Keiko walked away from the door. She'd been able to meet Simon's older, Adam. He'd gotten a little angry at the sight of them, but then he let them go. He was a pretty nice guy in Keiko's eyes.

She got home, and she saw Cole and her dad sitting in the living room. She ignored them both, she didn't want to be involved with them.

"Hey! Keiko!" Cole yelled.

She walked away.

"Josh came by earlier." He said.

She spun around.  "Josh?"

He nodded as he passed her a wrapped up box. 

"He found out through Simon, gave you this."

She took the box and ran to her room. BANG she slammed the door. She opened the box carefully. Whatever was in there had to be important. Josh didn't even know she existed, but she knew he did.

Keiko opened the box. She knew that Josh was one of the most known boys in school if only she could get noticed, maybe she'd get more friends. Maybe popular? It was something she knew wouldn't happen, but it was nice to hope.

She unwrapped the box and looked inside. She looked at the door and dropped the box, a card and a picture spilled out. The picture was of her and Cole. 

"How dare you!" Keiko opened the door and it slammed. 

"I dared Keiko, you wouldn't listen," Cole replied.

"You know I always had hopes for Josh." She said.

"You liked him!" Cole teased. He made a face. One that would've been funny if they hadn't been in a fight.

"I do not! I just wished I would be noticed at school, but I never am okay? You know now, why don't I tell you?" She sighed and walked to her bed.

"Sure, try and scare me." He said as he walked towards her.

"I am the least popular girl in school, I have great grades, but I'm still not noticed. You are all caught up with those grade 7s and I'm stuck here in the 6th grade. It's almost summer, school's almost out! I haven't been noticed since forever." She sighed and flopped on her bed.

"I notice you." He said quietly.

"Barely." She looked up. "Don't trick me again."

They sat staring. No voice, no words. They didn't make a single sound. Just starting, and that was it. Nothing.

Cole was shocked to hear that. He would never abandon her, but as he thought about it, he realized he had. The times when he would go home later, leave her to walk alone.

----------flashback (1 year ago) --------------

"Hey, Sam!" Cole said.

Sam put up his hand and Cole slapped it. They smiled as they sat outside on a bench. They pulled out their iPads and started a game. 

"I bet I'll beat ya!" Sam said.

"Nah!" Cole said as he opened it up.

"Hey!" A voice said behind them. "You left me at school Cole!" 

He turned to see his sister Keiko by his side. She waited impatiently for him. Her arms crossed. He looked at Sam, he was trying not to laugh. Cole thought, he didn't want his friend to think he was a softie.

"Go home yourself Keiko." He said.

She looked surprised, not knowing what just happened. She turned and wiped the hair away from her face. She walked away and a tear fell from her eye, Keiko wiped it away.

------------ Back to Reality ----------

Cole thought over and over again about what she had said. She had been shouting for help, but he had ignored a cry for help. How did that make him look?

Keiko lay in her bed. She stared at the roof, and sighed slowly, her eyes shut slightly. Cole stared at her little sister. He smiled and got up. She was sleeping. He stood up to put a blanket over her, he grabbed the sheets and put it over her, he felt her breathing slightly. He stood up and walked slowly out of the room, he heard her breathing. 

Cole was just about to shut the door when he noticed something strange. Keiko's breathing was slow, too slow, her breath rattled. She seemed to be clawing for air.