"Why are you so sad?" I ask my mom, innocently one night. The rain was coming down hard on the windows and the lightning was so bright. The thunder put my nerves on edge but I still want to see what was wrong with Mommy. I swallowed my fear and put on a brave and confused face.

Most people (including me) would think she would be happy dad left, since he always made her so sad. The blue fragments in her eyes never went away. Now looking into her eyes the sadness in blue is even worse. Why? Dad always left bruises and red marks on her. His words cut much deeper. Why isn't she happier? She's free...

"How do you know I'm sad?" She sits up quickly and cups my head in her hands. I see her eyes searching my face for answers that I'm not giving up. I look in her eyes and the blue fragments that mean sadness turn a ominous dark purple. I stop and try to think of what it means. It comes to me. It means scared. I think... I'm pretty sure. I have a horrible memory. "Brady sweety," she pushes hair out of my face. "How did you know I was sad," the dark purple in her eyes become more intense and her expression softens.

"Your eyes said so," she wasn't crying. She wasn't wallowing or anything when I asked why she was sad. She was reading in her bed like usual. Her favorite book that always seemed to bring an orange tint to her eyes, and cheer her up. However, the light blue in her irises was so prominent I had to ask what's wrong. The rain outside intensifies causing me to inch back from the bedside window.

"When you look into my eyes... you can tell my emotion?" I nod vigorously and she smiles and pushes my curly blonde hair out of my eyes. My hair never cooperates so it just fell back into my face.

"You're..." she sniffles and wipes her nose on her sleeve. "You're just like your father." She says breathlessly. She always says that. She always compares me to dad. I have the same blond hair and the same hazel eyes as him. Apparently my face is shaped like his too. The only thing I took from my mom was her personality. At least... that's what she says. My mom is very nice and is friends with anyone and everyone. She never holds a grudge and is overall a great person. I can only ever hope to be as great as she is.

"Now don't tell anyone about this, okay?" I tilt my head to the side in confusion. Doesn't everyone see those Glints in people's eyes? Ever since... I guess I could remember. When I look into people's eyes I can see colors. In the iris of every person I have ever seen I can see small broken fragments of any color. As time went on I noticed these tell people's emotions. For instance, if someone is feeling angry or frustrated the fragments would turn red. Or if the person is feeling a mix of lust and love their Glints will turn a mix of yellow and pink. "This will be... our special secret," she smiles to try to reassure me. A few stray brown hairs fall from her messy ponytail as she nods her head as if trying to convince herself it's all going to be okay. She looks like she's about to cry and the blue fragments come back.

"Okay... but don't cry," I hug my mom tightly. She slowly hugs me back and I could feel her quietly sob onto my shoulder.

8 years later

"HEY DIPSHIT!" My best friend Alex yells at me from behind. She sticks her tongue out at me and I can see the deflection of light off of her new tongue piercing as she runs up to me. Her dark brown hair in two long braids fly behind her. She wears a version of what she always does. A black hat with the letters "BMTH" on it with a black and red plaid flannel with a black spaghetti strap tank top that hugs her body. Of course you can't forget the black ripped skinny jeans and black shiny combat boots to top it all off. I stop and fully face her, waiting for her to catch up with a friendly smile.

"No hats in school Miss. Parker," the vice-princpal scolds her as she runs down the hall.

"Yeah yeah I'll take it off," the old as dirt man side-eyes her as he walks into his office. Of course, she doesn't actually take it off and turns to me, smiling mischievously. "Hey Brady! Carolyne, Jonny, Vince and I are going to see a movie tonight. You in?" Those are three other close friends of mine. Her eyes shine Indigo against her dark brown eyes. She sure is excited.

"Of course," I smile and start walking with her to my next class. She follows along and we walk in a comfortable silence for a few seconds. Only for a few seconds.

"Ooooo what's that?" She points to the notebook in my arms. I always have this notebook on me. Honestly, I'm surprised she hasn't asked me about it before.

"Nothing," I say too quickly. In fact this notebook, is the opposite of nothing. It's where I write down what all the Glints mean. As I've gotten older I've realized what certain colors mean. Such as red can mean anger, frustration or great loathing. I write it down so I don't forget. I study them so one day I don't have to carry this stupid notebook around. It's a wonder how I manage to keep my grades up with my horrible memory.

I notice Alex continuing to stare at it but I brushed it off. She wouldn't understand. Suddenly, she pulls me down to her 5' 3" height and whispers in my ear in panic. I almost fall from the sudden attack but she keeps me locked in her iron grip. "Hey look!" She, as naturally as she could without drawing attention, points to a locker that has been vacant all year. However, today... it's not vacant. There, stands a gorgeous boy in all black. He has naturally unruly black hair with a scowl. I wonder what he's so angry about. I bite my lip a bit, as I examine him further. He has a black leather jacket that looks practically brand new and a haircut that perfectly fits... well him.

"He's so hot," I admit and continue staring at him. He closes his locker with a nudge with his foot and heads out to whatever class he has. I turn to the wall with Alex and whisper frantically to her. "Do you think he caught us staring?"

"No probably not... I actually have no idea," she glances over her shoulder.

"Hey what are we whispering about?" Carolyne almost scares me as she comes up next to me. I'm surprised I didn't hear the usual clicking of her shoes.

"The new kid!" Alex juts her chin toward the new kid right behind us. "Holy fuck he's tall!" Alex comments making me look over my shoulder and see him walking by. He's got to be at least 6' something! I look him up and down and he side eyes me. I take a glance at his eyes. I notice something in them that I have never seen before. Immediately, I turn my attention back to my friends. Then when I do I notice I don't see Carolyne where she was before. Instead I see her perky self, walking right up behind the new kid in her high-heeled shoes.

"Hey!" She caught his attention and did one of her signature smiles (even from behind I could just tell). "Need any help getting around?" She points to the binders and papers in his hands. His mouth opens and closes looking down at his things.

"I guess. Can you help me?" He asks quietly and politely. For someone so big... he sure is acting cowardly.

"Is he okay?" I lean over and ask Alex. She nods her head.

"He's probably just nervous," I notice Carolyn trying to wrap her arm around his but he flinches away from her touch. She also tries to touch his schedule that's laminated and he quickly makes sure she doesn't touch that either.. Hmm... odd. Most people would volunteer quite quickly to be in the sights of Carolyn.