I got up and did my daily routine. I looked at the list of things I had to do in the bathroom. Brush teeth, brush hair, wear deodorant, put on a pad if I have my period. Once I did everything on that list, I looked at the file in the bedroom.

Change underwear, wear a clean outfit, wear socks, make sure shoe matches. It's not that I forget these things; Sometimes I don't feel they are essential. As for pairing with my clothes, my parents gave up the fight. As long as they were clean, that's all that mattered.

I came downstairs and had breakfast. I stick to one thing, but once in a great while, I change it. It is a battle. My parents want me to try new things. They said to take a bite; if I don't like it, then I didn't have to eat it.

As for most condiments, those are a no. Ketchup was a rarity, and I didn't mind syrup. I didn't like butter, mayonnaise, or anything else. I prefer my food basic. People think I'm picky, but most of the time, I don't like the texture.

When we finished, my parents took me to school. I got out of the car, grabbed my bag, and walked inside. I did my routine, then went to the room. I usually start my day there. I walked in to find Antonio waiting for me.

I walked over and set my bag down. "Did you study," I asked Antonio.

"Yes, I fell asleep," he grinned.

I pulled out a paper and pencil, placing it in front of him.

"Okay, tell me the six My Little Ponies," I ordered.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me. I told you I would quiz you. What part did you think I was lying about?" I looked at him as his eyes widened.

"Then you didn't study like you said you did," I said, taking the paper from him.

"I studied school subjects," he said to me.

"Did it make you any smarter," I asked him directly.

"I don't know. I haven't had a test yet. Why?"

"Because if you study, then you keep information. You're tested not for retention, but what you understand. Anyone can memorize information, but it's the understanding of the material, which makes it different. Do you understand the difference between the colors of the rainbow," I asked Antonio.

"Different lights bounce off a prism to create an effect," he answered.

"Wrong. Light reflects through water droplets. It's basic information they teach us in seventh-grade science class," I told him.

He looked at me, stunned.

"Don't look at me like that," I demanded.

"Sorry," Antonio mumbled.

"I lack social cues and skills, not intelligence," I said as I went to work on my puzzle.

He sat there, trying to talk to me. Then I remembered what Dad said. I sighed. "Look, my dad said I should try to be nice to you. He says I need to try. I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings for making you feel dumb."

He furrowed his brows then said, "If you want to learn social skills, then how about you be sincere with your apology?"

"What do you mean?"

"First, you need to say you're sorry for hurting someone's feelings. Don't add to it," Antonio advised.

"Why? Shouldn't people know what someone is sorry for?"

"When you apologize, they usually know. When someone fights and the other person is wrong, the wrong person will apologize. Understand?"

"So if someone calls someone a name, then that person who called the name should apologize?"

"Exactly," he said.

"Okay, what about friends," I asked him.

"What about them?"

"How do you make friends?"

"You say, hi. Talk to the person. Listen. It's not rocket science," Antonio explained.

"I say hi to people. They called me weird. I talked to them about My Little Pony, and they laughed. Did I do something wrong?" I asked.

"The first part, no. In the second part, I would say the person doesn't understand why you like My Little Pony. Why do you like it?" He asked me.

"Because they're good. My little Ponies do good things. They're friends, even though they are different. I like the colors of how they fit together, but different. I like the ponies' personalities," I said enthusiastically.

He looked at me inquisitively.

"Is that not the answer you're looking for?"

"That answer is perfect."

I watched a small smile form, then she said, "You have brown eyes like me. Except your eyes are a chocolate brown. They have particles in them." That took me by surprise as she went back to her puzzle.

Rainbow wasn't weird or odd. She didn't understand things most people did. Be direct with her. She's very literal. It made her unique.

That's when I did something for her. For her to step into my world, I needed to step into hers. I picked up a puzzle piece and placed it in its spot. She glanced at me, then diverted her eyes back to the puzzle.

Together we worked on the puzzle.

At lunch, I brought Morris and Adrian with me to have lunch with Rainbow.

"Rainbow, these are my friends Adrian Wright and Wade Morris," I introduced her to them.

"Hello," she whispered.

"Hi," they both said.

"Rainbow, why don't you ask them to join us?"

"Oh, okay, please join us," Rain said politely.

They smiled.

"Sure," they both said as they sat down at the table.

She looked at them, and I leaned over and whispered something to her. She looked at them. "You're friends of Antonio's, right?"

"Yes," Adrian said.

"Do you like My Little Pony," she asked them. I looked up and sighed.

"Pinky Pie is my fav," Morris said. I looked at Morris as he grinned.

"Really?" Rain asked, surprised.

"Hell yeah, that pink pony is the happiest and throws the best parties," Morris exclaimed. Say what?

"I like Fluttershy," she told him happily.

"I prefer Rainbow Dash." Adrian shrugged.

What just happened? How the hell do my friends know about My Little Pony?

I sat there and listened to them. The topic moved from My Little Pony to other things. Rainbow was engaging with them. I couldn't get her to join me to save my life.

After lunch, we walked to class, and I had to ask, "What the hell was that?"

They looked at me.

"I can't get the girl to talk to me like that, but you two have no problem. What gives?"

"Probably because you don't have little sisters." Adrian shrugged.

Morris gave me a look.

"What?"

"Dude, we watch My Little Pony all the time because of Adrian's sister. Rainbow is no different. Yeah, she has autism, but she's still a girl. Get past the autism, and you'll get her to engage," Morris advised me.

"That means to get your head out of a book and learn something. Life isn't always in a book. It's happening right in front of you," Adrian added.

I had a feeling that this girl would teach me things that no book offers. Why did I have a feeling I would like it?