Mentally, I was unprepared, physically I was for tutoring. English isn't a bad subject to study but having to stay back after hours isn't something I was very fond of. Mr Turner may be friendly and all but I could tell that it was going to get tense between the three of us with Daniel joining in. Daniel hasn't stopped trying to provoke Mr Turner in class considering today he did the same thing. I could tell Mr Turner was trying to hold back his anger and trying to be professional in front of Mr Delgado who was watching him like a hawk, watching to see how he would handle the situation. 

Daniel today had stormed out of class after refusing to go to the principal's office. His anger towards Mr Turner was starting to worry me. I'm unsure as to why he keeps trying to start a fight with him but it will not end well for either of them if they do act on their anger. After I said goodbye to Evelyn, Kylee and Ruby, I headed over to Daniel waiting for me in the car park. I had to wait until Evelyn left with Kylee and Ruby. He was sitting on the hood of his truck and smoking with a scowl. I told him in class today that he didn't have to come with me but he insisted that he does. He was already pretty good at the subject, better than me so there was no need for him to join. I appreciated that he didn't want to leave me alone but I know there'll still be the librarian and a few teachers on school grounds.

"Someone's unhappy?" I teased. Daniel rolled his eyes before flicking his cigarette onto the concrete and stepping on it. "Are you ok?" I asked with a frown and tilted head. Daniel sighed and finally looked me in the eyes, smiling reassuringly. 

"Yeah, I'm fine, don't worry about me."

"But you're still pissed."

"I'm only pissed at that bastard, now we have to spend an hour with him" he grumbled bitterly. I shook my head, my lips unintentionally curving up. 

"You know, I appreciate you coming with me, it's nice of you to do that even though it's not the ideal thing to be doing after school every Monday and Friday," I said.

"I wasn't going to leave you alone with him when you looked like you wanted someone there with you" he shrugged. It was true, unfortunately. I didn't want to be alone, I wanted company so I wasn't the only one being tutored.  

"Well, we better head to the library and get this over with" I mumbled before sighing. 

Daniel huffed before wrapping his arm around my waist to guide me to the library. Mr Turner was sitting at a table with some sheets spread out and the book 'War and Peace' in front of him. It was what we were currently reading in class. I greeted Mr Turner with a smile before sitting across from him. Daniel may have remained silent but I was just pleased he didn't glare at Mr Turner or anything. Mr Turner, however, looked tense at Daniel's blank stare. He turned to me to give me a friendly smile to which I returned to ease the tension and somehow reassure him that Daniel won't do anything. I then cleared my throat and spoke up since none of these two will.

"Shall we start sir?" 

"Uh yeah, right, let's start." 

We then began the tutoring session. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be with Daniel by my side. I was luckily able to understand the book after he explained it to me thoroughly with some of his notes. At one point though when Mr Turner had leaned closer to me look at what I was pointing at in the book, Daniel instantly narrowed his eyes. He managed to relax after I placed my hand on top of his under the table. After he was able to concentrate, well, not really. He concentrated for half of it and dozed off the other half. It was cute to see him try to keep himself awake while trying to listen. 

Once we were done, we left and got into Daniel's truck before heading off to take me home. Now I have homework to do, which is bound to make me even more tired than I already am after staying up until three in the morning. I'm surprised I didn't doze off myself and remained focus without losing my train of thoughts. The whole ride home, I kept teasing Daniel about how possessive he was back at the library. He had just rolled his eyes and huffed though I saw the twitch of his lips.  

Daniel soon stopped in front of my house and I hugged him goodbye before heading inside. I stepped into my empty house. No matter what, the loneliness always killed me a little inside. I should be happy at how much my mother works for us but she overworks herself and barely comes home, only to sleep for a couple of hours and leave before I could even see her. It's a rare occasion where she'll come home and spend the day with me or be able to have lunch or dinner with me. It's almost like she's doesn't live here. I don't even know how to get her to ease up and stop overworking herself.

I miss the times from when I was middle school where everything was normal and peaceful until it all turned to shit. My one and only friend, Maddie, would come over whenever I got to a point where I would break down and doubt my self-worth after my father would shout and spit out words that no kid or just anyone, in general, should ever hear. She knew about my situation at home and probably the only one that knows the full story because she was there most of the times when my parents would scream and fight. I never wanted to bother Evelyn with my problems, that's why I haven't told her. Now I just don't want to talk about it. I don't know how to, not without flashbacks, the aching feeling in my chest and familiar sting in my eyes.

The good thing about this place is that the people are better and make me forget about reality whenever they're around me. I huffed as I entered my room and collapsed onto my bed. I then took my glasses and homework out of my bag before starting on it so that I could paint something. I may be tired but not tired enough to prevent me from the one thing I love and soothes my mind. I was startled out of my thoughts when my phone rang just when I had finished my work. 

