I keep my head down as I walk into the school. I'm chanting on the inside, "Don't notice me, don't notice me, don't notice me," All I needed to do was get out the school doors and on my way home without getting noticed.
"Hey, Elly!" Crap... I turn towards the voice, forcing a smile on my face. There's my girlfriend, the person I want to see the least right now. She's smiling wide, as she always is. The beautiful girl I managed to catch was a little ball of joy, practically skipping as she walked.
"Geez, hon, you must be deaf! I called your name almost a thousand times," she giggles and nudges me. I force a laugh of my own and shrug.
"Sorry, Melony, I was just... thinking." It's not a complete lie, I was technically thinking. More like praying.
"Oh, I see. About what?" she asks this question so innocently. She didn't realize the pain I was feeling inside.
"Uh... homework," I try to fake another smile but I can tell that it's off. Any normal person wouldn't notice, but Melony was so close to me.
"...Homework?" she questions, obviously skeptical.
"Mhm!" I respond to quickly, I'm too tense, my voice is too high. You can't even fake a smile, huh? You're just so pathetic, you know? No one could ever lo-
"Elizabeth. What's up?" My brain snaps into focus as she speaks.
"Nothing, I'm fine!" My brain automatically responds, a nervous habit.
"Babe, fine doesn't mean fine. Why don't we go to the park and chat for a bit?" Melony takes my hand and smiles, showing that saying "no" was not an option.
We walked in silence. The entire time I had to focus on my breathing to keep my panic levels low. In... out... in... out... ou-in... out... i..in... out...
"We're almost there, sweetheart, just a bit more." I relax as she speaks, and my breathing comes a bit easier. When we get to the park, we sit down in the grass. There are only a few other families around, and we're too far from the playground to hear them talk.
"Elly..?" At Melony's soft prompt, I burst into tears. She immediately hugs me and holds me close to her. I bury my face into her shoulder as I let my stresses out.
~·~·~
I don't remember much else from that day. I know that Melony let me cry and let out my insecurities. She mumbled quiet reassurances but stayed silent besides that. She let me escape from the cage others had forced me in. It was relaxing, knowing that I was finally safe. Honestly, I don't know where I would be without her. Probably just completely lost...

---

I got bored so yeah....
Here ya go
-Rainbow