Kindra Pruett never had a problem keeping her gamer side tucked away from the prying eyes of her classmates, but when her estranged brother returns home and brings with him a secret she isn't ready to handle, Kindra soon realizes the only person she...
"How often are we to die before we go quite off this stage? In every friend we lose a part of ourselves, and the best part."
-Alexander Pope
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"Hey KP!"
It's been seventy-two hours since I've walked away from the game that ran most of my life and eighty-six since I got bitch-slapped by Christopher caring zero percent about our relationship. In other words, I spent my weekend cooped up in my room sulking about what to do with the cards in my hand. Because of spending the weekend this way my inner dialogue has now reached a new level of bitchy as I groan internally before slipping on a 100% fake as shit smile and face my classmate Gretchen.
"Hey Gretchen! How was your weekend?" I ask, even though I really don't care. In the past, I may have but with my list of problems getting longer by the day I've lost interest in just about everything and one.
That's not true, you care about him... The voice inside my head chimes in.
It isn't wrong. I've been fighting hardcore withdrawals to go back to the game, even though I have no desire to play. Part of me thought that I could play it off, act like I was being the rage quitting leader I've always been. The reality is I want to apologize to Arkies for leaving the way I did and maybe on some level listening to Beibs' terrible jokes is a hell of a lot better than listening to my own thoughts. But I'm Ella and Ella isn't a wishy-washy newb who can't stand on her own.
"I had the best time at Morgan's party. I was surprised to not see you there." Gretchen responds, reminding me she is still there and having a conversation with me. The smile she sports is genuine and makes me feel guilty for spacing out when I was, in fact, the one who initiated this conversation.
I shrug and offer her a sorry not sorry smile. "Got a B on a test and my dads lost it. Grounded until further notice." I lie. It would have been easy to say I had a lot of stuff going on but my load of "stuff" was so large now I didn't want to add to it and lying made sure it stayed that way.
Part of me feels bad for lying to her but the more dominant part is rejoicing that we now have a viable excuse for being MIA. If there's one thing anyone knows about Gretchen it's that she's a talker, so if you want the entire school to know something all you have to do is tell her.
"Shitty! But hey, at least they care enough to ground you. I could get a DUI and my parents still wouldn't do jack." She laughs and gives my arm a playful push.
I shrug, trying to keep my mind in the conversation. "I guess." I sigh, shaking my head, trying my hardest to sell it. "I'll catch you later, who knows what they'll do if I'm late to class."
Gretchen nods as I take my leave, "See ya!"
I let out a breath I didn't realize I've been holding. The school is slowly turning into hell. Only a month prior had I actually been a little sad about leaving these halls. Now I can't wait to be rid of them and the people who know me as KP. The gig is exhausting, both physically and mentally. I have never felt so alone or so fake in my entire life.
