The next few weeks at school were weird. Kate sat with the cheerleaders at lunch and we barely spoke except in passing when she would say hi and I would say hi back. We didn't even really speak in gym. She was always with Holly and Holly had a tendency to avoid me at all costs. I didn't understand why she hated me so much. I had never even really spoken to her. Needless to say, I was always stuck with Lucy who was a lousy catcher and an even worse runner. Our team always came last.

As summer faded away and the days started to get cooler, Kate and I grew more distant. All her time was spent with the cheerleaders; during practice and out of it. She got invited to parties and hang outs. It became clearer than ever that we were no longer in the same crowd. On the weekends, I spent my days with Christian and sometimes, the rest of the boys. Kate and Elliot continued to date but they didn't see each other much either. It was just me and a sea of boys. I didn't realise how much I'd missed having a girlfriend until that moment.

I was laying on the couch watching a movie with my mom one night. I was feeling particularly sad and she asked what was wrong. I told her all about Kate and the cheerleaders and the parties and everything else. She listened patiently and stroked my hair the entire time.

"Middle school is always a difficult time," she said when I was finished. "Everyone is busy figuring out who they are. Who they want to be. It's easy to get sucked into the wrong crowd but I think Kate will come around eventually."

"I just don't get why she couldn't stay with us," I said, trying my hardest not to cry.

"I know it hurts honey," mom replied, comforting me. "But we can't change people's actions. We have no control over the things others do."

"I wouldn't have left her," I said. And that was the truth.

"I know you wouldn't sweetheart," she said, hugging me closer. "You're loyal to a fault."

I looked up at her and she was smiling back down at me.

"And besides, you've got Christian," she said, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear.

I nodded. I did.

I always had Christian and for that, I would forever be grateful.

Halloween came around quickly. Our middle school held an annual party which apparently was great. I didn't know what costume to wear but I was clued up enough to know that my moms suggestion of the corpse bride wouldn't cut it. We were out shopping for an outfit and Christian was with us. She held up the long white costume and I shook my head.

"What's wrong with it?" She asked, putting it back.

"Nobody will be wearing costumes like that," I said in distaste.

Christian was super easy. He settled on a stupid batman costume as all the boys had agreed they'd be a different superhero. Apparently, Jose was coming as Spider-Man. As I saw him pick up the costume, I had a fabulous idea.

"I know," I told my mom excitedly, "I can be a superhero too."

"Isn't that just for the boys?" She asked

I shrugged. "I can be a superhero too," I said stubbornly.

I looked over to Christian. "Do you think I should be a superhero?" I asked him. "I don't see why I should be left out."

He smiled and nodded. "Yeah, be a superhero with us," he said, animatedly.

He came over and started to try and find things I could wear as cat woman. Now that my clothes had something to do with superheroes, he wasn't as bored in the girls section anymore.

We left the store with a long sleeved black unitard, a cat eye mask and black cat ears. My mom said she'd make me the tail at home.

On the night of the party, my mom did my makeup which I'd never had done before. It wasn't anything dramatic, but my lips were glossy red and I loved them. Except from when I had a drink and it would all stick to the glass.

My tail wasn't as long as cat woman's but mom had done a pretty good job. I wore black converse with the outfit, and we did my hair in a very high ponytail. My dad took pictures and said they would be one for the books which is something I'd noticed old people saying all the time. My mom cried at her 'baby's first ever grown up dance.' I rolled my eyes. People said kids were dramatic, but they should definitely consider where we got it from.

Mom drove me to Christian's where Carrick would be driving us all to the dance. When I arrived, the boys were all there. Christian as bat man, Jose as Spider-Man, Adam as superman and Brody as wolverine. Brody's costume was definitely the most impressive. His long claw fingers were of course plastic, but the sheen on them made them look real. He pretended to claw me with them, and I giggled. Christian gave him a dirty look and I put my arm around my best friend's shoulder.

"Don't worry," I said, teasing. "I much prefer superman."

He glared at me but a few seconds later we were both laughing.

"Your costume is great," he told me, admiring my handiwork.

I grinned in response.

Grace made us pose for group pictures and then Elliot and his friends came into the living room from downstairs. They were all stupid zombies with gross fake blood everywhere and ripped t-shirts.

"Hi cat woman," Elliot grinned, coming towards me. I edged back when I saw the blood in his hands.

"Come on, what's a little blood?" He laughed and began chasing me.

I ran all through the house, but he still caught me. He only squirted some on my neck, but I was in fits of laughter. Grace yelled at us to hurry up then which only made us laugh more. On the way back downstairs, I asked him about Kate.

"I haven't seen her that much," he shrugged. "She's always busy with the cheerleaders."

I nodded. That I could agree on.

"Are you still going out with her?" I asked, prying.

"I think so."

"What do you do together?" I wondered.

He looked at me. "Just stuff. We've been to the movies, but my parents have to drop us so that's kind of lame. Sometimes we go shopping but that's boring. Mostly we just hang out and play video games. She doesn't like them much though, so she just sits there."

I didn't think that sounded like a very fun time, but I didn't say anything. I didn't want to hurt Elliot's feelings.

When we arrived at the dance, there were decorations everywhere. From lanterns to skeletons, school had gone all out.

"This is kind of cool," I said. I had to admit it.

Christian nodded in agreement.

Inside the auditorium, it had been transformed. There was a designated dance floor and spotlights everywhere. There were tables of food and drinks. Elliot left to find some other people and the rest of us just hovered by a table. Jose offered to go and get us drinks.

I saw Kate when she came over to the table we were by. She was with Holly and they were dressed as Disney princesses. Well, modern versions of Disney princesses. Holly was clearly Cinderella. She had the same hairdo and a short blue dress on with really high heels that looked see through like glass. Kate was Rapunzel. She had her hair down to her waist and straight as a pin. She had a short pink dress on, and a toy chameleon perched on her shoulder. She smiled when she saw me.

"Hi Ana."

"Hi Kate."

"I love your costume, you look really pretty."

I was about to offer her the same compliment, but Holly tugged on her shoulder. "Clarity's waiting for us," she said. She hurried Kate away before I even got the chance.

I saw the rest of the cheerleaders on the dance floor. Clarity had opted to be Belle. They all wore the same variations of short dresses. They looked sexy and grown up and I suddenly felt a bit kiddish in my own costume.

Suddenly, Christian stood up and held out his hand to me.

"What?" I asked.

"Let's go and dance," he suggested.

I tried to contain my surprise. It was such an un-Christian like thing to suggest. He hated stuff like that.

"Neither of us can dance," I reminded him.

He just shrugged and adjusted his mask that had come slightly askew. I thought the action was really cute.

"It'll be fun. Come on," he insisted.

I took his hand before either of us could change our minds.

There were a few kids on the dance floor but not many. Christian looked nervous as he approached ,and I wondered why on earth he wanted to do this. But he just took my had and we started dancing stupidly as thriller by Michael Jackson came on next. It was awkward at first. We didn't know what to do and we were all over the place, stepping on each-other. But after a few moments, the background started to fade away and there was just Christian and I with the music. He attempted to do a poor imitation of the moonwalk and I couldn't stop laughing. He really wasn't a great dancer.

We danced for most of the night after that. We had some food and then made the rest of the boys come and join us. Compared to them, Christian was actually a decent dancer. Jose even fell over a few times.

It was the most fun I'd had in a long time and for one night, all my worries melted away.

Later on in bed, I realised that Christian didn't get up and dance for himself. He'd have never wanted to do that. He did it to make me happy and cheer me up. The realisation of that hit deeper than any concern or worry I had at that moment. He was the best friend I could have ever asked for.