Mr. F was extremely kind to you. You could tell he was new to the neighborhood. Your period three teacher also wasn't from your town... you figured most of the teachers here weren't. Before, there weren't a lot of people in your town that weren't business or shop owners. You lived in the rich part of town so most of the people that know you are business men, nosy housewives, and their spoiled children.

Now, there are people with different skills moving in from all over. Teachers, chefs, jewellers, all sorts of people.

It was lunch time currently. You didn't want to go to the cafeteria. You decide to sit outside on a bench. Your mother had made you a lunch for the first time in years. She must of snuck in your room and put it in you bag. The lunch came with a note. You would be an idiot if you couldn't recognize your own mother's handwriting.

Have a nice day~

Love mom

You wondered if she smiled while writing the note. The note made you feel warm... just like you used to in the good ol' days. Your lunch consisted of a juice box, some apple slices, and (favorite food) put in a Tupperware container. It surprised you that your dear mother put effort into making you something so special. All the nightmares you have caused her and she still finds it in her heart to cook you your favorite food.

She's such a saint.

You open the Tupperware and you begin eating.

"Hey." Someone says behind you.

It wasn't Cain... you wished it was.

You turn your head to the side, staring at the owner of the voice from the corner of you eye. It was the girl from earlier, the one that you saw yelling at the headmaster. You give her a small wave. She walks over to you and takes a seat right next to you, not saying a word the whole time. After a few minutes of silent, she opens her mouth to speak.

"So um... I saw you with my da– the headmaster."

You nod, not bothering to look at her.

"I was just thinking... maybe we could be friends... you and I."

Your eyes sparkle a little at the word 'friends'. You turn to look at her, doubting that she was being genuine. She smiled, showing her straight white teeth.

"Is this because you don't have any?" You say bluntly.

She laughs nervously, not really taking any offense to your statement.

"Well... yah... partially, but there's also the fact that you interest me. Oh! And you are the shy type so don't you need a big strong friend to help you!" She chirps awkwardly.

She had a lot of energy. She was cheerful and awkward which was an odd combination but it seemed to work.

You shake your head.

"I don't need anyone to help me..." You murmur. Her happy facial expression falters a bit. "... but... that doesn't mean I don't want to be your friend."

Her beaming smile returns. She looked so.... happy.

"Okay! First order of business, we gotta chill together! Let do it after school! This is gonna be so fun!"

The last class of the day was some sort of study period. The class was called seminar. Your homeroom teacher was your seminar teacher. Unfortunately, your brother was in your seminar. That meant you would have to see him everyday in homeroom.

You both said nothing to each other.

People were speaking with each other during the study period. Some people were working on projects, some left to go to others classes, and some people were just talking with each other about their weekend plans. You decide to stay quiet... well that was until this boy decided to sit next to you.

"Hey." He said softly. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Why do you ask?" You mumble, drawing swirls on the table with you finger.

"I don't know... I mean— your new right? I just thought you were sad... or lonely?" He says, a light blush appearing on his face.

"Oh..."

"So um... do you wanna hang out with me after school. I mean... you don't have too—"

"I can't, I have plans with someone else."

"Oh you do.... who?" The boy says, fumbling with his fingers.

"I don't know her name. She never gave it to me."

"Oh... okay." The boys says walking off. "Well let me know when you're free."

(Time skip)

It was after school. It was sprinkling, but the weather didn't bother you. You were waiting out in front of the school for your new friend.

"Hey shorty!" Your new friend runs towards you.

"Hello." You say.

"I hope you don't mind if someone else chilled along with us." The girl twirls her ash blonde hair between her fingers." I mean–he's not going to show up 'till later."

"It's alright." You mumble, opening your pink umbrella. "Where did you want to go?"

"I wanted to go to the park, but... as you can see," The girl points her thumb towards the sky. "It's raining. So I was thinking... wanna go to my house?"

"Sure, lead the way." You say, nodding and walking towards her, shielding her from the rain with your cat themed umbrella.

(Time skip again because I can)

You were pretty close to her house by now. All you did was listen to her talk, but you didn't mind. It's not like you had much to say anyway.

"Oh! We're here!"

She lived in a two story house. It was quiet small and she didn't have a front yard. The houses in the area were very close together. These were the newer houses. They made them close together so they could have more room for more houses.

She walks up to the front door, swinging it open.

"Mom! I'm home."

A shorter version of your friend walks out from what you assumed to be their living room.

"Oh welcome home. I didn't expect you to be home so– oh? You brought a friend?"

The girl's mother was going gray. She looked like the older version of your new friend except her hair was a bit darker and her eyes were more of a green than a blue. The older woman studies you for a while, looking you up and down.

"She very lovely." Your friend's mother says. "Hello darling."

"Hello ma'am." You say, looking at her with your emotions eyes.

"Oh and she's so polite too!" Her mother squealed. "I'll leave you two alone. Let me know if you need snacks." She says, smiling.

A mother's smile... how beautiful.

The girl leads you up stairs, opening a door with a sign that says 'keep out'. The girl's room was the complete opposite of your bright and girly room. Her walls were painted dark blue and all of her wooden furniture was either made with dark wood or painted black. She had blue and gray bed spread and a black bed frame. On her walls were posters of cartoons, bands that you have never heard of, and one single picture of her and some friends. There were darts sticking out of the picture.... you weren't going to ask her about that.

"This is my room." The girl says, flopping down on her bed. "My friend knows that we are here so he should be here soon.

You nod, sitting down on the floor.

"Oh hey... I totally forgot to ask what your name is."

"It's (y/n) (l/n)." You murmur.

"No eff'n way!? You are related to that jerk?!" The girl gasps.

"Who?"

"Cayden muthafuckin—"

"Language!" Her mother says from down stairs.

"Cayden (l/n). I hate that guy! He thinks he's hot shit and that he can win any girl he wants... I want to skin him alive!!" She exclaims. "He's so hot.... I hate it."

"Is that how he acts at school? At home, he's acts like a little baby." You say.

The girl laughs.

"That gold! I wish I could see it."

"Maybe one day. Oh... what's your name?" You question, suddenly remembering to ask her.

"The name's Jodie. I usually go by Joel." Joel says, pointing to her chest with her thumb.

"Okay... I'll call you Joel." You say, your eyes sparkling.

You made a friend. You did what your mother wanted you to do and you made a friend. You imagined her smile. You haven't seen in in a long time, not her genuine smiles anyway. You forgot what they were supposed to look like. You hoped she would smile for you again just so the image can be fresh in your mind.

Her smile was your reason to live.