RoseStone Park

"Girls! Breakfaaaaaaaast!"

I open my eyes and look at the clock. 9:23 a.m. I turn, and don't see Shannon where she fell asleep last night. I got up and started looking around for her.

"Shan?"

She walks out of the bathroom, fully ready.

"I thought you were gonna wake up at 8 today?" Shannon says.

"Yeah well..." I say.

"What happened?"

"I couldn't sleep last night. To be honest, all I could think about was Kyle and his stupid date with the stupid cashier girl today."

"What date?" Shannon says sarcastically.

"Excuse me?" I reply.

"Well, yesterday while we were at the mall, Kyle asked me to hold his phone. I guess he forgot that i had it because he never took it back. Anyway, on the drive home, when he wasn't looking, I went into his contacts and took cashier girl's number. Her name is Emily, by the way. Okay so I took the number, and saved it on my phone. I proceeded to text her and tell her that the date was off, and she believed me."

"Shan-"

"So when Kyle shows up to the arcade, Emily won't be there. You will."

"Shannon, you're crazy! How did you even know that they were going to the arcade?"

"Emily told me. But see, it's perfect! I know that Kyle knows that he didn't tell you where the date was gonna be, so when we show up, he'll believe that it was a strange coincidence!"

"I guess you're right..." I tell Shannon.

"Yeah I am." She says with a proud grin on her face. "Anyway, get ready. We're filming a video today!!" Shannon told me excitedly before running downstairs for some breakfast.

I'm skipping breakfast today. My stomach hurts at the thought of how today is gonna go....

I decided to jump into the shower. I took my sweet time. I was just in there, letting the warm water hit my face while I was thinking about Kyle. Oh Kyle, what have we become? I touched my eyes, they burned. I hadn't realized I was crying.

Since when does the person you love, hurt you the most? Why can't he just see that I care about him. It's not even about being starstruck over him anymore, it's more than that. I love him. I genuinely want him to be happy. Maybe he won't be happy with me. Maybe I should just stop trying. I want him to be happy. He's too good for me. I won't making him happy...

The tears were running down my face rapidly, as if in a race to see which one could reach the floor first. I hated thinking like this, but I couldn't help it. I overcomplicate everything for everyone. I'm a ticking bomb waiting to explode. My mind was right. I don't deserve Kyle. I'm going to stop trying.

After the last few fears fell down my face, I got out of the shower, brushed my teeth, did my makeup and fixed my hair. For my outfit I decided on some light colored jeans that have been pre-ripped and a black tank top with a white skull on it. I did black eyeliner and dark lipstick, and made my hair a wavy kind of messy. I decided on my black and white vans, also.

By the time I was done, Shannon was walking upstairs and into my room.

"Imogen, are you okay? You're eyes are puffy." She says with a concerned look on her face.

"Yeah well... I'm done. It's too much. I'm done trying to be with Kyle, it's worthless. He doesn't like me, and even if he did, I'm not good enough for him" I say, the tears rolling down my cheeks again.

"No, don't say that." Shannon says as she pulls me into a hug.

"It's true. But forget about it." I say wiping tears off of my face. "Where do you want to film the video?"

"Um, I was thinking at RoseStone Park. What do you think?"

"Perfect! Let's go."

After that, Shannon and I grabbed all of her equipment and loaded it into my mother's car. Shannon was driving.

As soon as I was about to reach for the door handle to go outside, someone knocked on the door.

"Avery?" I say, completely surprised.

"Yeah."

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Well my parents are throwing me this party. I'm turning 17 and since I never had the Sweet 16 I wanted, I'm having a  Sweet 17 tomorrow. I know we're not talking and stuff, but you were my best friend. It didn't seem fair to not invite you." Avery says as she hands me a pink envelope with a big glitter black masquerade mask on the front.

"Oh... thank you."

"Plus, Kyle's going. And, you can invite her." She says, pointing to Shannon. "I know she's your best friend, so... Anyway, I have to go. Bye." Avery says before she walks off.

I stayed at the doorway with my mouth open until Shannon drags me into the car.

"I'm not going." I tell Shannon.

"What? Why?!"

"Kyle's gonna be there..."

"Oh my god!" Shannon yells excitedly.

"Oh my god... What?"

"It's a masquerade party..."

"So?" I reply.

"So? So?! So that means that you can tell Kyle how you feel and he'll never know its you!"

"What?"

"At these parties, you wear those masks, to cover your face, right? Well all we have to do, is figure out what kind of mask Kyle is wearing, and then go up to him and-"

"Shannon, I told you I was done with him. I'm not good enough for-"

"Stop talking. Yes you are! You're better for him than anyone else, I know. So with that being said... We're going."

"Shan, I don't even have anything to wear."

"Let's go shopping!"

"We have a video to record, remember?"

"That video can wait. Get in loser, we're going mask shopping."