It's been a summer full of rain here in Breeland. So much so it makes you wonder if it actually is in fact summer at all. Dark rain clouds paint the sky almost every day and the droplets that fall heavily from them make it hard to see when you're out, but I don't really mind. I love the rain. Whenever I have the time to stop and admire it from the window of my bedroom, I take it. There's a certain beauty to rain; the way it can fall from a cloud and hit the ground, giving life to something in need. Most people find rain to be unlucky. But I think just the opposite.

"Brad!"

Mother calls my name from downstairs. I quickly shut my window and walk over to my bed, gathering my books and shoving them neatly into my leather messenger bag on top of my bed. I throw it over my shoulder and exit my bedroom. In a rush, I make my way downstairs and into the kitchen. Knowing I won't have enough time to sit and eat breakfast, I walk over to the table and cut myself a slice of toast from the center of the table. I marinate it with jelly and take a bite from it before walking over to the refrigerator to grab a bottle of apple juice.

"I expect you to be home right after school to help at the bakery, no later than 3:00." Mother says, cutting the roses from her garden shorter to fit in her favorite glass vase. She always cuts them shorter, but never removes the thorns. She always leaves those on.

"Yes, Mother." I nod.

I make my way out of the kitchen after saying my goodbye to Mother and stop at the front door. I get my coat from the coat rack and slip it on before exiting. When I make it out I notice that the rain has stopped and the clouds have slowly started to disappear from the sky. I take this as a sign to leave my coat home, but I know better. It will start to rain again sooner or later, and the last thing I want is to walk home in the rain with nothing but a knitted sweater to protect myself with.

I start to take my normal route towards school and look around me as I see the same people from the previous years doing the same. All of them are in their own conversation and I cant help but feel alone. This is the first year of high school where none of my older brothers will be with me. Normally, Jack and I would be walking together right now. Like we did every first day and almost every day after that. Jack doing the talking, me doing the listening.

I'm not really one for talking, which is why Jack would do me the favor of doing it for the both of us. The oldest from my two brothers, Zac, never walked with us. He was a senior when I was a sophomore and Jack was a Junior, so he had his own friends to walk with. So did Jack, but he walked with me out of kindness and pity, although he would never admit to me that the second reason actually existed.

Reaching the end of the third block I spot that familiar brown coat followed by those golden locks. Smiling, I see her turn around and I watch as she looks around, her hands tucked into the pockets of her coat.

"Brad!" she smiles, finally seeing me. "Hey!"

It is no secret that I am not popular among my peers. To no one, not even my parents. It has just always been that way. The only person who I can say I have a solid friendship with is my best friend Bella, but the only time I get to really see her now is during breaks and before school. Lunch time, if we have the same lunch, and after school, if she has time. I understand she has other friends. Friends with Mothers that permit them to do things after school. And to be quite honest, friends who are better than I am.

Her smile is bright as she walks towards me, giving me a firm hug once she reaches me that I kindly return. I smile back down at her as we pull away from each other, happy to see her. It's the first time I have seen her in weeks.

"How's it been?" she asks. We begin walking the remaining blocks towards school and I answer her question, asking her the same after. She tells me about the two week vacation her family took to California to visit some family members and then the last week of vacation and how she spent it with friends. I could have done some of those things, I think to myself as she talks about them. But I quickly remember the bruise I got under my left eye after I wouldn't stop insisting to Mother if I could when Bella would ask.

"So what about you?" she turns the conversation.

"Uhhh..." I drift off. There isn't really anything to talk about.

"Oh c'mon Brad. You must've done something. I feel self centered just talking about myself."

I look down at the floor. I don't really like talking, and Bella knows this. But that doesn't stop her trying to get me to say more than four sentences.

"I.. I worked at the bakery..." I start, earning a look from Bella.

"Anything else?"

"I went to the movies with Jack." I say, some what proud of myself. It is one of the only things Bella doesn't know I did this summer.

We reach the corner of the block and I sigh once the school building is in my view. Bella follows suit, hooking her arm with mine.

"I know, I know. Hey, maybe this year won't be so bad. It's our senior year!" she says cheerily. I crack a smile and nod, even though I know this year wont be different from the others. But for Bella's sake, I'll pretend it will be.

We reach the front of the school and I look around, seeing all the familiar faces around me. We begin walking toward the building and I try to prepare myself, hoping for no problems. There never was when Jack was around me, but he isn't here.

"Bella!" someone calls out. We both turn around and I see her group of friends all gathered by the big oak tree. They gesture for her to join them and I feel my lips tug down.

"Why don't you come?" she turns to me. I nod no.

"Its fine, don't worry about me." I brush off. I pull some books out of my bag and show them to her. "I need to put these in my locker anyway."

"Are you sure?" she asks, uncertainty in her voice.

"Positive. Go, hang out with your friends." I smile. She gives me a sympathy smile and pinches my cheek. I feel my cheeks grow warm and look down.

She walks off and I let my smile fall, putting my lips in a line and looking down before turning around and continuing to walk toward the building.

Today won't be so bad, today won't be so bad. I continue to chant this in my head as I make my way towards my locker, squeezing my way through the hallway. Occasionally getting bumped into. I reach my locker and adjust my glasses, them having nearly fallen off when they last bumped into me. I quickly put in my combination and hurriedly place my books in my locker once I hear the bell ring. I shouldn't have spent so much time admiring the rain this morning.

