“Lils, I’m so done with highschool!” I complained.
Lily was used to my complaining. “What’s wrong, Ems?”
“I’m tired of being Miss America!”
“So am I.”
“I’ve been Miss America for over a century!”
“Em, calm down. You’re not in this alone, remember.”
“Yeah but Lil…”
“Emma, go to school.” Her persuasive ability was encouraging me.
“Lily…”
“Emma, go to school.”
“O-ok” I stuttered. Darn her persuasive power!
I threw on a Hollister shirt, a green one with a pink seagull. It was my favorite shirt, and Carli always encouraged me to wear my favorite shirt when I was depressed.
Stupid Lily, I thought as I opened my car door and got in behind the wheel. I glanced at Paige’s house as I passed it. Her big red truck was still in her driveway, cold and alone, waiting for her to drive to school.
My shiny cobalt cell phone rang incessantly. Ugh, I thought.
“Emma?” Alice.
“Alice?”
“Emma, I’m bailing school today. You wanna go hunting?”
“I would, Alice, but Lily persuaded me to go to school.”
“Ok. I’ll call Paige. Has she left yet?”
“No, her truck’s still in her driveway.”
“Great! Bye Ems!”
“Bye, Alice.”
I shut my phone and continued driving. Lucky Alice. I made a mental note: Don’t call Lily before school to complain!
When I arrived at school, Lily dragged me to my locker.
“Em, you came!” She hugged me, even though she knew full well I would come.
I opened my locker and got my books. With supernatural strength, I carried them to my homeroom with ease. The first three periods were a blur. When I got to lunch, I nearly fell out of my seat.
Walking through the cafeteria, I spotted a new guy. Normally I wouldn’t care, but I recognized him. From over a century ago.
“Why is he here?” I whispered to myself.
“Hmm?” Rosalie had heard me.
I didn’t hear her. “Why?” I whispered again.
“I gotta… um… I gotta go.” I made my escape to the girl’s bathroom.
“Why? WHY?” I screamed, safely alone.
“Emma? Aren’t you Emma?” A blonde girl with brown eyes came from a stall.
It was Candace, one of Carli’s human friends.
“Hello.” I said, coldly. I didn’t hide the venom in my voice.
Candace stared at me oddly, and then left quickly.
“Why? Why? Why now? Why here? Why today? Why?” I repeated over and over again.
“Em? Emma, are you in here?” Carli’s voice called softly.
“How?” I asked simply.
“Candace said she saw you in here.” Of course.
“What’s your deal, Ems?” Carli sounded concerned.
“Nothing.” I uttered. “I’m fine, Carls.”
Carli looked unsure, but left me alone in the bathroom.
As soon as she was gone, I crept out and ran, hopefully not looking abnormal, and took off in my car to my own home.
“Why?” I asked myself the whole way.
I had just made it to my bedroom when there was a knock at the door.
I hesitated. Finally I opened it.
“What do you want?” I hissed.
It was my sister, Katerina.