It was the first day of school. Eliza was going crazy getting her and her siblings ready, along with thinking of every bad thibg that could happen. Yes, she did have Casey, but other than that, she wouldn't have any friends and what if he wasn't in her class.

She couldn't believe she already had a friend and he asked her to be his friend, voluntarily. She had told her mother right when she got back to the apartment. She wanted to look good, even though she didn't really want to. But Casey, he was different from other boys.

Eliza realized she was daydreaming and staring at herself in the mirror. Her pale blue eyes sparkled and her thick brown hair was soft, going to the middle of her back. It always took forever for her to brush it. And sometimes she wanted to do something with it, like put it in a bun or a ponytail or braids, but ahe always ended up just brushing it and leaving it alone.

"Eliza, can you braid my hair for me?" Asked Sadie sweetly. Eliza could braid other people's hair but not her own. "Sure," she answered. After she was done braiding Sadie's hair, she went to the kitchen and made three bowls of cereal. Captain Crunch for her, CoCo Puffs for Sadie and Fruity Pebbles for Aiden. They ate fast and then Eliza tried getting Alden's jacket on him. Of course, the sweet little baby from yesterday was being a pain in the butt now. He wouldn't cooperate. When she finally got it on him, they had to rush downstairs to get to the bus on time. Sadie was going to fifth grade and Aiden was going to kindergarten. Eliza would be walking to South Junior High for eighth grade with Casey. She started school before Sadie and Aiden, but they were the first ones on the bus, so they had to get ready early.

Eliza sat in peace for about 10 minutes and then she heard a knock on the door. It was probably for her because her mother was already at work. When she opened the door, she saw Casey. He was dressed up in a polo shirt and nice jealous and his hair was gelled. She glanced at her outfit, a blue plaid skirt with a boy shirt that matched, but wasn't plaid, that matched her eyes. She had new tennis shoes on that were black with white shoelaces. She looked at his shoes anf they were dress shoes.

"Eliza, did you hear me?" Casey asked. Apparently he had said something to her. "Uh, sorry. What?" She mumbled, blushing. "I said, can I please come in?" He answered. "Yeah. Sure." She said. "By the way, you look great." He said with his wonderful smile. Then he blushed. Eliza thought he was cute when he blushed. "Thanks. You too." She answered sweetly. He smiled again and then asked,"Can I sit down?" She shook her head yes and they both sat on the couch. They didn't have to start walking for another couple of minutes. "So... do you have any siblings?" Casey asked after an awkward silence. "Yeah. Two. A brother and sister. Aiden is five and Sadie is 10." She answered. "What about you?" Casey answered,"I'm an only child. I wish I wasn't. Maybe I can come over and hang out with your brother and sister sometime." Eliza thought that was a wonderful idea. "You can cone whenever you would like," she blurted out.

Casey smiled and said thanks. Then, they got up to leave. Eliza grabbed her backpack full of school supplies and walked beside Casey. "Did you really want to be my friend just so I wouldn't be alone?" She blurted out. Casey smiked and said nothing. Had she said the wrong thing? Finally he said,"I did for that reason. But there was another reason that I'm not ready to say until I really get to know you." Then he blushed. She loves it when he blushes. "Well, whatever you say. I guess I'm glad to have a friend. I've never had one." Casey frowned."You have never had a friend? I'm sorry."

"Why? It isn't your fault."

"I guess it is. But I am still sorry."

"Okay. Whatever."

Then it was quiet for awhile. They turned a corner and then Casey started talking again. "So. What are your parents like?" Eliza blinked. The question caught her off guard. "My mother is lazy at home and busy at work and my dad died when I was eight," she said quietly. "Oh. I'm sorry. You don't have to talk about it if you want." He said. "I know how you feel, by the way. My mother left me with my father about 4 years ago and we don't know where she is." Eliza thought about that. "Is it hard?" He shook his head yes. "But I'm used to it," he said. "Oh." For the rest of the walk they were quiet, until they got to the school. South Junior High in all it's glory.

"See you at lunch," Casey said and then walked off. She was alone for now. Then she remembered, he was going to show her around.

"Wait, Casey," she said. "You were going to show me around." He face palmed himself and said,"Oh yeah. I'm sorry, Elly." She kind of fRowned srry the nickname. "I'm sorry. I'll call you Eliza." She shook her head no. "It's fine. We are friends so you can call me that. I am just not used to it."

"Ok. Well I will show yoy around and help you find your locker and homeroom. What number is your locker?" Eliza checked her schedule and iy said 317. She told him and he said,"Oh cool. I am locker 318. We can be locker buddies!" He laughed and smiled at her.

She follows her to the locker and put her supplies in it. "Ok, now who is your homeroom?" Casey asked. She checked her schedule and it said, Mr.Richardson. "This is so funny," Casey announced, laugh. That's my homeroom too!" Eliza smiled and follow him there. With Casey in her classes, maybe school won't be so bad. Or will it?