It had been a few days since my talk with Mrs. Hunter. the school's counselor, and that meant that Indiana and Grace had talked with her. That also meant that she had told the both of them.

It was a day after Grace's scheduled appointment with Mrs. Hunter, which made me nervous. Indiana hadn't really changed after her appointment with the counselor, but a day after that, she approached me and apologized for the mean things she did in front of me.

I smiled at her and muttered 'it's okay.' What was about it weird was that Grace wasn't around. They're both usually around each other, stuck to each other like they had super extra glue on each other.

I was dreading to go to school, because I was afraid to see Grace's reaction. She could either not say anything, or she'd comfort me.

My mom told me that it'd be okay even if she won't be my friend again. She was happy that I did the right thing. I was supposed to be happy, but I was not sure what I felt.

I took a deep breath as I stepped onto the school bus. That day, I chose not to sit at the middle part of the bus, where Grace, Indiana and I usually sat in if no one was there. Instead, I decided to sit at the very back, but there was only one spot left, it was beside Alexander Howell.

He didn't often go by bus. He only went to school and home by bus about once a week. My heart started beating rapidly, and palms got clammy, but I had to choose between sitting beside a boy or sitting with the possibly soon to be ex-friend.

Both of the girls hadn't been in the bus; they'd be here in a few stops from where I lived. I quickly sat down beside him, but he didn't even bother to notice my presence.

His dark hair had grown and reached his eyebrows, creating a fringe. He was staring at the window as the bus moved, making the outside scenery blurry as we passed. I've never actually been this close with him, and I noticed that he had clear skin. I envied him.

I sighed as I looked at my hands and bag that were rested on my lap.

Soon, we stopped at Indiana and Grace's stop, and they got in, but didn't look at me. They sat at our usual seat. I swallowed the lump on my throat and started to think of many ways on how to avoid them, which would be difficult since Grace was my assigned seatmate in English.

Suddenly, I saw Alexander looking to my way and had a ghost smile plasted on his lips. I wasn't sure if that was actually a smile, and if that was for me, but I pressed my lips and plastered a small smile.