"Yes?" I answered with a yawn.

"Why do you sound dead?" Ruby's familiar voice echoed through the speaker.

"Well hello to you too Ruby" I mumbled sarcastically. 

"Are you seriously tired right now? It's only six o'clock" Ruby chuckled. I didn't realise what time it was nor did I know that it had passed that fast. 

"Well excuse me for being tired after having to go through school, then tutoring, then come home to do homework, my brain is fried" I complained. It was an over-exaggeration because I still had enough energy to paint.

"Oh dear, you poor child" she teased. I rolled my eyes.

"I will hang up this phone if you don't tell me why you called" I threatened though I wouldn't.

"Alright, alright, grumpy pants, anyway I called to tell you to get your ass up and get down to 'Little Grind Cafe' to meet Kylee, Evelyn and I" Ruby ordered. I raised a questioning brow. It was already late, not many cafes should still be open at this time. I didn't even know where the place was. 

"Now? Why now?" I asked.

"Because we just want to hang out now get your butt down here!" Ruby shouted making me flinch. It rang through my ears. I forget how loud my friends can be at just any time of the day. 

"Ok, ok, fine, just let me get dress and figure out where the cafe is" I complied as I stood up from my bed. 

"It's not far from yours, should be a ten-minute walk at least" Ruby stated.

"I sure hope so for your sake Ruby" I jokingly warned.

We said goodbye before hanging up. I quickly changed my clothes and tied my hair in a ponytail before leaving the house. I followed the directions that Ruby sent me. As I listened to my music, I glanced up at the sunset with a smile. The yellow and orange from the sun contrasted with the blue, pink and purple of the sky. It was mesmerising. I don't know why I never go out in my backyard or on my balcony to watch the sunset more often. Now I will to admire as day turns to night, from beautiful bright colours of the day to the darkness of the night.

Once I got to the cafe, I greeted my friends with a hug each before sitting down next to Evelyn. She handed me a cup of piping hot tea, English Breakfast tea to be exact. I grinned with excitement. I'm so glad that she got me my favourite. I took a sip and sighed in content as the others laughed at me. I'm not a coffee person, tea is the only way to my heart and maybe hot chocolate during the Christmas holidays. While talking amongst each other, they tried to get me to discuss my upcoming birthday but I shut down any ideas they may have had. I wasn't planning on doing anything. 

On my birthday I always stay at home either reading or creating something and watching my favourite movie while I eat take out. Not the most exciting thing to do but I either had Evelyn with me or Maddie if Evelyn couldn't come because of a school night. It's like tradition but less exciting. My mother would occasionally spend the day with me when she was able to take the day off but sometimes she wouldn't be able to. They tried to persuade me to go out somewhere special but I refused to. I didn't want to go all out for my birthday. I'd rather have a night with friends. Thank god they dropped it after they figured I wasn't going to agree, I was going to remain stubborn. 

The first one to leave was Evelyn when she left to go meet up with some guy. She never gave a name but maybe it's with that Fletcher guy. I don't know but I didn't press for further information. Kylee, Ruby and I headed back to mine not long after she left. They were going to sleepover even though it was a school night. At least now I won't be alone at home though I made sure to let my mother know so she wouldn't be surprised when she gets backs home. While Kylee drove us back, Ruby rambled on about Damian since everything went great when they went out last night. They're not dating yet, they're just hanging out at the moment as friends. Ruby is waiting for Damian to make the first move and ask her out. I'm just happy for her, at least there's a chance between the two.

I flopped onto my couch as soon as we entered my house. Kylee lied down on the carpet and closed her eyes while Ruby immediately went behind us, to the kitchen. I invited Evelyn to stay over after she was done but declined the offer, saying that it was ok and that she was just going to stay over at the person's house then catch a ride with them tomorrow. We agreed that she message me tomorrow morning and as soon as she got to her friend's house so that I knew she was safe. 

I watched as Ruby and Kylee played some poker. Ruby would get frustrated and almost throw down her cards whenever she'd lose since they playing for the little cash that they had in their pockets. I knew how to play considering my grandmother taught me. We'd always play the game against each other with my mother but we never used money, just food or for fun. When the doorbell rang, Ruby shot up and sprinted towards the door. Kylee and I laughed at how eager she was since that must have been the pizza guy.

"Oh my goodness yes! The pizza is here bitches! I can finally end this hunger!" Ruby exclaimed when she returned with two boxes of pizza in her hand. I shook my head while Kylee rolled her eyes. Ruby joined in to sit around the coffee table in the middle to start eating.

"So how was your tutoring session with Mr Tucker?" Ruby asked with a mouthful of food. 

"Firstly, It's Turner and secondly, it went well though Daniel kept dozing off every five minutes and made him uneasy" I replied. It was creepy to see Ruby and Kylee smirk at each other. I will never understand these two or what goes through their head.

