I open my eyes just realize I'm still in the bathroom. My watch reads 1:36 A.M. I hear my stomach growl as I realized I haven't eaten for the past two days. As I make my way off the floor, I take the spare sweatshirt I hid in there and put it on. I role up my sleeve so I can put a rap over where I have been picking so it can heal without me making it worse. I brush my teeth and hair before quietly leaving the bathroom. The house is silent. Quickly swinging by the kitchen, I grab just an apple. Before grabbing my bag and making my way out of the house.

As I just start walking, I realize I don’t have anywhere to go. It is not like I have friends or family who wants to see me. I decided to change direction and go to a nearby park. It’s the opposite away from my school. Finally making it there about 20 minutes later, I find a table to sit at under a lamp and begin to work on my homework I could not do the previous day. Probably an hour later I finally finish my work. There is another good 5 hours until school starts.

As I'm sitting at the table reading, I hear footsteps getting closer to me. I look up see a familiar face before quickly putting my head down, hoping they didn't notice me.

“River is that you?” I hear them say.

“Ah, um hello Dustin” I reluctantly respond.

“Why are you out here so early? Dustin asks me.

“I could ask you the same thing.”

why did I have to run into him here, and at the time.

“I live nearby and could not sleep so I decided to go for a quick walk. So why are you out here? Didn’t you have an early curfew? Won’t your parents be mad if you're out here at this time.”

I sat quietly for some time not knowing how to respond.

“Like they care.” I mumbled thinking he could not hear me.

“Why would they not care? They are your parents.”

Sitting there a little startled that he heard that, I begin wondering if he really knows anything about me. Like why Milo slapped me in class, or why the other students always whispering about me.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

I am only now realizing that I did it again. I forgot I was talking to somebody and spaced out.

“Not really no.” I'm starting to feel irritated now.

I never really had a conversation sense the 7th grade but, this is not how I want to be spending my time talking to someone who I barley know.

“Well are you going to go back to your house? By the looks of it you're not. Would you want to come my house instead?” He asked me while smiling.

I look up at him not knowing what to say. If I really think about it, it will be a lot better them sitting out here for hours.

“Are you sure your parents will be ok with it?” I instead decide to ask.

“My parents won’t mind. They would much rather have you will us then out here in the dark alone.” He is still smiling as he talks.

“I would like then, as long as it is not any trouble.”

I thought I would feel regret with my choice, but I felt happy for once. Though this happiness was mostly from him smiling at me.

“I already I told you it’s fine, now come on my house is this way.” He says as he waits for me to put my book into by backpack. Then we slowly make our way to his house.