"So how's your plan coming along?" My best friend asked while we sat eating at lunch.

"Well I got Austin to give me his opinion on what he thinks about friendship."

"That's great! What did he say?"

"Same thing as the first time..it doesn't exist.."

"Yikes. He really doesn't believe in friends." I shook my head.

"Like Ms. Lopez said, he just hasn't met the right friends. I'm still trying to become his friend."

"Als, we're talking about a guy who didn't talk to no one last year, and for almost the first two months of school. It's almost October!"

"Well he has been talking to me." I tried.

"Yeah because he has to for the project."

"It's still something!"

"Not really." I sighed, and ran a hand through my hair.

The rest of the day at school went by pretty fast. As soon as I walked to my locker, I saw Dallas leaning on my locker, and once he saw me he waved. I smiled, and waved back.

"Hey Ally." He said.

"Hey Dallas, what's up?" I tried to keep my cool once again.

"Nothing I was just wondering if you wanted to meet up on Saturday to study for that history test we have next Monday? I was supposed to study with my girlfriend but she's mad at me."

"Girlfriend?" As soon as that question left my mouth, I felt like sinking into the floor, and disappearing for good. He sighed.

"Yeah her name is Anna. We've been having problems lately, and I don't know if we're even going to last."

"Oh. Right! Anna!" I said, hoping he believed the lie that I knew he had a girlfriend the entire time. I don't blame him. Who wouldn't want to be with someone as perfect as him? "Yeah, I'll study with you Dallas." I forced a smile. He smiled, and stood back up.

"Great! I'll pick you up on Saturday! See you later Alls." And with that, he was out of my sight. I can't believe he had a girlfriend this entire time, and I never noticed!

After all that happened, I met up with my friends and said goodbye to Trish, and Dez, and made my way to Alex's school to pick him up. He's now 13, but he acts mature for his age.

"Hey Alls." He said as he walked up to me. I ruffled his hair and smiled.

"Hey Alex. How was school?"

"Boring! A new girl joined our class today."

"Ooh! Is she cute?" I winked.

"Ally! Why would you even ask me that!"

"What's wrong with that?"

"I'm not into that dating stuff. It's gross."

"It's so not!"

"So how's your crush Dallas doing?" I rolled my eyes.

"He's not my...okay fine he is." He laughed. "Here's the thing though. Turns out, he has a girlfriend."

"Man, that sucks." I nodded. "Maybe this is a sign for you to move on Ally."

"I guess." I didn't want to though but what choice do I have now? Dallas and I will never be nothing else but friends, and that's it.

"Don't worry Ally, you'll find your Prince Charming you're destined to be with one day." He bowed a bit, as he said that, making me laugh.

"Oh yeah? And who would that be?" I asked.

"Hhm. My brother maybe." I stopped walking, and he did too when he noticed I stopped.

"Wait, hold up? Brother? You have a brother? What?" His eyes went wide.

"I wasn't supposed to tell you that!" He said slowly, and then started walking again. I followed him, bewildered.

"You have a brother? Why didn't you tell me? I've been babysitting you for over a year!" I exclaimed.

"I'm sorry. My dad told me not to say anything.." My curiosity went through the roof right about now. I wonder who this guy is, and if I even knew him.

"How come?" I asked. "If it's okay to ask?" I added. He slightly nodded, looking straight again, his mood changing along the way. This must be serious.

"My brother moved out last year, and It's been a year now. When you started babysitting me, my dad told me not to tell you about him because he was afraid you'd quit. You're the fifth babysitter I've had, and the only one who hasn't quit on us. After my brother found out from my dad during an argument that all my old babysitters kept quitting, he decided it was best to stop visiting often, and told him to stop by on weekends, which is when you don't work. Now that I've told you the truth, do you feel like quitting?" He asked that last part quietly. I smiled softly at him, and wrapped an arm around him.

"No way. You're not getting rid of me that easy." I smiled at him, and he smiled back.

"Really?"

"Yup! I'm not going to judge you, or your family because of what happened. I'm no one to do that, and you're a great kid Alex. Those babysitters lost a great friendship that could have been made, even if you are 13." He rolled his eyes.

"I may be 13, but I'm still taller than you." This time I rolled my eyes.

"I'm still older!"

"I'm 5'5. You're almost 18, and still 5'2." He laughed.

"You're 3 inches taller than me! That's not a big deal!"

"But it is a big difference talking age wise." He patted my head. I hit his hand away.

"Shut up." He laughed.

"Thanks again Ally, I'll give you your pay check this Friday." I smiled, and nodded, and said goodbye, and walked out. The minute I closed the door, I recognized the blond hair.

"Austin?" He was sitting down, and turned to face me but quickly turned back around.

