The night had passed slowly. I tossed and turned throughout the night despite the melatonin I took. Not only that, but I had woken up to a sharp pain in my lower back.

I stretched, my back cracking in six different places, a deep, gratifying sigh escaping my lips. I had a long day ahead of me.

"Have a good day Deary," I said, kissing her head and tucking her hair behind her ear.

She hugged my legs tightly, "Bye Jay Jay."

"Go on, you're not gonna have any fun out here with me," she smiled, taking the hand of the staff in the dropoff line.

She glanced back at me before going inside. Reminding me of Mother.

I pulled into my usual spot outside art. Deep breath in. Deep breath out. I flexed my hands that clenched the steering wheel, picturing a piece of white blank paper in my mind and nothing else. Good. I'm good.

I grabbed my bag and stepped out of my Geo.

Goal One: Don't run into Alice; if I do act like I don't care.

Goal Two: Camille

Speak of the devil and she shall arise. Camille walked towards me, her sky blue knee length skirt swaying in the breeze, long sleeved, white, lace top with a necklace in the center of her chest.

"Pst. We need to talk," she murmurs, glancing around.

I rolled my eyes, "I don't see anything we need to talk about," Camille's auburn hair was put up in two dutch braids, her chapstick glistened slightly in the sun as she looked up at me.

"We need to talk about yesterday."

"What about it?" I walked towards history. The way her rushed steps in heels against the concrete reminded me of a teacher, "You're not Miss Perfect, so what?"

"No, I am, wait what? Miss perfect?"

"Yeah, straight A, uptight, prissy teacher's pet, rich guy dating, everyone befriending, Miss Perfect," she scuffed and grabbed my arm.

"So what if everyone likes me, if I'm super smart and pretty, if I date a hot guy? At least I'm not like you, trying to act so different and cool because they can't fit in." I bite my lip and clench my hands. Her eyes widened, her face flushed.

I walked away faster than before, she was barely keeping up, "I'm sorry, I'm just so stressed and worried that you think you saw what you didn't see."

I stopped abruptly "Oh really? And what did I see huh?"

"I-I was practicing for a movie."

"I didn't see any cameras."

"They were hidden."

"When did you go back and review them?"

"Eight."

"Lie."

"A-am."

"It's not even 8 yet!" I started walking off again, she continued to follow like a dog with a ball.

"What do you want me to say?!"

"The truth! No point in lying. And god I've had enough of lying bitches," she stood there with her hand against her chest, her jaw dropped. I glowered at her, rubbing my forehead. Remember your breathing.

I sighed and glanced at her. She had regained her composure.

"You have no right knowing my business," she snapped.

"Then maybe don't share it with the world princess!" she turned and walked off, her face was beat red and her hands balled into fists, swinging back and forth in sudden jerks.

I felt a little bad, but at the same time it felt kinda good.

"Hello everyone!" Mrs. Hendreway said. Her small figure walked to the front of the class, stepping on her usual stool. "For the next few weeks we're going to be working on a large-scale painting. It needs to have raw emotion, tell me something about yourself with it."

Half the class was sucked into their phones and the other half was talking amongst themselves.

Mrs. Hendreway gave me a pleading look. I sighed and got up, walking to the front of the class. Even though she was on her stool she stood only 5 foot to my 5'11 height. I chuckled.

"Alright everybody," I clapped my hands, "Attention up here assholes unless you want to fail another assignment then go ahead and continue liking others' selfies."

Many rolled their eyes, snickering as they looked up at Mrs. Hendreway.

"Thank you Jaylen, as I was saying-" I stopped listening, already knowing the project. It was my favorite of the semester by far.

Third period came quickly, the one I dreaded most. The first class of the day I had with Camille and it was math. God, I hated math.

"Everyone take a seat and pull out your books."

I walked to the back on the left to where my seat was against the window. I had a 'beautiful' view of the courtyard. Well, I guess the school kinda was beautiful to others. To me, it was just like any uptight private school was. Thank god they got rid of the dress code last year.

I sat my combat boots on the desk, my leather jacket scraped against the chair, everyone looked my way. I stared forward as if I didn't care about anything when in reality I desperately needed to pass this class.

Camille's lips tugged into a smirk as she looked back at me. I glared. She turned her page delicately, her pastel pink nails taping against the desk as she waited for the teacher to give further instruction.