Stacey and I were chilling out on the third floor while Sam played X-box.

Dinner today was boring too. Mom had already started with her work so she was out. She was an event manager. Be it any occasion, birthday parties, anniversaries or celebrations, she would make it big and awesome with her work. And her work meant serious full time dedication. She wouldn't let anything come before her work.

Dad left for New York while we were still at school. Since he had a senior position in the company he worked for, he had to manage everything from the head office itself. So he was hardly home.

That left us kids on our own. But did we look like we were complaining?

Hell no.

We were used to being like this now that it'd been years. I would look after Sam with Stacey who loved him like her own brother, made him do his homework and once he was done, he could have as much fun as he wanted to.

As for me as Stacey, we would just hang out like we always did.

"So Ashie, what did you do today?" Stacey asked me whilst all her attention was concentrated on her nails that she was painting right now.

"Well, I had Biology, History and English today," I said stretching 'English' which reminded me of Raymond. "And the other two lectures I had were free so I ended up in the library. What about you?"

She jumped a little from where she was sitting to sit straight and now she was all focused on me. I looked at her confused.

"Wait a second. Why did you stress on English? You even rolled your eyes when you said that! What happened in English? Tell me!"

Did I really roll my eyes? And if I did, how did Stacey notice? I mean, she was so busy with her nails, I thought she was hardly listening to me, let alone look at my face to observe my expressions when I said something.

But that's Stacey for you. When it comes to me, she is all ears and eyes and everything. I may not realise it until she herself makes me.

"Whoa! Okay, it's nothing SO exciting. I mean, we could just let it go." I tried sounding uninterested.

Well, how could I forget? Nothing is uninteresting for Stacey.

She shot me one of her best glares which said 'You better spit it out before I make you'. This got me laughing so hard. She thought she looked manipulative which would have been the case with someone who didn't know her. While I knew her in and out, it was the cutest face she could manage to make.

"Ashie!! That's so rude!!" She pouted, folded her arms over her chest and looked away.

"Okay, listen. So you remember Avelyn from one of Mom's social events?" I asked her when I was done annoying her.

"Not the social events, we've met her in kitty parties. She's the hot English teacher here, right?"

"But don't all the events end up into those ladies-talking-about-purses-shoes-and-jewellery kind of boring parties?" I snorted and shook my head.

"Come to the point, Ashie!" Stacey snapped at me.

"Yeah, right. So as it was the first day, she told us to introduce ourselves and all..."

The next half hour I briefed Stacey about English and Raymond and I made sure to skip my conversation with him over lunch. All the time she was listening to me attentively as if I was some monk who spent my entire life on the mountains searching for the meaning of life and when I finally found it, I was sharing it with her. Only with her. And she was so grateful for that.

That left me wondering what was so intriguing about everything that I was saying.

Which reminded me, "Stace, you didn't tell me about your day! I am sure it was a hell lot delightful than mine."

"Maybe. Classes were good. And in lunch I met Joey's friends. I would tell you about them but you would love to meet them yourself. The group seems to be fun!" She said in a voice laced with enthusiasm.

"Can't wait!" I replied sarcastically.

"Ashie! We talked about this, didn't we?"

"Yeah, whatever!" I said getting up to turn the TV on.

"Fancy watching a movie?" That was my attempt to change the topic. I didn't want Stacey to lecture me again on how I should open up and have fun. I had enough of it before and I had her convinced that I would try. But in reality I was more likely convincing myself.

"Action?" Stacey asked me with bright eyes full of energy. How was it that this girl was always so full of life? Then again, I loved her for how she was because she made my life easier for me without even realising it. She spending her time with me was enough for me to forget all the worries that I had.

"Matt Damon."

"Uh-uh. Jason Bourne."

We had been watching the movie for about an hour now when I heard someone walk behind us.

"Girls! You must get to bed now." Mark said in an authoritative tone.

That made me think how few years back it used to be our parents' job to tell us what time we should sleep. And now that things had changed, it was hard to listen to someone else do that. Let alone that person being someone we've met only a good two days back. But you see, when the responsible people backed off, someone had to get up and take the responsibility. That someone being Mark and us being good girls, we obeyed.

I glanced at the watch to see it was half past eleven. I still wasn't sleepy.

