I'm sorry this is such a bloody short update, but I was starting to feel abit guilty and besides, if I don't update now, I don't know when I'll ever. whistles Don't hate me.

There was Ephram Brown, the green-eyed boy, talking to her as if he knew her. And he hadn't laughed at her, or made some snide remark about her klutziness. For the second time that day, Hana found that she wasn't quite sure what to say.

        But he saved her from that.

        "You're from English class, aren't you? I'm sorry we never really got to talk much". He paused. "Actually..." he laughed apologetically and continued, "I'm not really sure about your name...is it Hana?"

        Hana was pleasantly surprised that he remembered. "Yes, it is," she smiled.

        "I'm Ephram," he said smiling back, his green eyes twinkling now. He was glad he hadn't guessed her name wrongly.

        "Yes, I know. You're Ephram," Hana laughed. All of a sudden, she felt comfortable. And so she stopped worrying about how she must have seemed like to him then. He made to hand the pile of books he'd helped her pick up to her, then frowned as he realized the load she was carrying.

        "You need help with that?" he asked.

        "No, no. I'm fine," Hana insisted as she picked herself up off the floor.

        "Well. That wasn't really a question". He nodded decisively. "Come on, I'll help you," he said smoothly as he got up, still holding the pile of books. He made his way over to the stage and put the books on top of it as he climbed onstage and got his bag. Then he jumped off, grabbed the books again, and made his way over to her. Hana just stared at him in disbelief.

        He was going to walk her home?

        It was the strangest thing, like a scene out of a dream. Hana still felt slightly disoriented at the surprising turn of the day's events, but she couldn't afford to linger on that thought for too long because Ephram was talking to her.

        Talking to her. Hana couldn't recall a time when she'd ever loved her books as much as she did right then.

        "So how many siblings have you got?" he was asking her as they walked down the street to where she lived.

        "I've got a younger sister and a younger brother," she replied. "You?"

        "Oh...just the one younger sister. She's a little fire ant".

        Hana laughed. "Fire ant??"

        "Yeah, well she's tough," Ephram smiled. Hana nodded. A tomboy. Cool.

        As they walked on, their conversation became less and less guarded, and soon they were talking and laughing like old friends. Hana couldn't believe what a nice person Ephram was. Not that she'd expected him to be a completely horrible person, but it was all just too...nice. Perfect.

        She felt a little stupid for thinking that he could ever hate her. Looking at him now, Hana didn't think that Ephram was capable of actually hating anyone on sight. She sighed inwardly at herself.

        "Oh hey, we're here," Hana said aloud, realizing. There was her old, rusty mailbox in the not-too-far distance. That was just too bad.

        They stopped in front of the mailbox, and Ephram turned around to face her. He cleared his throat awkwardly.

        "Listen, I'm glad we talked today. I never really got to know what you were like till now," he said and smiled slightly embarrassedly.

        "Thanks, I think," Hana laughed. There was a moment of silence as they stood in front of each other, just smiling. Then Ephram broke the spell.

        "Here are your books," he said, handing them over to her carefully. He made sure the pile was properly balanced in her arms before letting it go. Then, suddenly unsure of where to place his hands, he stuck them into his pockets.

        And here the dream ends, Hana thought.

        "Thanks for your help," she finally spoke up. "So...I guess I'll see you in school then?" she bit onto the inside of her lip. He seemed to be thinking about something.

        "Yeah," he suddenly said with a start, nodding. He smiled. "See you in school then," he shuffled his feet and turned around to head off. He walked a few paces, then suddenly turned his head around to face her again and waved before walking on.

        Hana stayed at the mailbox, looking at him walk away with the pile of books still in her arms until she couldn't see him anymore. Then he was gone.