The cold invigorated Tristan awake. It was January. He had gone outside to walk to his bus stop. Tristan wasn't very excited to go back to school because of multiple factors. He knew that all his friends (and maybe even people he didn't know) would be all over him about what happened and why he wasn't in school. Then there was Amelia. Would they ever be friends again? If they do, will Amelia act all awkward around him? Thoughts like that battered Tristan's mind again and again. But then again, who ever likes going to school?

Tristan was surprised when he saw Noah standing at the same bus stop as him. Tristan walked over to him and tried making conversation.

Tristan: So tell me, when did you start standing at this bus stop?

Noah: Woah! Hey Tristan! Are you ok? I heard what happened. I-

Tristan: I'm fine. But seriously though, why are you at this bus stop now?

Noah: It's a long story. But anyway, what's going on with you? Good things?

Tristan: Honestly, no. I'm really worried to go back to school, but mostly because of Amelia.

Noah: Oh? What happened? If you don't mind telling me…

Tristan explained how he was worried about how Amelia would act around him because of what he had said the other day before.

Noah: Well what'd you say?

Tristan: Uh…

Tristan automatically regretted saying anything to Noah. He didn't want to have to say what he had actually said. After all, he didn't want Noah thinking he was crazy too.

Tristan: I told her… I told her that…

Noah: That what?

Tristan winced a bit. He cringed as he said the nine words.

Tristan: I told her I had a crush on her…

Tristan found himself looking down at his shoes, embarrassed from what he had just said. He hadn't told anybody he had feelings for Amelia. Tristan looked back up at Noah. Noah just stared at Tristan, dumbfounded.

Noah: Wow. You and Amelia? I would have never guessed it. Usually I have a mental radar for things like that…

Tristan looked away from him and smiled to himself. Outsmarting Noah isn't something Tristan is able to do very often. In fact, outsmarting Noah isn't something just about anyone can do.

The two of them stood in silence for a while until their bus arrived. They both got on and sat across from each other on the bus. They still didn't talk much. Tristan could only guess what Noah was thinking. He was likely still processing what he had heard from Tristan.

The first part of the day seemed to go by fast for Tristan. Same classes, same friends, same teachers, same routine. Tristan later got his lunch and started towards his friends. But something stopped him. He knew Amelia would act weird around him. He didn't really have any other real friends to sit with though. Tristan didn't feel he had others he knew that he could fit in with.

Tristan approached the table and sat down anyway. His friends greeted him as he sat down. Except Amelia. She looked away slightly as Tristan sat down.

Shane: Hey guys! Recently, I've gotten into drawing, and I wanted to share some of my drawings with you!

Noah: Ok, go ahead.

Shane pulled out a binder out from under the table and opened it.

Noah: Uh, where did that come from? Or actually, has that been under there the whole time?

Shane: Pretty much. Anyway, here are some of my best drawings I've made so far.

Shane opened up the clasps on the binder and pulled out a couple different drawings. The first one was a very well drawn picture of a sort of scientist looking character.

Shane: So this one here is a bit of a long story, so let me explain. One time, when I was online, I found this wiki site where you can post short stories of creatures and anomalies. And you can read about them as if they were real! Of course, it's fake. But the thing is, on this site everyone puts on a scientist persona, pretending to be a scientist that studies these anomalies! And this is mine that I made.

Noah: That's actually really good. You should draw more often.

Tristan: Yeah…

Shane: Thanks! That's actually one of the first compliments I've gotten on my drawings.

Shane showed them a few more drawings. Tristan had a hard time focusing though. He was too focused on Amelia, who was staring into space, unfocused on what was happening next to her.

As Amelia walked to her locker to get her things from her locker for the end of the day, Tristan approached her.

Tristan: Hey, Amelia, listen, I wanted to say sorry for the other day. But-

Amelia: (interrupting) It's ok. I get it. You were going through a lot at the time and you probably felt a bit desperate for attention. I get it. Sometimes I do things like that as well. But you know you don't have to do and say things like that just to get approval from me, right?

Tristan wanted to object, but he went with it anyway. After all, at least it would allow Tristan to make her believe he wasn't entirely crazy.

Tristan: Yeah…

Amelia: It's fine! I totally get it! When I was really younger, I used to go outside and play with my sister a lot. And we used to be totally competitive against each other, all the time. So anyway, there was this big tree in the backyard. And when my sister went inside and then came back out, I said that I had climbed it! She definitely bought into it. She even told mom about it!

Tristan: That's cool. Did they ever find out?

Amelia: They did a few years later, but by then it didn't even matter. Hey, I was wondering if you wanted to come study with me at my house! I could get some snacks and stuff…

Tristan tried to act cool.

Tristan: Yeah, sure, whatever.

Too cool. Way too cool.

Tristan: I-I mean yeah! Of course.

Amelia: Ok! Cool! Meet me there at… how about 3:45?

Tristan: That sounds cool. Sure!

Amelia: Ok!

Amelia smiled and waved as she walked away. It was enough to send Tristan's pulse into overdrive.