I look at her as she runs towards me. I start climbing towards my bedroom window, with Kennedy following me. I open the window and climb in, Kennedy climbed in soon after me.

"What's going on at home?" Kennedy asks.

"Its nothing." I lie.

"It's not nothing, Alli!" Kennedy yells.

"I'll tell you tomorrow." I reply calmly.

Kennedy nods. She looks into my eyes. She takes a deep breath.

"You can tell me anything. I will support you no matter what." Kennedy mumbles under her breath.

We exchange a long hug.

"Ready for the all-nighter?" Kennedy asks.

I nod my head. We run out of my house and run to Ellie's house.

"What do we do?" I ask.

Kennedy pauses for a minute and scratches her head.

"We climb into the window and scare her." Kennedy replies.

"Okay." I mumble with insecurity.

I walk into the first step of the ladder.

Creak!

"Softer!" Kennedy yells.

"I just feel like kicking your butt right now." I mumble.

"Hey!" She yells, "I don't deserve it!"

I shrug and resume climbing up the ladder.

Creak!

Creak!

I hear more creaks as I tip toe up the old ladder.

"Alli!" Kennedy whisper/yells.

"What?" I ask in reply.

"Be quieter." Kennedy whispers.

I nod. When I reach the top of the ladder, I climb into Ellie's bedroom window. I take out my cartons of silly string and spray the goop all over her. Her eyes flutter open as an annoyed expression dominates her face.

"Gabriel!" She yells.

"Ellie, it's Alli." I mumble.

"Did Kennedy do this?" Ellie asks.

I shake my head. Ellie nods. She slips on her shoes. I ran to the windowsill and prepare to jump.

"Jump in one, two, three...." I mumble.

"Is it safe?" Ellie asks me.

I shrug and jump off. I hear a thump as I fall onto the cold, hard, ground. I hear another thump. I look up with an ominous expression on my face.

"Oh my God, Alli." Ellie mumbles from above.

I look up.

"You scared me!" I yell towards her.

"Are you okay?" Kennedy asks as she runs towards me.

I nod.

"What next?" I ask.

"You are badass." Kennedy mumbles.

Ellie nods.

"Whatever." I mumble.

"Where to?" Ellie asks.

"The grocery store to buy chocolate." Kennedy says.

Ellie and I nod monotonously in unison. We rush to the grocery store.

"Which chocolate do you want?" I ask Kennedy.

"We need melted chocolate. And Nair. And spray paint." Kennedy says.

"Nair?" Ellie asks, "Like the hair removal cream?"

Kennedy nods. We run around the grocery store buying cartons of Nair, melted chocolate, and spray paint.

"What do we use Nair for?" I ask.

"My boyfriend cheated on me with Cassidy Stewart." Kennedy mumbles.

"Cassidy's Cassidy." I said, "Maybe she forced him into it."

"No." Kennedy replied, wiping a tear from her face.

"It was just a kiss." Ellie says.

"We have to make him pay." Kennedy mumbles.

We all nod in agreement. We pay for the Nair, melted chocolate, and spray paint.

"Why are you buying useless items?" The cashier asks.

"Our parents need these things." I mumble.

Kennedy pays for the items and we run out of the store.

"Where to?" I ask.

"Gabriel's house." Kennedy replies, "My former boyfriend."

"Boyfriend?!" Ellie asks, "When?"

"Last year." Kennedy says.

"So back to my house?" Ellie asks.

"Yep." Kennedy replies.

"You go. Me and Alli don't want to go." Ellie says.

"I'll grab Susan, then." Kennedy replies.

We walk out separate ways.

"Let's go to Cassidy's house." Ellie says.

"I'm in!" Kennedy yells.

"Come on, then!" I yell.

We run down the street as the moonlight shines above our heads. We sprint faster, and faster, and faster until we reach Cassidy's house.

"We're here!" Ellie yells.

"This is a house?!" Kennedy yells, "It looks like a palace!"

"Yep." Ellie says.

"I hear something." I say.

"What now?" Ellie asks.

"Who is she making out with?" I ask.

"Probably Gabriel." Kennedy replies.

I take Kennedy's phone and dial Mrs. Stewart's number.

"Hello?" Mrs. Stewart asks.

"Mrs. Stewart, I am here to inform you that your daughter is having sex in your basement." I say with an Italian accent.

I see Gabriel, Ellie's older brother, running out of the Stewart household naked. I take a picture of him on my phone. Gabriel runs away, panicked.

"Oh my God, what's the picture?" Kennedy asks.

I show her. Kennedy and Ellie cry while laughing at the same time. Eventually, so was I.

"That's hilarious, Alli!" Kennedy yells.

"I agree." Kennedy says.

"Time to prank Suzannah Kartaham." I say.

"Who's that?" Ellie asks.

"Jonathan Kartaham's older sister." I say.

Kennedy nods.

"Why is she so bad?" Ellie asks.

"She used to be the queen bee before Cassidy Stewart. Now they're best friends." I say.

"Sound juicy!" Kennedy yells.

We run to Jonathan's house like ninjas in present day time. I climb up the rooftop. I watch Ellie and Kennedy do the same. Ellie and Kennedy keep tripping on the way up.

"Come on, ninjas." I mumble.

They keep climbing up. I open the window. I climb in. I tip toe into Suzannah's room. I put Nair on her eyebrow. She jumps.

"Help!" She yells.

I put the covers on top of Suzannah's head.

"Oh my God! Allison, you little twit!" Cassidy yells.

"Run!" Kennedy whispers.

I run towards the window of Suzannah's bedroom. I jump out the window. I land on the corner of the rooftop. I suddenly feel like life is perfect. I know it's not. I get abused for goodness sake! My life's not perfect, it just feels like it for a couple minutes.

