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"12:34 am", I mumbled glaring at the digital red letters of my clock with a mix of exhaustion and anger.

I had been working for hours on end; I came home at 1:00 pm in the AFTERNOON and here I am still working.

"Mara Davids" is what I had finally typed into the computer. There, the last of three essays I had written. My life has been non-stop. Today for 3 hours I was convincing a board of trustees to grant me admission into University next year. Mind you, I am only 15 years old. I am only applying because I have received recommendations from every one of my teachers, my marks are on par and I have so many extracurriculars' that I seem a shoe in for the scholarships at the 'Advanced Learners' level. Never can be too early to jump on that wonderfully educational path, I thought rolling my eyes. I'm not bitter at the thought of going; it's just that I'd much rather be at home, with my parents, enjoying high school and just making the most of life with my best friend.

Shit.

Dougie. I knew I forgot something. He called me today to tell me he had some 'amazingly awesome news, that could not be missed otherwise he would befriend an alien just to convince him to eat me'. Doug's got quite the imagination, a very unique guy, but that's probably why I love him. I've always gotten flack for being his friend; I'm not you're typical 'loner' girl who befriends 'loner' boy. And Doug is your stereotype loner boy.

I'm the 'academic'. The school president, head of the debate team, school news anchor and student representative for our school in media publications; besides our principal and administrators. The tutor and cheerleader, and the drama club productions; director. But, I'm not exactly a nerd, at least that's not how I'm classified, though Doug thoroughly enjoys calling me it.

Forget it, I'll call him tomorrow. I'm sure that awesome news can wait a while, I thought.

I take it that's why I always needed him in my life. He's understanding and patient; quiet and loud. A blend of everything good. From the time I met him, he was 6 and I was 5, separated by three months I knew we were meant to be. Friends. That's all I mean. Friends.

I remember how we met like a crystal prism piercing the clear skies. It was our first day of school. We met officially in Year 1 and I remember how pretty his eyes looked. The engaging grayish-green. I had never been shy; so I walked over to him.

"Hi", I greeted.

He had been staring at the ground, where I noticed green and white chalk on his pants.

I looked down. He had drawn an alien. "I like it", I said to him with a smile.

He stared at me oddly, and began to blush before as soft as whisper murmuring, "It's nothing special. I'm not that good at it either."

"Well, I can't draw anything like that. Not even close", I replied truthfully.

"I could teach you. I might be rubbish though" He said quietly and broke into a small smile.

"Well, then at recess I guess you can"

"I've never met a girl …that likes aliens"

"Well, they're not awful", I told him. "Um…can you draw ducks?"

He smiled and said almost inaudibly, "That's the best thing I can draw; pansy like isn't it?" he murmured as he blushed 10 shades redder.

"Not at all. I like ducks. I think they're wicked" I told him proudly.

He looked down at the ground and I pulled his sleeve a little. He looked up, and I blinked quickly. I was taken aback. His eyes were gorgeous. I removed my arm and stared at him. I wanted to tell him I liked his eyes or the way his light blond hair had steaks of green chalk and the fact that his face was covered in the dust. But, I didn't. I couldn't.

"Do you have any pink?"

He nodded, peered down again and studied at the side of my face quickly; almost unnoticeably. I only saw it, when I turned back to face him, but then he immediately stared at the ground and blushed again.

--

I walked over to my closet and grabbed my silk pajamas, I slipped into the camisole top and the ducky print bottoms and grinned. I loved these, even though they were a little tight around the bum and a little hitched up at the ankles. I adored them. Dougie gave them to me for my ninth birthday, pink and yellow duckies. Flawless. He knows me to a tee. So, utterly perfectly.

I leaned over my vanity, and pulled out the ponytail, letting my straight chestnut brown hair fall around my shoulders with a slight wave. I rubbed my eyes; it was amazing how peppy I looked. So cheerful and awake. I blinked and saw my milky hazel eyes sparkle. I laughed; a bit too loudly I figured, at 3:00 in the morning and because I knew at this moment Doug would snicker at how odd I looked. Pants that were too tiny, messy hair and a stupid grin that proved how capable I was of multitasking one of the most boring lives possible.

I truthfully had fallen in love with Dougie from the moment I met him. There was no doubt. But, I figured why ruin something so amazing, I could avoid a train-wreck. I could avoid loosing him to someone else. I had him; even as a friend; my best friend, I still had him.

Over time, we all had our fair share of romances. He had the biggest crush on Chelsea, a pretty blonde girl in each our classes every year. We were friends; but she was an absolute bitch to Dougie; who had fallen hopelessly in love with her. He hadn't really shown an interest in anyone else. But, in all that time he liked Chelsea I always felt, always asked why I wasn't what he wanted. It didn't matter though. He's long over Chelsea, now it's Marissa. She's not aware of his existence, either.

Gorgeous and stunning girls never got to know Dougie. I mean, he is good-looking, and of course girls noticed him. Just not the supermodels he wished would notice him. He didn't have much to back that up; at least in the eyes of the beloved public at school. Dougie is shy…BWAHAWAHAHHA. What a joke. But, he is when you first meet; but after a while the smug, cocky little bastard appears.

I mean, I had had plenty of boyfriends, highly envied among girls because I dated gorgeous boys; but who cared? I didn't, I never did. That's why all the relationships crashed and burned. They weren't Doug; the only thing I wanted. The only one. Of course; he had hated everyone I dated, he thought all of them were scum. If one even made the slightest comment in the negative about me; he'd knock them out. He's not the fighter kind; so all those bruises and scars he has, he owes to me, I guess.

I switched of my table lamp, and climbed under the covers. The warm fleece, cotton and flannel all mixed together welcomed me in the sweetest, warmest embrace. I moved over, but bumped into something warm and big. I moved my hands and found a lump. But, before I could do anything I heard a breath and a hand clamped over my mouth. I screamed, although it was severely muffled.

I stopped once I heard the soft voice of Dougie Poynter murmur in my ear "Chill. It's me". He moved his hand from my mouth and tucked them behind his head and lay back down on my bed. I sat abruptly up; looking at him in the weirdest way.

He smiled "How's life? Oh and Mars (His oh-so-wonderful nickname for me) thanks for waking me up" He yawned and then snuggled his face into the pillow.

I grinned back at him, smiling at how adorable he was and lay back down. Beside him. Beside…him. It had happened so many nights before. It never felt extraordinary. But, tonight the fireworks were exploding. I was feeling nervous and excited. This was going to matter. Whatever 'this' was.