First story…EVER. Please rate and review. I would love to hear your opinions on the story, even if you only think I should update. I do take what you guys say into consideration(I promise). This is actually based off a song, Bluebird by Christina Perri. And special thanks to Lady of Fantasy(fan fiction author and my best friend in real life), who helped me start this account and pick out names for this story. And also thanks to Christina Perri for the amazing song which gave me the idea to write this story. So here it is, and enjoy!

"Marianna, where are you going?" Maria's mother screamed on her way out the back door. Crap, she thought as she turned to face her mother. "Answer me, Marianna."

"Don't call me that, Mom. I've told you a million times, call me Maria. You know I don't like being called Marianna."

"You are forgetting something very important," she said, pointing at Maria, " I am your mother, and you do what I say."

"Fine. I'm on my way to a friends' house, okay?"

"Which friend?"

" Why do you feel the need to know everything I'm doing?" Maria screamed. "I am not little anymore, Mom, but since you want to know so badly whose house I'm going to, it's Adrianna's."

"Alright then. You have fun." Maria then watched her mom smile and go back to the kitchen as she left. Idiot, Maria thought with a giggle as she climbed onto her bike and rode off, not to Adrianna, her best friends house though, but to Ross's house. Ross was her boyfriend of two years, and only lived about a 10 minute bike ride away. She had a system of lying to her mother and going to his house when his parents were gone, which was almost every day. Adrianna knew, and pretended that Maria was over there when her mother called. Her mother never suspected a thing.

Maria pulled out her cell phone and called Adrianna. After a couple rings she heard the other girls voice, "Hey Maria, what's up?" she answered.

"Hey, I need your help. I need you to cover for me if my mom calls your house. She thinks I'm over there."

Adrianna grumbled. "Fine. Do you really need to sneak out all the time to see Ross? I know you love him and all, but you don't hang out with me that much anymore."

"I know that and I'm truly sorry, Adrianna, but I don't think you understand how I feel about him. About how much I need him in my life. I have an idea though, about how we could hang out."

"What's the idea?" Adrianna perked up. She was clearly tired of being her best friends cover when she snuck out with Ross. She hardly knew Maria now.

"How about I go over to your house and spend he night."

Adrianna enthusiastically replied, "Yes! Slumber party time!"

"Great. I'll call you when I'm on my way there from Ross's house. And I'm almost there so talk to you later."

"Ok. See you tonight!" Adriana screamed, then she giggled and hung up the phone.

Maria continued to ride her bike down the sidewalk of Ross's neighborhood. She did feel kind of bad about lying to her mother, and about forgetting her friends and only focusing on Ross. She loved him though(or she needed him at least). She trusted him with every little secret she had. She told him about her parents divorce, and how her father hardly spoke to her and her mother, and lived with another woman, whom Maria had never met in her life. She told Ross things she probably shouldn't tell him, too, but she did not care. Ross was different then the other boys who lived in her town.

She continued to ride down the sidewalk, and she could now see his house. It wasn't much of anything. He, like her, was an only child raised by a single parent. He wasn't as fortunate as she was though, which made her feel bad. He was always kind about it though. She then noticed that there was a car parked in the driveway. His mother must be home. I should have called him to let him know I was coming, I always do. I'm so stupid, Maria thought as she rode her bike into the bushes. She then called Ross on her cell.

"Hey, Maria, what's up?" Ross answered.

"Hey, Ross, is your mom home?" Maria whispered into the phone.

"Why do you ask? I'm alone as usual."

"Well, I'm over at your house, and there's a car in the driveway. I came to surprise you, but I was worried so…."

"Don't be worried, Maria. My mom is not home. I was going to tell you later, but I got my own car! You know how much I've been saving up."

"That's great, Ross. Well I'm outside your house, so I'm going to go in and see you, ok?"

"Alright. See you then. I love you," Ross whispered into the phone. He just said he loved me, Maria thought, he has never told me that before. No one has ever told me that before, besides my family. Maria's heart raced inside her chest as she pressed the end button and sat down in the bushes. She was going to savor the moment in her head. After a moment she got up and went to go see him.

"This car is quite awesome," Maria said as her and Ross rode around in the car together, seeing the sights of their small California town.

"Hey, you know I would never lie to you about anything," Ross said as he grinned and put his arm around her shoulders. Maria didn't respond and they rode on in silence. It's getting late, she thought suddenly. Adrianna would be expecting her for the sleepover. She knew she should leave, but she did not know what would happen, she'd never ridden in a car with a boy before, alone. She knew in movies boys would drive around their girlfriends and then stop the car once it got late and make out with them, sometimes even go further then that. She had made out with Ross before, but the thought of going farther then that scared her.

"Ross…," she whispered, "It's getting late…" She didn't mean to sound seductive or anything, but it did.

"Do you want to stop the car or anything…," his voice trailed off slowly as he said it.

"I'm not sure, Ross," she whispered, "I have a sleepover today with Adrianna, and I promised her I would go, because it was my idea."

"But I thought we were spending the day together."

"I know Ross, but I promised. I have to stick to my promise. You know that. Can you go by your house and get my bike and then we can stop by Adrianna's house and you can drop me off, okay?"

"If you truly love me, Maria, you would stay here, with me, and listen to me. Not choose your friends over me. You know our relationship comes before your stupid friends." Maria had never heard Ross talk like that to her before. He had always been nice to her, a little bit controlling, sure, but she never expected him to say anything like this. He had crossed a line. She did not want him to break up with her though.

"I'll stay a little bit longer, then we can go pick up my bike and you can drop me off at Adrianna's house, alright?" Maria said. A compromise always works, she thought.

"Alright, I suppose." Ross seemed mad at her, and Maria could tell. She knew him, and his temper and ego issues, so she knew this could possibly end the relationship if she didn't do what he wanted. She knew she had to stay true to herself though, and she spoke up.

"You know what Ross? I take that back. I need to go now, so please grab my bike and bring me to Adrianna's house. Now." Maria was shocked by herself. She had spoke firmly and with authority, like she was in control. Ross had noticed , too.

"Fine. Choose your friends over me. I see how it is for you." They then drove to his house in silence, grabbed Maria's bike, and went to Adrianna's.

"Bye, Ross," Maria whispered. He said nothing and drove away with a grave expression on his face.