It was the day before prom, and the atmosphere was pretty, cheesy. Ballots were giving their lasts shots voting on who's going to be prom king and queen. Tickets were still being sold by mind at the front desk for the late buyers. And from cheesy notes clung onto remote controlled cars to old school style with balloon shaped hearts, prom-posals were hitting their highest rate today. Of course, the guys quivered and the girls anticipated, but it was the day before prom like I'd mentioned and that was completely normal at Clasrison High. As for me, I'd joined the casual teens, not exactly waiting for a prom date at all on the contrary, in fact I wasn't awaiting anything. The hospital had released me earlier this morning with a minor warning that I need not to return to my learning habits till at least a week later. They said exposing yourself to overwhelming situations and overcrowded communities could overwhelm my brain and make the infirmary my home once again, so I wasn't exactly allowed to go to school and attended like any other.

Granted I wasn't repassing any laws, I'd come to school to speak with Mrs. Anne. I couldn't quite sleep in peace, for in my mind it had boggled me the way things rested between me and my teacher. I wanted to apologize and stop her from grading that piece of garbage, and instead give her a much more pleasing and acceptable one that I could receive an A for in its place.

I couldn't bring home a paper that was lower than an A. It was just very discourteous. I had to bring something much higher than average, otherwise to my parents I wasn't a Princeton. I was just Sadie. Yet I knew convincing Mrs. Anne to give me an A for a paper that had little to zero to do with the subject itself would be rather hard and challenging, but 'id crossed my fingers I could at least reach towards a compromise. Volunteer work would possibly do it.

"Is Mrs. Anne on her way Mrs. Greenwood?" I questioned the receptionist, who had been vigorously typing away across the keyboard of her desktop. Nodding, she pushed down her glasses. "A good minute" She explains, giving me a butterfly in my gut, because of fear. What would I say, once she arrived? What if she changes her mind, and decides to swat me away, as I would be a waste of her time since I'd completely embarrassed myself in front of everyone with that hideous paper. But what were the odds?

So, I'd sat impatiently waiting for Mrs. Anne's face to show up in the main office. The receptionist had told me to wait, and I was waiting with apprehension. I'd been anxious, not really interested in seeing or having to face anyone at this time. I'd worn low-profile today. Pumps pushed out for a pair of nice sneakers, my signature skirts shoved away for a pair of loose jeans, and a sun hat with black designer shades to top it off. I'd looked like. A celebrity out for a piece of fresh air, dressed up for paparazzi whether.

"Sadie" I turned away from the door and looked over at her, relieved to see my teacher, though I'd wished it were in better circumstances. I stood up and faced my English teacher of two years with none other than a handshake. Missing class was very unlike me, and I had felt like a delinquent yet I had no choice to face her this way.

"Mrs. Anne, I-

"How are you feeling Sadie? You'd given me a heart attack yesterday" She emphasizes her concern, and I couldn't even properly ingest her question. I was too keen to explain the situation on the assignment. Not if I was fine or not, clearly, I wasn't fine.

If I wasn't going to get that A, I wasn't going to be.

"Mrs. Anne I am very sorry for my paper I'd submitted yesterday. It was very not like of me, and it was also very rude. I assure you it was an accident and I will submit a new one and a much more revised version next week" I attempt to apologize to her, rumbling frantically as I'd shown her a paper I was currently working on. She smiled with pity and went through her folder that she brought along with her, when she'd entered the office.

"I promise you Mrs. Anne I won't disappoint you again, just please don't grade that paper" I plead, asking her for the simplest mercy.

She laughed quick enough.

"Oh, darling there's no need. I have already graded it" She simply explains retrieving a crumbled-up paper from in her binder. I gape, at her words. I have already graded it.

I groan internally. She'd already graded it, meaning I had to be ready to accept whatever grade she'd marked against the paper. I'd estimated at the least. B would be something I could swallow, but anything below that would end up shredded before I left this room. I didn't know how to tell her that I couldn't take it home.

