"So. How was school?"
"It's okay," I reply. Which it is. I swallow.
"How are your friends?"
"They're okay." I talked to a few people. Another bite.
"How did you do on your tests?"
"I did okay." B's across the board. Another swallow.
"Good. You know you need better grades to make it into a good school right? Your grades in middle school were okay, but now you're in high school you have to do better. If you can't get good grades you won't be able to get into a good college."
"Yeah. I know." I do.
"You know, your dad also had bad grades. But he turned them around."
"It's true," he chimes in. "I used to skip school and hang out at the arcade. Even when I went to college I failed a lot of classes. But one day, I thought to myself 'what the hell am I doing with my life?' And I put my all into school. Straight C's until I was working on my first Masters, you know. But look at you! You're already better than I am! You'll be better than I am, I'm sure of it."
"Yeah. I know. Thanks, dad." I've heard this story a thousand times before.
"No problem. I believe in you," he says.

"Hey Kronii."
I pick my head up from my desk. Stacy is standing in front of me, a gaggle of friends behind her.
"Hi," I say.
"Do you want to come to the mall with us later? I promise it'll be worth your time!"
"Nah, it's okay." She's never talked to me before.
The rest of the girls chime in. "Come on! It'll be so fun!"
I look around the otherwise empty classroom. I don't think I have a choice. "Sure... I guess."
"Cool! We'll find you after class," she says. "Don't run away!"
"I uh... I won't."
When class ends, we go to the mall. I'm not sure what I'm doing here, but it's not a terrible experience. I'd still rather be at home playing video games, but a change of scenery isn't so bad once in a while. I don't really fully understand their conversations, but it's not hard to laugh along every once in a while. I hope they haven't noticed.
The next day, it feels like all eyes are on me as I enter the classroom. I lock eyes with Stacy and she smiles and waves at me. I give her a half-smile back and return a small wave. After class, a boy I've never talked to before approaches me.
"Hey," he says. "Kronii, right? Is it true that you'll sleep with anyone for money?"
I stare back, shocked. "N-no? What?"
He shrugs. "Never mind then. Just a rumor, I guess." He walks away. I hear a couple chuckles from nearby students. What the hell was that?

"Are you sure that's where you want to go to college? That's so far from home!"
"Yeah. It's going to be nice to get a change of scenery, I think. And besides, I feel a bit more confident now. I think I can make some new friends there!"
"Well, if that's what you think. You know what's best for you, after all."
The words bounce around endlessly in my head. I can't believe I actually thought that. Six months in, and I've barely left my dorm. The only people that talk to me are online strangers I'll never meet who give me generic compliments in private messages. "Your voice is so hot," they say. "Let's play some games together sometime!" It's somewhat disgusting, but at least some people like what I do. Besides, the most desperate-sounding ones donate the most money. Not like I'll pay extra attention to them.
My phone rings.
"Hey Kronii! Just calling to see how you're doing!" It's mom.
"Things are going okay," I reply.
"Good! How did your finals go?"
"Could've gone better." They couldn't have gone worse.
"Why? What do you mean?"
"There were some things that I didn't quite get to study. And I got a pretty nasty headache." Bold-faced lies.
"I told you to get more sleep! You never sleep enough. It's okay, you know how to study better now right? The first semester of college is the hardest, you don't know how proud we are that you've already made it this far."
"Yeah, I'm sorry."
"It's okay, you just have to focus more next semester! You got this."
"Yeah, I know."

The drive home from the airport is the longest I've ever experienced. My mother hasn't spoken a single word, and my father keeps making awkward glances at me through the rearview mirror, his eyes darting away whenever we make eye contact. He clears his throat.
"So... what will you do now?"
I can't bear to answer, so I just sit in silence.
"Your father is talking to you."
"I... I don't know. I'm sorry."
The rest of the trip passes in silence. That night, I hear them talking in hushed voices.
"What the hell do we do now?"
"I don't know. I don't know. I just. Don't. Know."
"I thought she was doing well!"
"That's what she always told me!"
Silence.
I pull the blanket over my head and curl up.

"Will you join us for dinner?" she asks as she knocks on the door. I don't respond. She sighs. I wait for the sound of receding footsteps, then open the door and grab the bowl. Another recording ruined.