Presley's point of view;

I shuffle in my seat and stare at the Word document that I'm working on my computer. It seems as soon as I finish one assignment five or six more pop up to replace it. It's been two weeks since everything happened and I was grateful that the taxi driver was honest enough to give back my wallet since it had my student ID. I was supposed to go to the station but I just haven't been able to get there. I know it's not far but I don't need to buy anything now so I'll get there eventually.

My group presentation went over well enough, I think. I don't remember what happened after class or what anyone else said but the professor gave me some sort of flyer for an online public speaking seminar the school is having next term. So I'm guessing I wasn't all that good but the entire group passed so that's enough for now. I heard the thing with Homer and the school board got rescheduled for sometime later this week because of what came to light from their star pupil Bertie Takseel who was arrested, and then removed from school grounds.

I told Amelia about how Bertie cheated at the competition and I think the part that she found most satisfying was to hear that she was right. I hoped she would be able to share that with the other police so it could all be in the police report. From what I heard from Mitchum and Gail, Alejandra still keeps in touch with Priya. It's good she has a friend throughout this. The school recognized that it was Priya who did most of the work that kept her husband on the honor roll and up for a scholarship. I want my name to be kept out of it even though I know I should feel good about it but helping other people with their problems is a good distraction. I don't have that same skill for my own but I'm glad everything worked out and I didn't have to be involved.

Then the school promised Priya that when she was ready they would always have a place for her. I heard from Mitchum that next week a self-defense club is starting in the auditorium on the evenings of weekdays. They got enough people to apply and it was open to both teachers and students since the school now welcomed the idea. I guess it made them look good in front of the press also as even a certified self-defense teacher was obtained.

Amelia, her roommate along with Gail joined and that was how Homer heard about it. I don't mean to sound judgemental but the guy already has anger issues, should he really be allowed to join a club like that?

I also know they all would want me to join but that's why I was avoiding them all as much as possible. I wasn't into learning ways to hurt people and besides I wouldn't have the energy for it. I barely have enough to do the necessary things, so I can't add anything more to the mix.

In any case, I'm glad Chief Trust kept her word and just told the superiors in the school that 'a concerned student' helped. Otherwise, people would start asking for me like Amelia did. My goal was not to stand out as I just wanted to come here to see if a change would make a difference for me. It didn't, and I was a fool for thinking it would. I had told Mitchum he would be fine even if he came here alone as he fits in with everyone he meets. But since I got accepted he was excited and I couldn't let him down. If it wasn't for him I'd never have made it this far and I'll tell him that soon enough.

My laptop screen went dark as I was mostly spacing out now rather than typing anything. I see a slight reflection of me in it and it's as if I was transported back home where I could hear my dad's voice yelling and pounding the door behind me. Whenever I tried to help the woman he brought home get off the floor. He hit me as he screamed about how I was just like my useless mom and that I should mind my own business.

My chess starts to feel tight and I reach for my headphones like I had always done when I had to pick myself up and lock myself in my room after a fight with Dad. The music doesn't help but it blocks out the yelling at least. Maybe it could help with the memory of it too.

Time to change the topic, I think Mitchum also told me that they were also planning a memorial ceremony for his friend. He's going to be one of the speakers along with her brother. I just want to stay out of his way but I know he'll want me to show up on the day cause he made that clear. I don't understand why as he's a popular well-liked person with a lot of friends at this school already. Exactly why he insists that I be there for what he called moral support is weird. It's not like I have a part and I never really met the girl but I owe him that much. He comes with me when I need him but I'm not sure how dependable I am socially.

But he has been acting a bit different toward me but it's not something I can complain about. I heard him talking to his parents when he called them a couple of nights back. I didn't eavesdrop but I heard my name and I kind of just thought he was telling them about what happened that day with Priya. But not long after that I felt like his eyes were on me a bit more and it wouldn't really bother me but it was at the most inconvenient times.

It could just be my imagination but just yesterday he met me in the park grounds where I usually sit at lunchtime by myself while everyone is crowded in the cafeteria and he shows up with lunch for both of us. I thought it was because of the loss of his friend and wanted company but he had other friends he could have a fun time with.

Then he took out a bowl of noodles that were stir-fried which he knew I used to like but these days I could barely stomach anything even if I already skipped breakfast. I only made it through half of it and told him I was saving it for later and made up some excuse to leave. He nodded and told me he would bring up some more after classes and I felt my stomach churning at the thought. It's still all under my bed and I'm waiting for a good time to throw it out. Maybe I should do that now since he must be sound asleep.

I got up to go into my room and took out the bowl that I cleaned out into a plastic bag and washed the bowl. Thankfully it wasn't really stale to leave an odor but you couldn't eat it. As I tied the plastic bag with the food in it I wondered what he's been saying to his parents about me. I know that once they have an opinion, the whole neighborhood will also. They do a lot of youth counseling and other community services so if they think I'm no good either, it will put me in the same category as my father.

I guess that shouldn't matter to me anyway, since I don't plan on seeing him or anyone else from that neighborhood ever again. Mitchum will be alright and he has his family and a lot of friends there. I only ever was close with him and his parents but I'm grateful to him though. He made living there somewhat bearable.

What time is it now anyway? I thought as I pressed on my laptop screen and looked at the lower left corner. It was exactly three in the morning and here I was sitting in front of a computer still listening to music through my headphones so I could keep busy by finishing one of my final projects for the term and planning to throw out my lunch.

It's Saturday morning now and it appears it is just another sleepless night. Unlike high school, where I couldn't get out of bed; it would seem like I couldn't get in. After making sure the bag of food was securely tightened and then put it in the back of the fridge to deal with later in the morning I rested on the back of the chair to ease my soar back. The only explanation I could think of was that I was in a different kind of rut.

Then I felt a tap on my shoulder that startled me and I turned around only to see Mitchum with a glass of water in his left hand staring at me with what looked like concern as his head tilted and his eyes narrowed. When we first came here he would normally sleep through the night but this is the fifth time he's been up and caught me. This is too often for it to be a consequence; how much did he see?