I coasted into the cramped school parking lot and tried my best to focus on the school day ahead of me.

"I can do this." I mumbled to myself as a parked my bike in its usual spot by the willow tree. I slung my backpack over my shoulder and filed into the steady steam of high school students.

"Welcome back Midleson High," The Principle Borrows voice rang through the halls. "I would like to remind you upperclassmen to welcome the Freshman with open arms and give them the same respect you wish to receive," I scanned the classroom doors for number 178, Art 4 with Mrs. Chelson. " Attendance will be postponed until 8:45 due to the start of the new school year. This year we will be introducing new clubs and I highly advise you join one. Not only do they look great on your college application, they are also lots of fun for you young folk." I finally found room 178 and slipped through the door. Principle Borrows droned on but I wasn't really listening anymore. Macklyn and Alabaster were both in this class so it looked like I had a choice to make.

I really didn't know much about them anymore. In grade school we were all in the same friend circle as my brother and we haven't really spoken since he left school in 5th grade. A person can change a lot in seven years so I wasn't really sure what to expect. A sad wave of nostalgia washed over me as I recalled my childhood. James would always have someone from our group with him. I guess you could say he was popular with is abundance of friends, I was more of his sidekick back then. In our grade school days I remember spending most of my time with Macklyn. I can't remember for the life of me why we stopped talking so I decided to walk over and maybe try to spark our long dismissed friendship. I put on the best smile I could muster and I approached her desk.

She was sifting through her bag in search of something, probably a pencil or pen. Her caramel skin was as flawless as it was growing up. Her Dark coils of hair had grown long past her shoulders giving her a more adult look.

"Hi Macklyn." I greeted taking the desk beside her. She looked up from her bag and her eyed widened in what I'm assuming was surprise.

"Hey Evony!" Her tone was extra perky like a child talking about the newest toy.

"Do you mind if I sit here?" I asked motioning to my desk.

"No not at all." She said returning her attention to what she was looking for in her tote like bag.

Mrs. Chelson told us to start out assignment that was written on the old chalkboard in the front of the room. We were to create a sketch representing what we did during the summer. I decided to sketch my mother's flower garden, something James and I had spent several days perfecting. I took out my sketchbook and pencils. Swallowing the lump that had began to form in my throat, I started on my sketch.

As I was creating the cluster of roses that marked the corners of the garden, Macklyn made a comment beside me.

"Hmm?" I signaled for her to repeat what she had said.

"I said that Cynthia either needs to loose some weight or get a bigger shirt." My eyes widened at her mean remark. Her entire demeanor was different now. She went from being happy and friendly to being like those snarky girls that picked on me in middle school. I subtly scooted my chair a few inches away from her desk and continued with my sketch. She continued to make snide remarks about our other classmates and I tried my best to ignore her but it got harder as she hit closer to home. Then came the remark that broke me.

"God, you are sure lucky that you don't look like your brother now. His pale skin makes him look like an alien. Where is he anyway?"

I was shaking with a mixture of pure anger and heartbrokenness. Tears welled in my eyes. I couldn't comprehend what would make her say such mean things. I stood up and slamed my sketchbook shut, drawing the attention of a handful of my classmates. I stuffed it into my bag and walked quickly out of the classroom mumbling an excuse to leave as I walked by Mrs. Chelsons desk. After I was a few feet away from the door I let out a choked sob. How could she? She knew he was sick. She knew the circumstances, but yet she chose to pick and tease. She wouldn't talk like that if she knew he was dead but know she had lost the respect for me to even tell her. I tucked myself into a corner of the locker bay and let my tears flow freely. Suddenly I heard footsteps coming down the hallway and i instantly tried to make myself smaller. I can't imagine the kind of comments someone could make about a senior crying in the hallway. I hid my face in my knees and tried to make my cries softer. The footsteps stopped and I felt a gentle hand touch my shoulder. I looked up and was met by black rectangular glasses and dark green eyes accompanied by messy black hair and pale skin. Alabaster Riviara was crouched in front of me.

"J-James he-" He cut me off by wrapping his arms around me and pulling me into a tight embrace.

"I know Evie, I know" His voice was filled with grief and I cried harder into his chest as I registered the use of my childhood nickname. I felt a damp spot start to form on my t-shirt; Alabaster was crying with me and it broke my heart.

As my sobs lessened to sniffles I pulled away from Alabasters embrace. His eyes were red making his green iris' stand out. The bell signaling the next class rang and teenagers poured out of classrooms, eager for the chance to move around. Alabaster stood up and offered me a hand.