"What, no you can't do that Mrs. Anne, my parents will surely be disappointed if my grades are-

"An A?" I furrowed my eyebrows as the papers she sifted from her binders landed in my hands and truly having retrieved it I still couldn't believe what my eyes were seeing. Was it actually an A? Impossible. I was bloody dreaming.

She nodded giving a forwarding smile. "Yes, Sadie, that's an A. You deserved it "She mentions pointing her frail frisky finger at the grade. I opened my mouth ready to speak yet the moment I'd opened it no words had uttered. I was speechless, yet rattled a million questions in my head, and I had still to process to ask her once at a time.

I sighed dropping my arms to both my sides, confused to the core. "But, my presentation? I don't understand. It was horrible" I laugh nervously state trying to make sense of why'd she even considered giving me an A. And why she'd stood proud enough to explain that I'd deserved it.

"It was raw, and real. That's all I wanted Sadie. Suddenly after your presentation, people began to reflect over themselves. Sadie your essay was an inspiration to your fellow peers, whatever it is that you're going through Sadie, you can handle it. I know you do, because you're strong and I have faith in you" She compliments me suddenly going very deep into the conversation that I'd imagined to last probably two minutes maximum. It generally consisted me begging, her refusing, and me burning up the graded assignment.

I was humbled, and somewhat touched by what she'd said about me. She said I was strong, and that actually hit me somewhere.

"I-I don't know what to say. I was expecting something rather completely different" I admit resting my hand against my forehead, but she'd rested hers touching my shoulder slightly.

"Stop doubting yourself" She winks smiling at me as I had plastered a somewhat happy growing face.

"Thank you, Mrs. Anne. Thank you so much" I acknowledge her help and she simply nodded.

"Anytime, and between the two of us, you're still my favorite student" she whispers making me chuckle. This defiantly didn't go as planned. I was ready to beg her for a reconsideration, when she'd begged me to believe my presentation was amazing. Clearly, we were on different pages, and clearly my page was overdue. Suddenly my paper was a game changer, and maybe I did owe Jaxon much more than advice for what he'd done. But it could all wait, since now I was just relieved, and happy that I had gotten my A, and I didn't need to waste a fresh layer of mascara to have received it otherwise.

I smiled, and took a deep breath once Mrs. Anne encouraged me to go enjoy and stop worrying over grades, and feel the raw and real world. And I had somewhat thought of doing so.

I walked out of the principal's office. I'd walked out of there a different person. And maybe I wasn't completely different. I still had my bone curls, and my black pumps. I still had my name; I was still Sadie Princeton. But walking out, I'd walked out as one. I walked out alone. I walked out leaving old Sadie behind. I walked out and I wasn't looking back, because for the first time in a long time I felt like I was doing something, something good, for me.

I was finally-

THUMP!

Suddenly my head had moved a 360 circle as a cold hard body had crashed into mine. I was dropped to the ground, sending my purse and all my belongings flying around. I was suddenly feeling a very bad vibe than I had a minuet earlier and got onto my feet ready to exasperated my anger towards the one who'd dropped me down during my enthusiasm walk. Because clearly, I'd spoken to early about things going my way, since obviously all things had done so far was fall.

But taking a look at who it was I suddenly didn't want to. In front of me stood-

"Connor?" I questioned suddenly puzzled at his presence in the hall ways, mind you his entire torso was bare skin. I was completely aware that Connor had no issues in finding something to cover it, but was this all about?

He'd felt flustered slightly scratching the nape of his neck. "Hey Sadie, what are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be home" He mentions as he bent down helping me retrieve my stuff that had fallen down, trying not to make direct eye contact with me. I tried not to stare at his abs neither and rather focus on the matter at hand.

Clearing my throat, I looked at him. "I was, I came to give in a few assignments, and actually talk to you" I mention realizing indeed I was planning to speak to Connor about something. I'd been hesitant at first, but then again, I think it would be very ideal. The longer it waits, the more threatening it becomes.

