Since I was eleven I knew that I was different.

I mean I kind of knew before then, but eleven was when it really hit me. It all started on the first day of sixth grade.

Her name was Ashley Davies and the moment I saw her I got butterflies in my stomach.

I couldn't figure out why at first but soon did.

I was in homeroom sitting in the back of the classroom reading my schedule when she came in, there was only one desk empty and it was right next to me.

She came in and sat down.

I remember feeling as though my heart would jump out of my chest and trying so

hard not to show it.

My hands were clammy and I was sweating.

"Hi, I'm Ashley," she said confidently.

"I'm Spencer," I replied nervously.

"So are you from around here?" she asked.

"No, I'm from Ohio actually." I answered.

"Oh really? Is there much to do there?" she inquired.

"No, not really, I'm from a really small town of only like five hundred or so people." I replied.

"Wow, so everyone must know everyone right?" she asked smiling.

"Yeah, I guess you could say," I replied.

The more we talked the more my stomach did summer salts.

Luckily for me, homeroom would be over soon.

After homeroom, I walked to my next class making my way through hundreds of students unlike my

old school where you could do backward flips down the hall and not touch anyone.

I made my way into my first period trying to forget about Ashley only to find out that we had the same class.

"Hey!" Ashley yelled from her seat, waving as I entered.

There were plenty of open seats but she was gesturing for me to come sit next to her and I didn't want to be rude.

Besides I didn't know anyone else anyway. "What are the odds that we'd end up having the same first period?" she asked happily.

"1 in 9," I replied. "Being that there were only nine first period classes for the sixth graders to choose

from."

She laughed a little.

I guess she thought that was a joke.

"Let me see you schedule," she commanded.

I took my schedule out of my notebook and handed it to her.

"Ahh..." she screamed softly. "We have the same lunch and the same fourth period, this is so awesome."

"Yeah," I replied, "Awesome."

The teacher came in and beckoned us all to settle down and take our seats.

He was a white man in his mid 50's with really yellow teeth.

I remember because we called him Mr. ButterMouth.

Never to his face of course.

Anyway, all throughout Mr. Bradfords class I found myself looking over at her, kind of studying her.

The way she took the eraser off all her pencils so she could chew the end, the way her hair was kind of fluffy on one side and kinda flat on the other, the way she drew hearts in the top corner of all notebooks and the way she...

DING DING

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the bell ringing.

"So we'll meet up at lunch okay." she stated.

"Okay," I replied.


I couldn't concentrate my next two periods before lunch, not that I paid attention in first period either.

So I can't concentrate when she's in my class and I can't concentrate when shes not.

This is going to be a long year, I thought to myself.

At lunch I found myself searching for her and when I couldn't find her I sat at a table in the corner by myself.

A few minutes later I felt someone come and sit down beside me.

I didn't notice her coming because I had my head buried in my book to seem as though I intended on sitting alone.

"Did you miss me?" she asked.

"No," I responded playfully.

"Really? So pretending to read, is that something you do often?" she asked smiling.

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

"I was watching you from the line, you didn't turn the page once and plus your eyes have been focused on one spot the whole time," she answered.

"There is no way you saw my eyes from way over there." I responded.

"Okay, okay. The book is upside down." she said with a huge grin on her face.

I looked at my book to realize she was right.

Crap.

I wonder how many other people noticed.

We both giggled.

"So you did miss me then right?"

"Never mind that, where were you?"

"You missed me a little I know, its okay you don't have to admit it. But I got in trouble for talking in class."

"Wow, on the first day," I said sarcastically.

"Well it was your fault."

"How was it my fault, I wasn't even there."

"It's your fault because I was talking about you." There goes those butterflies again.

Why was she talking about me?

What was she saying?

Better yet who was she saying it to?

A few moments later my questions would be answered with the arrival of a brunette haired, brown eyed boy at our table.

A boy I'd never seen before, well then again I'd never seen any of these kids before.

Who was he and what did he want? And why was he interrupting my time with Ashley?

"Hey Ash. And you must be Spencer. I'm Aiden, Ashley's best friend." He said as though he was trying to stake his claim.

"Yep, since like the first grade," Ashley added.

"So, I heard you were from Ohio." He stated.

"Yeah, so you must be Ashley's partner in crime?" I asked playfully.

"Huh," he asked.

"I told her we got in trouble for talking in class." She stated.

"Oh, yeah that was so not my fault, she just wouldn't shut up about you. Spencer this, Spencer that."

Ashley hit him on the arm playfully.

"Oww," he shrilled. I couldn't help but laughed, he kinda screamed like a girl.

"So Spencer, what's Ohio like?" he asked.

"Good God Aiden, you're going to bore the girl to death with your lame questions."

"You asked me the same questions this morning," I added playfully.

"Thats why they're so boring, I already know the answers." she smiled.

We all laughed.

The bell rang and it was time for fourth period.

Ashley and I had the same fourth period so we were alone again, well us and 25 other students but it felt like we were alone the entire hour and a half.

We spent the entire period writing notes to each other.

I couldn't tell you one thing the teacher said.

She started with the note thing first.

"What are you doing today after school?" she wrote.

"I'm not really sure," I replied.

"Well do you want to hang out with me and Aiden?

"Um, yeah sure, I just need to ask my parents if its okay." I responded.

"Okay cool, so here's my number just call if you need a ride or you know, whatever.

Even if you can't come you can still call." I smiled.

"Okay, heres my number too." I took out a second sheet of paper to write her number down then handed her back the note. She smiled then shoved the note into her pocket.

The bell rang and the first day of school was over.

"So, I guess I'll see you later," she said smiling as she disappeared into the flow of students headed towards the parking lot to catch their rides.

What a day.