“Imagine a world 423 thousand years into the future. Most of you would picture a world full of advanced technology, some may picture a world of destruction. In a way both are right. It’s a world full of new and ‘improved’ technology. The world we used to know was destroyed, along with the human race. At least that’s what they thought, in truth there is a small group of us left. Our goal you may ask; to take back what is ours and seek revenge. They deserve what’s coming at them.”

 My name is Ali, my friends and I are the only ones who survived the attack. My friend’s names are Jackson, Toby and Mia. It’s only been like this 2 months and we’ve been through pure hell every day. "We don’t exactly know what happened during the 4 weeks spent in the bunker. We couldn’t hear the noises any more so we came out and there was… nothing. Buildings had been torn from their foundations and thrown to the ground. The world had crumbled away within seconds."

 At this point I phased out; everyone always told me I had to stop they said that it was a bad habit. It wasn't bad, it was important. Sometimes when I phased out I had visions, visions of the future. Sometimes small details, things I had forgotten. But most importantly I could see what was happening that exact moment, somewhere else.

4 months earlier

“Hurry up Ali, you’re going to make us late!” Mia was impatiently waiting downstairs while I fixed up my makeup.
 “Give me a sec.” I applied some finishing touches and looked approvingly in the mirror. I’m ready to take on the world for another day. 
I grabbed my book bag and raced downstairs right passed Mia and to the door. 
“Coming slowpoke?” I laughed, even though she was mad Mia couldn’t help but smile a little. 
“I hate you so much.” She smiled at me. 
I laughed, “Love you too!” 
We got outside just in time for the bus. When we got on I automatically looked around.
 “Looking for Jackson?” Mia asked with a knowing smile.
 “You know me too well Mia.” I finally spotted Jackson sitting next to his best friend Toby. 
“Oohh,” I said, “Looks like you get to talk to Toby today.” Mia shoved me a bit and started making her way over to the boys.

As soon as the boys saw us they made room, knowing we were going to sit with them, but before we could Alanna and Sophia who we tend to call bitch 1 and bitch 2, sat down in our spaces. The problem with being best friends with the hottest guys in school is that people you don’t like (read Alanna and Sophia) swarm around them and therefore around you. I quickly looked for another seat and we sat 3 rows away from them. They gave us apologetic looks but they couldn’t push the girls away because they happened to be their girlfriends.

 Mia and I have asked them on numerous occasions why they date those girls but they could never give us a straight answer. So we came to the conclusion that they date them because they feel they need to as the most popular guys in the school. Even though that is stupid, in high school every stupid thing makes sense somehow. This is just the start of yet another day in hell.

Mia and I walked through the claustrophobic hallways to our lockers. At the start of the year, we thought that having our lockers as close to the boys as possible - which turned out to be right next to each other - would be the best thing in the world as we both had crushes on them. Unfortunately as soon as they started dating Alanna and Sophia, it got a little more crowded than usual. There were way too many unpleasant images that were never going to leave my mind. It was the stupidest little things that burned out my patience only to replace it with anger and disappointment.

Like the boys not doing more so we could sit next to them or Alanna not moving off my locker quick enough. People always used to say my temper was ‘cute’. That was until they saw my reaction when I found out about Jackson and Sophia. That day even Mia didn’t come within 5 metres of me. I was like a ticking bomb when I got really angry. Even though Jackson had apologised saying there was nothing he could do, I was still mad at him. I know that if he breaks up with Sophia she will make him regret it up until graduation, yet it still made me furious.

“What are you thinking about Ali?” Mia looked at me expectantly. I shook my head and looked away, meaning I didn’t want to talk about it. Mia understood me as she always did. We got to our lockers and quickly grabbed our books, breaking our usual routine of waiting for the boys since we all have the same home room. We knew they would be late since they were with Alanna and Sophia. Probably had to drop them off at their class which would take an eternity. To those girls, not being with Toby and Jackson for 5 minutes was like being without food for weeks. Plus they took forever.

We got to homeroom sitting in our usual spots. Mr Daunte walked in not surprised to see the boys seats empty. It was half way through home room when they finally walked in and took their seats next to us. They tried talking but like I said, I couldn’t help but be a little mad… Ok maybe more than a little.

Once home room finally finished I rushed out hoping the boys would not try to follow, I was wrong. Jackson hated seeing me mad at him so he ran to my side and just walked next to me as I made my way to Art. Eventually the silence got to me. 
“What?” I snapped. 
Jackson jumped a little then hung his head knowing there was nothing he could say that would make my mood better. 
“I’m sorry.” was all he whispered. I reached the art room and went in not bothering to look back at him. It was stupid I know but I just needed to get through today without giving anyone a black eye.