"Go, Alli!" Kennedy and Ellie yell at the same time, raising their arms in the air.

"Be quiet. Run!" I whisper with a carefully soothing tone of voice.

We jump off the roof and run.

"Oh God." I mumble, "It's three a.m. Time to go to our houses."

Kennedy and Ellie nod. Kennedy and I sprint back to my house as fast as possible, the wind constantly blowing into our faces, our hair constantly in our mouths. As our legs keeps stepping on the ground, we are closer and closer to falling down, and tripping over something useless and meaningless, like a piece of hair, or a chewed up pencil. When we finally reach my house, I climb into the window.

"Allison!" Father yells, "Breakfast!"

I sprint downstairs and salute to Father.

"Where were you, Allison?" He asks me.

"In a closet, sleeping." I lie.

"I know you're lying to me." Father mumbles.

I gulp my last bit of air possible. I just want my first kiss before I die.... Then the belt comes, gripping into my bloody skin. Oh God. It's going to be worse. Father whips me once, twice, three times.... I don't think I can count. I know that everyone has parents like this... Do they? I honestly don't know. I don't think so. All of my friends parents are nice to me.... Probably because I'm a guest. Are they nice to their own kids? Who knows.

"You are done." Father mumbles under his breath, "I wanted you to be better, stronger, tougher..."

I nod. I know Father wants to help me... Or does he? I feel like he's torturing me in order to get all of his anxiety out. I run back to the bathroom, turning on the shower for the hottest setting possible. I bandage my injury just before Kennedy steps into the room.

"Alli?" She asks.

I nod my head while putting on my shirt.

"What's going on at home?" She asks.

"I'm just a really clumsy klutz. Today I was making breakfast, and I tripped over a hot pan. I got badly burned, but I'm okay." I lie.

"And your father doesn't care?" She asks.

"He cares, it's just that there are guests over here right now." I lie.

"Alli, my parents would send everyone home, or tend to my needs in my room. That's what a normal parent would do. Alli, I know you're dad's not normal. I know something's up. Are you ready to tell me?" She asks pleadingly.

I shake my head.

"Not yet, Kennedy. It's nothing. It's like you would give me one million dollars if I told you." I reply, shaking my head.

"I talked to Joe." Kennedy said, "He doesn't know. Susan doesn't know either. Or Ellie. I really want to know if you're okay."

Tears drip out of my eyes.

"This will make me cry... They know just as much as you know. You probably even know more about me then they do. Nobody knows who I am. You and Joe are pretty close. You're even closer. It's just..... I'm not ready yet... Nothing's going on, Kennedy. You have to trust me. I know you're caring is just a cover." I say.

Kennedy puts her arms around me.

"It's okay, Allison. I care about you a lot. Ever since your mother died, I know things have been going downhill. Your father.... I don't know if he's a good influence for you... Or a good parent at all. I just need proof. You could stay with us. You could be happy." Kennedy mumbles.

"Thank you, Kennedy." I mumble softly.

I have to hide, I have to hide. Conceal... Conceal...

"Have a filter, Allison!" My brain yells at me.

I have to trust my instincts. No, I will not tell her. I have to hide it. My life will get so much better if I hide it. I just know it. I put on my shoes and jump on my bed.

"We should go to my house..." Kennedy mumbles, "To swim."

I clap my hands. I jump out the window and meet Kennedy at the front door. Kennedy looks at me like I've just taken the biggest risk of my life. She's so much more cautious then me... After the beatings.... My filter increased immensely and my self consciousness went away completely. I used to have hallucinations of Mom all the time... We don't anymore... Kennedy snaps in my face.

"Allison!" She yells.

I laugh.

"Yes?" I reply.

"What just happened?" Kennedy asks.

I shrug. We run to Kennedy's house, our hair drifting away from our faces from the constant wind. I know I made the mistake of keeping my hair down, but I truthfully don't care.i just like the feeling. The hair might get stuck in my cuts, but it's not my problem.

Boom!

I collapse onto the ground.

"Alli! You ran into the house!" Kennedy yells, "Are you okay?"

I laugh.

"I'm fine." I say.

"Good." Kennedy replied.

She handed me one of her extra bathing suits.

"Wait. Alli could you get me some Starbucks?" Kennedy asks.

I nod in reply. I grab Kennedy's bike and bike out of her yard. I start riding my bike to Starbucks, with my clothes over my bathing suit. I make sure to be careful when I'm riding my bike and I also make sure not to pass by my house. I finally bike by Starbucks.

"Hey, Alli!" Joe yells from across the street as he bikes towards me.

"Hey, Joe. What's up?" I ask.

"Want some Starbucks?" He asks.

I nod. We walk into Starbucks.

"How may I help you?" The lady asks.

"Two vanilla bean frappechinos." I say.

"What's your name?" The lady asks.

"Alli." I reply.

"Two for Alli, coming up!" The lady yells.

"How may I help you, sir?" The lady asks Joe.

"One caramel frappechino for Joe." Joe replies with a smile.

"One for Joe, coming up!" The lady yells.

We run to the counter to wait for our coffee.

"Alli, what's going on at home?" He whispers in my ear.

"It's nothing, Joe. Trust me." I reply.

He cups my face with his hands. His lips suddenly press against mine. Our body heat collides at the perfect pace as the fire suddenly builds up inside of me. It's like the perfect collision between two bodies ever made. I can't believe it's finally here. My first kiss. Joe probably kissed a million other girls before me, but I chose to wait... For the perfect one.

"Two for Alli!" I hear the Starbucks lady say.

I pull away from Joe's embrace.

"I love you." Joe mumbles to me.

"I love you too." I reply.