Chapter Three - Invisible?

*Kelly's POV*

Invisible. It was something I always wanted to be.

When you’re invisible no one could notice your flaws or the many mistakes you made. You couldn’t ever be judged for your actions. For my eighth birthday, I asked for it as a superpower. Unfortunately I received toy cars instead. I even asked Santa but, I guess he didn’t get the memo because I ended up with a bike.

It wasn’t until I got into high school that my wish was granted.

In a building full of nearly two thousand kids, it was easy to drift in the background and for that I was happy.

People always noticed me- of course they should, I mean, I am a not only cute, but I got the brains too, you know. But still, nobody paid much attention to these details or gave me the 'popular student of the year vibes', plus I didn’t do anything to get the attention. I considered that a win win situation.

My parents always wondered if something was wrong with me since I didn’t like to be touched and I never really had any friends, except one.

They tried many times, with therapy, to get me to open up, but it was all futile.

There was nothing wrong with me. I just preferred solitude over most things. I preferred being up in my room, reading all the books I can lay my hands on, or solving as many arithmetic as I can, to just stepping out into the sun and socialising.

“Kelly, are you even listening to me!?!” Rose groaned, slamming her coffee on the table.

Out of the twenty five years I’ve spent on this earth, I’ve only managed to have one friend, and that was Rose. 

We met when I was in my freshman year in college. She basically forced her company on me and somehow I ended up enjoying it. The only thing was, when I was with her there was no fading into the crowd.

Rose demanded all my attention and, let it be known, sometimes loudly.

“Not really” I mumbled as I continued to type on my computer.

“Kelly, we just graduated college and the first thing you do is get a job? Don’t you want to have some fun?”she asked.

“Fun isn’t me and you know that. Besides I consider myself lucky that my dad offered me a job at his company. It helps me gain experience, added to my knowledge, you know” I let out a smile.

“I don’t understand you. You’d think you would want to go crazy before being locked down as an accountant for the rest of your natural born life”, she muttered.

“There is nothing wrong with being an accountant” I argued.

“Yeah right, I fall asleep just hearing the word” she laughed.

“Whatever. I don’t talk about how you want to be surrounded by smelly animals all day, Miss.Veterinarian” I grumbled.

“Okay fine, can you at least come out with me tonight for drinks, nerd?”Rose questioned, sipping her coffee.

“I don’t know. I've got some extra work to do today” I whispered, closing my laptop.

“Please. Pretty please, with strawberries on top” she begged.

“Alright fine, but after today you can’t ask me to do this again for the next two weeks” I said.

“Yesss!! We’re going to have fun and maybe I’ll get you drunk or, even better, laid!!!” she cheered.

I couldn't help but blush and shrunk a little in my seat as people stared at us.

A couple of minutes later, Rose and I left the coffee shop. I headed back to my apartment while she went to see her parents.

When I reached home I went in, walking straight to my bedroom. Changing out of my jeans and t-shirt, I pulled on some basketball shorts and a tank top along with my Nike’s.

Going to my kitchen, I picked up my water bottle and headphones.

As I was about to leave my apartment my phone rang, it was my mom.

“Hello” I answered, locking my door.

“Hi honey, I was calling to see if you were going to join us this week for Sunday dinner. Stefan is coming and Susan’s going to be there”, she said.

My mom was an amazing woman, considering she had me for a son, but she was constantly trying to set me up with her friends' daughters, no matter how many times I told her that I wasn’t focused on dating.

I’ve had a couple of girlfriends, sure, but none of them ever lasted long. They’d all get bored eventually and end up giving me the signature line, ‘I think we should just stay friends’.

The friend zone was where I occasionally vacationed until I decided to give up on relationships for a while.

I was young so, I didn’t see the need to rush, but to my mom I needed a nice woman.

Unlike me, my brother, Stefan, was a freshman in college and had been dating the same girl for three years.

Hell they were practically married already, I thought.

“Mom I don’t know if I’ll be able to make it. I have a lot of work to finish up for the company” I sighed.

“Well, your father can wait. I haven’t seen my oldest son in forever. Your mother misses you” she said.

Damn, she really liked to lay the guilt on thick!

“Okay, I’ll be there”, I exhaled.

“Great. You're going to love Susan. She’s a really beautiful and polite young woman”, my mom hummed happily.

“I’m sure. Mom I’ll see you on Sunday, I’m about to go running” I said.

“Alright, call you later and do not forget”, she repeated.

We said our goodbyes before hanging up. That was the second time today I’ve been conjured into getting involved in what I don't have plans on.

I was going to have to spend a day locked in my room for all these activities.

Hopefully tonight with Rose will be quiet, most likely not, but I’ll pray because I don’t need anything else happening to me right now.

I wanted to stay, as always, invisible.