(HEY GUYS! THIS IS SANDRA1105! I know a few people were waiting for me to update on my other story, but for some reason I got the WORST WRITER'S BLOCK EVER! So I started a new one for now. IDK when I'll be able to come up with something later, but I've got an AWESOME new story written and ready! Please, enjoy. Arigato~!

-Chapter 1, Boy Meets Girl-

She was named Tessa. She had always lived in this small, barren waste land of a town, but no one had ever noticed her. Quiet as a lamb, she spoke not one word in class. Cute as a button, she fumbled and stumbled around her small world. This young teenager spent her time reading, studying and looking after her pet turtle whom she had named, Friend.

"Seems your the only friend I've got,"he glossed lips spoke as she placed Friend in his tank. Her chestnut brown eyes peered through the glass. Her straight, black hair fell over her shoulders as she crouched over and watched her pet swim. A small grin with sad eyes watched, quietly. Then quickly, the young Tessa grabbed her books and her brown messenger bag and headed for the door, waving goodbye to her little green friend.

"I love you buddy."

Behind her, she slowly closed the door. Once outside, Tessa took out her favorite book and began to read as she walked, fixing her black rimmed glasses and moving a strand of hair behind her ear. Tessa headed into the town's high school, a place she dreaded to return to every weekday. Having no friends took a toll on this sweet and quite fragile girl.

"DORK!"

"NERD!"

"LOSER!

Paper balls and pieces of chewed gum, tossed at her head. One piece of slimy gum even stuck to her glasses, making the other teens roar with laughter. As quickly and quietly as she could, Tessa ran in a nearby bathroom and hid in one of the stalls. How could kids be so cruel? Why pick on this lonley young girl when she has done nothing wrong? Tears fell down dear Tessa's smooth, brown face. She removed her glasses and pulled the gum off with a napkin. This caused more to fall at the harsh memories of those teasing teens. Hate, pain and anguish set on her. Oh, how she wished she could be like the trendy, popular girl in the book she was reading. Why couldn't that be her? A knock on the stall door pulled her out of her thoughts.

"Tessa, I know your in there. Open the door. Please?"

Slowly, Tessa unlocked the peach colored stall door. A brown eye could be seen peeking around the door. She opened it fully at the sight of her classmate, Yuri. Although she didn't consider Yuri to be her friend, she knew she wasn't one to tease anybody.

"Are you alright? I saw what happened to you in the hall."

"I'm fine,"Tessa answered in almost a whisper.

"Let's get out of this bathroom, it smells gross in here." Yuri pulled little Tessa out of the bathroom and into the hallway. Walking closely beside Yuri, Tessa headed to her locker to grab and put away some books.

"You know, you really shouldn't let people tease you."

"I know."

"I MEAN IT! You've gotta learn to stick up for yourself!"

"I know,"Tessa repeated. She sighed as she turned the combination on her locker. A teenager passed by her and threw a piece of paper that hit the back of Tessa's head.

"HEY! CUT IT OUT!,"Yuri shouted. Her head snapped towards the sound of wimpers. Tessa had collapsed to the floor with her glasses beside her. She was broken. Yuri kneeled beside her. "Tessa, don't let them get to you!" Tessa shot up, slammed her locker closed and grabbed her stuff.

"You shouldn't be seen around a loser like me!,"she cried. Then she took off to the school's exit. Ignoring the calls from Yuri, Tessa sprinted down the street. Tears streaming out of her big, brown eyes and raven, jet black hair flying behind her. Glasses in one hand and books in the other, she ran blind.

"I hope I get hit by a car! Even then, no one would care!" But instead of getting hit by a car, tiny Tessa hit someone running in the opposite dorection. They crashed into each other and fell to the sidewalk with a loud thud.

"Oh my gosh! I hit a girl!" Tessa slowly opened her eyes. A tall and thin boy with black rimmed glasses that resmebled hers stood above her. His brown eyes stared at hers with a worried and quite frantic expression.

