The next morning, I met Ness outside and we started to walk to school like we always did. We stopped by a fast food place and got some breakfast. I just got some yogurt, never really eating much in the mornings. Ness got two breakfast sandwiches and made his order a large.

"How can you eat all that?" I asked him as we walked onwards to school, eating as we went.

I watched him take a big bite of his sandwich, "I'mma growing boy!" he said, having a mouthful of food, "I can eat as much as I damn well please!" he held up his sandwich to me, "Try it," he said.

I made a face, leaning away from it, "No way,"

"Come on! Don't be a chicken! Try it!"

"No!"

"Try it!" he poked my side and I stumbled away, putting a hand on my ticklish side. He poked me again and I couldn't hold back a giggle, "Try it or I'll keep tickling you!" he said.

"Ok ok!" I said then leaned forward, taking a small bite out of his sandwich. I made a face at the taste but swallowed it, "Yuck!" I looked up at him, "How on earth can you eat that?"

"You didn't give it a chance! You just swallowed it!" Ness said taking another bite out of his sandwich. I rolled my eyes playfully and we continued on towards school.

Once there, I started towards our usual spot, but I found Ness wasn't following. I turned around and he looked miserable, "I have to go and meet up with Paula," he said, "She said she wanted to talk this morning, probably about prom or some shit," he tossed his trash away in a nearby trash can.

I tried not to frown or think about prom. I wasn't going because the guy I wanted to go with was taking someone else, and I didn't want to see him with her. I forced a smile though and nodded, "Ok, I'll be in the art room if you get a chance to stop by, ya know, if you're not busy or anything," I said.

Ness gave me a smile, but it wasn't one of those real smiles. This was just one of those 'I feel like I have to' smiles. "Yeah, if I get out of the dragon's lair before school starts, I'll stop by," This made me smile, "I'll catchya later, Lucas," he said then turned, fixing his hat as he did.

"Yeah, see ya," I watched him walk away for a moment then sighed and turned, walking into the school.

Needless to say, he never did come to the art room. I had him in a couple of my PSI classes though, so that was fun. We had lunch together too, but Paula was all over Ness, so I didn't really enjoy that. I didn't see Ness again until after school. He had baseball practice today, so I waited for him in the back of the school on the bleachers. I had started to draw when he came up to me.

"Hey there Lucas!" he said cheerfully.

I looked up to see he was in his baseball outfit, which was a white with pin stripes going up and down the pants and shirt. Our school's name was written at an angle on his chest and our logo was on his right sleeve. "Ness" was written on his back along with his number, thirteen. He wore a black sweater on under his shirt and had the top button undone. He had the uniform's baseball hat on, but of course, it was turned and cocked in that adorable way he always had it. His socks when all the way up to his knee and disappeared under his pants, which stopped just below his knees. He had his cleats on too. He had his bat on his shoulders and rested his wrists on either side. He tilted his head and tapped the top of his shoe on the dirt as he smiled at me. Oh I just wanted to melt at how hot he looked in his uniform.

I smiled up at him, hoping I wasn't blushing, "Hi Ness," I said.

He blew a large bubble with the gum he had been chewing. It popped with a loud sound and he pulled it back in his mouth messily. I knew I blushed a little at the sight of that. He motioned to my sketch book, not noticing my blush, "Whatchya workin' on?" he asked.

I hugged my book to my chest, "Just some still life," I said, "It's not all that good,"

"Oh that's a load of bull. Let me see it," he said, "Come on," I hesitated but finally turned my book around to show him. His eyes widened and he whistled, leaning forward to get a better look, "Damn Lucas! Those sunflowers are beautiful! I feel like I can reach in and grab one!" he said.

I blushed a little at the compliment, "Thanks," I rested my book on my lap, "Hey, um..." I rubbed the back of my neck, hesitating, then shook my head quickly, "No, never mind, it's nothing," I said quickly.

"No, tell me," Ness said, moving to sit next to me on the bleachers. He put his feet up on the edge of the seat in front of him and rested his bat in his lap.

"No, it's stupid,"

"Oh come on. I'm sure it's not. Just tell me,"

I was quiet a moment then looked up at him. The words caught in my throat though when I saw how the sun caught his cobalt blue eyes. They shined and looked so beautiful. I felt like I could be swallowed up in their gaze. The wind blew slightly and the bangs that hang out of his hat moved a little, making him brush them out of his eyes. I wish I could have done it for him.

