I awoke the next night, sweating and panicked like I had had a bad dream. I could barely see through a sea black in front of my eyes, and the darkness of my room didn't help with my lack coordination. I flicked on the light, and leaned against the wall.

Then a noise, like pots being dropped in the kitchen erupted from within the house. My breath caught in my throat as I rubbed the last of sleep out of my eyes. My mother was getting ready to leave. I really should go down, and talk to her, or say goodbye at least. I leaned against my door, fumbling with the knob to open it, and shuffled into the hallway. Goosebumps raised up on my leg as I shivered. I stood at the top of the stairs, waiting for her to make her way to the door.

As I yawned I heard her cursing down the hallway. I opened my mouth to yell out to her as she opened the door, pulling the strap of her bag up. She barely glanced up at me.

"I'm really sorry, honey, but I can't talk right now. I'm going to be late for a meeting."

My mouth hung open until she closed the door. When it finally did slam shut, and her car had pulled far, far away I snapped my mouth shut. My chest was getting tight. I tried swallowing a few times.

"Sorry," I choked out. I wasn't sure that I had spoken a word to her since I broke my vow. Wouldn't she be happy to just hear me say one thing? But, then again, maybe not. My stupid mouth was the whole reason she was divorced.

Through the foggy windows, I could see the sun making everything a little bright.

I rushed down to the biggest bathroom in the house. As I let the water run, I tried to take my mind off of my mother. Instead I thought about Dwayne. He didn't really like, that kiss was just a weird spur of the moment thing. Either way I should tell him that I liked him. I like him, right?

"Yeah," I sighed to myself. "I like him." It felt unnatural to say it out loud. As I sunk into the steaming water my head raced, trying to figure out how in the world I could tell him. Do I be nonchalant about it, and just say it? Do I be serious? Can I write a note? Would that be too juvenile?

"I sound like ten-year-old." I mumbled, sinking deeper into the bubbles. After a good twenty or so more minutes, where I may or may not have been napping, and nearly drowned, I decided to spring out of the tub. I slipped on a wrinkled, shirt-dress I had worn the day before, spandex shorts for the sake of modesty (though I suppose they really weren't of much help), and twisted the top layer of my hair into a short ponytail.

"Okay, okay, okay, okay…" I bounced on my toes in front of the door. "I got this!" I slowed to a stop, the stupid grin slowly falling from my face. "What the hell am I—AAH!" What came out of my mouth as I fell out of the front door could barely be called a scream. It was more like a prolonged squeal. "Well, this must be an indication of how the rest of the day is going to go." I glanced down at my knees. They were both pretty scraped up; the left one was nearly bleeding. But no excuses, this had to be done now, and today. A weird kind of confidence bubbled up in my chest, one I had never felt before. It was like a mixture of nervous laughter, and tears, and the ability to take a breath all in one go.

I dug my nails into my palms, shifting my weight from one foot to the other. The door was right there. I could knock. I was going to knock. What if no one's home? The car is here, never mind. What if he doesn't want to talk to me? Is Olive going to answer the door? Did he tell her what happened?

Before I knew it, my fist was raised, and pulled back ready to—

"Hey…?" Dwayne swung open the door. He could barely keep his eyes on me, but I could see the questioning brow hidden under his hair. His hair. His hair was different. It had been cut, and was neatly lying across his forehead. It still hid some of his face, but I could plainly see his eyes now.

"I-yea-uh-hi." A mumbled progression of words fell out of my mouth. He slowly shut the door, and leaned back against it.

"You've been standing out here for ten minutes."

"What?"

"Yeah, you've just been standing there. Richard made me answer the door before you fell over or something."

"Yeah, well anyway, listen, I know you don't like me, and we're just friends, but I like you. I figured I should tell, I mean we—well, I mean after what happened. I know that was just a mistake that's alright. I just…just, yeah, figured I should-"

"I like you." My eyes shot up from the ground.

"Oh, then sorry, I guess for-" He looked at me, and I stopped. "Screw it, just hug me. We can act like we're in a sappy movie."

He chuckled, and opened his arm. "Alright."

ermagehrd yeah I know it's short, but I NEEDED to get it up people. You understand you're the ones reading this if all of you havne't given up hope by now in my writing. Anyway, the next chapter will be up a little faster, and will be much longer. I just wanted a little thing up, and oh look they're so sweet awwee... I'll need to fix that, and cause chaos very, very, soon. Goodbye for now my friends! And don't forget to review!