"Shit. What time is it?"

"6?"

"I thought it was 7."

"Why would you think it was-" I stopped myself after walking up to him, looking down at him with red eyes. And no, he wasn't crying.

"Are you high?" He laughed lightly.

"Is it that noticeable?"

"Yes." I started to get mad. Why would Austin get high by himself? Or high in general? He could've gotten hurt being alone in this state.

"Well I can't walk in like this. That man already hates me enough. Then again, I don't give a-"

"I know what you don't give Austin."

"Whatever." A few seconds passed by, and I decided to sit down. He glared at me.

"What the fuck are you doing?"

"Sitting." At this point I've gotten used to him cursing so much. I can't do anything about it though.

"Why? Leave me alone."

"I'm not going to leave you alone when you're in this state Austin. You can get hurt."

"I'm outside my house so does it really matter?"

"You live here?" He nodded, and leaned his head on his knuckles, looking at who knows what.

"So you're Alex's brother?" He nodded again. I was about to say something, when I heard the door swing open behind us.

"Austin what are you-" He stopped when he saw me. Then he looked back at Austin once we both stood up, and saw his eyes. "Are you high?"

"No."

"Don't lie to me Austin."

"Well I guess I am." Austin laughed but it sounded fake. I started to get nervous, and wanted to grab onto my hair, and chew on it. It's an old habit of mine I do when I get nervous.

"If you think you're going to visit your brother like this, well you really have me messed up."

"You can't tell me what to do right now. It's Saturday-"

"It's Thursday. Only you would know that if you weren't stupid enough to get high."

"You want to talk about stupid? You coming up with these fucked up rules telling me when I can, and can't visit my little brother. That's what's stupid." Austin's dad glared at him.

"You doing dumb stuff like this is the reason why. I'm not letting your brother turn into you when he gets older. The less time he spends with you, the better. God, if your mother were to see you like this-"

"Don't fucking finish that sentence. You don't have a say in what she would think after what you did." Austin's dad stayed quiet, and I wonder why. What had happened? I wasn't going to ask though.

"Ally I'm sorry you had to see this. I'll explain to you everything tomorrow. I'm sorry." I slowly nodded.

"It's okay Mr. Moon." I should have known Austin was his other son. Then again there's other Moon's at school so it could have been anyone. Austin's dad forced a smile, and walked in, and as soon as he was about to close the door, Alex came running out, and hugged Austin.

"Hey little buddy." Austin whispered, hugging him close.

"I miss you Austin."

"Me too buddy. I'll see you Saturday okay?" Alex nodded sadly. After processing everything that had just happened, tears formed in my eyes. After all this time, all those people judging Austin, all those rumors, I finally know why he's like this. I may not know the full story, but I know a small part of it. Part of me feels guilty for knowing though knowing that Austin most likely didn't want me to know anything about him.

"Let's go Alex." Mr. Moon told Alex, and he slowly went back inside, his dad closing the door after. I turned to face Austin but saw he was gone walking towards the other direction.

"Austin wait." I called after him.

"Leave me alone."

"I can't leave you like this though!"

"Well try harder." When I finally reached him, I grabbed his hand, and turned him to face me.

"Just wait until you're not high anymore."

"I'm not that high anymore."

"Your eyes are still red."

"Why are you doing this? You don't fucking know me."

"I know I don't but that doesn't mean I don't want to be your friend."

"Yeah? Well tough shit because I don't want to be your friend."

"That's okay. At least let me help you just for now..." I started to feel nervous from the way he was talking to me, his words finally getting to me. I think he noticed because his face softened a little bit.

"I'm sorry." He sighed. "You weren't supposed to see me like this. We weren't supposed to talk again like this." He sighed again, sitting down on the side walk again. I sat down next to him, and slightly smiled.

"So you planned on talking to me again?" I couldn't keep the little excitement in my stomach.

"Don't bring your hopes up shorts. I'm talking about the project."

"Wait, you want to work on the project?"

"Yeah." I smiled, and nodded.

"How does tomorrow work for you?" He nodded again. "Okay." I replied.

"Okay."

Today has honestly been one of the toughest days I've ever gone through. I found out Austin is Alex's brother. He and his dad do not get along, and his mother doesn't live with them. As much as I'd try to push this day aside because that's what Austin would want, I won't. Instead, it made me want to be there for him even more. He's alone right now even though he won't admit it and I don't want him to feel like that anymore. I won't push him to tell me anything else, little by little I'm going to gain his trust no matter how much he tries to push me away. He needs a friend, and I'm willing to be there for him as one. Some people are worth fighting for.

I made sure to stay with him and wait till he was no longer high, and walked him home before going to mine.