"I thought you would still be in school." New York is three hours ahead so over there it's almost four.

        "They only gave me five periods. I'll be getting out of school early for the rest of the year."

        "Lucky! I wish our school did that. How was your first day?"

        "It was pretty good, a bit boring though. People out here are crazy nice which is kind of different from New York. I've already made a few friends."

        "When did you become little miss social?" He jokes.

        "Trust me I'm still the same nervous, quiet, and clumsy girl when people first meet me. You know me. Before I can be myself you have to know me for a while."

        "I know and I love that about you." We talk for hours until my phone is minutes away from dying. The IPhone five is great except the battery doesn't last for shit. After a long goodbye we finally hang up. I guess I should start the pile of homework I got. I start with all the stuff that's due tomorrow. History, algebra, and I don't have any English. After that I'll do my Spanish. The next few hours are filled with music and hard work. Every year of high school I've gotten all A's and B's. School has always been important to me because I want to go to a good college and get a degree to become a doctor. Ever since I turned seven I knew I wanted to become a doctor. I close my Spanish four book then go down to the kitchen. I pick up a note my mom left me on the counter.

                                                        Here's $20 Hun. Why don't you

                                                        Go find a good restaurant so we

                                                        Know a good place to eat out here

                                                        Have fun maybe you can go

                                                        Out with some friends

                                                                                                -Mom

        Leave it to my mom to find a reason for me to leave the house. I'm glad I didn't change out of my skinny jeans and tank top. I throw on my gray pullover hoody and head to Drake's. I ring the doorbell hoping that his parents don't answer. This door is opened by a shirtless Drake. I raise my right eyebrow a questioning look on my face.

        "Do you always greet your guests like this?" I smile peeling my gaze from his bronzed six pack.

        "Only special people. You want to come in?" He opens the door wider stepping aside.

        "No I just have a quick question. I have a twenty dollars and my mom wants me to find a good restaurant. Do you have any recommendations?"

        "Yeah, I think I know a place you'll like. Let me just go put on a shirt." A minute later he has a shirt on and is closing his front door. "There's this really good Chinese food place on Solano called Kirin. In Albany there are two main hang out spots. Solano, which is this really long street filled with restaurants grocery stores and places to shop. The second place is called the plaza which is technically in El Cerrito. People mainly go there to eat for lunch during school. They also have a few grocery stores and shops. We don't have very much to do here since Albany is only one square mile." I didn't realize how small this place was. We take a left turn on Solano "Street. Most the buildings are decorated with fake cotton webs, skeletons, witches, and even black and orange lights.

        "Back in New york people don't really decorate like this." I look from building to building enjoying all the lights and decorations.

        "Here we are." He walks up to a glass door and opens it for me.

        "Thank you." I walk inside. I'm immediately hit with the delicious smell of Chinese food. Here and there I can get hints of sweet, sour, and spicy.

        "Sit wherever you like." The hostess says with a thick Chinese accent. We go sit at a table for four in the corner.

        "This place smells really good."

        "The food is great here. On weekends they are ridiculously busy." We look at the menus then decide on our dishes and order. A little bit later our food comes out steaming hot the smell mouthwatering.

        "I'm definitely taking my parents here." I smile taking another bite of Mongolian beef. The rest of the meal we eat and talk. I tell him about the city and he tells me about the bay area. They are two really different places. Even though I protest against him paying the bill he insists. After he pays we start to walk home in the chilly night with the full moon brightly shining down on us. But within the blink of an eye we are already at my door step.

        "Thanks again for dinner that was really nice of you."

        "It was my please. I had a great time maybe we can hang out again sometime.

        "I'd like that. Have a nice night I'll see you tomorrow."

        "See you then." I close my door behind me and hop up the stairs to my bed. Only my first day and I'm friends with a hot popular guy. I shake the thought out of my head as I crawl into bed. Week after week Is the same routine. School, almost every night talk to Mark, do homework, sometimes hang out with Drake alone or with Jes and Jordan. I have a feeling jes doesn't like me to much but I don't know why. Halloween wasn't too bad. I passed out candy and my parents finally got a night off. We watched movies together until they almost passed out on the couch. Life has been boring and a bit lonely. Having the same old routine has gotten old. Tomorrow I have a feeling that'll change. It's the Friday before the first fay of winter break. Two weeks of no homework, time to sleep in, unlimited time to talk to Mark, and possibly hang out with Drake, Jes, and Jordan. Mainly with Drake though. He's been busy with wrestling and basketball practice. During the break he said he got time off practice since the season is almost over for both his sports. I'm hoping things will change. I guess you could say I'm wishing for them to change.