Chapter 1 Winne

         "Winnneeeeee!!!!" cried Ava "Come on! Come with me to Karaoke!"

         I stared at her. You should know better, I thought in my head. I hate those places. They're so noisy and crowded. As if my mind was read, Ava again raised her voice "You have to meet more people, you know. And your voice is lovely too! You can't just stay like this as if you have no life or something." Ava said as she stared back at me as if I was going to change my mind.

        I started to swell up. I can't believed she said that! So much for being my supportive friend, thanks, Ava. But I couldn't really blame her for acting like this. Recently, her father was hospitalized because of a minor heart attack and Ava has been trying to find work to support her and her brother, Wilt.

          But today was her day off, so she wanted to have a little fun with Wilt and I. Sadly, I ruined the mood, again, as always. 

          "Hey, What's with the heavy atmosphere here?" We both turned around, only to see Qeith, approaching us.

          "Awww, what's wrong? You guys?"

          "I was trying to be a good friend by inviting her to Karaoke. But she refused to."

          I stared down at the floor, flattening my lips.

         "Come on, honey. I know your dad is in the hospital, but you can't use your frustration to fuel your conversations. You've known Winne for 10 years now, you should know that she doesn't like those places." Qeith said, trying to calm Ava down. "You wanna come with Wilt later to play on the X-Box?"

         Ava looked up at the ceiling, let out a huge sigh, and looked back down with her eyes closed, as if trying to think something through.

         She looked up again and said "You're right. I should've known better. Sorry, Winne, for forcing too much on you. You have my apology."

         I shook my head. Then nodded with a smile. Soon after, Ava and Qeith look at each other and smiled as well with Qeith patting Ava on the head.

         Ava is lucky. Even after her dad was hospitalized, she still has Wilt and her kind boyfriend cheering for her. I have no one. My parents passed away 8 months ago during a certain incident. I was lucky to have already turned 18 or else I would've been sent to the orphanage. 

         "You wanna come with me later to Qeith's house?" Ava asked, now with a lower and soothing voice.

         I shook my head. Ava didn't even bother asking me why because she knows that it's something urgent, otherwise I could've went along. 

         "Well, want to walk home together?"

         I shooked my head again. I have after school duties.

         "Okay, then. Bye. See you tomorrow!" Taking her boyfriend's hand, waving with the other and skipping out the door. I smiled and waved back as they disappeared out the door.