"Oh, I was actually going to come over after school, you want to talk then?" He suggests trying to head back to his fellow teammates running across the school campus in nothing but a pair of pants. Was I missing something, or were jocks suddenly doing prom-posals differently?

I shook my head at his options. "No actually this can't wait" I state trying to sound as serious as possible, as the issue itself was serious.

Hesitant, he'd given in taking off his helmet. "Oh, okay then"

"I'll catch up with you guys later!" He yelled over at his mates who'd agreed and looked back over at me. I sighed, and smiled weakly over at him.

"Connor, I've been thinking lately. I've been thinking a lot actually, and I there's a lot I've realized that I want to tell you" I explain trying to make sense of my words as I explain Connor my sudden discovery.

"What did you realize?" He questions, confused.

I breathed in deeply, trying to contain my emotions. "I've realized, that I've not been treating you the way I should have, I-I have been a bad girlfriend and there's nothing I can do to fix that"" I exclaim suddenly as my voice begins to dry out.

Connor puzzled by my sudden outburst tries to contain me. "Calm down Sadie. What makes you think you've treated me badly?"

"Everything Connor. I didn't realize it, and maybe I didn't want to, but it's true. I didn't know how bad I was treating you till I heard it come out from my own lips." I say referring to the English essay I'd read clearly explaining that I was using him, not loving him.

"What do you mean?" He knits his eyebrows very worried of my confession.

"I feel like I'm not being fair to you, you don't deserve to be treated like this. You're an amazing and sweet guy, great with parents, and you always put yourself after others" I mention great things about him to try and break things to him slowly."

He laughs bitterly suddenly getting a hint.

"Sadie what are you-are you breaking up with me? Is this about Jaxon?" He questions suddenly growing very furious. I feared I would get such a reaction, but I'd remained calm. If I wasn't calm, fire wouldn't fight fire.
"What? No" I furrow my eyebrows wondering why Jaxon was suddenly in my conversation.

"I know this isn't what you want to hear right now. All you want to do is go to prom with your girlfriend that you love. But I can't be that girl anymore, and I hope you can understand that"

Scoffing he suddenly closes his eyes wincing at what he was hearing. "This is ridiculous-

"I can't be your girlfriend anymore Connor. I can't be with you because I don't love you, and I never have, and I don't want to live that lie anymore"

I breathed out, finally getting it out of my system. I was ready to accept whatever came my way, I knew it was the right thing to do, so if it hurt now it would be better than it hurting much worse later. But he'd said nothing. His blue eyes spoke hurt, and I could tell they were breaking, but I continued anyway.

"It wasn't something you did or didn't do. And I am not just saying that I swear, if we could start again, things could've been different-

"Why can't we do that now?" He abruptly questions with a croaked voice. I wasn't sure if this was him breaking down. It hurt me to hurt him, but I had to rip the band aid off.

"We can't Connor, because I am not okay. I haven't been for more than six years. I don't want to drag you into my web of problems, at least not anymore. I thought that if I could convince myself to love you then you'd fall in love with me. But that was wrong. So wrong" I mention my head hung low for a second. "I'm not proud of it, but I couldn't do this any longer. You should go to prom with someone like Taylor, not me. Take her to the dance"

Connor rubbed his temples, and sighed in deeply. I didn't expect him to fogive this quickly, but it was worth a shot.

"Well, this suckS" He laughs with a light heart. I tried to shift my smile, but him breaking was tearing me apart inside too.

"I know, but at least I told you the truth" I shrug.

"I feel hurt, wow ehm...this sucks. But thank you Sadie for telling me. Though I wish you'd told me earlier. But how about you? Won't you go to prom?"

"All I want to do now, is work on myself, you know"

I'd felt, like I'd just made a huge mistake, but I hope somehow I did the right thing.

"Yeah, I guess I can respect that"

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