"Are you alright? Aw jeez, I'm gonna be soo late for school!" Tessa pulled herself off the ground. Her arms were scratched from skidding the concreat. Luckily, her glasses weren't broken but her books covered the sidewalk. The boy grabbed a few books off the floor and handed them to Tessa.

"Sorry for bumping into you,"he apologized. Tessa stared down at his hands as he placed the books in hers.

"It's fine,"she whispered. She picked up her bag and stuffed the books in. The boy stared at his watch.

"Aw crud! I'm soo late! Stupid alarm clock..." He looked over at Tessa, who was watching her arm bleed. "Whoa! Are you sure your alright?" Tessa looked up at him. She slightly smiled at his concern.

"Yes. I'm alright."

"But that looks really bad. Let's get you some help." He searched around the area and lead Tessa into a comic book shop. In the shop, a large man wearing a ponytail and a leather coat was standing behind the register. He loudly sipped ma drink as he read a comic. He looked up at the teens as they walked through the door.

"Lenny! What's up?" Lenny pulled little Tessa over to the counter.

"Oz, look." He held up Tessa's arms to Oz, showing him what had happened.

"Whoa! That's not cool! Seriously, how did that happen?"

"It's a long story. Do you think you can help?" Just then, a short and old woman walked through the door.

"OZWALD! You need to dust off these shelves right now or-" Her framed eyes fell on Tessa, and then Tessa's bleeding arms. "Ack!,"she squealed,"Stay there honey, I need my first aid!" A goat stood at the top of a stair case, watching all the commotion. "Back to your room Mitzy!,"the old woman shouted before heading up herself.

Tessa's eyes fell on Lenny. She examined him closely and blushed. There was something about Lenny that made her smile. Maybe it was because he actually cared enough to be almost half an hour late to school just to make sure she was alright. Whe his eyes fell on her, they quickly changed their gazes. Tessa's heart beat could probably be heard by anyone in the room at that very moment. Her cheeks were warm and she just seemd to ignore the pain her arms were in. The old woman walked back into the room with a white case and a red plus sign on the front. The first aid kit.

"Okay honey, let me see again,"she said to Tessa. Tessa held her arms out. The woman patted some rubbing alcohol and a wet cloth over the cuts, then wrapped her arms with bandages. Tessa smiled as she pulled her sweater over her arms.

"Thank you,"she whispered.

"Your welcome sweetheart." Tessa turned to Lenny and smiled at him.

"Thank you,"she repeated. Lenny blushed down at Tessa's brown eyes. He had never seen her around before and hadn't gotten a good look at her eariler. But now that she stood infront of him, he slowly took in her pretty little features. For one thing, she was very small. Long black hair, smooth brown skin, black rimmed glasses that framed her big eyes perfectly. So simple, yet so...cute. A beep from his watch pulled him out of what he hoped wasn't a swoon.

"Uh...no problem,"he finally answered her. Tessa headed to the door. She knew there was NO WAY she was gonna drag herself to school now. Her and Lenny started in different directions before he turned around.

"HEY!" Tessa looked over her shoulder to see the tall boy running towards her.

"Huh? Is something wrong?"

"Uh, no. I just..I just uh, decided to stay home today. So, uh, I'll walk you home to make sure you don't get hurt again. But, o-only if you want me to...I mean, you don't really have to walk with me."

"That would be...nice,"Tessa blushed. Why was he so concerned about her well being? She smiled to herself. At least he cares. Tessa made sure she stayed a few inches away from him as they walked. Every few minutes, her brown eyes ganced at the clumsy walking boy. Every few minutes, he did the same. It was an akward walk for Tessa and it seemed to last forever. When they finally reached her home, Tessa stuck a hand out towards Lenny.

"Thanks for walking me home."

"Oh, it was my pleasure. I-I mean, I was happy to walk you, you know cuz your soo small and stuff. Not that being short is a bad thing." He sighed and shook Tessa's hand. Tessa giggled at his rambling. Hearing her light and airy laughter made Lenny know for sure, he totally liked her.