I get my lunch from my bag and place it in my locker before grabbing my Calculus and English book and shut my locker, trying to polietly make my way through the crowd. I reach the end of the hallway and sigh once I see the classroom I am looking for right at the end. I make my way around people when suddenly, my books are knocked out of my hand. I feel a hand connect with the back of my head and see my glasses fall to the floor. Almost immediateltly, I get a horrible feeling in my stomach. Steven.

"Nice sweater Pitt, is it new?" his voice is filled with sarcasm and I hear laughter erupt around me. I go down to my knees and fetch my glasses that have landed not far from my reach.

"I asked you a question." he speaks up, his voice growing more serious.

"Ye- yes." I manage, grabbing my books and holding them to my chest as I try to make my way towards my first class.

"Woah woah woah, where do you think you're going?" his hand pushes me back and I gulp. His green eyes connect with mine and I feel my stomach sink down.

"What's going on here?" a man speaks up, causing Steven and his friends to jump. I look at the man and recognize him instantly. It's my new Calculus teacher.

"Nothing sir." Steven speaks up. He looks away from Mr. Smith and begins to walk away, his group of monkeys following him. I feel relief rush through my body and look up at Mr. Smith.

"You okay son?" he asks me. I give him a firm nod and walk to his classroom, wanting to avoid further questioning from him. I take a seat in the back of the classroom and keep my head down until the beginning of class, trying to avoid making direct eye contact with everyone.

The bell rings signifying that first period has come to an end and I make my way out through the back door of the classroom as quickly as possible. The last thing I want is Mr. Smith stopping me to ask questions about what he stopped earlier. I make my way to second period in a hurry, taking in my surroundings every 10 seconds to see if Steven is anywhere near. I end up being the first person in class and take a seat in back, as I always do. English is my favorite subject, aside from art, at this school. It's one of the only two classes that I have no trouble with at all.

One by one all of my classmates fill the room, taking a seat next to one another. No one sits next to me, but I don't mind. No one sits next to me unless there are assigned seats or there is a full class, and none of those things seem to be a possibly in this class. After Mr. Matthews takes attendance, he begins to give us instructions on how to do the assignment on the board when the door opens. A girl with long golden brown hair and forest green eyes makes her way in, glancing at the class once before turning away and walking towards Mr. Matthews. She couldn't hide her irritation if she tried.

"Hello, are you in this class?" Mr. Matthews asks.

"Yeah." she answers. "Lizzy. Lizzy Grant."

Mr. Matthews picks up his clip board from on top of his desk and runs a finger down the list of names, looking for her's I assume.

"Elizabeth?" he questions. She nods and I begin to hear a few mummers from my fellow classmates. I look around the room briefly before turning my attention back to the front of the classroom.

"Well you, are tardy Elizabeth."

"Lizzy." she corrects.

"Lizzy, of course.Well the only empty seat is in the back of the classroom. Why dont you take a seat back there."

She turns away without a response and begins making her way towards the back of the classroom, the eyes of my peers following her. It's then I remember that the only empty seat left in this classroom is beside me.

I shove my glasses further up my nose and feel my palms beginning to sweat. I try to adjust myself on my seat, scooting in closer and straightening up. She reaches the table and I pull her chair out for her, hitting my leg in the process. I feel my face heat up instantly and I gesture for her to sit down, looking away afterward.

"Thank you," she says, surprised. I nod and look away to the front of the classroom, trying to pay attention to Mr. Matthews again. I see her take a seat from the corner of my eye and pull my notebook closer to me, starting on the assignment Mr. Matthews has just finished explaining.

"Do you have a pencil I can borrow?" I hear her ask.

"W- what?" I turn to her.

"A pencil." she says slowly. "Do you have one I can borrow?"

"Oh." I say."Ye- yeah."

I turn my body and reach into my backpack, fumbling with it. I finally find a pencil after what seems like an eternity and hand it over to her, making eye contact with her briefly before looking away.

"Thanks."

"Mhm." I nod. I continue on my assignment and keep to myself as I do. I'm not use to sitting next to a girl, especially next to one as pretty as she is.

"So what's your name?" I hear her speak up after a while of silence. I look up at her and see her staring at me. I look around to see if anyone is there, but no one is.

"M-m- me?" I ask, pointing to myself.

"No, the elephant sitting next to you." she says. "Of course you." she smiles.

I don't know what to say. I've never spoken to a girl that I'm not related to or isn't Bella. Even then, they do most of the talking.

"Well?" she raises her eyebrows.

"Brad." I finally spit out. She pulls her lips up and nods.

"My names Elizabeth." she states. "But everyone calls me Lizzy."

I pull my lips into a tight smile and go back to doing my work. But Lizzy seems to be having other plans.

"So what grade are you in?" I feel my body warm up and glance at her for a quick moment.

"12th."

"Me too!" she says excitedly, scribbling something down on her paper.

I don't know what to say so I don't say anything at all. I continue with my work and avoid the eye contact Lizzy is currently trying to get from me. I hear her laugh. I look up at her momentarily, what's so funny?

"You're not much of a talking person, are you?" she asks, smiling at me. I nod no, feeling the blush creep up from my neck to my cheeks. I look away then and down at my paper.

"I plan on changing that."

I look up and see her smiling, making even more butterflies appear in my stomach. Not knowing what to say in response, I look back down at my paper. Shrinking into a hunched blushing mess. I hear her giggle and see her turn her body from the corner of my eye, finally getting started on the assignment.