A friend of mine told me it's good to write things down. Said it helps sorts things out, you know? I hope he's right. Here it goes. My name is Draco Wilson. I am 15 years old and I attend Brookgrove High School in Brookgrove, Washington. I'm tall and skinny, which is why a lot of people want me to join the school basketball team, but with who I am, that would be unfair. I'll get to that in a bit. First, more about me. I love fried chicken with mashed potatoes and brown gravy. I like video games and talk with my friend Sam about the different girls at school. But there is one thing that sets me apart from all of them. I AM NOT HUMAN.

"Draco! Are you up yet, sweetie?"

"Just a minute, Mom," I yelled.

I looked up from my journal and rubbed my eyes to get rid of my tiredness. This had been the first all-nighter I had pulled in a long time. I know Mom will understand, but I need to get it past Dad. After a quick shower and a change of clothes, I head downstairs to get some breakfast and face Dad.

"Where were you last night," Dad asked.

"Sleeping," I told him, a complete lie.

"Oh," he said, "I see. I must have been hallucinating when I saw a wad of clothes where your head should have been." Oops.

"Okay, fine," I admitted, "I was visiting him last night."

"Again! I have told you time and time again how I feel about that."

"Honey," Mom said, "Rean is a nice… guy."

"You don't know him like I do, Dad."

"I know him well enough that I can say I don't want you around him. He'll get you into trouble."

"Whatever happens, I can handle it," I told him.

"Just stay away from him."

"You know I can't promise that, Dad."

Outside, a horn started playing "La Cucaracha". Mom looked out and said, "Draco, you have a visitor."

When I looked outside, I saw a girl walking up the driveway to the door. Bry Dand, one of my best friends I have known since 1st grade. Dad opened the door for her before she could even knock.

"Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson," Bry said, "Hey, Draco."

"You got your license!" I exclaimed.

"Yeah, I was so nervous I almost crashed, but I managed to pass. You need a ride to school?"

I looked at Mom and Dad for permission.

"Fine," Dad said, "Just be careful, and remember what we talked about."

"I know, I know, Dad."

"Have a good day, you two!" Mom told us. "And be safe!"

"Love you, Mom. Love you, Dad. Bry, just try not to kill us on the way there, ok?"

"God, I hated that test!" Bry exclaimed as we walked out of world history class.

"Calm down, Bry," a voice behind us said.

"Don't tell me to calm down, Sam! Even you got a better grade than me!"

Sam Neyra has been my best friend since Pre-K, has had my back since I've known him, and I owe him for many things. As much as we've done for each other, not even he knows the truth about me.

"Draco," Bry asked, "you coming?"

"What," I asked.

"Lunch, dude," Sam said, "You lost that bet last week, so you have to buy."

"Yeah," I said as I handed him the money, "I'll catch up. I have something I need to do."

Looking around to make sure I was alone, I sat down on the bench outside the school library and took out my journal.

My life is messed up, especially since I can't be like normal kids. I can't even have a decent love life. The first girl I ever had an actually crush, I haven't seen in seven years. The second, God, I can't even think about her a lot of times. It's funny, you make one mistake with someone you love, and your whole world comes crashing down. Most recently, no one thinks she's pretty, not even herself. I've literally walked into an empty classroom to find her sobbing because another girl told her to go lay in a ditch and bury herself. I made sure that girl was expelled. But I think she's beautiful. She…

"Hey, nerd!" a voice yelled.

Great, I thought, Andrew Bryant. He's the worst bully at the school, and was also the first new person I meet at Brookside High. He was one of the ones wanting me to join the basketball team, and when I refused, started to think that if he bullies me enough, I'll give in. I could get him to back off, but I don't actually want to hurt the guy. How he snuck up on me, though…

"Hey! I'm talking to you!"

I sighed. "What do you want, Andrew, I don't think they heard you in Vancouver."

"I just wanted to know what you were writing about in your diary. Plans to finally get a girlfriend?"

"I know what he was writing, Bryant," a voice behind me said. What is it with people sneaking up on me? I turned and thought to myself, with a sense of déjà vu, great.