Matt woke up that morning knowing that it was the beginning of the end of highschool; senior year. Time seem pretty slow for him, as after the infamous Cybersquad had left middle school; they seemed to drift apart. Matt felt as if Jackie was already occupied with Slyder, and being with them was always awkward. It shouldn't be like that. He felt that stab in the chest; though numb and cold, when his best friend Inez couldn't meet his eyes anymore. The pain grew more difficult to deal with; tearing away his soul and his humanity.

Matt got up and took a cold shower, rinsing his reddish hair and changing into a white undershirt and leather jacket, black denim, and all-brown boots. He reached for his medications and took two tablets. He shoved his homework in his bag and headed downstairs, slapping jam on some toast and a cup of coffee. Matt was often sleep-deprived, trying to work on getting back to the cyberworld; but even all these years he could never get back. He didn't want to accept that the connection between Cyberspace and his world was forever severed.

He headed out at 7AM, a 10 minute bike-ride to school where he decided to get the conference with his counselor over with. Parking outside the school, other groups of students approached the school; as the first class started at 7:30.

Matt dropped by his locker to retrieve his books and head towards the counselor's office. He closed the locker and turned around.

He saw them.

Jackie, Slyder, and Inez all hanging at the class, by the looks of it, playing catch-up. They seemed to quickly understand each other, bursting out in laughter and group hug. Matt's emotions became confused because of this, and that he couldn't help but realized how Inez had matured over the years, and even though they talked very little; she hasn't changed at heart. His heart fuzzed.

Then Jackie glanced up and then met his eyes. And then Matt's instincts kicked in. He turned his head before the others noticed him and ignored the calling of his name.

/

Matt rushed to the third floor and entered his counselor's office, Mr. Alvin. He look a seat as he glanced up at the fairly young adult. For some reason, Matt couldn't stand him; his skin was a sickly shade that he couldn't pinpoint; yet he didn't appear to be sick with any flu or contagious disease at all.

"Matthew, nice to see you early." Mr. Alvin stopped writing, to retrieve a clipboard, as Matt expected, writing in his name.

"I just don't want to waste my time afterschool." He folded his arms.

"Understandable. So, I think you know why you were recommended a conference with me." Mr. Alvin pressed. Matt grimaced. He's always maintained his grades on Honor Roll, already receiving scholarships to tech schools. He hasn't been involved in outrageous events or any clubs or sorts. He was a lone wolf.

"No sir." Matt grimaced. He rarely smiled anymore.

"I'm worried about the fact that you rarely talk to anyone anymore. I've been watching since last year." He folded his hands. Matt bit inside his cheek.

"I have my reasons. That's nothing to your concern." He stood up, "Can I go? If this isn't about college I don't believe it's relevant to me."

"Matthew, your...classmates came to me the other day. They been trying to converse with you for quite some time. Now, I have no business with whatever personal is going on, but I believe you should take the initiative-"

"Honestly Mr. Alvin, I'll fix my own problems." He retorted as he stomped out the office. He roughly threw his bag over his shoulder and headed to his AP Statistics class.

/

He arrived there five minutes before the first bell rang, inwardly stabbing himself at the fact that his ex-friends were all in the same class. Not many of the seniors enrolled in the class; only if they were going to major in a technical field or become a math teacher. There were only 8 people in this class this period. He shouldn't been surprised that they would take the more challenging class. Sitting at the two tables were his ex-friends, once conversing, now glancing at him. Matt narrowed his eyes and made his way to the back of the class.

"Stop right there." The teacher, Mr. Ewing, directed to him. "No one is sitting in the back in my class this year."

Matt stopped and turn to sit at an empty table behind two other seniors and threw his notebook on the table distastefully. He could feel eyes on him, as he tried his best to direct his attention to frustrating problems on the pre-test. Twenty minutes later, the teacher called time as Matt had his hands clenched together tightly.

"Times up, pass your papers to the middle." Mr. Ewing directed as Matt carefully placed his test on the end of the table. He could see the teacher glance down at him and give him a distasteful glance

Before Matt could resume his daydream out the window, someone took a seat beside him. Someone that he didn't want to see.

"Matt." Inez called. He clenched his fist and look straight at her with harden blue eyes. He had nothing to say to her. Why she wanted to talk to him now?

"What do you want?" He answered harshly.

"You know exactly what." She squinted her eyes; her amazing chocolate-brown eyes.

"Hardly, because the last time we had an actual conversation, was about 3 years ago." He retorted.

"There's a lot I want to say and tell you. That's exactly what."

"Sorry, but I'm not really interested." He started packing. "Not now or ever, actually."

"Matt, you were one of the most hardheaded friends I ever had, but the person you are now I just can't stand." She raised her voice. Matt's anger flared.

"Well, accept it! Because this is your fault. You distant yourself away from me. And what did I do? Tell me Inez!" He didn't care how close to her face he was. She could see her turning nearly red with frustration.

"Be quiet both of you or I'll kick you out!" Mr. Ewing ordered.

There was only five minutes in the class, Matt didn't have the patience to stay.

"Don't worry, I'll do myself the honors." He glared at the teacher. He got up from his seat and shoved past Mr. Ewing, slamming the door. He stomped down the hall, before taking off in a sprint, to an abandoned hallway.