As I made my way down the sidewalk in my neighborhood, I couldn't help but notice Vince washing his black flamed car.

I stuck my chin higher in the air, feeling dominant even though he doesn't know me. But I know what he's done.

I felt accomplished that he could never really lay a finger on me. I had too much evidence. I'm watching everyone. Not that I want to, but everyone ignores me as if I'm so invisible so I have no other choice. But at least now I have blackmail.

Was that shameful?

Two wrongs don't make a right, after all.

I pondered about it as I passed his house. He hadn't even glanced upward to me.

I wondered if my father would agree if I were to blackmail him if he ever tried anything.

No.

I shook my head, looking back to my feet carrying me home.

No, he probably wouldn't.

He'd just want me to punch him in the face.

...

I was home alone.

The clock's ticking bounced off the walls and echoed in my ears. I sat on the couch, watching the News with a bored expression, reminded by that annoying contraption that there was only me in this empty house.

It was 8.

My worry had not subsided.

I had finished my homework fairly quickly. Next, I had swept the floors and put away the dishes. Then, I took out the trash, vaccumed, and folded the landury, completing the rest of my chores. Only around 5:30 did I finally fix myself something to eat.

I had been sitting on this couch, staring at the screen for two hours, waiting.

I had no new texts from my Mother.

I picked up the remote and flipped through the channels. My worried eyes never relaxing.

...

I tried to go to bed at a reasonable time for school tomorrow, knowing my mother had a key so she could always unlock the door to get in, but I couldn't sleep. I tried my best, even brushing my teeth and the other essisentals but I found myself upon the couch again.

It was now 11.

I was leaving to search.

With strong determination, I left my living room and snatched the spare keys to the house off the counter. I grabbed my phone and tucked it into my hoodie pocket, placing it on ringer before doing so.

I opened the door and stepped out, locking it behind me.

I'll head to her work first. I grabbed my bikes handle bars and kicked the kick stand upward. I swung myself on and I was off.

...

Only ten minutes out did I get a phone call. I slowed to a stop and pulled off onto the dirty sidewalk. I took out my phone from my hoodie pocket and answered.

It was my older brother.

"Hello?"

"Where are you?"

"Why do you care?"

"Just answer the question please." He sighed in annoyance.

"Out."

"Wow, that told me so much. Not."

"Gosh I'm just going to Mom's work, why-."

"Are you kidding?! That's on the other side of Jasper!" He began to lecture me. I sighed and rolled my eyes, relaxing on the bike seat. I casually switched the phone to my other ear.

"Yeah? What's it to you?" I slouched watching a few purple cars drive by.

"I'm supposed to be keeping an eye on you until Mom gets home."

"Wait, what?" I froze, sitting up straight. My eyes looking everywhere in confusion. "She didn't tell me that."

"Oh, she didn't tell you that?"

"No, idiot! How come she's been talking to you!?"

"I don't know but she told me to go to the house. It's an emergency."

"Did...did something happen?" I began fearing the worst.

"I don't know Mel. But you need to tell me where you are. It's too dark for you to riding out on your own," I sighed, knowing he was right. But what was I supposed to do? I didn't know he was coming. He hasn't been home from college in 4 years.

"Fine."

"Okay," he took a deep breath. "Where are you exactly?" My head whipped to the nearest sign.

"Just by Knockout Burgers." I grumbled.

"On my way."

I put my phone back in my pocket and pedaled over to a bench. This was just terrific. My mother decides to go all secretive on me, then my brother shows up, and Jack hasn't been talking to me in two months.

I sat on the bench with a grunt. My eyes distant as I leaned forward on my hands. My elbows dug into my thighs but I could care less by this point. I stared at the empty gas station across the street, wondering what I just did so wrong that the universe did this to me.

What did I do to deserve this? I never wanted a challenge. I just want my life back.

"Melissa?"

How brilliant. Jack really can see me.