You're so tired, senior year is exhausting. You didn't understand the struggles of those before you, but here you are, tired of exams and tests, tired of gossip and your peers who you've spent years with and now grow weary of. Their endless bullshit sticks to you like sticky candy and it's a pain. All they do is make up rumours, even one about one of your old enemies, Ashley Graves, coming back to school.

You knew she wouldn't, there's no way. Besides, it's the last year of high school - would she really come back for just the last year? Probably not, you tell yourself. Logically speaking anyway.

Here you are, catching the bus home. Normally you walk, but your mother told you to be home quickly today since she had a surprise. Something in your gut crawled and scratched at you to not go home yet, to walk, take the long way - literally to just not make it home. But you still listened to your mother.

You finally made it home, your hand anxiously resting on the doorknob. You can hear chatting, two female voices. You take a slow, steady breath and open the door. Everything seems normal besides the chatter. You wipe your shoes on the doormat, take them off and hang them on the shoe rack. You close the front door behind you before walking to the living room, towards the voices and giggles.

Your mother is sitting on the couch with a person you thought you'd never see again: Ashley Graves. Their laughter fills the room. Your mother has a glass of wine in hand, while Ashley holds a small plate of cookies.

"Good afternoon! I hope you had a wonderful day at school," your mother greets you like it's a regular Tuesday. But it isn't. It isn't! Why was Ashley in your house?

"This is our neighbour, Ashley! Her parents are out at the moment though, but she said she thought she'd come by and introduce herself," your mother continues. Seriously? This is fucking insanity. You're not happy with this. She wasn't a huge issue, but she was nasty to you because you were friends with her brother. Wonder where he is now. Hopefully far, far away...

Ashley looks over at you, giving you a wicked smirk with her striking pink eyes. She looks confident, bratty, bitchy - all the things you're not. She's such a pain. You can't believe she's your neighbour, out of all people.

"Yeahh. Hey!" Ashley speaks in a playful tone. You roll your eyes. You can't take this right now. You need to calm down. Did she know about this? Did she plan this? Was she trying to get back into your life to taunt you? Harass you? It's been years - has she let everything go?

You shake your head and walk off to the kitchen. Water, you need water. You stand in front of the sink, flick the cold tap and start to splash your face with icy water. You take deep breaths, your mind wandering - until you feel a hand press against your lower back. You almost lean into the comfort, until you hear her voice.

"Awww.. What's wrong? Are you okay?" It was Ashley. Of course it was. Her voice reeks of playfulness, yet venom. She's clearly expecting a reply. Why was she openly interacting with you? You almost want to tell her to fuck off, but something inside holds you back - especially since your mother is in the other room.