A girl leaned over with tears in her eyes as she screamed in pain. It was Enicabie. Her dark brown eyes were bloodshot from crying so much. Her caramel brown skin was puffy under her eyes as her tears fell onto her friend. “No! Please, please, God no!” she yelled.

I never would have expected my life would turn out like this in high school.

“Come on. Stay with me,” she frantically put her friend’s arms crossing over their chest as she held the body close.

But who would expect it? It’s not something you’d want to happen naturally...right?

“Please, stay with me. You can’t leave me here!” Enic yells as her hands and arms tightened their hold on her friend.

But hey, what are you gonna do? You have to accept it…

“Help is on the way, okay? Just a little longer.” She said as another friend picked up the weak body.

...Whether you like or not…

The friend carried the body away towards bright lights and Enic watched as she sat in the dirt.

Because what else can you do?

Her legs felt numb and her head ached. Eyes burned and her throat scratchy. Her body beat up, but even still, she stood up with a gun in hand as she tightened her hold on the weapon.

Aside from giving up on life…

* * *

“Time to start cleaning Enic!” Violet Cardel called out to her daughter, Enicabie. “Okay!” Enic called back from her room. A bird was heard from outside through Enic’s open window. The sun was shining nicely with the fine March whether. Enic closed her biology textbook and set her notebook on top of it on her bed. With a sigh, she stood up and stretched her arms up over her head, standing on her toes then relaxed before turning to her door and walking out of her bedroom.

“I only have to sweep, right?” Enic asked testingly as her little cousin ran over and hugged her legs. “Hi Enic!” the little six year old girl said happily looking up at Enic. “Hey Alain.” Enic said in the same tone as the girl then looked to her mother, Violet, waiting for an answer to her question. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. Sweep the bathroom and the kitchen.”, Her mother answered. “Dang… I wish that’s all I had to do when I was your age!” Enic’s aunt, Jade said jokingly towards Enic. Enic rolled her eyes and walked off to the pantry through the kitchen and grabbed the broom. “Is Isaiah coming over later?” Violet asked her daughter.

“I would think so. Otherwise he’s leaving his jacket here again. There’s school tomorrow too…” Enic said, her voice trailing off. Her friend Isaiah came over a lot. Even as ex’s Enic and Isaiah were close, even after huge fights. Enic walked to the living room and looked at her mother. “Milani is writing a book I think.” she said, making conversation before she got to work. “Really? That’s cool. Do you know what it’s about?” Violet asked with interest. “No, not really. She just started it today I think. All I know about it so far is that the main character lost a friend and now her and a few others have this weird pj tradition for the anniversary of the girl’s death.” Enic replied. Her mother got a confused look then nodded. “Sounds interesting.” Violet said and went back to talking to Enic’s aunt, Jade.

Enic bit her lip with a short nod, seeing the conversation was over, and went to sweep the bathroom. This house is way too big for my liking...odd that we have this huge house, yet we are nowhere near rich. Enic thought to herself as she cleaned the floor of the bathroom. Five-thirty. If he comes over, it’d be around that time. I have almost two hours before then to get cleaned up myself. Can’t make the same mistake as yesterday. She thought. The other day, Isaiah had come over without warning, notifying, or a heads-up text or call. It was the first time he’d done that, so it took her by complete shock.

“Okay. I can do this!” Enic said with a fist pump close to her chest and the broom in her other hand as she stood in the bathroom.

Enicabie splashed water on her face once more and looked in the mirror. “That works.” she said with a shrug before she went to grab a towel. “Huh?” she looked over to the right then to the left before frowning with a ragged sigh and walked out of the bathroom. She stopped in the hall in front of two stacked cupboards and opened the top one, grabbing a folded towel and drying her face. “There.” she said with a growl and put the towel in the bathroom. She then walked over to her bedroom and sat on her bed looking at her TV.

“‘Ohhh! Ohh! You gonna be okay, Ashiya?’ ‘I apologize, Sire. I failed you. I’m so debilitated I can’t…’” Enicabie listened watching an anime she’d found on Netflix. That’s when the doorbell rang. Enicabie got up and walked out to the living room and saw her mother already opening the door. “Hey. Come on in. She’s in her room.” Her mother said, and the tall lean boy stepped in. “Hey. Alright. Should I do the yard?” he asked, and Enicabie turned back and went to her room quietly. The boy, Isaiah, saw her go then looked to her mother as she spoke. “Yeah, sure. You can just do the front. Sweep up the grass on the sidewalk. The grass Enicabie was supposed to do!” She said, raising her voice more towards the end. Enicabie rolled her eyes as she sat back down on her bed and continued watching TV.

A little while later, Isaiah came into her room and looked at her then the TV. “Whatcha watchin?” He asked, still looked at the TV. “The Devil Is a Part-Timer.” she answered not looking at him. He moved over and sat on a bean-bag chair in front of her bed. “Cool.” he said watching. Enicabie paused it and looked at him. “So do I get to keep your sweater?” Enicabie said with a smirk. Isaiah scoffed and shook his head. “You wish. Where is it?” he said looking around and seeing it next to her. She moved quickly and grabbed it before him and threw it in his face. “As if! That thing stinks! You should wash it soon…” she said plugging her nose. “Mhmm.. Even though I’m sure you slept with it.” he said smirking at her. Enicabie crossed her arms and turned away with a huff. “What I do in my sleep is none of your business.” she said, avoiding the question. “Mhm.” Isaiah said taking his jacket and setting it to the side of him. “So how was your day?” Enicabie asked him as she got comfortable on her bed again and pushed play on her Roku TV remote. “Could have been better.” he answered shortly. “Your dad’s went okay then at least?” Enicabie asked carefully. “I guess…” Isaiah said with a shrug. “What happened?”Enicabie asked tilting her head a little to look at him. “Nothing. Just tired.” He said, and she sighed, knowing what he meant.

She took in a breath and stood up before stepping over next to him. “What?” he asked looking up at her. She turned around and sat on him roughly with a smile. He grunted and tried to push her off. “Cheer up and I’ll get off~” she said in a sing-a-song tone. He grunted and smirked as he tried to pet her off. “One hundred and eleven pounds and you can’t move me. How mean!” Enicabie said jokingly.

“‘Any permanent damage?’ ‘You’re something alright..’ ‘Sorry’ ‘Eh, I don’t even care anymore. That perv tormented me all day, and I’m worn out. Just put me down now.’” Enicabie looked to the TV quietly. “‘Emi, listen to me.’ ‘What is it?’ ‘Your shirts open.’ ‘...’” Enicabie watched as the anime character turned red and closed her shirt, Isaiah watched too and the both of them laughed. Enicabie got up and pinched Isaiah’s cheek before sitting back down on her bed. “Ouch!” He whined. “Crybaby.” She said jokingly. “What was that?” he said smirking before tackling her and tickling her. She laughed and kicked as she tried to get him off. “Stop it! Haha!”

“Wait...Enicabie..is your…” Isaiah said hesitantly Enicabie looked at him. “What?” he sat up looking down then to her eyes. “Is your underwear on inside out?” He asked trying not to laugh. “Huh? Uh-” She looked down at her waist and peeked into her jeans. “Oh wow...they are.” she said and for a short moment there was silence as she looked at him. Another moment, and they both burst out laughing.