It's been a few weeks since the fight between Aiden and Alan broke out, but things had been getting way more crazy than usual.   August had asked out a girl (who I don't mind saying looks like heaven on earth)  named Stephanie, even thogh everyone callse her Steph.  After the fight between Aidan and Alan nobody really talks much when either of them pass by.  Apparently Alan got some major hits in too which left Aidan with a black eye.  Nobody ever thought Aiden could look ugly, but with his face a very dark shade of purple I have to admit i'm sure that affect was left on a lot of people.   But the worst part of my week was when I had to really meet Stephanie, and find out how a wonderful a person SHE really was.  It all started in science class when we got partnered up for a lab report together.  Neither of us had really gotten to know the other before then so it started out PRETTY awkward.  Plus it didn't help that she was dating MY August, and she really did seem too perfect even for someone as fabulous as me( all thought sarcastically).  Luckily for me it wasn't so awkward after all.  "Hi, my names Steph, you're James right?  August has some pictures of you two together in his room!"  Shoot, it did start out pretty awkward after all.  "Oh, I didn't realize he still had all thost lame pictures up."  "OH, no he loves those pictures they're the very fisrt things he showed me in his room!" (Ya I wonder what else he showed you in his room)  "Oh well, we were friends since 1st grade so I could see how our pictures together could be semi important."  She just smiled at me, and to speak honestly it almost knocked my breath away.  "ALRIGHT CLASS, this project is due on friday, so please exchange numbers so we can get you all out of here!" yelled our teacher.  And that's just how class ended, we exchanged numbers, and agreed to meet at her house after school so we could get a lot more work done ( and trust me, we really needed too) .

                At lunch Astra came running up to me, and asked me how I was doing.  After I told her about Steph being my science partner she looked awful mad about something so I decided to drop it and leave it at that (Unlike her I wanted our lunch to be peaceful).  Besides her everyone else seemed to be in a good mood.....except for Alan that is.  To be honest I think he was blushing, and then he realized I was looking at him, and got a much deeper shade of red.  "Hey Alan what's going on with your face?" Astra asked.  "Oh um well I might just have a.........a....b..b...bo.boyf...riend..."  "WHAT??" we all yelled in astonishment? No one had ever dared date someone of the same gender in this boring old school.  "WHO??"  "Oh ya know just this guy, who just happens to go to this school, and is best friends with August, and Aiden"  "WHAT"  we all yelled again.  We instantly all looked at THEIR table to see who on earth he would be talking about.  There was only one possible person, but it couldn't be that guy had had so many girlfriends he just couldn't like a dude (Even if he was as good looking as Alan).  "You-you don't mea-mean Laiton do you?" I asked in a very butchered sentence. "Actually yea, that's exactly who I mean".  "Okay well tell us the story behind it" I almost yelled ( I need my tea queen.).  "Well one day after school I was in the library, and Laiton came over to apologize for Aiden's actions.  We eventually got an actual conversation, and I was so grateful he cared enough to apologize that I-I don't know I guess I just kissed him.  He looked as surprised as anyone ever could be.  I wasn't ashamed either, I was just showing my gratefullness and all, but I think he thought I liked him or something because he followed me around until I decided FINE I would talk to him.  And then POOF! here we are dating just like he would be dating an actual girl except well, it's pretty private ya know."  "WOAH" we all said, that was one heck of a story. 

              After awhile it became natural for Laiton to hang out with us in Astra's garage after school just because Alan isn't allowed to have guys over since he apparently told his mom he's gay, and you know somehting cool....they actually accept that like it's normal.   It only took a little getting used to cause those two were just well.  I don't think they understand what no PDA in Astra's garage really means.  "OH SHOOT" I yelled.  "I have to go, I have a science project to work on!!"  I ran as fast as I could to Steph's house, and when I finally got there she was standing in front of the door laughing.  "Well it looks like someone did forget, just as I expected!"  She didn't seem to be angry at all which I was really surprised.  "It's okay you really don't have to worry about it, i'm not mad or anything".  "I'm just glad I remembered!"  We both went inside, and she gave me the grand tour, which ended in her room.  "Hey James, do you think I really should hang out with someone as cool as you?...It's just that, well i'm so messed up, and You were the first person who made it a point to remember that we were gonna get together even if it was just homework".  I sat next to her on her bed and said "Steph if people don't make you important then you don't have the right kind of people".  She looked at me, and she started to cry.  So I just sat their trying to be a comfort.  "How about August?  Doesn't he try and make you important?"  "No, we only hangout when he says, and sometimes it seems like he's more invested into his  pictures with you then the girl sitting right next to him".  "Oh"  I said.  "I hadn't realized it was that bad".  "That's bad?" she whispered.  "Ya Steph it seems like by what your saying, he asked you out so people wouldn't think he's gay.  Or maybe just so people would know that he can get any girl he wants". I replied.  "Thanks James....I really needed to hear that everyone constantly tells me he actually love me".  I looked at her and we just stayed like that for a few minutes looking into eachother's eyes.  "Hey Steph if it means anything, I think you're the most beautiful girl in the world".  She then got the biggest smile on her face I had ever seen. "Hey James.....do you think that maybe...ya know..maybe you'd like to date me instead?"  I sat there more shocked than i've ever been.  "I would love that so much, but I don't think I could help you cheat on August!" I said, and you know what she started TO LAUGH "OH JAMES, I meant I would break up with him before we started to date!"  "OH, that makes more sense, I would never help anybody cheat".  After a few more laughs we both calmed down, and decided to get to work.  Right before I left she grabbed my arm, and leaned in to kiss my cheek...Her lips were soft, and they seemed perfect.  Honestly I wanted to kiss her right then, and there, but I remembered that she would be braking August for......me.  I left quickly home since I was slightly late already.  "Hey mom, I'm back!" I yelled.  "IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME" she yelled down the stairs ( my mom isn't the most pleasant woman on earth).  I quickly made a break for my room before she could get her hands near me. 

                     That night I layed in bed, and just talked to myself.  "A beautiful girl like you James, isn't that incredible!"  Stephanie's face was the second last face I saw in my mind, but unfortunately a memory snuck in...one I was hoping to forget.  [ I had woken up that morning just like every other day, but it wasn't just a normal day.  I ran downstairs to meet August, so we could eat breakfast at my house.  (We were both 12 at the time)  My dad was in the kitchen making bacon, eggs, pancakes, you name it he could make it.  He always had the warmest smile in the world, and he was just the most understanding man in the world.  To say it, he was simply perfect.  When August walked in he walked right over like he owned the place.  "Hey pal, finish your breakfast, and let's go hit the arcade!" he announced.  "Alright fine i'll hurry".  I turned to my dad who in turn walked over and handed me $10.  "Boy dad that's a lot for a stupid arcade!"  "Oh don't start with me" he whispered "I want you to have fun while you still can.  And boy did we ever have fun the whole day was going fantastic we even got back late.  August decided to sleep over so we walked in together.  And their in the kitchen my father lay bleeding out..I knew it before I touched his cold body..he was dead.  We sat their quietly just waiting for the police to come ( who we had called).  When they finally did my mom was with them.  She ran in, screamed, and ran to hide our eyes from my father's mutilated body. ] To this day they still haven't found the murderer.  That memory was my last thought before I went to sleep.  August and I had been through everything together so why did he suddenly want to not go through anything anymore?  August........why me?