((Disclaimer: Obviously I don't own any of the characters in this story, unless I happen to add in a few extra charries of my own... I hope you enjoy the story!))

It was yet another casual day at Roscoe High, and Ray Brennan couldn't help but smile as he walked once again through the hallways. They were so familiar, and he'd missed them so much over the summer holidays – sad, pathetic, demonic, if you will. All the same, Ray didn't have much fun at home. There was always so much more excitement at Roscoe, and it seemed like his parents were robots compared to his best friends.

Lily Randall, Robbie McGrath, and Travis Strong were possibly the most alive people that he knew – excluding himself, of course. Ray was the talk of the school, the hot-shot, the skeptical jester. He'd actually been considering that nickname when they first started RFR, their radio station that let them express their opinions freely without worrying about being harassed back at school. Personally, Ray loved it.

Walking happily up to his locker, he drew out a wrinkled piece of paper from his jean pocket. 4... 28... 32... The locker wouldn't open. Oh, Ray had always been horrible opening those metal demons! Sighing angrily, he slid down the wall after trying numerous times.

Only seconds later, he hurried to stand up and try again, for a certain Lily Randall was walking his way. Oh, he'd had feelings for her as long as he could remember, but he'd only admitted them to anyone since the previous year. He'd told Robbie, his second-best friend. Travis had always been strange to him, but maybe that was just because he liked Lily as well, and that showed competition that could potentially harm their friendship forever.

"Having problems, trooper?" Lily asked, that loving grin that Ray had always connected her to was plain upon her face. She sat next to him, holding her books heavily in her right hand. "Ready for school to start again? I know I'm not."

Ray shrugged, his heart beating as he felt her shoulder against his. He'd known Lily forever, why was he so nervous? "I dunno. It's sort of like a mixed feeling, I guess," he concluded, his black hair falling into his eyes. "Pronto hasn't decided." Ending that with a goofy grin, he leaned into the lockers, closing his eyes.

The two sat there for a minute or two, not speaking as people walked past them, hurrying to their first classes. Ray opened his eyes again to find Lily's head soft on his shoulder, her dirty blonde hair trailing down his chest. He blushed, and his heart raced even faster, a smile on his face. Lily's eyes were closed, and Ray was shaking as he placed his hand on her head and rubbed it through her hair.

It was then that Travis Strong walked by, and Ray felt a bit of disappointment and heartbreak as Lily got up immediately, rushing over to meet the blonde boy. "Oh, Travis, how was your summer?" She asked, paying no more attention to Ray, who sat on the floor even now, staring at the floor.

Sometimes it felt like Lily just wanted to use him for his affection, and Ray hated it. He watched as Travis grinned and pretended as if the Arab weren't even there, avoiding his presence as much as possible. It hurt Ray's heart so much to see the two together, looking so happy... And then there was him. Alone in the world.

Forever.

((A/N: Short and sweet first chapter. More later, read and review please!))