The sun was going down- I had to get home before my mom freaks out. I smiled and waved goodbye to Aaron, and then took off towards my house. I swiftly grabbed my old shoes without stopping. I gave one last look over at Aaron, but he was already gone. I wished we could've stayed on that beach forever.

After about five minutes of running, I had finally arrived at my house. Just by looking in the windows, I could tell that there were no lights on. Mom must not be home… I thought, getting a little nervous. She wouldn't have spent this long at the market. I flew open the door, and bolted into the kitchen. She wasn't anywhere. Maybe she found out about the cup! I flew open all the cabinets, looking through each one. Everything was the exact same. I looked everywhere- maybe she left a note? My eyes darted from place to place, until they fell on someones face. My mom was standing right next to me. She was dressed in a nice blouse with dangly earrings. She had on makeup.

" Momwherewereyouohmygod!" I gave her a tight hug.

" I left you a note!" she said, unzipping my backpack and pulling out a piece of paper. How could I have missed it?I laughed, and tossed the note in the trash. I didn't even bother looking at it. I flopped onto the couch, and spread out.

" What do you want for dinner?" she called over to me.

" Anything that is edible!" I yelled back.

" Hey, you're not gonna ask me?" It was Anna. She was standing above me. We've known each other for so long that she just lets herself in.

" Hi Anna!" Mom had an "Anna Sensor," and knew, without looking, when she was here. Anna's basically family at this point.

" Got in a fight with your mom again?" I asked, sitting up.

"Fight is such a strong word... But yeah, we fought." She gave a little laugh.

" What did you guys fight about?"

" She keeps saying I'm 'nothing like her old daughter' or something. I haven't changed!" They argue about this a lot. I mean, we're growing or whatever, but Anna hasn't really changed all that much. I've known her for like, 3 years or so. She and her mom moved here together. I know she had a sister at some point, but Anna says she never saw her. Apparently, she lives with her dad. Anna hates talking about her dad. She hates him. Her parents were in a hairy divorce- drinking, throwing stuff, flat-out violence- it's a very sensitive subject for her. Of course, she doesn't let that hold her back. She isn't one of those people who are always depressed about stuff like that.

" Dinner's ready!" Mom brought two plates of spaghetti into the living room.

We both thanked her, and I practically inhaled all the noodles. It was like heaven in my mouth.

" So delicious!" I said between bites.

" Whoa! Slow down there- you're gonna choke!" Anna handed me a napkin.

" I didn't know napkins kept me from choking," I laughed, wiping the sauce from my face. Anna's fork twirled around the pasta. She would push it around her plate, flip it around, and then put the piece down. She didn't eat any of it. This wasn't really anything different- Anna never ate. Well, she ate the occasional piece of candy, but I've never seen her finish an entire meal before. She's really, really skinny. She always wears long sleeves and pants- I've only seen her in short sleeves once. She has a big birthmark on her arms, and is really self-conscious of it. She is very pretty, and she definitely is flirtatious with boys, but she doesn't show off or anything. She's had a number of boyfriends, but she's always the one to break it off.

"Hey," I said, " How's Brian?" Brian was her current boyfriend.

"Meh," she began, " I think we should break it off." Not again. I mean, I know she probably won't marry her boyfriends now or anything, but... I don't know. I just think she might be trying to grow up too fast.

" How about you?" she asked, a devilish gleam in her eye.

" 'How about me' what?" I asked, knowing exactly what she meant.

" Ellie, you've been so spacey lately- I could pour tomato sauce down your shirt and you wouldn't notice!" She smiled again.

I stuttered a bit. I opened my mouth, but only air came out. Was I really being that obvious? I thought I was being totally normal! What if my mom finds out? She doesn't even think I like boys yet! Yeeagh. She thought I was still in the part of my life when I was like, " Boys? Eww!" ( I never actually thought boys were gross at all.)

" H..h.." I was still a little baffled.

" Just spit it out!" Anna grinned, and poked me playfully.

" Aaron!" I said, a weight lifting off my chest, and soon being replaced. Does she know him? Will she tell anyone? What if he's actually a jerk? Why does life have to be so complicated?

" Aaron..." she said, like she was in deep thought. " Don't know any Aaron's. Where does he go to school?"

" Nope."

" Last name?"

" Um... no..."

" Middle name?"

" Why would I know his middle name, when I don't know his last?"

" True... Do you know his parents?"

" No."

" Do you know anything about him?"

" His name is Aaron." I'm a genius.

She sighed. I know I don't know anything about him, but it's who he is as a person that matters to me, not who he is to his schoolmates or parents. Whoa- this is getting kinda weird.

Wow. This chapter was weird. Sorry. Anyways, sorry I've been procrastinating so much! Will try to update again soon. Be safe!