"Was someone being possessive?" Ruby sang.

"No, he was being protective, there's a difference" I corrected her.

"See, I don't think you see the hearts in his eyes when he looks at you as if you're the only girl in the fucking planet" Kylee stated.

"I doubt that's true, this isn't a cartoon" I denied her claim. Ruby groaned and fell back onto the couch with her head on my lap while Kylee huffed in annoyance. They gave up trying to convince me after noticing that I was going to remain stubborn.

Ruby was the one to change the topic by mentioning that she wanted to throw a party during Halloween where we all dress up. Kylee agreed to go but I was a little hesitant. As much as I loved dressing up, I didn't know if I should go to a party when I haven't been to one in two years and this time I'd be surrounded by unfamiliar people. It took a while before they were able to convince me to go, only for them. I just didn't want to be left alone on the day of the party. Though maybe it'll be fun. 

While they were watching a film that I wasn't particularly interested in, I messaged Daniel about tomorrow not needing a ride. Not even a minute went by when I got a call for him. Ruby and Kylee turned to stare at me with their curious gaze. I ignored the looks they were giving me and headed outside to answer. I could hear his friends yelling and laughing in the background as he talked. He could barely get a word in without being interrupted by his friends teasing him. I let out a small laugh when they kept saying that he was'whipped' just because he still wanted to drop me off in the morning. 

After hanging up, I walked inside to sit back next to Ruby though they were both staring at me again. Ruby had wide eager eyes while Kylee tilted her head. They were looking at me as if expecting to say something interesting or something. "Can I help you two?" I asked with a raised brow.

"You two are so adorable, look at you always wanting to spend time together" Ruby teased. My eyes widened while I gaped at them. 

"You guys were eavesdropping on my conversation!?" I exclaimed. 

"Of course we did, why wouldn't we?" Kylee shrugged. I probably shouldn't be surprised. I was only in the backyard with only a glass door to separate me from the living room where they were. They either heard me through the closed glass door or they opened it slightly to hear me more clearly. 

Mental note: next time go to room when on a call with Daniel around Ruby and Kylee

"Please just don't over-analyze this" I pleaded. Ruby frowned. 

"Because it'll give you hope?" Kylee asked. I nodded and looked down at my lap while fiddling with the hem of my shirt.

"It's ok to have hope, I mean you don't know what the future holds, maybe he'll ask you out soon" Ruby suggested.

"Hey maybe," I said sarcastically with a shrug.

The conversation ended after that. When the two fell asleep around midnight, I decided to grab my sketchbook and pencil and sat at the wooden bench attached to the picnic table in the backyard. The drawing was of my old childhood home at night with the familiar full moon in the background. Looking out of the window of the second floor that looked out onto the backyard was a girl, similar to me but younger, admiring the stars with the mother beside her who was pointing to a specific constellation. The one named 'Lyra' where one of the brightest stars shine.

I know my mother never wanted to move. It was forced upon us, we were desperate with no house of our own. She tried to hide how upset she was but before we moved, when we had to stay at my grandmother's place, I would hear her cry at night. I used to go into her room to comfort her. I was her daughter, I didn't need actions to see that she was upset, her eyes alone showed it. The house had many memories but there isn't one anymore, it's destroyed with nothing left but burnt ashes and rubble. Something done out of rage and jealousy. Some were bad but the good ones were kept within us, bringing nostalgia that sends an aching feeling to my chest. Now, she's slowly getting used to being in a new area with new people that are different from what we're used to. 

I took a deep shaky breath and wiped the lone tear from my cheek. I didn't even know I was starting to tear up. I walked back inside to see my mother entering the kitchen to put her keys on the counter. "Welcome back" I greeted quietly with a small smile.

"Thank you, are you alright? Why are you up so late on a school night?" she asked with a frown. She was trying to keep herself awake but her eyes were drooping close. 

"I'm alright, I just didn't notice the time go by while I was drawing" I admitted.

"You sure?" she looked at me sceptically.

"I'm fine, I promise" I reassured her.

"Alright well, I hope you know that you can come talk to me if you need someone ok? At times I may be tired or working but that doesn't mean I'm not able to be there when my own daughter needs me" she stated. I smiled. I always admired the way she still made time for her family when they needed her the most. When it came to family, she won't let anyone or anything hold her back. 

"Thank you, mum, I'll keep that in mind, I always do, I know how much you care," I said. 

"Good, now get some sleep ok?" she ordered. I nodded before she kissed my forehead and went upstairs to go to sleep. I decided to join the two in sleeping in the living room. I lied down on the other end of the coffee table since Ruby had occupied the whole couch. I curled up against the pillow. Just as I was about to doze off, my phone buzzed in my pocket. It was from Daniel. It was a simple message but still managed to make me blush, which wrote:

Goodnight beautiful