"Let's get out of here." He said pulling me to my feet.

"What? We can't just leave! It's the first day of our senior year!" I exclaimed.

"Evony, It's obvious you're not ready to tackle school yet." He reasoned.

"I don't have a choice. It was one time Alabaster, and besides it was just because of Macklyn. Now if you excuse me I-" Alabaster cut me off.

"Evony," I looked up at him. "Please come with me." I sighed and pulled my backpack onto my shoulder.

"If my mother murders me it's your fault."

"Thats one more thing to add to my list." He chuckled and pulled me by my hand down the hall and out the back entrance. He finally stopped pulling me when we reached a navy blue pick up truck. He walked over and opened up the passenger door and motioned for me to get in.

"Where exactly are we going?" I asked, wondering whether or not It was a good idea to get in the truck or not. I mean I hadn't talked to Alabaster in years and now all of a sudden he was trying to comfort me.

"I'm going to take you somewhere fun... well at least I think it's fun." He said shyly looking at his feet almost like I had made him nervous. I pushed away the thought and climbed into the truck shutting the door on my way in. He shot me a winning smile through the window and walked around to get in on his side.

I took the moment to get a good look at the inside of his truck. It was old no doubt, having a cassette player instead of a CD player. The windows rolled down with a crank instead of an electric button and it looked a bit dusty inside. The inside of the truck smelled strongly of cinnamon and pine trees... it kind of reminded me of christmas.

Alabaster entered the truck in one fluid motion, Swinging the door open pulling himself into his seat and shutting the door. He pulled his keys from his pocket and started the engine. He pulled on his seatbelt and glanced over at me.

"Could you please put on your seatbelt..." He mumbled

"Oh!" I quickly pulled on my seatbelt and clipped it into place. "Uh... sorry" I mumbled sheepishly. He pulled out of the parking lot and started to drive to god knows where. I pulled out my phone and sent my mom a quick text telling her that I was going somewhere with Alabaster and that I would be sure to make up any of the work I missed. God, she was so going to kill me. Maybe if im lucky she still wont have her head on straight and I will get away with it just this once. Its not like I do this kind of stuff often.

Alabaster was silent and focused on the road so that gave me the perfect opportunity to get a good look at him. His charcoal hair was styled so his bangs stood up to give it a messy appearance. He still had the same black boxy glasses but they fit his face a little better. His jaw was clenched and tears were still welled in his eyes. Clearly he needed comfort as much as I did. I always knew he and James had been close but it never occured to me that maybe I wasnt the only one that had gotten a list of things to accomplish. I swallowed hard at the thought of the letter in the light green envelope. I leaned my head againg the edge of the window and tried to breath regularly.

After what seemed like ages we pulled into a parking lot and Alabaster jumped out of the truck and I followed suit. We were infront of a building that resembled a cabin with some obvious differences. For example, the automatic sliding glass doors. I followed Alabaster inside and looked around in amazement. I stoped in the midde of the room and Alabaster walked over to talk to some lady behind a counter of sorts. The inside of the building looked like the coziest room on the planet. The walls were lined with bookshelves and there was fluffy carpet covering the floor. Bean bag chairs and sofas littered the room and the lighting was soft. Alabaster walked back over to me and handed me a mug.

"What is it?" I asked. The liquid inside the cup was a watery crimson color and steam was coming of the top.

"Its cinnimon tea. I hope you like it. Its my favorite." His voice was soft and I didnt miss the blush creeping up his neck. So it looks like I do make him nervous. Maybe thats why he always shyed away from me when he was with James.

I let out a small giggle and sipped the warm tea. It made my sore throat feel better and made my chest feel warm. It was nice. Alabaster grinned and walked over to one of the tall book cases.

"Do you still like books?" He asked, pulling a book off the shelves.

"Is that even a question?" I quipped walking over to glance at the cover of the book he was holding. Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban.

"I havent read those books in ages." I mumbled.

"Do you like them?"

"Try love them. They were my childhood."

"What house." He asked with a small smirk. I sipped my tea.

"Hufflepuff. You?"

"Ravenclaw." He answered nonchalantly.

"I can see it." I chuckled as I scanned the shelves for another copy of the book and plucked it from the shelves. I sat my tea on the floor and fell back into a bean bag chair. Alabaster flipped open his copy and smirked.

"Race you to chapter 5?"

"Oh youre on!" and with that I started reading. The familiarity of the characters and the silence of the cozy room calmed me. Alabaster was right, I needed this.