"So I told Kitty that sure, I'd love to help her with the freshman mixer event.  I love highschool Rach, I've got so many friends already!!"

All I can do is force a small smile as I pick idly at my dinner.  Daddy fawns all over Marley as she continues to gush about how well school has been going for her so far.  Meanwhile I'm dreading almost every day there.

The only friend I have is Nicky. And my little sister is suddenly super popular.

I haven't even TRIED to talk to Finn since Quinn dumped him before she left for Yale.

So far, senior year blows.

Hard.

A few days later and I'm laboring around the track during gym class.  Nicky graciously keeping up with my slow pace. Running is not my idea of fun.

Dance yes.

Running no.

"Get a move on Berry!!!   I know you can go faster than that Duval!!   I've passed kidney stones faster than you two are moving!!"

Coach Sylvester yells across the field at Nick and I as we jog around the track.

I groan with dissatisfaction as I try to speed up a little, Nick still diligently at my side. 

"Why do we even have to take gym, Nicky??"

He chuckles and playfully jogs around me in a circle, "So you can keep up your pretty little physique and I can scope out all the attractive men on the soccer field.  Speaking of attractive.........   here comes trouble with a capital T, Rachie-poo. Or should I say SS."

Then I hear it, from behind us.

The voice.

"Hey Broadway!!"

Groaning, I slow down and turn around to face him. Hissing to Nick in the process.

"Nicky, he's like Bettlejuice, if you speak about him too much he pops up everywhere."

Nick chuckles as we both slow to a stop, Coach Sue is no longer watching us anyway.

Sebastian jogs effortlessly up to us, already speaking like we've caught him in the middle of the story.

"As much as I liked that kiss too, cause like I initiated it and stuff, we were 11 and that was ages ago. How you can remember that my eyes had little flecks of gold in them is disturbing actually."

I cock my head to the side as he comes closer to  Nicky and I.

"Smythe, I have NO CLUE what you are talking about but you sound deranged right now."

Sebastian chuckles and starts again.

"Berry, really?  You said right here, 'Sebastian doesn't realize how beautiful he really is.  His eyes.  Especially his eyes, green with gold flecks in them when he's up to something. I swear....'"

My breathing shallows as I begin to recognize my own words.  He's got a sheet of paper in his hands and immediately I know what it is.

My letter....

My letter to him.

But....

It's safely tucked away in Momma's hat box in my closet.

How??

How does he have it?!

The world goes hazy and then.....

Black.

'Dude, what the hell did you do to her?!'

'I didn't do anything!!  I swear.  I was just talking and then, boom!!'

The voices drift around me as I slowly blink my eyes and open them to find Sebastian looking down at me.  It feels like one of his hands is underneath my head, his other hand on the track by my waist. 

Smiling down at me sweeter than I'd ever seen him do before.

"Hey Rach...   welcome back."

'Bastian??

He chuckles, helping me sit up some.

"You hit the ground pretty hard there Berry.  Duval screamed like a girl and ran off to get the nurse for you.  You okay??"

I nod my head slowly as I sit beside his crouching form on the running track.  My gaze moves around to see if anyone else noticed my freak out. And then I spot the one person I don't really want to see at the moment.

Finn.

Coming towards me, an unmistakable envelope in his hand.

My letter to him.

His hopeful gaze meets mine and he murmurs out a barely distinguishable Rachel!! my way.

And before I can ever think I grab Sebastian by the shirt and pull him towards me, flipping our positions so he is laying on the track and I'm hovering over him as I kiss him.

Hard.

I'm met with wide green eyes once I break away.  Then I am instantly on my feet, sprinting away from a shocked Sebastian and past a crestfallen Finn.

Running blindly back towards the school building.