I walked out of class just a little happier. Art always helped to calm my nerves, something about the peaceful atmosphere made me relaxed. As I walked out I saw Mia I waved her over and she smiled knowing I was happy now. Once Mia reached me we linked arms and walked off to lunch talking about Nathan. The boy in Mia’s class who was a bit of a class clown, had embarrassed himself again when he stuck his finger in the rabbit’s cage and ended up getting bitten.

We strode into the cafeteria and stood in line waiting to get our food. 
“Ugh,” Mia crinkled her nose up in disgust, “Why do we have to have the same thing every single day?” 
I laughed a bit at her face but she glared at me saying to take it seriously, I bit my lip and smiled. “What did you expect Mia?” I looked at the food, my stomach already churning a bit, 
“This is high school.” We got our lunches and I silently laughed at how little there was on Mia’s plate. I saw the ‘popular’ table which was made up of Luke a big beefy hunk of a rugby player who is a bit of a play boy, Melanie a quiet, petite girl who is Luke’s current new toy, Josh who idolises Luke and follows him everywhere little sheep and Ally who everyone knows and loves because she is actually really fun to be around, then there is the famous bitch 1 and 2 and our boys.

Mia and I sat at the only available table which was the closest to the door, we always sat alone here because; 1. I don’t fit in with any groups, and 2. Even though Mia could sit at the ‘popular’ table or the ‘brains’ table she chooses to sit with me, every day. We stayed quiet until two large silhouettes covered the table. For a second I thought it was Jackson and Toby but it wasn’t. When I turned my head I was greeted by Luke and Josh staring down at us. I looked at them expectantly,
 “Do you need something?” I asked. Luke clenched his fists, much like me he had temper issues but had been developing little more control over it. 
“You harassed my sister.” Luke snarled.
 I may have forgotten to tell one itty-bitty little thing about Luke. He happens to be Sophia’s big brother, which is crap news for me because Sophia hates me. Why does she hate me? All because I’m closer to Jackson mentally and emotionally than she’ll ever be, not physically. She’s much more experienced in that than I am and hopefully ever will be.

I gasped, “I would never.” 
Fighting the smirk that was slowly creeping onto my face. It didn’t help that Luke’s face then went bright red with anger. I smiled at him daring him to say something to aggravate me. He didn’t, because he’s done that before and let’s just say it didn’t end well. I can be a demon in women’s clothing. Luke walked away glaring at me. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me but I didn’t care about them.

All I cared about was how Jackson stared at me with disappointment. I felt disappointment rush into my body and looked down my previous mood completely gone. Knowing he was watching me I shoved my seat back and stormed out of the cafeteria. As soon as I knew no one could see me I sprinted outside and sat against a wall. I almost never cried. Not even by myself. Only when Jackson was mad or disappointed in me I couldn’t help it. It makes me feel like failed him and myself, I felt absolutely. I pulled my knees up to my chest and hung my head. No one could hear it but I was crying.

I cried for myself. For the undeserved embarrassment I received. Because I was a failure. I can’t seem to please anyone. Why couldn’t I just dig a hole and stay there? I heard the door to the school open and shut. Mia sat down next to me not saying anything.
 “You don’t have to be here right now you know.” 
I sniffled, “It’s not your problem.”
Mia didn’t say anything just put her arm around me and laid her head on my shoulder. Then I cried. I sobbed so everyone could hear me. I cried and kept crying till the bell rang for class.

“Come on Ali.” Mia pulled me up and led me back inside. We headed for the bathroom so I could freshen up. I looked in the mirror, I had smeared mascara all over my face and my eyeshadow was completely ruined. I washed my face so there was no makeup left then realized that in my rush this morning I had forgotten my makeup bag. 
“Dang it.” I cried. Mia looked up from the wall she was leaning on. 
“What?” She asked. I shook my head cursing to myself. 
“I left my makeup at home.” I started to cry a little more but Mia just laughed. I smiled a bit. I was so stupid that I was crying about my makeup. 
“You don’t need it.” Mia said, she came over to hug me, “You’re beautiful without it.” 
I looked at my face and laughed. I had messy hair, swollen eyes and a pale face but I guess you could call me pretty. We exited the bathroom once I had redone my hair. Once we reached the office we explained what had happened in the cafeteria and got a hall pass. Making our way back to our lockers I realized that the office had given us till the last period of the day. We got our book bags and headed outside for some quiet time.

After last period I got onto the bus hoping Jackson was staying late. I was in luck, Jackson and Toby had football practice and weren’t on the bus. I sat down in my seat next to Mia and we smiled at each other. Today was eventful but I survived, we survived.