Mornings in the Roads-Oakley house were nonexistent. Despite the good relationship between father and daughter, their schedules often didn't match up. Nadia was usually just getting in when Charles was leaving for work. At most, they'd be able to say hi before he left for whatever his job was.

Nadia hated not knowing what her dad did for a living, it felt so shady. He obviously got paid well enough that they lived in a gated apartment complex. They could afford newer things even if Nadia often passed up the opportunity to upgrade to the newest technology or fashion trends.

Those moments in the morning were special to her. She hardly ever saw him during the week so it was always nice to be able to talk to him.

When she jumped through her window at five in the morning, she knew he was awake already. Nadia could see light coming in from beneath her door, how does he do it? She set her bag down and kicked off her years old vans. Once she made it out to the kitchen, she saw that Charles made breakfast for them.

She was wrecked but felt happiness grow in her heart regardless. "Wow, dad, how early did you wake up?"

Charles stood by the toaster, eyes a bit tired. "Not too long ago, I couldn't sleep again."

"That sucks," Nadia opened the fridge, "shit I need to go grocery shopping."

"No it's okay, I can do it. We don't need much, come on eat before you go to bed."

She laughed at him, "You always make me eat, I'm really not that hungry." He made a sound of disagreement at her, she sat at the counter regardless.

He brought the pan of eggs over while Nadia buttered their toast. "You know I was thinking," She stopped mid-buttering, knowing something was up. "Don't look at me like that."

"Whenever you say 'I was thinking' something bad happens." She argued.

"Not true, but, I was thinking..." Charles looked off awkwardly, making Nadia only more curious to know what he was going to say. "That you could go to... a regular high school, perhaps, maybe, I don't know–"

She gaped at him, "No come on! You said you wouldn't make me go!"

He looked guilty but continued to argue his case, "Listen, Nadia, you need so many credits per year and right now you're behind but I can get you into a good school and you'll graduate next year!"

There was tension in the air as Nadia thought over what he said. She took a bite of toast, "I can't believe you tried to bribe me with breakfast."

"Does that mean you'll think about it?" Nadia glared at him and he put his hands up in apology, "I know, I'm sorry for springing it on you. But there's laws and I can't go around bending the rules for you, Naddy."

She sighed tiredly, "I really don't wanna do real school, dad."

"I know, I wouldn't either," He said.

"If I don't go, will you get in trouble?" He shrugged, "That doesn't help, dad, I'm serious. I'll go if I have to but I just... really don't want to."

Charles smiled at his daughter, "I don't blame you, but as far as I can tell, you gotta go. It won't be so bad! I'm sure kids aren't as shitty as they were when I was in high school."

A groan escaped Nadia's mouth, "Not helping!"

—

Nadia went to bed soon after her dad brought up his consideration. Her sleep was restless. Most of the time, Nadia slept very deeply, but that day she woke up every hour. It wasn't too hot or cold in her room, if anything she was the problem with her sleep. Her dad's news was keeping her brain from shutting off.

After the fifth hour in a row of waking up, she laid there, awake for a while. It could have easily been thirty minutes, maybe even two hours. She didn't really care, that was more restful than her actual sleep.

The sun filtered in through a hole in her curtain, right onto her cheek, she groaned.

Nadia forced herself up and threw a blanket over top of her curtain. It was dark once again. She flopped on her bed and shoved her face into her pillow. Another muffled groan, this time into her pillow. She shoved the pillow away and took a deep breath of fresh air.

"God," Nadia felt so tired, her alarm clock read 10:30 AM. "It's only ten? Ugh." She sat up, disgruntled and annoyed. Her hair felt greasy, it'd been too long since she last washed it. Instead of wallowing in her own despair for another second, she decided to shower and wash her hair.

It was at noon when she finally finished with herself. Her hair was detangled and drying as she sat at her computer, trying to finish a test in less than ten minutes. iMessage sat open, her tutor was currently active... typing.

For some reason, seeing someone typing has always made anxiety grow within her.

- "Your dad said you needed more help with Algebra :)"

Nadia rolled her eyes before replying with a simple "Yea". Mary was nice and helpful, but Nadia had a feeling Mary enjoyed math too much.

- "What time are you available?"

- "1:30pm, I'm taking a test right now."

It takes another ten minutes to rush through the questions about Oedipus the King. She didn't really care for the story. Nadia wasn't sure if it was the incest or the absurd plot that turned her off from the play.

The tutor session lasts an hour, and Nadia doesn't understand Polynomials anymore by the end of it. She pretends she knows what Mary is saying. After that, Nadia is finally tired again. She falls into a deep slumber.