Natalie was going to a pool party. Natalie was going to make friends. Natalie was going to get to do stuff she loves, like swimming, and have an awesome two weeks in Ohio.

While her boyfriend was stuck in rainy Seattle playing Barbies with his two little sisters.

It wasn't, like, a choice I made. My mom made me do it. That seems to be an excuse I use a lot. But it's true! I have to do everything. My stepbrother doesn't have to play Barbies. Maybe it's because he has friends. I could have friends, if I tried. All the other boys just think playing piano is girly. Also, I'm dating Natalie, who's basically known as a freak from a freak family. I am perfectly okay with people not liking me as long as I'm with Nat.

My phone vibrated with a new text. Henry, there's beer it read.

Don't. was my simple reply. I trusted her though. I knew she wouldn't drink anything. If she did, I wouldn't be there to save her this time. That was a very scary thought.

I went back to the dollhouse with Sophia and Cecilia. They were doing some sort of princess wedding thing. My doll was the prince. If the kids from school found out that I played Barbies along with the piano thing...I would never be able to go to school again. Luckily it was summertime.

After a few minutes of playing, I realized I hadn't got any text back from Natalie. Did something terrible happen? All possibilities flew through my mind as I quickly texted her.

Natalie? What's happening?

They tried to get me to drink. Oh my God something terrible had happened.

And? I, being the smooth, cool guy I am, hid all my fear in a one word text.

And I yelled and screamed and shoved a girl into a pool. Yeah. That was the Nat I knew. So it wasn't bad, necessarily. I mean, Nat does this kind of stuff a lot. She's kind of a loud, angry person. Don't tell her I said that.

Nat?

What, Henry. So basically she was really angry right now. But I guess she had every right to be. The kids at the party didn't know her past, not to mention the fact that she had to go half-way across the country on a trip she didn't want to go on, to be with family she never even met.

I love you. I texted. Nothing wrong with reminding her every once in a while.

"I have to go do something now," I said to my sisters as I left their room to go to mine. I waited a while for Natalie to reply. She didn't. I really hoped they had a piano there. Otherwise, Nat would probably, like, destroy their house.

After waiting for quite some time, my phone started ringing. "Hey," I answered after barely one ring.

"Hey," came Natalie's voice, sounding flat and sad.

"What happened?" I asked.

"Well, some kid brought beer, and some girl offered me some, and I said no, so this bitch takes the cup and spills it all over me on purpose, and then I started yelling at her about how she didn't understand what horrible things that kind of shit can do to people, and then I shoved her into the pool, and I ran to the car and Rachel drove us home, and I sat down and tried to play the piano, and I kept fucking up so I ran upstairs and called you," Natalie explained quickly, sounding really angry.

"Uh," was my reply. "Are you okay?"

"No," Nat said. "But when am I ever?"

"Yeah," I said, not really sure of what to say.

"They have a Steinway," Natalie said.

"What?"

"You know, a Steinway. Really nice. Maybe a little over a hundred years old. Real ivory keys," she explained.

"Nice. Grand piano?" I asked,

"Yeah," Natalie said, sounding a little excited.

"Sounds a lot better than this crappy keyboard I have," I said, glancing over at the little piano in the corner of my bedroom.

"It is," Natalie agreed. "So, how had your day been?"

"I played Barbies with Sophia and Cecilia," I said. She laughed.

"How manly of you!" she said, still laughing.

"Hey! I'm very manly and tough," I protested.

"Right, because all tough guys play with fashion dolls," she giggled, calming down a little.

"It wasn't a fashion doll! I was playing the prince!" I explained. She started laughing again.

"Because that's so much better," she said. I could tell she was smiling. Suddenly, she stopped laughing. "Just a second, Henry," she said, all happiness gone from her voice. Their was a rustle as she lowered the phone. I could barely hear muffled voices. "What do you want," I could hear Natalie say.

"Well, I was going to record my daily video of me singing and I was wondering if you would like to be my audience," a cheerful voice came. Was that Nat's cousin?

"Sure. Why not," I heard Natalie say. She lifted the phone back up. "Henry, I have to go. Talk to you later. Bye," she said.

"I love you," I said sweetly.

"...Love you too," she said. Then she was gone.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

It was about 11:15 at night, and I was still wide awake. Maybe it was the pot. Anyway, I was trying to beat my Zelda game again, but I was really sucking.

My phone lit up. That was weird. It had to be, like, two o'clock in the morning in Ohio. Still, I checked it.

Thank you for always loving me. the text read. I didn't know why Nat was texting, or what that really meant, but I still appreciated it. I smiled a little. I wouldn't text her back because of the time, but I hoped Natalie knew, that wherever she was, whatever she was doing, that I would always be here for her, to love her and take care of her.

Always.