For all the weirdos and the freaks, this is for you.

Chapter One

The End

It was all coming to an end. Summer. The holidays. Sleeping in til noon on a Monday.

It's a typical warm summer day; Savannah lies on her back in the grass of her backyard beneath an ash tree as the sun kisses her already brown skin.

The occasional gentle breeze blows, awakening every leaf on the ash tree, emitting a whooshing sound that was both startling and comforting.

She lay, with a blank mind, and a relaxed body as the cool blades of grass beneath her balanced the warm, patchy rays of sunlight shining down on her.

Savannah is at peace, despite the sense of dread lingering in the evening air. It was the first time she had a moment to herself in the last five days as the rush of back-to-school mania had gone to full effect.

She'd lost track of how long she'd been outside. Before she could consider getting up, a shadow was casted upon her, shifting her vision from red to black through her closed eyes.

With a groan she lifted herself halfway up with her elbows and opens her eyes. Standing above her in a hue of greenish blue light was Leon.

"What the heck Lee?" said Savannah with a scrunched up face and her best attempt of a smile.

She blinks rapidly in an effort to adjust her vision; she had drifted so far into her thoughts she didn't hear him approach.

"I figured we'd sort out our school things together to salute our last night of freedom." He says mockingly holding his palm to his chest and wearing an expression on his face that Savannah could only guess was his best impression of being emotionally moved.

He holds out a piece of paper while remaining in his stance.

"Oh come on, it isn't that bad..." said Savannah as she dusts herself off and takes the piece of paper from Leon's hands.

"Just think, it's the last time that we'll ever have a 'back to school' period."

"Our class timetables." Says Leon in response to the questioning look on Savannah's face.

Savannah sits back down in the grass with her back against the tree and Leon does the same, each examining their timetables.

"Damn it Sav, P.E. is the only class we have together," he said with a sad smile as he tilted his head and absentmindedly played with his golden brown curls.

Savannah puts down her timetable and shifts her position so that her and Leon are face to face.

"I know you want to spend as much time together before we go our separate ways next year-" Leon cringes and nods along, "-but you've honestly got nothing to worry about."

Leon avoids her gaze, Savannah lets out a sigh and continues, "Lee, you've been my only friend since we were drinking from sippy cups, when you were the new kid in town and nobody wanted to hang out with you because-"

"I was the weird boy who wore nail polish." He chuckles, finally meeting Savannah's eyes before looking away again.

"Right..." Savannah giggles, "And I know that you want to make this year as memorable as possible, but honestly the memories we have together is enough to last me a lifetime." She said playfully punching him on the shoulder.

Leon looks up from the grass he'd been staring at and looks into Savannah's dark brown eyes.

"Nice try," He says smiling "but there is nothing you can do or say to get out of what I have planned for us this year..." his face lights up with excitement.

"Adventures, memorable experiences, crazy-ass extravaganzas Sav... and maybe the occasional party here and there." He said smiling, barely able to contain his excitement.

Savannah does her best to cover the smile that's growing on her face, she can't help it, Leon's joy is contagious, she's glad he was too caught up in his thoughts to notice.

She composes herself, "Lee, this is our final year of high-school –" "Exactly!" Leon cuts in, "Shouldn't we make it one that's worth remembering? Come on Sav just think about it?" He rests his palms on is knees.

"There will be time to study and do other boring things that you find amusing." He said chuckling while avoiding Savannah's fists as she playfully swung at him.

"No, but really Sav," said Leon, trying to bring seriousness back into their discussion, he continues, "when I look back at my high-school years, it's full of regret, happiness, confusion, excitement, crazy shit that I don't even have answers for today, but I wouldn't change any of it for the world except..." his smile fades and his eyes searched the grass, Savannah wonders what he's thinking about and wished that he would spit it out already.

"I look at all these memories and my most important friend is not a part of it because of her fear of being judged."

Savannah doesn't know what or how to feel. It was true. Savannah found comfort in solitude, she had always been that way, she would much rather read books underneath the ash tree in her backyard on a Friday night than be out partying with Leon and his gang of superficial 'friends' that only she seemed to see right through.

But Savannah isn't afraid of being 'judged', that's for sure.

Leon has been a friend and a brother to Savannah for years, the two are like night and day, each different and beautiful in their own ways, but one cannot simply thrive without the other.

Leon is a free spirit, loved and admired by many.

Through the years it had become more and more obvious to Savannah that people question why a charismatic, kind soul that was Leon would express his loyalty to a girl who people thought was about as exciting as brown cardboard.

Realising that she had been too quiet for about a minute too long, Savannah looks up from the seashell necklace around Leon's neck which she had only realised she had been staring at and looks into his chestnut brown eyes.

"That... was a very persuasive argument Mr. Thompson" said Savannah with a chuckle in an effort to break the tension.

"Having an attorney for a father has its perks." Leon smiles back at her.

Savannah exhales softly, "Lee, I honestly didn't know it means that much to you... that I mean..." she broke off, wishing she hadn't said anything.

"Savannah...," Leon began, "you've got to stop doing that to yourself, I wouldn't torture myself with your presence if I didn't enjoy it." He says playing with his curls again.

Savannah, feeling quite relieved and foolish can't help but feel better about Leon's reassurance.

"Really?" Savannah smirked, "I thought you were friends with me because you felt sorry for me." She said sarcastically while resting her chin on her palm.

