"I'm not going." Simon said dryly, staring blankly at the ground at his feet. He kicked a patch of grass.

You were standing in front of the school, the two of you a little aside from other students that gathered into groups. Your mom made you dress somewhat nicely for today, telling you that GCSEs are important exams, so you need to take it seriously. If only she cared as much about everything else as she did about keeping fake appearances.

"Seriously, I'm not going." Simon repeated. "Screw it. I don't need this for the army, and that's what I'm planning to do." he grabbed his backpack, and swung it over his shoulder, running his hand through his dark sandy hair. "You coming with me?"

You looked around to make sure there weren't any teachers around.

"Yeah." you replied, only with mild hesitation. "I wouldn't pass anyway." you shrugged.

Together, you two sneaked away behind the school's main building, and hopped the fence. You didn't want to walk out through the main gate, not to get caught by teachers. You went behind old garages, rusty metal structure covered with graffiti. Simon pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket, offering you one. You took it, and lit it right away, inhaling the smoke as you leaned your back against the garage wall.

"Are you really going to enlist in the army when you turn 18?" you asked after a longer moment of silently smoking the cigarette.

"Yeah, literally the day after my birthday." Simon said. "Can't wait. Can't wait to get out of this shithole."

You nodded quietly, staring at the cigarette burning slowly between your fingers.

'But what about me?' you thought to yourself bitterly. 'Will you just leave me behind in this shithole then?'