I decided suspension didn't have to be miserable.

I never left my room during the thing unless i knew my parents were gone, whether if they were shopping, working, or whatever. And the only reason's I'd leave was to just stock up on more food. I had my own bathroom in my room, so no need to worry about that.

I spent most of my time talking to Tyler. Sure, he wasn't always able to reply, but that didn't matter. At least it was someone.

Tyler, you there?

Yup.

Do you want to play a game or something?

Hmm... Maybe Twenty Questions?

Sounds good. You first.

What's your favorite color?

Hmm, I'd have to say Red. What's yours?

Green. What's your favorite subject in school?

Lunch. What's your favorite food?

Pizza. Yours?

Same here. What's your least favorite school subject?

Trigonometry. What about you?

Everything other than lunch is my least favorite.

Fair enough.

When does your school year end?

June 15th. You?

June 6th. Do you like going to school?

No. I only go to this stupid private school because here I don't have to see or talk to my dad. Do you like school?

Absolutely not. The kids here are so immature, and they all bully me just because I can't talk.

That must be infuriating.

It really is. What grade are you in?

I'm currently in Eleventh grade, by USA standards, anyway. What grade are you in?

Interestingly, I am also in eleventh grade.

Really? That's pretty cool.

Seems kinda strange though... I mean, this journal is connecting us, two misfit eleventh-graders, but it won't even let us reveal our names to each other.

It might not be as weird as you think. You feeling a connection?

Ask me that when we're on the last page of this book.

Okay then, whatever you say.

Anyways, back to Twenty Questions. We still have... 6 questions left.

Okay then, go ahead Cara.

What's your Dad like? You don't have to answer if you don't want, but you speak of him with a bitterness i can recognize, and I just can't really help but wonder what he's like.

It's okay, I mean, it's natural to wonder about these sorts of things. Man, where do I even start? He's cold, distant, dictating, and demanding. From what I can tell, he's always been this way. And my mom thought she could change him, but she eventually realized she couldn't, and that's when she gave up on everything. But Mom's death only made it worse, if I'm being honest with myself.

I'm really sorry, Tyler. Nobody should have to go through that.

Lucky me, huh?

Come on, at least know that I'm here, if nothing else. You can always talk to me, after all, I think that's why we have these in the first place.

Yeah, you're right. So my question for you is, do you have anyone who you can talk to?

One person.

Who?

You.

You don't have anyone? No one at school... Nobody?

No. My parents don't like me, my cousins are too busy with their own problems, and my friend from school moved away. You're the only friend I have.

Maybe that's why we can talk to each other through this journal.

What do you mean?

Maybe we've both spent too long without a friend.