Cuddle Application

what does it matter i

e Sa

~

es to the sunlight that threatened to wake me. My eyelashes fluttered against my cheeks as I slowly nodded off a

m, " I mumbled incoher

ur landed o

ff the beanbag. Eyes snapping open, I expec

w feet away, gray tail stand

his

ir, which had knotted itself at the top of

rom behind his bared muzzle. As a cat, he'd seen better days. He was older than the moo

hat was now bathed in sunlight, I noticed the crumpled blankets and empty pillows on the bed

ight across my face and I frowned, beginning to notice the pulsing headache that tucked itself between my temples

promised to never drink again-a promise I'd made,

you'r

pretty you couldn't ignore. When we'd met in middle school, she'd been all pomp and formal, the perfect daughter of a Senator. I'd hated her at the start, with her upturned nose and pouty mouth. In a

announced, turning to head down the hall. "Hu

, and school would be happening at some point today. I put a hand to my hammering skull and winced. "What time is it?" N

rdered on evil.

towards the bathroom door at an unnatural speed. School sta

n t

eyes in the bathroom mirror. "Lina and

an ass." I heard Lina laughing from somewhere

e cold water into my skin, which looked worse for wear. The bags under my eyes sagged drearily a

te homework back in folders and hauled out an old sandwich. Murmuring an "ew, " I tossed it into the trash can next to the desk.

ed, pulling me away

till had to get ready, eat breakfast, and haul all my bags out into the car - and wh

nk again. Never go

little drool on y

ying to find some ibuprof

ur stuff together. You focus on grabbing some b

playing percussion. Lina had showed up first, looking like a Goody-Two-Shoes in her white, floral skirt and socks with ruffles. Then it was me, who had been

all become best friends. I'd found a new seat in between Lina and Cora, and a new, unbreakable friendship in each of them.

sleepovers on Sundays, you wouldn't b

e and my friends. I grabbed the nearest fork and dug in, shoving syrup smothered pancakes in

od for you girls, " Sandra said, her lips frownin

ing, something Sandra wasn't oblivious to. She'd learned to turn a blind eye to us girls whenever we raide

up with the help of Sandra, being taught Calculus, and pushing through the tough challenges of the teenage years. She wa

arble sink across from the counter. "But we started a tr

"It would feel inhumane to stop the S

s of milk. "Why do we

and washed it all down with some milk. Sandra filled my glass

she commented, her dark hair framed with a halo of

in, from where I'd placed it on the table. I knew most of them were from Josh, a

sh

ht? Had we gotten into a fight over something I drunkenly said. Worry clawed into my stomach along with my breakfast. I stopped eating

errupting my thoughts. She stood from the c

ol back from the table, the wooden legs emitting an ear-spl

passed through the foyer, with its high ceiling and sparkling chandelie

bag and pulling out my clothes for

epped out. Lina looked away from her spot

ou, " she agreed. "Your lunch i

d to a very generous Cora, the stylish one of the group. With her father owning half the city, she had no shortage of money an

of my homework, "did you finish that History paper that's due tomorrow?" Per

fluffing her hair and applying more lip gloss. "Bitc

ulders. "Maybe I'll come over later and you can help me brainstorm?" I g

, following. "Just

ed me roughly by the arm, dragging me over to the computer.

ng?" I asked, putting a f

ing at the familiar cite that's on the monitor. Deja-vu invaded my brain, the sa

ra asked. Lina and I locked eyes. "

he was expecting an answer to that, I couldn'

d seen the CuddleMe logo before. The familiar hugging bears stared

ered it. The blank space in my head where mem

to say. "What did

r mouth as she stared at the screen

What?" I asked, leaning closer to th

a clicked on the "My Profile" button and the screen shifted. My name popped up, along with a list of questions an

rinking

" Lina gasped, a gigg

I scrolled until the picture came into view, magnified and ghastly. There was a

ed. "Th

ed. Her boisterous laughter filled the room and Lina's joined i

eyes still on the computer

mach d

somehow being down. Eyeliner smeared my left cheek, matching the sparkly eyeshadow on my forehead. My smile sat lopsided above my crooked chin and

e happening,

fallen on the floor, rolling around and bumping my le

"Me neither, but Santa s

at my hideous

year, huh Sky?" Cora continued. M

for the mouse to try and find the settings page. My head still pulsed,

ing my hand. "You can't del

jecting and grabbi

delete, Sky, " she said.

That's not what I mean!" She pointed at the side of the screen, at the icon next to my face. The

il I regreted drinking. Cora grabbed my shoulders and pushed me a

o the computer to click the notification. On the page flashed a

y profile-it just had to be this freaking Greek God. I looke

rinking

sparkling. "Skylar, yo