Ten years passed from that afternoon, when Octavian and Rachel met for the first time.

Soon, the kids' naivety would leave them and see that their own parents were extremely competitive one with the other. At the tender age of seven, Rachel found herself learning how to insult with subtle and class, and how to look around over the nose, as if she was better than the rest. She didn't know why she had to be like that, but one thing was sure, playtime was over.

Though looking back now, the problems Rachel seemed to have were meaningless compared with the ones of her friend through the garden wall. Her hairbrush stopped its movements while she glanced through the window, to the opposite window of the neighbor's house. Octavian didn't have it as light as her, and each day was harder.

Right now, she should be getting ready for a party that her parents were throwing and they invited everyone. Even included the Alexanders', Octavian's parents. They were always the only two kids on the party and their own parents wanted them to be at each others' throats all night. That wasn't how a fifteen-year-old girl wanted to have a party like.

She straighten her dress-urgh, how much she hated that dress-before glancing one more time through the window. She could see slowly and edgy movements. Since she had a moment or two, she prepared the first aid kit, before going down the stairs with it. Almost like a spy in her own home, Rachel walked without being seen through the house and placed the kit by the garden wall. No one would see it, as everyone hated to get dirty on their shoes.

While walking back in, she noticed her parents having a conversation between whispers. She knew better not to interfered. Last time she did it, her own father raised his hand at her. Nothing happened, as the maid and the gardener walked in right at the moment and saw everything. But Rachel had learnt the lesson: never meddle with the grown ups.

"The guests are about to arrive." Her mother announced, looking at her appearance. She nodded at the end, but gave little tap down her chin, to make her stand straight. Sighing, she did that and stood next to her parents, while they greeted the incoming guests. Soon, almost everyone was present and her parents noticed that.

"Looks like they won't come..." Her father commented, with a satisfactory smile. Rachel got bumped down by hearing that, but he talked too soon, as the doors opened up and the last guests arrived. "Wonderful..." Though, the tone of his voice said, 'I thought we were gonna be free of them tonight!'

"Robert..." The father of the tiny family greeted Rachel's father, who shook his hand with a fake smile. "I hope we're not too late for this party..."

"You arrived just in time..." Rachel stopped listening to what her father was saying and concentrated on the seventeen-year-old boy that was standing in front of her. Just like she did, he had changed over the course of the years, though the changes were more noticeable in her. "Rachel, why don't you show, um..."

"Octavian." Octavian filled the blank, in a very bored tone. It was obvious that he was tired and used that people forgot his name.

"Right, Octavian... Show him around the new entertaining room... I'm sure he'll be... impressed by it." Rachel understood that tone perfectly. It was the 'make them drool and get jealous of us'.

"Yes, father." Rachel nodded at him, before making a gesture to Octavian to follow her. They walked in silence, under the watch of all the guests that were looking at them while walking up the stairs. Like, seriously? Were they expecting they jumped at each others' throat at the time and aim to kill? That's sadistic.

"Under the microscope again..." Rachel heard Octavian mutter and she had to agree with him. It was ridiculous and, apparently, none of them liked it. They walked in silence again, until Rachel reached the entertaining room, opening the door.

"This is the entertaining room..." She said in monotone rehearsed voice. She hated that part of their friendship. Couldn't they go out like normal kids and have fun for a day? Wait, did she just thought of them 'going out' as in 'dating'? Luckily, she had time to compose herself as Octavian was looking around the room, trying to be interested.

"It look very well updated..." Octavian pointed out. "Though, you forgot to add the latest surround system... 5.1 Dolby is so history..." That also sounded like a rehearsed line and Rachel forced herself to reply to that.

"That's too bad... that you cannot see quality things, even when they are under your noses!" She retorted, trying to sound stuck up. She knew that someone could be listening and reporting back to their parents. "This audio system is so advance is not even legal here and we had to smuggled it in the country." Octavian turned around to finally see her and Rachel saw a make up line around his jaw.

"You know is going to happen when my father hears about this?" The threat had double sense and Rachel knew it. "He's gonna get it confiscated! That way, everyone will see the fraud you are!" Rachel could not care less about that. When Octavian passed by her, she made her move.

"Garden wall..." She whispered at him, trying to hide the worry out of her eyes. "Stay safe..." Octavian swallowed hard and nodded, before leaving the room. It was obvious what he was about to do, but Rachel decided to stay out of the action.

"Father!" She could hear him say-more like shouting to the guests in the room. Rachel knew it was her cue to leave, as she didn't want to be in the same room as Octavian's father and her own, especially when they were at each other's throat.

Couldn't life be simpler...?


Hello, guys!

Normally, I wouldn't do this, since I have a regular A/N on Sundays' post, but I require this channel to let you know about a little something...

A friend/writer/roleplay buddy from Wattpad, with the username Purely_Half_Dragon (I bet some of you know him) has started a fund to earn money for a new computer. Is his goal to get one before going to college in March. I'd like for all of you to pass around this fund's site (it's on the site gofundme Laptop - for - College - Fund, no spaces) and, if you cannot because you're young, or you don't have enough money to donate, please, share it with your friends and relatives. When you do, add the #DonateForSean

It will take only a few minutes of your time and he would be more than grateful that you're sharing it around...

Oh! And go check out Hugs6 and I's new story, How I met my Brother! Is in Hugs6's profile!

Thanks for listening!