"'Night Mark!" I heard Stacey say to mark whilst I went over the corner to grab a book to read. I took my time selecting one and went back to find Stacey standing in the middle of the hallway with her arms crossed over her chest and glaring at me.

"What?" I asked her confused.

"Don't you think it was sweet of Mark to come check on us and you know, let us feel that he's there if we need anything. The least you could do is say good night to him!"

I looked around to see that Mark had already left.

"But he's gone now." I said shrugging my shoulders and looking least bothered.

Stacey raised her hands up in frustration. "You're unbelievable, Ashie! Why can't you just be good or sweet instead of always being so moody and sarcastic to people?"

"Stace! One, I wasn't moody or sarcastic to Mark. Two, why are you so affected with this?"

I saw Stacey calm down a bit and she started taking deep breaths. This was something she did when she was angry and she didn't want to take her anger out on the person. But why was she angry with me? What was it with her trying to be defensive over Mark?

Surely, Mark didn't even seem to notice my not replying him or being moody and sarcastic or whatever the heck Stacey thought it was. Then what's with her?

"It's not that I am affected or something. It's just that..." she paused and looked away. She was... sad?

I rushed to her and pulled her into my arms. "Hey, what's wrong?" I whispered.

She sniffled a bit before continuing, "You know Ashie, I haven't had any privilege of spending time with Dad. And for the past few years, even Peter's always working. It's just that Mark seems really sweet and I don't know why but I feel that respect towards him so..."

Oh my god. THIS is what was going on in her mind! And I was stupid enough to not understand.

I rubbed her back gently and said, "I get it Stace, I'm sorry. I didn't want to hurt you."

"No, it's not that!" she said pulling away and sending me a weak smile. "You didn't do anything. I just thought that you must feel the same. I mean, it's not like Peter gives you any father-daughter time either."

Ouch. That hurt. She was right. Dad was never around. He was never there when he should be. But I was getting used to it. As much as it hurt to think of it, I tried to get over the fact he thought that his work was more important to him than spending time with his children.

Stacey quickly added, "But I know you are very strong, Ashie!" And with that she pulled me into another short hug even though she couldn't see my hurt.

I nodded, swallowing all my wounds in like I always did.

"Do you really think I fancy spending any father-daughter time with him?" All these years of mastering the art of lying.

She grinned at this and I felt a sense of victory at how smoothly she believed me. I was such a bad friend. 

We went downstairs and towards our rooms.

"Good night Stace."

"Good night Ashie!" She said and shut her door.

I was about to get inside my room when I heard her door unlock and I looked behind my shoulder to see her pop her head out her door.

"We're going school together tomorrow, right?"

"Yeah Stace!" I said shaking my head at her childishness and went in.

As I wasn't even a bit sleepy I walked over to my study desk and turned my laptop on. I logged into Facebook to see I had a few notifications and a friend request. I went on to check who it was from.

Raymond Stratford.

Wow. A day in school. No. Scratch that. Just a class with him and he already wants to be friends.

I didn't realise when my finger subconsciously clicked the Accept button.

Just a second later, a message popped up on my screen.

Raymond: Hi

Shit. What had I done? I wasn't the least bit interested in having a conversation with him now. In fact, not even later. But I did accept his friend request. So that meant something. Not replying him would just be rude. Since when did I start caring?

Me: Hey!

I replied after battling with myself and finally giving up on thinking too much.

Raymond: So I see that you are a night person. What's up?

I looked at the time on my screen. It was past midnight.

Me: Well, I don't feel like sleeping. What about you?

Raymond: Just checking out girls' profiles.

Me: That's honest.

Raymond: So you talked to Stacey?

He wasn't my friend. I wanted to tell him to mind his own business and piss off.

Me: Why are you so interested in Stacey?

Raymond: I'm not.

Me: Then why do you keep asking about her?

Raymond: I don't.

Ughhh!! Was this some kind of joke? I made up my mind to ignore him.

Raymond: There?

This boy didn't get any hints, did he?

And this was getting uninteresting and a bit awkward. I wasn't in a mood to bring up a topic to talk on. So I decided to end it.

Me: Off to bed. Bye.

His reply was almost instant.

Raymond: Woah. One minute you don't feel like sleeping and other minute you are off to bed!

Why did he have to be so nosy? I logged out without bothering to reply to him.