c. sunflowers and starlight

From the treehouse, I could see the entire neighborhood. I watched my neighbors plant flowers and play outside. I just stayed up there in the treehouse watching people. I liked my position as an observer, never actually getting into any of the action.

A lot of times, I would stay up there after dark. I used to be scared of the treehouse in the dark, but now, it wasn't so bad. Shonali called me a vampire because of it, but I hated the light. I still wasn't quite ready to face the world.

I would be turning sixteen soon. Shouldn't I be a little better than this? At this rate, I would be homeless and unemployed when I graduate. My grades were good, but I hadn't even started looking at colleges. I didn't even know what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. Couldn't I just spend it up here? No. Dad and Shonali would kick me out eventually.

I liked the treehouse though. It was comforting and familiar, unlike practically everything else. Sometimes I wished I could just disappear in here.

Disappear. That was really what I wanted. I could have the freedom I craved and I would never have to deal with people again if I didn't want to, which I probably wouldn't. I might miss Aaron and Justin, but that was about it. Call me crazy, but that's what I was thinking.

I looked outside the treehouse again. The lights were out in all of the other houses. I couldn't see a thing. I climbed down and decided to go to bed.