We'd never been very popular, either one of us. I guess that's why the two of us got along so well. He'd been the dweeb and I'd been the shy little artistic girl who would rather spend the day with her notebook than hanging out with friends. Not that that had ever stopped Ken. I could remember the first day I'd met him. I'd been sitting on the steps with my notebook as usual. I liked to watch people and make character studies. My classmates never knew it, but a lot of them had made it into my stories already. Before I knew it, a boy with coke bottle glasses was sitting down next to me. I frowned, drawing my notebook closer to me. I'd always been afraid to let anyone else look at my writing. It wasn't very good. They'd just laugh, just like they laughed at the way I dressed and how shy I was. The boy next to me was smiling. It wasn't like the way most of my classmates smiled at me, a smile that said they thought they were better than me. It was a nice smile. A kind smile. I wrote that down in my notebook, causing him to look at me curiously. "What are you writing?"

I blushed, "Oh, nothing important... Just... stories..."

His smile widened. "Wow, that's amazing! Can I see?"

I shook my head vigorously, "No!"

His face took on a little pout. "Oh, I see... I'm sorry for prying..."

I couldn't help but feel a little sorry for my outburst. I hadn't meant to yell at him or make him feel sad. "What I mean to say is... I don't let anyone read my writing... It's... It's not very good..."

"That doesn't seem right. If you don't let anyone read it, how are you ever going to get any better?"

"I guess you're right..." I bit my lip a little.

"I didn't mean to make you sad... I know! How about a cookie? That always cheers me up!"

I giggled a little without even meaning to. "Thanks. Say, what's your name?"

"I'm Kentin."

"Kentin? I bet everyone calls you Ken!"

"Actually, I've never really had a nickname. But... I kind of like it..." He flashed another of his wide smiles at me. "And what's your name?"

"I'm Melissa."

"Melissa... So everyone probably calls you Missy!"

"I've never really had a nickname either. But if you want to call me Missy, that's okay with me."

We both laughed. That had been the start of our friendship. In so many ways, that friendship changed me. When I was with Ken, I was never afraid that he'd make fun of me. I'd always felt like I could be myself and so, little by little, I had begun to come out of my shell. By the time I had moved to Sweet Amoris, I had made a decision. I wanted to try to be a friendlier person. But still, I was glad that Ken was moving with me. His friendly smile gave me the strength to be brave. I didn't know what I'd do now that he was going to leave for the army.

I hugged the teddy bear he had given me to my chest, barely able to keep from crying. "I'll write you."

"I'm finally going to get to read your writing?"

I blushed. "Yeah." I had to keep smiling. He wouldn't want to see me sad, not when he had finally given me the courage to smile. My days Sweet Amoris High School and my days without Kentin were just beginning.