Prologue:


 "No excuse. You're coming." I crossed my arms. Sentences like the one I used didn't seem to bother my friends. By now they've figured I'm pretty stubborn. "Listen Dez, I really can't come." Maria shut her locker before turning on her heel to face me. "I'd love to, honest, but, I need to stay home and babysit my brother." I raised an eyebrow. "Isn't Leo like twelve now?"
"You know my parents," she -gravelly- responded. Night of the downtown fireworks and my 'bestest' friend couldn't even accompany me. I looked down angryliy and wrinkeled my nose. I wanted to scream at the unfairness of it all; Maria and I always went together! "Come on Desiree, don't make that face. I feel bad enough already." "Ya' should. Leaving me alone on the most important time of our lives. You're breaking our every year record Maria," I scoffed, not bothering in looking back up. I could see her fists clentch tightly and release once she exhaled. "You know what, I'm not even going to bother Desiree. Have fun by yourself." And with that she stomped off. My cheeks grew hot and I felt enraged. She couldn't just leave me off with that. God I hated her right then. My breathes seemed to cut short I felt paralized standing there in the hall. I felt so small knowing that almost everyone in the hall was watching the 'fight' Maria and I just finished. All eyes on me now. I exhaled and stormed off in the other direction. God I just wanted to get out of there...
Who needs Maria anyway. I'll have fun by myself tonignt.