When I realized I was staring, I blushed and quickly shook my head, calling myself stupid so many times in my head, "Sorry," I apologized, "I spaced out,"

Ness grinned at me after popping another bubble with his gum, "It's cool. It's a nice day out anyways," He looked up at the sky then back at me, "So what did you wanna ask me?"

"Oh right. Well um... I have this project for art and um..." I poked my fingers together, looking away, "I have to sketch a person so I was wondering if you would um... if you would... well... like... I don't know... If you would mind... letting me sketch you?" I asked then peaked up at him nervously.

He blinked a few times in surprise but then grinned, "Sure! I don't mind!" he playfully bumped in his shoulder into mine, "Is it a nude sketch?" he teased.

My face went scarlet and my eyes widened, "N-n-no! I-I- Why would I-!" I stuttered but he laughed.

"Relax! I was joking!" he poked my face, "Dude you're so red right now," I put my hands over my face, so embarrassed and he laughed again. I couldn't help but smile at the sound of his laugh. It was like music to my ears.

"What's so funny?" I heard a girl say and instantly, my mood dropped from light and happy to cold and hard. I moved my hands to see Paula, all dressed up in her short skirt, high heels, heavy make-up, and low cut shirt, showing what she thought she had, but didn't.

"Nothin'," Ness said, looking at her then popped another bubble.

Paula made a face at this, "That's disgusting," she said, "You sound like a cow,"

"No, cows go moo. Like this," Ness said then moo'd really, really loud, like he was screaming. I couldn't help but laugh at this. He grinned and started to laugh too.

Paula didn't look amused though, "You sound so stupid," she said then flipped her hair, "Anyways, my daddy's having a party tonight and he wants you to come,"

Ness tilted his head when he stopped laughing, "What time is it?" he asked.

"Tonight," she answered. God she was so stupid.

"No, like time? As eight, nine?"

"Oh," Duh! God I couldn't stand her, "It's tonight at eight until three,"

Ness's eyes widened a little, "Three in the morning? Dude, we have school tomorrow,"

"Yeah? So?" I rolled my eyes and shook my head a little, looking away. I guess she saw, because she looked at me, "Got a problem?" I looked down, instantly feeling small and insecure from being called out.

"Hey, leave him alone," Ness said, his smile fading from his face. He frowned a little, something I hated to see on his beautiful face, "What's your deal anyways? He didn't do anything to you,"

Paula looked back at Ness and pointed at me, "He rolled his eyes at me! Did you see that? Aren't you going so say something?"

Ness gave her a look, "No, because to be honest, you deserved an eye roll. Why the hell are you having a party from eight to three in the morning when we have school the next day? I don't know about you, but I care about my grades. Tell your old man that I'm not going," he said.

My eyes widened a little and I looked up at him. Paula narrowed her eyes at him and flipped her hair, "Fine, I don't care," she said then walked away.

"Ness," I said softly, "Why aren't you going? You should. It sounds like it could be fun," I was lying now.

"Tch," he said, "Please. I don't need some fancy rich party to have a good time," He looked up when he heard his teammates call his name then stood, grabbing his bat. He looked down at me, "You gonna be here the entire practice?" he asked.

I smiled at his response then nodded, "Yes, I'm staying. I'll go home with you and um... if you don't mind, and if you're not busy. I mean, because it's ok if you are. I know you could have a lot of homework or studying to do or something or if you just don't feel like it..." I rambled, poking my fingers together again. He put his hand on my shoulder, making me shiver, but I'd blame it on the wind that rolled over us.

"Lucas," he said, giving me a smile, "Just spit it out,"

I blushed a little, "Sorry," I apologized, "I just wanted to know if you'd um... wanna work on that protect tonight, ya know, if-..." I started quickly but he cut me off.

"If I'm not busy, I know, and no, that's fine. I'm not busy after this," he said, nodding, "I'll grab you after practice and we can walk home together, ok?" I nodded, giving a shy smile, "Ok, see ya," he said then took his hand back from my shoulder. I missed it already. I watched him jump off the bleachers then run out onto home base.