-The Next Day-
I woke up in my bed to my alarm clock. I rolled over, stopped the alarm, and went to the bathroom for my daily routine. I took a shower, when I got out, I got dressed in a band tee and black skinny jeans. I went back in the bathroom and blow dried my hair. Suddenly, Sean was behind me and I nearly hit him in the face when he poked me.
"Don't do that!" I yelled hitting him upside his head, playfully. He sat on the counter that had all my hair products after moving them so that they were closer to me.
"I don't know why you do all this shit you don't need to. When are you dying back your hair, you haven't been the same since you did that. It's like there's this dark ominous cloud over you and I just want my sister back," Sean said softly as he gave me the can of hairspray that I was reaching for.
"You know that it's not just my hair that's changed Sean. I changed a lot and you know why. I'll probably dye it back over the weekend. I doubt it's gonna change anything, though," I replied finishing my hair and stepping out of the bathroom as Sean followed.
"You don't even need to do all this. It's December! You're gonna have to put a hat over it anyway," He whined going to the kitchen to make us breakfast as he always does.
"Can you just drop it?" I asked softly.
"Alright," He replied.
We ate breakfast together when we were done, I gave Sean a hug, grabbed my coat, and started to walk to school. Sean was right I did change, but everyone changes. I'm sixteen, it's normal for me to under go some sort of change especially with what I went through back in Colorado. I didn't even want to think about it because I'd get flashbacks and I just really want to forget it.
I got to the front door of the school and Zack was right there talking to a few of his friends with his arm around a girl. I haven't seen him in two years and I'm still not over him when he has obviously forgotten me. What if he sees me? I need to hide. I need to get over him. I ran to my locker and covered my face more with my bang while looking at the mirror I had put in there recently. I put my hoodie over my head and started to grab my books from my locker.
"Hiding a pimple, Foreman?" Alex asked standing next to me, suddenly.
"Fuck you, Alex," I laughed turning to him to see his arm around a girl with a small frame, strawberry blonde hair, and blue-green eyes.
"This is my girlfriend, Catherine," He said. I smiled genuinely and put my hand out for her to shake. I was happy for Alex.
"I'm Samantha, but I go by Sam, Sammi, or Foreman," I said kindly as we shook hands.
"Hey Zack, come sat hi to Catherine!" Alex yelled over to Zack. I knew what he was trying to do. He was trying to get Zack to see me, but I don't think I wanted him to see me. He seemed so happy knowing that I wasn't around anymore, so why ruin it for him? Why was I even worried about this? My mother just died, Goddamit! I'm so shallow! Why can't I just mourn my mother's death instead of bitching over some guy that probably doesn't even remember my existence. Maybe I didn't want to mourn maybe I wanted Zack. Why is everything so confusing?
I grabbed my bag and headed to the library before Zack could get a step closer to me. I walked through the halls staring at my shoes following the path of the tiles. I suddenly bumped into Nick. I've pretty much known him as long as I've known Leikin, which is since kindergarten. So Nick and I were pretty close, but I guess that fact that we went to different middle schools made us part a bit, but I knew that the love was still there. 
"Hey,what's wrong?" He asked.
"Nothing," I mumbled starting to walk past him. He put his lanky arm out stopping me.
"You're gonna sit with me at lunch and tell me," He mumbled into my ear softly letting his arm down so I could pass.
"It's nothing, really. I-"
"Lunch," He replied cutting me off.
"Fine," I mumbled.
Every time Nick passed me in between classes, he would give me this knowing glance like he knew I was hurting and he could feel my pain. I just really didn't want him to worry.
When my morning classes were over, I went to my locker to put all my books back in. When I was done, I closed my locker to see Nick's lanky frame posing on the locker next to mine with his legs crossed, one arm on the top of the locker, supporting him and the other arm in his pant's pocket. Nick and Leikin looked identical. Everyone thinks that they're twins, but Leikin loves to stress the fact that she's ten months older (Like that makes a difference).
