YOU'RE IN A STRANGE PART OF OUR TOWN

Everyone seems to have an opinion on Christmas. Either they adore it or they despise it. I suppose I should place my bet on either side, but I don't believe I can. I'm not religious, so I don't see the appeal of Christmas. However, I don't despise it. After all, who can despise receiving presents?

Anyway. It'll be done soon enough. I don't see the point in getting overly excited about its arrival. It's ... what, a week away?

I prefer New Years as a holiday. The start of a new year, a new chance. It's quite ... heartwarming, isn't it?

I went to see Walter's new cat, and I think everyone should know that he's not as detached as he claims to be. When he showed me how to feed it, he was very critical and snapped at me that I was doing it wrong, even took the creature away because I was 'going to break its neck' because of my 'foolish womanly clumsiness'. Don't ask how that makes sense, I couldn't explain it to you. Ask Walter.

After he held it for ten minutes trying to get it to eat, he then begrudgingly let me hold it again because apparently not even I could mess that up. It was very small, and very fragile...

It's so strange, to hold something that small in your hands.

After that, I forced Walter to watch a romantic comedy and used him as an oversized pillow. Only after spraying him with disinfectant. He puts up with that only because he has to as my brother. He's actually quite comfortable, though he could use a shower as he always does.

I think I might want to see that kitten often, Walter. Of course you won't mind?

I have some Christmas shopping yet to do. Graves? Do you think I could find anything if I were to stop by again?

There seems to be an air of unrest in some of the classes. I can't be the only one who noticed. It seemed as if people couldn't pay attention, and I must confess, I was not utterly devoted to my teachers, either. It is hard to explain, but to say the very least, I was quite distracted.

It seemed that this difficulty followed me wherever I went today. From the student council meeting to the orchestra practice, a majority of students seemed to be unable to focus at the task at hand.

However, I can't let myself get distracted. I am practicing my violin, as I am hoping to get a musical scholarship from Harmony University. There tends to be a lot of competition for these scholarships, not only because so few spots are available, but also because the head of the music department is supposedly quite harsh with the application process.

I hear that he is on these boards, but I don't recall if I've ever spoken with him.

Hopefully he will find my work impressive. I have been playing violin for a very long time, after all.

I don't know if there will be other competition for these scholarships, but I hope that I won't have to work past too many to get a spot. That would be terribly upsetting for those who didn't make it. I know that members of our Drama Club and Choir both have hopes of landing these scholarships, but I hope that my violin playing surpasses that.

I had some trouble trying to decide what I wanted to play, but I have decided on a piece that has always been familiar to me. I'm not exactly sure why. People ask me if I composed it myself, because I never play it to music, but I know that isn't the case. I didn't write it. I simply heard it somewhere long ago...

Hopefully, with plenty of practice, I'll be able to get that scholarship.

( Private. )

( Walter. )

( Link. )

Lilly, do you have notes from the meeting? I'm afraid I was so distracted, that mine are less than satisfactory.

And darling, let's do something. I'm starting to feel like a caged animal, staying in my house all the time.

Jesus, Walter. It's been almost a week and I swear to god if I die in here I'm going to fucking haunt you forever. I've tried to break the door down but I'm not strong enough. I had a few bits of food stored in this stupid closet and it didn't hurt that I was UNCONCIOUS for almost two days thanks to the crazy man with the unibrow but I KNOW you are responsible for putting me in here and I will KILL YOU when I get out of this place.

And Jennifer. I will kill you too, finish what I started, you unworthy, dirty, ungrateful wretch! That a disgusting girl like you gets to live when she is responsible for the deaths of so many others is beyond me. I hope that I killed that stupid dog of yours, would serve you right. Brown you sacrificed for your own worthless skin, but you didn't get the chance to do the same for this mutt. I'm sure, if you thought your own pathetic life were in danger, that you'd kill him just as easily, you stupid worthless girl.

SOMEBODY, LET ME OUT. The only light I have is from this computer. Thankfully I had my old laptop and its power cord stored in this stupid closet, or I would have absolutely no contact with the outside world.

I don't care that zombies are roaming the streets. I want out of this closet before I starve to death.

Walter, let me out. I doubt you would care if I die or not, but you owe me this.

Somebody find that terrible man with the giant eyebrows and terrible powers, and make him suffer. If I were capable, I would, but he's obviously proved that I'm not much of a match for him. He's burned me and I had no way to tend to the wounds.

Why, you ask?

BECAUSE I'M LOCKED IN A FUCKING CLOSET.

Somebody let. me. out.

This is all ... so very interesting, isn't it?

