HIGH ON SCHOOL

A NEW DAY

By the time Dan pulled up in front of my house, I was barely awake.

The car rolled to a stop, and I stared through the window at my house like I had never seen it before.

“Home,” Dan announced.

“Finally,” Cassie said from the backseat.

I unbuckled my seat belt and grabbed my bag.

“Goodnight,” I mumbled.

“Goodnight?” Dan repeated. “It's literally almost morning.”

“Same thing.”

Cassie laughed.

I opened the door and stepped out, then turned back toward them.

“Drive safely.”

Dan gave me an offended look. “Excuse me? I am an excellent driver.”

Cassie snorted.

“You nearly hit a trash can.”

“It came out of nowhere.”

“It was stationary,” I said.

Dan waved me off. “Go to bed, Reina.”

I shut the door and watched the car disappear down the street before walking inside.

The house was quiet.

Way too quiet.

I slipped my shoes off near the door and walked upstairs, trying not to make a sound. My sister's door was closed, which meant I had successfully avoided the interrogation that would have happened if she were awake.

I checked my phone.

A ridiculous number of notifications.

I didn't even bother opening them.

Tomorrow's problem.

I pushed my bedroom door open, dropped my bag somewhere near my desk, and practically fell onto my bed.

I didn't even change.

One second I was staring at the ceiling.

The next—

Nothing.

---

The Next Morning

My alarm went off at 6:30.

I ignored it.

It went off again.

I slapped my phone.

Silence.

Three minutes later, it started again.

I opened one eye.

“I'm going to kill you.”

My phone, unfortunately, did not care.

I dragged myself out of bed and shuffled toward the bathroom, looking and feeling like I had personally fought the entire night.

The mirror did not help.

My hair was a mess.

My eyeliner from last night was mostly gone, and somehow there was still a tiny bit of glitter on my cheek.

I stared at myself.

“Wow.”

A pause.

“Beautiful.”

I washed my face and took a shower, letting the hot water wake me up properly.

By the time I came back into my room, I felt slightly more human.

I opened my closet.

School.

Right.

I pulled out a simple outfit, got dressed, fixed my hair, grabbed my bag, and checked the time.

7:18.

I froze.

“Nope.”

I grabbed my phone and rushed downstairs.

My sister was already in the kitchen.

She looked up from her coffee.

Then she looked at me.

Then at the clock.

“You're late.”

“I know.”

“You look tired.”

“I know.”

“You didn't change before sleeping, did you?”

I stopped.

She narrowed her eyes.

I smiled innocently.

“No.”

She sighed.

“Reina.”

“I'm going to school.”

“That wasn't the point.”

“I know.”

I grabbed something quick to eat from the counter and headed for the door.

“Have a good day,” she called after me.

I turned around.

“You too.”

“And Reina?”

“Yeah?”

“Try not to come home at sunrise again.”

I grinned.

“No promises.”

I walked outside, pulled my bag over my shoulder, and headed toward school.

Another day.

Another morning.

Another opportunity for something to go completely wrong.

And, unfortunately, I had a feeling it would.