Summer is over. School is starting again.

To be honest, I kinda had a shitty summer break. I broke up with Hydron and I was really sad about that. I knew the relationship wasn't going anywhere, but I miss the good times.

Julie and Alice were by my side this whole time. They made me realize that there will be good times with other boyfriends and that Hydron was just a teenage experience.

It was just so hard for me, because Hydron was my first real boyfriend and I had feelings for him.

But I moved on.

I got ready for the first day of school. I put my cheerleading outfit on, I put my hair high up and I put some makeup on.

I go downstairs, to eat some breakfast. My whole family are already eating in the kitchen. "Good morning, everybody!"

"Good morning, my baby girl." my dad says, looking up from his newspaper. I give him a warm smile.

I love my dad. He is the greatest dad in the world. Alice never met her father nor her mother. She lives with her grandfather, who is the kindest man I have ever met. After I learned that from Alice, I realized that I should appreciate the life I live. I'm so grateful to have him in my life.

"You nervous, honey?" my mom questions.

"Not at all." I answer. "You excited for school, Marucho?"

My little brother nods excitingly. "Yes, I can't wait to see my friends again."

"You hung out with them all summer, Marucho." my dad says.

"What can I say? I just love my friends."

I laugh, shaking my head a little as I slowly ate my breakfast. I say goodbye to all of them and hurried to the bus stop. I made it just in time.

I go in the bus and I immediately see Julie at the back. "Jules!"

She grins at me. "Hey, girl!" I hug her as hard as I could. She does the same to me. "Can't wait to see everyone."

"Me too. I wonder if someone has changed."

"I know what you mean... look look look." she quickly points at the door, where people enter the bus.

Of course. Dan and his gang.

Dan and I actually became really good friends. Besides Jules and Ali, Dan has really been there for me, when Hydron and I broke up. Dan truly hated the guy and he made sure to always tell me how Hydron isn't worth it and he's a piece of shit. I personally don't have this much hatred towards Hydron, but it actually made me move on a lot quicker than I thought it will take me.

"Do you still have a crush on Dan?" I quickly ask Julie. She just nods, because the boys are getting really closer and she doesn't have time to answer with words.

"Hey, girls!" Billy enthusiastically greets us as he sits down just in front of Julie. Ace and Shun greet us as well and sit in front of Billy. Last comes Dan, of course, who's grinning like a big idiot

"Hey, Julie! Hey, Runo!"

"Hi, Dan!" Julie happily responds. "How was your summer?"

"Not too bad. Went to a basketball camp, cuz my parents made me…" he answers. He then turns to me. "Runo, why are you wearing makeup?"

What's that supposed to mean? "Why shouldn't I?" I angrily ask him.

"You don't need it." He just replies, but it's enough to make me blush. That's actually really sweet, Hydron actually wanted me to wear makeup for him, because he thinks I look better with it. That's definitely the main reason I actually started to wear makeup.

"Oh, uh-um- thank you." I manage to thank him.

"You're welcome!" he gives me his famous smile as he turns back to Julie. "So, how was your summer, Julie?"

...

"Julie, would you please." Ever since Dan said I don't need makeup, Julie is breathing down my neck about it. Now she's certain that Dan likes me and wants to be with me. "Dan and I are good friends and that's it."

"Hey, guys!" I hear familiar female voice greet us. Seconds later Alice appears in front of us and we go into a big bear hug. "What's going on?"

"Dan likes Runo!" Julie quickly says before I even have a chance to say it.

I roll my eyes in frustration. "No, it's not true."

"Yes, it is."

"What makes you think Dan likes Runo, Jules?" Alice questions.

"He told her she doesn't need makeup and I swear when he walked on the bus, the first thing he did was, he looked at her and smiled."

"We are just friends." I defend myself.

"Honestly I just think he's trying to be nice to you and be very good friends." Alice tells me. I just turn to Julie and give her a 'I-told-you' look. She just rolls her eyes at me and walks away. I then look at Alice, who immediately states to follow our stubborn friend.

...

I walk in the cafeteria alone since Julie is still pretty mad at me. Alice had to do something with her science club shit, so that just leaves me. The cafeteria is pretty packed, not one table is available. I spot Dan and Ace sitting alone.

I walk up to them. "Hey, guys! Mind if I sit here?"

"Not at all." Ace replies.

I sit myself next to Dan, because there's more room for me to sit. "Where are other guys?"

"Don't know." Dan simply answers and moves his head to me. "Where's Julie and Alice, is it?"

I nod. "Alice has something with her science club and Julie is mad at me for some reason."

"Why is Julie mad at you?" Ace questions.

"Don't know." I lie. I can't say Julie likes Dan. I'll be an awful friend.

"I gotta go, guys…" Ace suddenly states as he got up. "I promised couch I'll help him with something."

"Have fun!" "Bye!" "See ya!"

"So it's just you and me, huh?" Dan fully turns himself to me.

"Yeah, I guess so." I say, looking away a bit. When I turn back, I catch him staring at me. "Don't stare at me like that!"

"Why you changed your look for that asshole?" he suddenly asks, honestly it slightly surprise me. Why is he so caught up with this? First my makeup, now this… what's with him?

"What's with you? First you start with my makeup, now with the way I look.." I manage to say something. "Am I really that horrible to look at?"

"What? No! That's not what I'm saying." He quickly responds. "Last year you were so different. No makeup, your hair was always different, but you mostly had your hair down, which I like the most." That last comment make me blush. "But that prick got into your head and said what you should do. Don't deny it…"

"How do you know?"

"It doesn't matter…" he only says as he fully turns his body to me. "Let your hair down."

"Dan, stop with the bullshit… I didn't change. I just happen to like my hair up in a ponytail." I turn my head away from him.

Nothing happen for a few seconds. What's gotten into him? Why does it matter to him how I look now? Just because I'm a little different than last year, doesn't mean Hydron is involved… well he is, but Dan doesn't have to know it.

I suddenly feel Dan's hands on my shoulders and I just realize he is standing behind me. He, out of the sudden, pulls my hair tie. My long hair gets loose.

"Dan!" I hit him from behind. He's such a prick.

"Now that's better." He whispers as he sits next to me again with an annoying grin. Why is he acting like he made some big accomplishment.

"Did I look really bad before, huh? Was looking at me a bit too much for you?" Honestly this kinda hurts me. Why was he insisting so much about my fucking hair? Who the fuck cares.

"Don't you get what I'm trying to tell you…" he responds. "I remember when we first met… you were so carefree, you didn't give a shit what people say about you."

"I'm still those things…"I try to disagree.

"No, you're not and you know it." He firmly replies. I just keep quite. "I want to punch that idiot right now for doing this to you. Made you so insecure about your looks, but in reality you're so fucking beautiful that he is probably crying for you to come back."

I swear I'm about to cry. This is probably the sweetest thing that anyone has ever said to me. I never told him or anyone really about this issue of mine and the fact he figured it out all by himself is even more sweet and just thoughtful. Honestly I really needed this.

I wrap my arms around him and give him a hug. "Thank you. Honestly, just thank you."

He wraps his own arms around me. "No problem, Runo. I knew something wasn't right…"

"It's honestly a sweet gesture." I finally look up to look at him. "I'm so glad I got a friend like you."

"Ditto." we look at each other one more time before pulling away. "I better get to my class. But listen, if you need to talk, I-"

"I know." I give him a warm smile. He smiles back and waves me goodbye.

I swear after seconds Dan left, Julie sits next to me. "What the hell was that?"

I smile at her, making her even more confused.

"A sweet gesture from a friend."


Everyone stay safe, stay inside!

Byee

~SmileyFlower