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The windows are still down, wind catching Mireya’s hair and I can’t stop glancing at her. She looks different like this, lighter in a way.

I turn up the music and keep driving. But the thought keeps coming back. I like the way happiness looks on her.

109

Mireya

Past

Play - October Birds by Flower Face

Best Friends

I didn’t sleep that night. Mom had been vomiting a lot and dad hit her again. I tried to step in, but I got hit with his belt on my back and I couldn’t close my eyes after that. Every time I lay down to sleep, it hurts too much.

I try to stay standing even in class but I want to sleep. Dad didn’t even want me to come today anyway.

I stayed in the toilets, sitting on the floor, my back against the wall. Eyes closed then open, I’m trying to rest before I have to go back to class when I hear girls coming in.

“Ugh stop it, she’s so…no actually just stop, you’re weird,” one of them says, laughing mid-sentence. “Like nobody even wants you here, you know that right?”

“Yeah nobody cares, she always does this thing, it’s so annoying,” another voice jumps in. “Just leave her, she’s doing it again.”

“Wait, wait, what if we like…make her drink from here or something? I swear she’ll shut up then.”

I don’t hear an answer from the person they’re talking to, so I push the door open while I stand up.

I hate mean people. I hate them.

They all turn around. Three girls. One a little further away. She has a sad face, her mouth is going down and her eyes are wet. But she’s wearing lots of colors, her hair is nice and her braid is perfectly done. She probably was happy before those girls talked to her like that.

“Leave her alone.” I’m just tired and I really don’t like these girls. I want it to stop. I don’t like how they’re talking. The other girl looks sad and I don’t like seeing people like that.

They turn to me and scream in a loud voice, “What is your problem?”

I don’t answer, I’m looking at her, she’s not moving. Why is she not saying anything back?

“You three suck,” I say. I really don’t like them. “Just leave her alone.”

One of them laughs like I said something funny. “She’s always⁠—”

I don’t care what she’s saying. “Just leave her alone or I’m going to hit you.”

I think I might actually do it if they don’t stop.

“It’s always the weird ones…” The one in the middle whispers but I heard it and I’m tired of her voice, so I step forward.

“You’re loud,” I say. “You’re loud and annoying and you don’t shut up.” I don’t like how they’re still here. “Go away,” I say again. “Fucking leave!”

And then they do, still talking, still annoying.

The door slams a little, and it’s quiet after that. The girl doesn’t move while I go back to sit down and close my eyes. I feel her coming closer and I look up at her.

She wipes her face quickly when she sees I’m still there. “…Why did you do that?”

“Because I don’t like mean people.”

She doesn’t answer right away, then she nods. “My name is Hayzel.”