I dreaded this very morning. The morning where I lose my friends. Maybe.

Everyone didn't know what was coming. But I did. Everyone just went about their day. All happy go lucky. Eating their pancakes with extra syrup.

"Are you okay?" Bruce asked me.

"Yeah. I'm fine. Why?"

"You're face tells the opposite."

"Well, yeah no. I'm fine," I rolled my eyes playfully. Ha, no. Deep down, I'm swimming in a pit of guilt.

"I think I'm going to head home," Bruce says as he finished his last piece of pancake.

"Yeah, me too," Carrie joined in.

"I think I will too," I said, trying to escape from everyone.

"Same for me," Jack said.

I got up from the table with everyone else and gathered my stuff. When we were ready to leave, we shuffled to the front door and said our "goodbyes."

As soon as Jade closed the front door, I scurried to my house but was stopped by Jack.

"Hey, want to hang out?" He asked.

"Actually, I'm kind of busy-" I said but was interrupted.

"Sorry to interrupt. But can I talk to you in private real quick. I have to ask you something," Carrie told Jack.

No. I was doomed.

"Sure. Hold on, Ariel," Jack said as he walked a few feet away with Carrie.

Maybe I could make a run for it. Run to my house and never come out.

"What?" I hear loudly from Carrie. I look at her and see her staring at me. Like she couldn't believe it. She couldn't believe me. She walked towards me. She was quick as she made her way to me. "You thought that it was funny to embarrass myself or whatever? You knew I liked him. I didn't think you were so mean," she said as tears formed at the corner of her eyes.

"Carrie, I-I didn't mean it. I'm so so-" I was interrupted by her hand hitting my face. She slapped me and I fell into the icy snow. Where I belonged. My left cheek was numb.

I could see her running away, towards her home. Running away from me.

I could see Jack running towards me, not knowing why this happened. He helped me up and brought me home. He didn't ask why this happened and I didn't tell him why.
• • •
First day of school for me! Ugh. ;(