"Ready?" He asked. I just nodded. he grabbed my hand and interlocked our fingers swinging our arms in between us. "So, how was Colorado? Why are you back so soon?"
" I don't even want to talk about Colorado! It was terrible! I'm back because my mom died," I replied calmly.
"Wow, that's a lot. Is that why you were upset this morning?"
"Part of it, but the other part will make me sound so shallow," I mumbled.
"It's ok, you know I don't judge," He replied releasing my hand so that we could get lunch.
When we got our lunch we sat across from each other at the table.
"So?" He started. Biting into his apple.
"Zack has a girlfriend and I'm upset that I'm more concerned about it than my mom's death," I stated.
"Who? Melody? That's not his girlfriend, that's just his bitch, " He replied taking another bite of his apple
"What? How is that supposed to make me feel better?" I exclaimed
"It's not," He replied.
"Oh, great," I scoffed.
"Listen, it's gonna make it easier to get him back y-"
"Wait, how'd you even find out what happened?"
"I was friends with them because they went to the same middle school as me. I was in Florida the weekend that you left, that's why I didn't get the chance to say bye. But, when I came back, Zack was all upset and Alex told me what happened,"
"Well, at least I don't have to tell you the story," I mumbled.
"As I was saying, The annual 'Align the Stars' dance is Friday. Dye your hair back to normal, come to the dance with me and talk to Zack. Simple," He concluded smiling.
"Fine, I will and why is everyone nagging me to dye my hair back?"
"Because, It's like you're hiding behind it and it's not like you to hide." He said taking my juice and drinking a bit of it. Nick was right. I needed to stop hiding.
-Leikin's POV-
I was at lunch with Alli and Kat. I saw Sam and Nick start to walk out from the lunchroom.
" What's Nick doing?" I asked mostly to myself.
" Leikin, leave it. He hasn't seen Sam in a while either, let them talk," Alli replied. Kat nodded in agreement. I got up and walked closed to where Nick was.
"NICK!" I yelled catching his attention.
“What’s up?” He asked.
“Do you have anything to tell me?”
“About what?”
“Sam.”
“We’re just friends you know that. I understand the ‘friends’ rule. I’m not stupid. I’m pretty sure you’re already violating the rule, aren’t you?” He replied lowly.
“How? With who?”
“Jack, It’s really obvious. Maybe you should keep you’re legs closed, whore.” He seethed lowly walking away. I followed him and stopped him again.
“Look, I don’t know who the fuck you think you’re talking to like that, asswipe. If I find out that you’re lying to me, the rest of your days here will be the worst of your life, capeesh?”
“Yeah, sure, whatever,” He stated walking away.
It was never abnormal for us to argue, it was actually pretty normal. At this point, I really didn’t care anymore. I went back to the table and sat there , quiet until the end of lunch. After lunch, Alli dragged me into the hallway with her.
“What happened?” She asked. I shook my head and continued to walk.
“Don’t worry, it’s nothing,” I mumbled
“I know you’re lying, Lei. Can you just tell me?” she replied, concerned.
“We just had an argument. I’m not in the best of moods right now, ok?”
“Over the friend code?” I nodded. “Don’t you think he might feel hurt by the fact that you can’t even share a friend, yet you’re all giddy about one of his friends?”
“Can you please leave Jack out of this, I’m just saying. Don’t make a fuss, hon”
-Sam’s Pov-
I got home and opened the door as I threw my backpack next to my my brother who was sitting on the couch.
“Hey, Sean,” I stated siting next to him.
“Hey, are you going tomorrow?” He replied.
“Where?”
“To mom’s funeral?”
“Oh. No,” I mumbled.
“Why not?” He replied.
“You know I’m not a fan of funerals, Sean. I’ll pay my respects soon after, though.” I replied.
“Alright,” He mumbled.

-Chapter Song list-
Mr. Highway’s Thinking About The End - A Day To Remember.