"Hey, Sarah," I hear a familiar voice greet me.

"Hello, Tate," I reply, smiling and turning to face the boy.

He smiles, dimples appearing in his cheeks. I return his smile as he slowly sits down next to me in the spot we listened to music together yesterday.

"I've been looking around for you," Tate says as he shuffles around to get comfortable.

"Really?"

He nods, "I thought maybe we could sit together again, you know...like friends and stuff."

"You want to be my friend?" I ask, surprised as no ones ever really wanted to be.

"Yeah..." he smiles shyly, "but if you don't want to that's totally fine."

"Of course I want to be your friend," I say smiling.

"Great," he grins.

We sit there for a few minutes in silence. The silence isn't awkward, it's a comfortable silence, we just sit for a while, acknowledging each other's presence.

"God, I hate this place," I say, breaking the silence.

"So do I," Tate sighs.

"It's just so...shit. I hate everything about it," I say.

"Everything?" Tate asks, sounding slightly hurt.

"Except you, obviously," I say, "you're my friend."

"Okay, good," he smiles.

I smile back then continue my rant, "the kids here are all assholes who get off to being mean to everyone else. No one gives a damn about anyone here."

"I do," Tate says in a small voice.

I give him a look as if to say 'who do you give a damn about?"

"I give a damn about you, why else would I try protect you?" Tate says shyly.

My face of anger from the rant softens into a smile. Tate smiles back at me and twiddles his fingers nervously.

"Why are you so nice to me, Tate?" I ask, he was probably one of the nicest people I've ever met.

"That's a weird question," Tate states as he pulls a confused face, "I'm nice to you because I like you."

"But you hardly know me," I argue.

He shrugs, "Then tell me about you."

"Oh...okay..." I say, unsure of how to start, "I live with my mom and dad, I have sister, my favourite band is Nirvana...erm...I love to read, horror novels are my favourites and I really hate school."

"You really do hate this place," Tate chuckles.

"I don't mind the actual learning... it's just the kids," I explain.

"Yeah, I get what you mean."

"Enough about me though, tell me about you," I say, smiling.

"I live with my mom, her boyfriend, my sister and brother, my dad left when I was six, my idol is Kurt Cobain...and that about it," he shrugs.

"I'm sorry about your dad," I frown, "that must suck."

"Yeah," he shrugs, "my mom is pretty distant too...I don't really like home."

"Sorry about that," I say frowning.

"It's fine, it's not your fault," he sighs, "I just feel alone."

"You don't have to be alone, you have me," I smile and place my had on his shoulder.

Tate jumps as my hand and his shoulder come into contact. I quickly pull my hand away and he looks at me slightly confused. I open my mouth to say sorry but before I could, Tate pulled me into a hug. I was shocked at first, but I smiled and hugged him back.

"Thank you," he whispered as he held me.

-

"Hey, honey, how was school?" My mother asks me as I walk into the kitchen.

"Surprisingly, it's been okay," I shrug as I take an apple from the fruit bowl and sit on a stool at our breakfast bar.

My mother's eyes widen as she rushes over to sit next to me, "really?"

I nod and take a bite out of my apple.

"You have a friend? Boyfriend? Girlfriend? I don't judge!" My mom asks enthusiastically.

"A friend," I laugh.

"What's her name?"

"He," I correct, "and it's Tate."

"Tate! Oh, how lovely!" My mother claps, "so how did you two meet?"

"Well, you know the bullies? He'd actually stick up for me when they'd pick on me," I say smiling to myself.

"He sounds like a lovely boy," my mom says happily, "I'm so happy you have a friend!"

My father walks into the kitchen and places some paperwork on the kitchen counter. He sips his cup of coffee and hums to himself. My mother hears his humming and turns around.

"Peter! There's terrific news!" My mom says, scrambling out of the stool and over to my dad.

My dad turns around and smiles at my mom, "And what's that, dear?"

"Sarah has a friend!" She squeals, "And it's a lovely young man named Tate!"

"A boy?" My father says, his smile dropping slightly.

"Dad," I groan, "he's nice. He sticks up for me."

My father raises his eyebrows, cocks his head then takes a sip of his coffee, "He'll have to do."

I shake my head and laugh, "good, because I plan on hanging out with him tomorrow."

My mother's eyes widen again, "That's wonderful! Where are you going? What will you do? Do you need money?"

I laugh again, "Mom, I'll be fine don't worry."

"Okay, okay," my mother nods, relived.

Me and my dad laugh at my mother, she's always been very enthusiastic and motherly. She's a perfectionist but so lovable and she cares about her family more than anything.

I hear the front door open then close again shortly after and the sound of keys.

"Hello lovely family I have returned home from college," my sister, Ashley, says happily as she walks into the kitchen.

"Hello dear, have you had a good day?" My mother asks her.

She shrugs, "Yeah, same old, same old."

"Good, we have have some great news!" My mother says.

I roll my eyes.

"Sarah has a friend! His name is Tate!" My mother says.

"That's great!" Ashley smiles, "I'm happy you've got a friend sis."

"Yes, he sounds like such a lovely boy!"

"He has my approval for now, but if he tries any funny business then I'll kick his ass," my father warns.

"Thanks, all of you," I laugh, "now I'm going to my room to read and listen to Nirvana."