Walter, 'Father' is dead. If you care. I sincerely doubt that you do. if only I could have given my first the same justice. I don't know where 'Mother' is. She came in and saw him on the floor, and ran out screaming. She wasn't worth the effort.

I feel as if I have been liberated. Given a new life, if you will.

Memories are such a fragile thing. Apparently, easy to tamper with. But once you have them back, it is almost hard to understand how you ever believed the lies in the first place. Though some of them are more convincing than others.

Now that I am ... feeling myself again, there are some things I need to finish.

Life can be so unfair, really. And now that I have my second chance, I'm not going to let myself be held back.

Poor, dirty, filthy unlucky girl.

Wolfwood. I did enjoy spending time with you the other night. Thank you for having me.

Guybrush ... I did enjoy talking with you the other day. What would you say to drinks, or something similar? I have been so stressed lately, I would love the chance to unwind a little.

I've had a rather trying day. I haven't been able to sleep, because I keep thinking about things that don't make a particular amount of sense.

For example:

I have spent a good portion of the day watching old movies with my mother and letting her toy with my hair (I hate it when she does that) because I had the overwhelming fear that she had disappeared, and that she and my father no longer loved me, and that they had abandoned me. That I was going to go to an orphanage because that is where 'bad girls' go.

It was a strange feeling, so childlike. My mother likely enjoyed my moment of weakness, because I usually don't spend much time with her. But that doesn't make it any less disconcerting.

And unfortunately for me, I have not been able to shake the feeling. It is a terrible feeling, the feeling of being completely alone.


( Private. )


I am going to force myself to sleep by use of my mother's sleeping pills if necessary. Thankfully I don't have any classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays until late afternoon. Perhaps a good rest will shake me out of this ... 'funk'.

I have been thinking about getting my hair cut. I heard there was a hairstylist on this network now ... would you have room for a redhead? I would be devastated if you didn't.

I feel like an era is coming to and end.

Graduation is over. Highschool is beyond me. My childhood has almost completely disappeared. It is quite a bittersweet feeling. I am almost reluctant to face the idea that I will soon be an adult.

I feel quite foolish about it, to be honest. Who am I, Peter Pan? It isn't possible to always remain a child forever. It is an unrealistic dream. But I suppose I can't really help it, can I.

A part of me is glad the party and event is over. My speech is given, my tassel switched from one side to the other. I have graduated highschool, and as my principal said, this is ,the beginning of the rest of my life'. so why does it feel like it is ending?

Walter, you really ought come home. Perhaps we can play one of those games we used to when I was little... I want to forget how terribly old I am. Perhaps we can go to the park. I remember when you would push me on the swings. It seems so long ago. Or, of course, we could play one of those games we used to when mother left us home alone. Those were so much ... Fun, weren't they...?

...congrats to all my fellow graduates.

Well. It seems like the world is just in a roar this week. I would like to say I hope the two fellow members that were injured during that bus accident are doing well. It's quite terrible, really. I never would have imagined something like that happening in our quiet little Harmony. Doesn't it just give you chills, thinking about it? What if you had been on that bus?

What a terrible thought.

School has been remarkably uneventful... We are, of course, planning the prom. I am the head of the committee, and this has found me immensely busy. But a girl does what she has to, and as class president as well, I am determined not to let anyone down.

This graduation will be the most spectacular by far.

Unfortunately, it seems that Harmony High has encountered a bout of hazing. I'm not sure who was involved, but I do know that it is unacceptable to place animals in a fellow students' locker, even if they were alive during insertion. Nobody should have to find a dead rat amongst their schoolbooks, it sounds simply terrible.

Poor boy. What was his name? Kaiba? Something like that.

It's just unfortunate that people would do such vile things. I'm going to prepare a speech against hazing to be read at our next pep rally. It's really quite despicable.

Well.

In the aftermath of this terrible storm, I've decided to finally make an entry on this journal. To be quite honest, I was invited a long time ago, and until this point thought it wasn't really worth my time.

You all seem like interesting individuals more or less. Of course, both of my sisters seem to be regulars on this message board, so I suppose it was inevitable that I eventually get involved.

At any rate.

My name is Diana. It's a pleasure to meet all of you.

I must warn you, however, that I am very involved with my school and may not find the time to dedicate to these message boards as others can. I'm quite a busy girl, and often find myself with no time to spare.

I suppose that is a sufficient introduction, no?

I hope that everyone muddled through the storm alright. I spent my time at home, and the power going out was quite troublesome. A girl as small as me has a hard time keeping herself warm as it is, without power I was downright frigid.