Chapter 4 Adison 's role

The weeks flew by smoothly. Addison went to school, came home wearing her earphones and slept with blasting music on. Today was just another day and Addison was seated in her Calculus class trying to figure out what the right solution for the problem was.

"Hey" hearing the sound coming near her she looked up from her book. Alex Miller stood there wearing a black hoodie and a faded blue denim. 'That's his trademark look' Addison thought. He never seemed to care about what he wore and always showed up at class looking like he just rolled out from bed. After their first embarrassing encounter they never spoke again. So why did he approach her?

Curious, Addison replied " Hey. What's up?"

" I missed to take down the notes yesterday. Can I borrow yours if you don't mind? I'll give it back to you tomorrow. "

" Sure." Addison was shocked. That was the longest she has ever heard him speak. And he's been sitting beside her for weeks now.

Addison pulled out her notebook and handed it to him.

" Thanks" he took the book and left.

" HE IS HOT ! " Addison 's friend Kasey whisper shouted.

" Shut up Kasey" Adison rolled her eyes, annoyed. Apparently according to Kasey, the school's enigma Alex Miller asking her to borrow her notes meant he was interested in her romantically. As if.

They were walking home after school and Kasey was badgering her with questions about Alex.

"Listen. He only asked me because Mr. Montgomery told him to. He isn't interested in me. And to be honest, I'm not looking for a boyfriend either. I don't have time for that " Adison made her point clear.

Kasey Smith turned to look at her best friend. According to Kasey, Adison was perfect. She was pretty, she always wore clothes which fit her well and she was one of the top students in their class. The one thing Adison lacked was interest in interaction with people. She chose to blend in the background when she was born to stand out. She wasn't aware of how boys around her looked at her. She was lost in her own world and sometimes Kasey would see her staring off into space. When she did that, she would look so sad. Moments like that was when Kasey would wonder if Adison wasn't so perfect after all. She always wanted to ask what Adison was thinking but never did. If Addy wanted her to know something she would tell her. Kasey didn't want to push.

"Common Addy. We've been friends for 2 years now. You're turning 18 in 3 months. I've never seen you go on a date. What's so wrong with having a boyfriend? Everyone has one" Kasey just couldn't stop herself.

How could Addison explain it to her? How can she tell her that the only man she knows breaks her heart everyday, slowly destroying her trust all men? How can she tell Kasey that she dreads going home everyday. Home? Is that what it was? Adison didn't know.

Nothing had changed in the past couple of years. She was still the little girl wrapped in the blue blanket wishing she could be somewhere else. Her Dad and Mom always pretended like nothing was wrong when Adison left her bed room. Which was only to get food and water. But Addy has heard it all. She has heard the harsh words and nothing could erase it from her mind. She has watched her mother become someone else. Eyes devoid of emotions. Living a life without meaning. Adison wanted to yell at her mother and ask her to leave. But it was her mother's decision to make, not hers . So she kept quite. She smiled. She did well in school. She played her role well. Only if Adison knew that when the script ends, the roles playing the character end too.

She wanted to say all those things to Kasey but what she said instead was, " Want to go grab some ice cream? My treat."

And just like that Kasey forgot what they were talking about.

'Mission accomplished ' Adison mentally patted herself.