100 Days

My phone starts ringing like crazy.

I smile and pick it up, not looking at the number. "Hello?"

"Hey, just wanted to check up on you. How are things going?" The voice from the other end says, catching me off guard.

"Hello?" I repeat, unsure who's calling.

"Emma?"

"Yeah...?" I trail off, confused as hell.

"It's me."

I laugh. "Hi, me."

I can hear him laugh through the phone. "Emma, it's me. Andrew?"

"Oh," I say, then laugh. I reach over and grab my computer, setting it on my lap and opening it with one hand.

"Hey, Andrew. Why'd you call?"

My computer is pink, with some girly, childish stickers like Elsa, Anna, Arial, and some other characters I've easily fallen in love with. There are butterflies all around the edges of the top, making it look so pretty.

He huffs a short laugh, then yawns. "I told you I called to check up on you. So how are things going?"

"You sound tired." I point out, turning on my computer and watch it slowly turn on.

"Yeah, I hardly got any sleep. I was up answering e-mails all night long. So many clients to respond to, then I have to add the days in my calendar, make sure no days overlap, then do it again. But you still didn't answer my question. How are you doing?"

"Mmm," I mumble, not exactly paying attention to his boring job. "I'm okay. Sophia and Maralyn are too busy to hang out today, so I decided to just watch some videos on my computer. They joined the student council but didn't want to tell me. They were planning on surprising me! How nice of them. I think....nah, I know that's what it was."

Andrews voice goes from tired to full of concern. "Umm, are you one hundred percent sure that's what they were planning on doing..?"

My screen lights up to a picture of me and my two friends from back in grade 6. We've been friends since grade 2, and I finally convinced my mom to let me spend that night at Sophia's house.

We were up pretty late, but we had lots of fun. In the picture, we're all laughing while sitting in our pajamas on her bed. The room is a strange shade of purple, and has butterflies all over it. She had a big bed, and we were there, like we all belonged, eating popcorn while watching a movie. I forget the movie, but the memory is pretty sharp.

After that, my mom never let me spend the night with Sophia and Maralyn again. I don't know why, but she said that they're "not my friends". But they are. Around grade 8 they really started to care for me, so they left me at home instead of tagging along to do "dangerous things". They never specified that though...

"Em? You there?" Andrews voice, now a little softer, echoes in my ear.

I nod, then remember that he can't see me. "Yeah, I am. And yep! I couldn't find them yesterday after the morning...but it was okay! I ate my lunch outside, and this really hot boy came up to me and started talking! I didn't see him today at school, unfortunately. I couldn't find Sophia or Maralyn too. It's like they're all disappearing on me..." I trail off. "Nope! They all love me too much!" I say cheerfully.

"Uh huh. Well, I uh, gotta go now. I have a photo shoot to do in about two hours, so I have to go get ready. Be careful, Em. Love you, stay safe."

"Okay! Bye Andy!"

"Wait, who's this boy you-"

I accidentally cut him off by ending the call, not quite catching what he says. I shrug it off like no big deal and start streaming some anime.

It's a really good time passer, but nobody around here likes that. They've never watched it, but says it's too "childish". It is not!

I put on my headphones and get my current episode on screen to watch. Season 2 episode 5 of my so far favourite anime I've seen, with amazing music. But I can't tell you what it is...you have to guess!

Before I can click play, I get a message so I check my phone.

5:42pm

UNKNOWN: Hey, Emma.

I stare at my screen.

Maybe one of my friends got a new number and wanted to check up on me too! Man, these guys are amazing!

5:44pm

EMMA: Hey!!

As I turn off my phone, set it down, and click play, my phone busses again.

5:45pm

UNKNOWN: You don't even know who I am. I am not Maralyn or Sophia.

I raise an eyebrow at my phone, my happiness slowly disappearing.

5:57pm

EMMA: You're not? Then who are you?

I wait impatiently to find out who my mystery texter is.

What if it's that guy, James? Or Andrew? Or Sophia or Maralyn but won't tell me?

Oh my god what if it's Barbie herself?! That would be so cool!! Oh my god who is this?!

6:00 pm

UNKNOWN: I am your worst nightmare.