The first time that I saw him, he was alone. It was unexpected and everything seemed to be off. The timing was bad, but I had nowhere else to go. He had seen me coming and going on numerous of occasions, but he was never around. I heard countless of stories about him, but none of them were true. At the time, I had this big idea that he was going places, seeing new things, and talking to countless of people; all because he liked talking and listening to others. As you know, that was not totally true.

How could I have not known, he was there the whole time? We never knew each other personally, but I always heard good things about him. Even then, he was never around. Mouths and years of aging during the school year, well, it was getting old. We had been told so many lies when we were young, but now I want the truth. I know that's a lot to say but I need this, because I've always wanted the truth. How were we supposed to believe these extraordinary stories about a kid our age, if we hadn't even seen him ourselves?

Jordan thought that he was some hero from another planet. Casey thought that Jordan said he was some other creature from another planet, so she was scared of him. Brandon thought that he was just another spoiled brat, except he never had to come to school. Not coming to school was a crime within our group, but we had to think. Every single year, he was on the roster; and every single time, he was supposed to be sitting right next to me. What would you think: coincidence or not?

We all knew his name by heart, but we never ever see him come to school, not once. When we heard that someone was coming to our school, we all assumed that it was going to be him, Braden Ray Click. To many, he was a hero, only for having the chance to skip out on school. To others like Brandon, he was a jerk and as punkie as a prick for not taking the pain like everyone else. Who were we to say that he wasn't going through his own pain at home? We had to be smart.

"Brandon, I'm telling you, this is the only way to solve this."

"Don't push it. He was never here before, so what makes you think that he wants to be here now?"

"Everyone has a chance and he seems like he would be the person to…"

"Enough Lily! I'm not taking you to some freaks house, where we all will be murdered for it."

Yeah, my name is Lillian, but they call me Lily for short. I was trying to get Brandon, my boyfriend of about three years now, to go with me to Braden's house. We all knew about his parents. So what, if they were rarely home, we needed to at least show some respect. A lot of people where going to this party and I was going to crazy over it. We would report at this mansion about forty minutes away from the high school. I wasn't scared, but I could tell that Brandon was. He has always been afraid of actually getting to know the kid. It has to do with all the bro-time that they could have had and so on. Never had I ever seen him like this, though.

"Brandon, just listen! This is why we have problems anymore. You never listen to me."

"Lily, I listen all the time. Just because I don't do the things you want me to do at the time, does not mean that I'm not listening. I don't mean to hurt your feelings, but we are not going to some freaks house."

This was the week for the places we've haven't been and I was feeling very spontaneous. After the bell rings, I leave to go to class and we never spoke. I was hurt and in some way he was hurt over something so simple. We were invited to go to a house warming party, and Brandon was in protest because it had been Braden's house. The party would have been over by at least, maybe, three in the morning. Brandon was determined that he wasn't going and he definitely didn't want me to go either.

He sends a text, telling me that he was going to wait for me after school. Brandon was a driver and he always wanted me to ride in his crappy truck. It's not that it was crappy, I just don't agree with his style of taste for trucks. I tell him to go on without me and he flips out. Mom wanted to have some mom to daughter after school and he liked to linger. I could feel that this wasn't over. My pocket vibrates and I jump to the unexpected text.

Why do you have to be like this? Every time you get mad at me, you refuse to ride with me. Are your excuses even real excuses anymore?

I ask to go to the bathroom and I pull out my phone on the way. I was so pissed. I wanted to cry but I hadn't reached the bathroom yet.

Who said I was mad? Just because I have to go somewhere with my mom, doesn't mean anything. Why do you have to be such a Jerk? What's your problem anyway?

I don't know, maybe my girlfriend is starting to push at a never ending annoyance! I just wanted us to have one weekend together, were I wouldn't have to worry about something coming up or anything.

Oh, forgive me for wanting to do something other than just having just us around. Since when have you ever wanted to be romantic? We need to talk to other people other than ourselves, Bran.

You know what, just forget it. It seems like I can't please the both of us all the time.

