"Hey," He said just as he was about to pass her through the hallway.

"Hey," she replied softly not sure if he was talking to her.

I can't believe it, she actually replied to me. I thought she was just going to shy away like she usually does. He thought to himself as he walked into his homeroom class. Since she was a year younger than him she wasn't in this class but she was in his social studies class and math class so maybe he could sit next to her in those classes.

School started up a few weeks ago, and he'd been excited to see her again. Last year they'd gotten along so well and he'd actually been about to ask her out but school was coming to a close and he knew she was going away so he didn't want to have her worry about having someone to hold on to while out exploring the world so he didn't say anything.

He tried to stay in touch with her, but over the few weeks after getting out of school they kind of just drifted as she began her exploring with her parents. She didn't answer right away and she always seemed to rushed in her replies so he gradually stopped sending her messages, figuring she was happy with traveling and didn't want to bug her. That doesn't mean that he never missed her, he did. He tried to keep himself busy and make sure he wasn't around his cell phone as much as possible.

That was proven almost impossible, fearing that she would send him a message and he would miss it. He was just worried that she would fall in love with someone else and he would have been forgotten. He admitted to himself that he was in love with her and he would do anything to get her to see it. He wanted her to be his and no one else's. Yes that may seem a little too selfish, but he had to try. If not than what would be the point in having feelings for someone who doesn't even know you like them.

When the bell rang he jumped out of his seat and went to find her at her locker, he knew she would be surprised which was half the reason, the other part was getting to be near her.

"Hey," he said again sliding in next to her locker leaning on the locker next to hers casually.

"Oh my god," she said jumping slightly. "You scared the shit out of me Jackson."

"Oh I'm sorry," he said softly afraid he had ruined his chance already.

"Don't look so butt hurt, I'm okay I just wasn't expecting to see you or even be talking to you." She said ducking her head into her locker looking for her social studies book.

"Hm, and whys that?" he asked fixing his shoulder bag as he stood up straighter and waited for her patiently.

"Well I don't know, maybe because we haven't really talked since the beginning of summer. I just figured you had found a new girl to go and hang out with. Didn't really want to bother you."

"Are you mad at me for that, because Dakota I swear I haven't met anyone else. I didn't text you because I knew you were having a nice time with your family. I didn't want to ruin that time with them, with you always texting me. I never meant for it to seem that I'd met another girl." Jackson said moving closer to Dakota.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you upset. I just got worried that I'd lost you, thats why I haven't been talking to you."

"You didn't upset me, I just thought I was doing the right thing and letting you have family time."

"Thank you Jackson, I appreciate it a lot." Dakota said softly and then looked away, forgetting that she had a black eye and had been hiding it from people.

"Hey are you okay?" Jackson said noticing her shift slightly away from him and duck back into her locker.

"Yeah I'm fine, it's nothing. You should get going, don't want you to be late for social studies."

"Are you sure you're okay, I can stay with you if you need me to you know that right?"

"Yes I do, now please just go." She said a little too harshly. He looked at her again, and was about to say something with he thought better of it and left her at her locker.

He didn't notice the tears spill from her eyes as she tried to forget about what happened last night, and all over summer break.