A girl sat in a faded school bus. She stared out the window at the gray sky, soft like a peachskin. The air smelled like wet violets. She wrote in her aged brown songbook, the crinkles like yellow and black veins. She kept looking around, like she was searching for someone. After they got off the bus, she walked up to a boy with red hair slightly knotted and frizzy from the rain, his colorful pants baggy around the butt, like a duck. His name was Dez. She asked him where someone named Austin was. He whispered the response. A bloated lump formed in her throat. The girl numbly handed in the soggy ticket and walked inside the aquariume. She debated following Dez, but she felt out of place. Her friend, Trish, was talking with her new found love interest and she followed them. He pulled Trish ahead, obviously trying to lose her. He pulled my friend ahead, obviously trying to lose me. She stepped around a smoky puddle reflecting the peeling orange of a sign. A tear fell from her eye, like blood from a wound, mixing with the rain slashing across the sky. They didn't notice. She felt like she had no one. She walked slower, wondering if they would care if they lost her. They made our way inside again, and she stopped walking at a glass aquarium filled with jellyfish floating like ripped plastic bags in the dark water. They didn't notice she was gone. She was sobbing now. She wandered in and out of the cold rooms, letting the fish surround her, watching them watch her.
One was the color of red grapes, with eyes like wilted gray flowers. She pushed her hot fingers against the glass, trying to reach into the silent world, where there were no broken friendships and memories of pastel colored happiness and blue tears.

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It had been a year and a half since Austin left. Thinking his name was like ripping open an stitched up wound, the skin tearing. He was famous now, really famous. He was more of a sensation among girls now then justin bieber and one direction. A superstar. I stared at the clock, my shoulders slumped. Trish sat next to me, chewing rubbery green gum and painting her nails a sunflower orange-yellow. The teacher droned on. In front of me sat Dallas, wearing a pale blue t-shirt. Soon, school was over, and I walked out into the humid, soupy Miami air. My hair is pinned up in two buns shaped like glossy flower bulbs. I stare at the sky, thinking. Suddenly I hit something hard. I look up. Of course I have to head bump into the chest of the hottest guy I have ever seen. He has ruffled dark blonde hair, soft brown eyes, and tan skin. White light flashes illuminated his scuplted cheekbones and pink lips. His hand is on my arm, sending warm jolts through my back. Then I register who he is and suddenly the blue sky and the rows of pastel pink houses seem cramped and stuffy.
"Oh, My God! Ally! Hello!" He smiles.
The only sound is the faint barking of a pale dog with eyes like empty marbeles.
"Hi."
"So how are things?"
I can't seem to form coherent thoughts.
"Good. You?"
"Good. Do you still have your cat? That devil feline." He laughs.
"No."
I gasp the perfumed air.
"Um, I have to get going but it was so nice seeing you again."
He grabs my wrist sending hot shivers down my back.
"Do you want to meet up again?"
"I'm really busy. Sorry."
I walked away.
"Wait!"
I pretended I didn't hear him.
"Ally!"
"Are you really gonna make me chase you down the street?"
I kept my lips shut, pretending to examine a rose bush. Another shiver runs down my back and I know he is behind me. He wraps his arms around my waist from behind, making me stop. A strong tingling feeling runs down my back, and I never want him to let go.
"Just talk with me."
I stared past him at a velvety, perfect cloud as my eyes fill with clear tears.
"You left."
Then I walked away from Austin the way he walked away from me. I hope he cries.