I got a text first thing at midnight.

I’m not giving up yet, bastard!

We met at lunch, first day of school.

“What’s your game plan this time?” I asked, munching on my sandwich.

“Instead of changing myself,” Amy said. “I’ll try and change everybody else!”

I almost choked on my sandwich.

…

Amy somehow managed to change the people around her, some of them at least.

This time around at the end of the year, Amy was just sitting in my car, over the hill as we waited for the new year to start.

“I got some beer,” I said. “Want some?”

Her hair was a tangled messed, her eyes were drooping and she looked like she was one wrong word away from going insane.

“No, no,” Amy said. Her phone started to vibrate. “God I don’t want to reply but if I don’t I’ll be stuck here.”

“Suit yourself,” I said, taking a sip.

“I tried changing everybody,” Amy said in a shrill voice. “EVERYBODY. But nobody changed. Only a few did and… and… YOU...”

She jabbed a finger at me. “You never change. Look at you, sipping on your beer so nonchalantly. Don’t you want to get out of here? Do you really want to be stuck here forever?”

“New Years is starting in a few,” I said. “You sure you don’t want even a little sip?”

“I made a promise with Jeff that I won’t drink,” Amy said. “He has an alcohol problem.”

I scoffed. “His problem isn’t your own,” I muttered.

“Well unlike you I’m actually trying to get out of here,” Amy said.

“And I’m telling you,” I said. “There is no es…”