What's that supposed to mean?

We can talk about it later. I'm not in the mood anymore.

Thanks for getting me to get out of class for something so, so… I don't even know anymore.

I didn't tell you to get out of class to text me, Lil. You could have stayed in class.

Oh yeah, I forgot, we don't do protesting things together anymore. There over rated, right? Thanks for reminding me. Oh, and I'm going to that party.

No you're not. I told you that I wasn't taking you, so get over it.

You act like you're the only one that takes me anywhere now. I have parents an you don't control me. I'm going and that's finally. And you better hope that it isn't a sleepover party, because I'll stay.

As my girlfriend, I command you not to go to this party.

IF I do, then what would happen?

Say goodbye to that surprise picnic. Oh, wait I spoiled it, now we can't have it. SH***!

Aw, even when you're trying to be romantic now, I don't even care. Thanks, but I would have never went in to first place.

Why?... I had it plan out and everything. With the flowers you said you liked and the candles. *_*

Well, uh… I… Whatever, because I'm going to the party. Have fun on your one man picnic Bran, I'm done.

This can't mean we're over.

You best believe it. Bye.

Wait… I have to… Lil, I…

Bye!

If he hadn't been such a jerk about it then I might have said something else, but he just gets to me sometimes and I can't stand it. I ran from the bathroom to cry all the way down the hallway. When I got back to class, I was so exhausted.

"Lily, I'm glad you decided to join the class. Could we talk when the bell rings?"

"Yes, Mr. Faneeton."

After the bell rings I was kind of happy that school was over, but Mr. Faneeton approaches me. While teaching the class and not paying attention to me, I had almost forgotten about our talk.

"Lily, I'm very concerned. You never ask to go to the bathroom in my class, you're always smiling in class, you answer all my questions, and I normally have no trouble with you skipping out on class. Is there something wrong?"

I didn't have a lot of time to explain it, but I gave him the brief.

"Brandon, and I got into an agreement before class, and he sent me text. I didn't want to disturb class, so I left and later broke up with him. I'm sorry, Mr. Faneeton, it won't happen again."

"But you and Brandon are so close. It's been three years now. You can't just quit now."

"I know, I was mad and I was only answering him out of anger, I promise not to…"

"Don't worry about it. I'll see you tomorrow; now go before you miss the bus."

"Thank you so much for understanding. Bye, Mr. Faneeton!"

"Bye Lily!"

I practically ran myself to death to catch the bus on time. And I was so glad that I made it right on time. I started to cry silently in my seat, alone. Brandon was still waiting to for me because I see his truck still in the parking lot. What a jerk! He tries to call, but I could not bring myself to answer. I let it ring all fifteen times, that he tries, then comes the text messages. GREAT! Something else to avoid.

I wipe the tears from my face as I climb into the car with mom; even if I looked like something wasn't wrong, she knew better.

"Lil, what's wrong?"

"It's over between me and Brandon. If I see him again, then it will be too soon!"

"I heard about the fall out. Would you like to talk about it?"

She was always there for when I needed her the most. I hesitate to tell her about it, but I give in so easily. Her mother instincts were like candy to my child-like senses. She starts to tell me all about the times, where she had her breaks ups and they were worse. Much worse, actually. The whole time I was feeling better about this whole breaking up thing and all, until mom gets a phone call.

I could hear them through the phone because she never turned her volume done.

"Lil's mom, I'm sorry for…"

"Yeah, she told me."

"Are you mad at me to?"

"No, because it could've been worse. But I do believe this a very iffy moment to be talking."

"Yeah, it is weird, but could I ask if I could talk to her?"

"Brandon, how about you call back later. Lily needs some time to think and I assume you do to."

She ends the call, and right at that moment, not only was she my mother but my hero. We went shopping, but we mostly looked around, as I pointed out some things that I liked, but I knew I wouldn't get them. Our mother daughter bonding time was great and mom even agreed to take me to the party. She told me that I didn't have to stay at the house, if I didn't want to, and so on.