"Okay, Okay, take me on this so-called 'adventure' of yours, the journey of a lifetime"

"Hey..." Leon grins, unable to hide the excitement on his face while trying to look offended.

"But, just promise me that it doesn't involve anything crazy like gang tattoos or... forehead piercings and stuff."

"Well I can't promise anything Sav, but I must say, I'm really flattered that you think I get up things nearly as exciting as forehead piercings on a Saturday night," they both laugh so hard a few birds on the ash tree take flight.

"Dinner!" Savannah hears her father shout.

"You hungry?" she asks Leon,

"Not, really, but I can never say no to your mother's cooking." He said as he gets to his feet and makes his way inside the house.

Savannah gets to her feet, dusts herself off, picks up her's and Leon's timetables and makes her way to the kitchen.

When she arrives in the kitchen she's greeted with an aroma that confirmed the Brown family, for the third night in a row are having a type of pasta for dinner.

Mac & cheese. The hypnotic aroma of sauces and spices linger in the air as the usual hype of dinner preparation unfolds in the kitchen-dining room.

Leon is in the kitchen helping Savannah's mother carry the dishes onto the timber dining table, Savannah's younger brother Benjamin is sitting in his usual seat, his side of the dining table covered with dents as he struck it with his drumsticks like he did every other night.

Benjamin, according to his adoring mother and father, is a musical prodigy.

Every year he seems to take a particular interest in a particular instrument.

Last year it was the electric guitar, the year before, it was the piano, but Benjamin has always been loyal to his drumming since he was 4.

Benjamin sits absentmindedly tapping his sticks against the timber dining table as he takes part in what seems to be a staring contest with his father Anthony.

Nobody seemed to mind the rhythmic tapping coming from Benjamin's drum sticks, he'd done it for so long that it seems to compliment the setting.

Savannah takes her seat beside Benjamin.

"Not a word," said Benjamin with his back turned to Savannah,

"Alright, alright but tell me, who's winning?" said Savannah looking from her father to little brother.

"Alright Benji, you win!" Anthony says with disappointment, Benjamin laughs and everyone joins in.

"You too Anita? Oh I'm getting too old for this." He says with a chuckle.

"You're still my knight in shining armour, honey." Says Savannah's mother as she kisses Anthony in the temple.

Just as everyone is getting settled, Mike, Savannah's older brother comes into the dining room.

Mike was a freshman at university, a star athlete in the university basketball team and an over-achiever who works in a prestigious clothing store where a t-shirt costs about the same amount as a small second-hand car.

Mike can do no wrong in his parent's eyes, Anthony has never tried to hide the fact that Mike is his favourite child, whether it was because he is the first-born or that Mike is an elite basketball player and his father was a sports administrator, Savannah could never tell.

He lives upstairs in his bedroom, but he's rarely home.

When he's not at work, out partying with his entourage full of good-looking guys and girls, or training; he's in his bedroom, sleeping.

"Oh hi darling, how was your day?" said Anita smiling up at her son.

Mike walks towards his mother and kisses her on the cheek.

"How's my champ?" Mike's father said smiling ear-to-ear with pride.

"Not bad, thanks dad." Said Mike smiling at his father while combing his afro-textured hair with his fingers, the scar on the back of his hand glistening in the light every time he moves it.

Mike greets Leon with a friendly smile and takes a seat beside him.

"Benj, I got you those sneakers, they're not up for sale 'til next month but my manager and I pulled some strings," said Mike grinning at Benjamin.

"You're joking!" said Benjamin with a mouthful of food as he gets up to high-five his big brother.

Mike hadn't acknowledged Savannah's presence, which was nothing out of the ordinary.

Ever since Mike graduated from high-school over a year ago, he and Savannah grew apart and neither of them made the effort to repair their relationship.

This bothers Savannah more than she cares to admit, but as time goes on, she has gotten used to being ignored by her big brother.

Feeling drowsy and full of mac & cheese, Savannah bade everyone goodnight, packed up her dishes and made her way to her bedroom.

She's packing her textbooks into her bag when Leon comes in.

"Just came to say goodbye my fair lady, tonight was splendid." He said in his best attempt of a British accent.

"I wish I had a smart reply to that, but I'm absolutely knackered." Said Savannah as she collapses onto her bed.

"It's only 7:49pm Sav," he says leaning against the bedroom door.

"I'll see you tomorrow in homeroom then?" says Leon as he puts on his denim jacket.

"You got it bro... and oh before you forget...." she rises from her bed and reaches in her back pocket of her ripped blue jeans, "your timetable." She says as she hands him the piece of paper.

"Where would I be without you?" he says, smiling adoringly at her.

"You'd still be you, just more disorganised." She says giggling at his reaction. "goodnight Lee, say hi to your parents for me." She says reaching in for a hug "will do, my mildew!"

"You're so charming." She said condescendingly as she waves him goodbye.

After a quick hot shower Savannah jumps into bed.

She can't help but feel slightly nervous for the first day back to school, she feels reassured knowing she has Leon, which always puts her mind at ease.

But not even that thought could make her anxiousness go away.

She thinks about the milestone of a year she has ahead and how this night is the last night of her summer holidays as a high-school student.

With that in mind Savannah closes her eyes and peacefully falls asleep.