Down stairs Ms. Eve preparing was food.

"Dinner will be ready at six." She told me.

"Okay, well I'm going to go out for a walk. I will be back before then."

"As you wish, but do be careful."

"Yeah, I know." I said shutting the door to our house.

It was relatively warm today so I didn't really need my jacket, but I needed something to cover my journal. Going down to the park, the bugs started to make their sounds. Even though I wasn't cold I still put on my jacket to stop mosquitoes from biting my arms. When I reached the entrance of the park, I was greeted by its grand gates. They weren't any special colors, just black with gray words on the top saying Wilson Drive's Park. I walked in and found a bench to sit on. I placed my journal down, flipped to the page my pencil was saving and I looked around before starting to write.

November 14, 1996

Today is Thursday and something I was not expecting happened today. My parents have left for another trip. They usually leave for about four to six months, but instead this time it's a short one. They will be gone for a week. I'm happy to get another break from them, but I still have to be careful not to mess up my freedom. I also thought that school was going to be horrible after Chris spread his rumors, but what I didn't expect was that someone new would come to our school. She seems nice, but I still need to be careful just in case she is just using me. In english she opened me up to new ideas that I would have never guessed. I wondered what else she could think of that I could never.

I didn't see the Aurora for the rest of the day, and I'm somewhat conflicted to be upset or happy about it. I do believe she is genuinely being nice to me, but it's too early to tell. This has happened before and I don't want to get my hopes up.

I felt someone tap my back and I swung around. It was Aurora. Funny how fate works. I thought as she smiled at me.