The weight of my backpack made my whole body ache and as soon as I entered my room after a full day of school, I dropped the load by the door. I sighed deeply and slid into my bed, having spasms due to the unrelenting warmth of the covers. It felt good to be in bed.

I had been quietly resting for only a few minutes when I heard the car in the driveway. I opened one eye then closed it assuming it was either my mom or my brother, Will.

"Dude, are you kidding me!" I heard my brother say.

"Nope, she showed up at my house the other day," I heard another voice say.

I found myself curiously listening on.

"That's one crazy bitch," Will said.

"Will..."

"Sorry, it's true."

I tuned the two voices out again before I sat up on my bed. I ran my hands through the tangled mass of jet black hair and began to rise from my bed. I had no interest in greeting Will or his friend, but when their noise became an annoying distraction, I decided to go tell my brother to shut up--nicely.

I descended the stairs with ease, turned the corner, and entered the kitchen. That's when I saw him. Standing at, about 5 foot 10, Drew Law was muscular, tan, and quite a sight. The glo-up process was real. He was taller than the last time I'd seen him--darker. The true difference lied not in his physical appearance but more so in his bold presence. Confidence, I noticed quickly, was so attractive on him.

I cleared my throat before I could think about him any more.

He turned around rapidly.

His eyes were wide and brown.

"Sorry, just getting a drink of water," he said. "Will told me I could..."

"Okay," I said as I awkwardly stepped around him. "I can get it for you."

I opened the second half of the fridge and handed him a water bottle.

"Thanks, um..."

"Lauren."

He smiled, "Drew."

I had heard that name a lot around the house whenever Will was talking about his day or something. Hearing it from him was odd considering our lack of contact with each other despite my brother's lengthy friendship with him.

I smiled back, "Well,um... bye."

"Bye," he said.

I started for the stairs and glanced back at Drew who was smiling.

"Thanks for the water."

I smiled and hurried up the steps. By the time I had arrived to my room, I had forgotten why I had even gone downstairs. I slid back into my bed with my body buzzing with joy and a stupid smile on my face. He had made my day.

Drew

I opened the door to Will's room and sat on the corner of the bed.

"Has the score changed?" I asked.

"Nope," Will said focused on the soccer match.

"Who are you betting on?" I asked.

"I'd give it to Germany," he said

I took a sip of the water remembering Lauren.

"I didn't know you had a sister," I said.

"Well, I do," he said, "she's a junior at our school"

"You never talk about her," I said.

"You never ask about her," he said turning to look at me. And that was that. He returned to watching the game. I shouldn't have said anything, but weirdly enough, she was on my mind.

I checked the time on my phone: 4:20 pm.

"I've gotta go," I said dismissing myself.

"Already?" Will asked.

"Yeah," I said "I need to study. I can't afford to fail." I lied.

"Alright," He said.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

I headed down the stairs and out of the house. I backed out of the drive way and started the long journey.

I had to leave early if I wanted to make it. Two hours, twenty minutes and forty-two seconds, every second in the car mattered. Every second in this world mattered.

I approached the grand, intimidating building. The automatic doors slid open for me and the cool, bleach-intoxicated air filled my lungs.

This place made me weak and uneasy, but I knew I had to be strong.

I took the elevator to the seventh floor and walked down the long hallway. I pushed opened the door and quietly walked in.

I saw my parents standing up talking to each other in the center of the room.

I turned my head to see my sister, Samantha, lying on the bed with her eyes trained on something in the distance.

Then, almost at once, they all turned to look at me.

"Drew," Samantha screamed excitedly.

"Hey, princess," I said to her smiling.

"Nice of you to finally show up," dad spat.

"I lost track of time."

"It's what you do best," he said harshly.

"John," mom said sternly.

I ignored my father and sat down next to Sam.

"How are you feeling?" I asked my ten year old sister.

"Fine," she said smiling up at me. "I'm glad you're here."

"I glad I can be here."

"I really miss you. Why can't you be here more often?" she asked me sincerely. She got her deep blue eyes from my mother and as they gazed into mine I struggled to find the right words.

"I don't know, Sammy," I said to her "but I'll try to come more often--to keep you company."

She smiled up at me, her beautiful brown hair now gone. The spark in her eyes still kept us going, kept us hopeful.

"Now, Samantha, you're a girl right?" I said changing the subject.

"Right," she said.

"What would you like a handsome guy, say me, to send you?" I asked all of a sudden.

"Maybe flowers or chocolates. Maybe flowers and chocolates and a huge stuffed animal," she said excitedly.

"I'm liking that idea," I said thinking of Lauren. That brief run in we had had made my mind trail off, wondering what to get her.

"Or you could buy her diamonds," Samantha said. "Girls love diamonds."

I laughed and she smiled.

"Who is this special girl, Drew?"

"Once I fit in a decent conversation, I'll have more to tell alright?"

"Okay."