Vital

Sleeping alone at my house really was a nightmare. No wonder my mom didn't want me here alone. I'm used to being here alone til like nine at night. But all night? I couldn't even sleep in my room, I was such a baby I had to crawl in my parents bed. I even locked their door and rehearsed through my mind of how we need to get a dog. One that will bark and warn me if anyone was here. Some how, however, the thoughts of getting a dog soothed my mind and I drifted to sleep.

"So, she said a date?" Gabriella asked the next day as we sat at lunch. Yes, I tell her everything. Yes, she is very nosy.

"Yeah," I groaned. "Not sure if I actually have to, or if I can just ask him. Get rejected and done, over with."

"Hmm. Who knows." She shrugged, taking a bite of her apple. Suddenly Nathan appeared and sat next to her.

"Hi," he greeted, shifting his eyes to her then resting them on me.

"Hi," she quietly replied, widening her eyes at me and biting her bottom lip. I just nodded.

"Did you two hear about the sudden test we'll be having?" He inquired, then shifted his attention to Gaby. "That is if you have Mr D?"

"Nope." She shook her head, then continued eating her apple.

"What time did you end up leaving for school this morning?" He addressed me, taking a bite of his greasy pizza. "I didn't see you walking."

"I leave early," I simply answer, eating some of my hot Cheetos.

"How early?" He quirked a brow.

"Really. Early." I couldn't help but laugh then stand. "I'll see you later, Gaby."

"Okay," she muttered, then shifted her attention to Nathan. I could tell she was contemplating whether or not she should leave him there and follow me. Considering we always hang out, but I wondered if her attraction towards him kept her sitting there.

"Hello." I heard and turned to see Samantha.

"Hi?" I replied to the blond girl. A small smile played across her thick lips, as her dimples showed through her smile. "How are you?"

"Good," I cautiously answer, furrowing my brows.

"You're Gaby's friend, right?" She inquired. At which I nodded, noticing her bright blue eyes seem to be more hopeful once I answered that. "She's told me about you."

"Ah, huh." I looked around, wondering if this was some joke that David put Samantha up to. I mean honestly why is she talking to me about Gabriella? "Can I help you with something?"

"No, I just wanted to meet you." She shrugged her tiny shoulders then hurried off to the bathroom. I stared at her with confusion, the complete randomness of that was horrific. I am not used to random people talking to me, unless it was about business.

"What the hell are you doing with Nathan?" David appeared out of no where, causing me to jump in his direction after staring at the direction Samantha just left from. Strike two.

"What the hell are you talking about?" I replied with just as much hostility. Still not fully cooped from Samantha's surprise visit.

"You know what I am talking about," he hissed, looking around. "Follow me."

"No," I dryly decline but he yanked me into an empty classroom anyways. "This should have been locked."

"Well it never is," he spat, then looked me over. "If you hadn't noticed, Monique. I am taking Nate under my wing."

"Nate?" I repeat with a snort.

"Yes, Nate," he confirmed. "Now leave him alone and quit talking to him."

"I do not talk to him," I corrected. "He talks to me. Let the jury note that he talks to me and not the other way around," I sarcastically spoke to the empty chairs.

"No, this isn't funny, Monique," he sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Not funny at all."

"Afraid he's going to steal your popularity?" I tease.

"Hell no." Immediately he laughed. "Did you just say that? He looks Gay. No way is that going to take my thrown," he scoffed, fixing his shirt. "I'm just saying. I have shorter hair, he has longer hair. He's what is in for now, and I plan to take advantage of it. So butt out."

"Yeah, yeah." I put my hand on the door handle when David grabbed my arm.

"No, really. Don't drag him into your drug infested life," he spat, then shoved the door open and hurried out first. I stood there shocked at his words, infested? Like I was some sort of disease! I stalked down the hall way when the bell rang. I was too furious to care and continued to find him. Once the target was reached, I grabbed his arm and he turned around. At this point I couldn't stop myself and my fist flew.

"You missed?" Gabriella laughed as we walked after school. Yes, after school. I was humiliated enough as it was to even describe the rest of the events.

"Yeah." I frowned, watching as those that saw stifled a laugh and those that heard did the same.

"To attack David like that. Out in the open?" She giggled again.

"Stop Gaby, it's touchy for me. Look at everyone, now they're going to question me again. Not like they weren't wondering enough as it was when stupid Nathan kept coming around," I grumbled, as we passed the school gates leading to the outside. "Speaking of which."

"Hmm?" Gaby inquired, stopping in the spot that we have separated our paths at for the past few days now.

"The most random person approached me today at school," I informed, sucking my lips into my mouth and then smacked them together. When she didn't ask, I decided to continue. "Samantha."

"Oh. Really." She didn't seem too surprised.

"Yeah, she was asking about you." I shrugged.

"Odd," she commented, then hurried off.

"Okay then, see you tomorrow." I furrowed my brows then continued to walk. Just like last time Nathan caught up to me.

"Heard you almost punched David," he finally spoke. He didn't speak to me at all in sixth period, he was getting the hint more and more.

"Yeah," I muttered, chewing the inside of my lip.

"What did he say that was so bad?" He chuckled. For once someone was smart and didn't assume horrific reasons; like the others did.

"How do you know it's because he said something?" I inquire, quirking a brow.

"Well, I am sure you aren't jealous of him. That rumor is overrated. Or that he took your virginity and rejected you afterward. That'd just be ludicrous," he explained, that crooked smile appearing on his lips again.

"What makes you come up with that?" I tilted my head to the side and stopped walking. He too stopped, after realizing I did, then turned to me with a big grin.

"You don't like attention, so jealousy is out of the picture. And you carry yourself as a girl with a bit more respect than to go having sex with someone like him, plus it all goes back to the lack of wanting attention. That plays a big part in it. People don't know you well enough to be making up rumors, honestly," he answered with a chuckle. We both continued walking again, and I took his logic into consideration.

"However, you don't know me neither," I spoke aloud, then looked at the floor as we marched in step again.

"It's obvious that I know you better than they do," he stated. "Even if it is a little. Plus, I look at it this way. No one really knows anyone, they just see what the other person allows them to see."

I looked at Nathan, shocked.

"Nice," I commented, as we made it to our dirt side walk. A group of guys stood a few feet away from us, blocking our path if we chose to continue forward. "Let's head back."

"Naw, don't worry about them," He assured, wrapping an arm around me and we continued walking straight.

"Do you have a death wish?" I whispered, freaking out.

"Hello," he greeted the guys as we walked between the group. I never felt my heart race so much as it did when we walked by one guy in particular. Honestly I imagined a knife getting brought out and us getting stabbed.

"Home boy, you are crazy," I said with all seriousness. But Nathan just laughed and stared at me with that crooked smile.

"If our fate was to get killed by those guys. Well it would've happened sooner or later," he reasoned, kissing my cheek before walking off. I stared at his turned back then opened my gate. Walking between the opening of the brick wall, that leads to smaller fences. It was pathetic how society shunned us out and couldn't continue the brick walls in our back yards so that it looked decent. Instead everyone has little fences that went to my mid-thigh that butted up against the brick wall. I glanced over and saw Nathan, he stopped then looked at me. Causing me to jump up and quickly rush inside the house. I finished my homework, studied, and even ate dinner.

Come on. Pick up. I growled in my mind as I called my mom. Pretty stuffed from my cheese pizza.

"Hey, sweetie," my mom answered.

"Mom, when are you going to be home?" I felt like I was asking for that for the millionth time these past few days.

"We are coming home in two days," she assured. I could practically see the warm smile on her face.

"Yay! Also, can we get a dog?" I hastily suggested.

"A dog?" She repeated.

"A dog?!" My dad exclaimed in the back ground.

"No, no dogs," she declined.

"They are too expensive!" My dad faintly reasoned.

"Okay. No dog then." I frown. "Love you both."

"We love you too! Good night!"

"Good night." Then we hung up.

I heard two gun shots as soon as I was off the phone. I quickly checked the doors and made sure they were locked. Once that was done, I darted into my parents bedroom. I crawled into their bed and sat up right. I just wish they'd come home already, maybe tomorrow night I'll sleep at David's.

...

"You look like shit," Nathan commented, this time I actually walked to his house and knocked on the door. So that we could walk to school together.

"Yeah," I muttered.

"No sleep?" He suggested, at which I laughed. "I actually didn't sleep that bad. Though the gun shots kept me up," he explained, that crooked smile slowly appearing on his face. "I thought it might have been you."

"Oh, ha, ha. Funny," I sarcastically joined, then yawned.

"You can always crash at my house. I don't have an extra room, but my bed is comfy," he offered, at which I actually did laugh.

"Nice pick up line, but I decline that offer." I rolled my eyes. All guys apparently are the same.

"Hey, I never said I was sleeping on the bed with you or even hinted to any sexual activity. It's not my fault you have a dirty mind," he verified, then hurried in front of me. Did I really hurt his feelings by assuming perverted things?

"Well, my apologies if how you worded it sounded like you wanted me in bed or something," I spoke, catching up to him.

"Thanks, I'm really not like that." He shook his head, looking at the floor as we walked. "I'm not like that at all actually."

"Good." I smiled, bumping into him on purpose. He looked up at me with that same old stupid crooked smile as we walked inside the school together. Gabriella spotted us both with her brows raised.

"People are going to start questioning," she whispered in a high pitch tone, glancing around.

"Oh let them." I shrugged. "Nathan is cool," I added, as he walked over towards David and David's group of friends. Gaby and I both watched then went about our business.

"You wont be saying that when you're the center of attention," she warned, when we passed by Samantha. They both locked eyes then looked away. I couldn't help but feel the curiosity rise from my thoughts then escape through my lips.

"So what's up with that Sam chick anyways?" I ask.

"Nothing." Gaby shrugs.

"I'm confused, Gabs. You always tell me everything." I let out a frustrated breath as Gabriella quickened her pace.

"I know, but there are some things I'd prefer not to talk about. Just petty drama, you know," she laughed, trying to play it off.

"Fine," I sighed, staring at Sam again. "If she wants Conner like you do, tell her she's way out of his league as well."

"No it's not Conner." She assured.

"Fine, Nathan then." I giggled.

"You're such a dork, Moni," Gabriella teased, and we both walked to our homeroom.