You got these little things that you’ve been running from

You either love it or guess you don’t

You’re such a pretty thing to be running from anyone

A vision with nowhere to go

So tell me right now, you think you’re ready for it

I wanna know why you got me going

So let’s go, we’ll take it outta here

I think I’m ready to leap, I’m ready to live

*********************************************************************

“So tell me about this boy that’s been picking you up for school this past two days.” My mom tried to say it in a casual tone but I knew better. She thinks I haven’t seen the curtains moving every time I leave and arrive home.

“He’s a friend,”

“Is this the same boy whose house you went to a couple times?” She placed my breakfast in front of me.

“Thank you,” I started eating. “Yes, it’s the same boy. His name is Brendon. He just transferred here a little while ago.”

My mother sat across from me and intertwined her hands on the table. Something she did when she was suspicious. I raised an eyebrow at her. “Tell me more about, Brendon.”

“He just moved here from Nevada. He’s in almost all my AP classes and he’s a really good singer and musician.”

“That’s all good,” She said in a innocent voice. “But what is he like? Is he nice to you.”

“Mom, he gives me a ride to school now. I think you know he’s pretty nice,” I snorted. “But, yeah, Brendon’s a really sweet person. He’s honest and non-judgmental. He actually listens to me like really listens. He gets me. He’s also a very forgiving person. I almost didn’t get the chance to know him because I was a bit rude when I first met him.”

“He’s not like,” she paused and placed a warm hand over mines. “the other one is he?”

My smile faded away and I instantly felt the pain that I had almost forgotten over the course of the last few weeks. “In the beginning I thought he was but he’s not, Mom. I know he’s different. I can feel it. Plus, it’s not like that. He’s a friend,” I didn’t want him to be just a friend but that’s the way it had to be right now.

“If you’re sure, sweetie,” My mom squeezed my hand. “I’d just hate to see you…”

“Mom,” I cut her off gently. “It won’t be like last time. I think you’d like Brendon.”

“I think I will too. Hopefully I get to meet him soon,” She gave me a meaningful look. I heard a knock on the door and kissed her on the cheek.

“You will. Thanks for breakfast, Mom,” I grabbed my bags and greeted Brendon at the door. “Hey.”

“Hi, Izzy.” He gave a one-armed hug and we got in the car.

“Thanks again for the ride,”

“No problem,”

*----~---*

“You’re doing it wrong…” Brendon taunted. My grip around my pencil tightened and I turned towards him to glare. He gave a small chuckle and flicked my nose lightly with his finger. “Are you getting angry?”

“Do you want me to get angry?” My voice was low. He knew this voice. It was the voice I used often with him.

“Do you think that’s supposed to scare me?” He smirked and started playing with a strand of my hair. Usually, I would have melted into a pile of goo because of his actions but I was too irritated at the moment.

“Brendon, I have to get this done. Can you leave me alone? Please,” I added. He sighed and dropped my hair. I immediately missed the contact. “Thank you.”

He grunted and crossed his arms. I stifled a giggle when I caught the pout he was trying to hide. Turning back to my work I tried to focus again but I could feel his eyes on me.

Choosing to ignore it, I grabbed my notebook and began answering problems. He made another sound when I finished writing my answer. I squeezed my eyes shut in annoyance and carried on. After a few problems the noises began to return. Only this time, it was louder.

“WHAT?” I yelled at him. That’s when he lost it. His deep chuckles suddenly turned into full-blown laughter. After a while he began to choke on his laughs and he was gasping for breath. “I hope you pass out.”

“I’m… sorry… it was… your… face… oh god…. Can’t breathe,” He gasped. His face was red from the force of his laughter and I couldn’t help but crack a small smile. His breath finally returned and he looked down at my paper. “I told you before. You’re doing it wrong.”

“How am I doing it wrong?” He began to explain my errors and begrudgingly I found he was right. I fixed my answers and tried to hide my spreading blush.

“I think a ‘thank you’ would be accepted at this time,” He threw his arms over his head and began to stretch. A small sliver of skin began to show between his pants and shirt. I couldn’t help but stare at it. I could see the well-defined muscles and tanned skin. I wanted to touch it. “Izzy?”

I looked up at him. He was smirking. I was so caught. My face flamed up and I looked down at my book. “Thank you.”

“Anything for my best friend,” He threw his arm around me. It was true. Brendon and I have been getting to know each other for the past month and have gotten close, even a little more then Bree and I. I think she knew that and that’s why she was a little resentful towards him but not that much. She and Ryan had started hanging out. They claimed that nothing was going on but I think that was a lie.

“Are you coming over today?” He asked me as we packed our bags up for lunch.

“Can I? My mom’s going to her co-workers birthday party tonight so I’d much rather be at your house then alone at mines,” I laughed.

“Okay, well the guys aren’t coming over today. So it’ll be just you and I.”

“Sounds good.”

We walked over to our table and greeted everyone.

“Can I see that new song you’re working on?” I asked Brendon. He nodded and took it out of his folder.

Lying is the most fun a girl can have without taking her clothes off

“Nice title,” I said sarcastically and he sent me a wink. I quickly read over the start of his lyrics and smiled. “Despite the title I like it.”

“Of course you wouldn’t like the title. You’re a girl,” He teased and I smacked his arm. He pretended to wince in pain and rubbed the spot I hit him. I chuckled and rolled my eyes.

“So what if I’m a girl?” I crossed my arms. He laughed and grasped a piece of my hair again. Something he’s caught on to doing. I wouldn’t admit it to anyone but I liked it.

“Nothing, nothing at all,” His voice was quiet and I saw him studying the fingers that were playing with my hair. I grasped his hands and untangled them from my hair but I didn’t release his hand. Brendon’s gaze locked on mines and it was like he was trying to tell me something but at the same time nothing. I tried to ask him with my eyes what it was that he was trying to get through to me.

“Alright,” A loud voice broke us from our bubble. “You two.” Bree pointed at us. “What’s going on?”

The rest of the table looked at us with curious eyes and Brendon and I shared confused looks. “What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean, Izzy,” She glared at me. “The silent conversations…”

“Lingering gazes…” Ryan added.

“The blushes…” Landon also said and, as if on cue, I could feel the blush return to my cheeks.

“Oh, but let’s not forget… the innocent touches,” Jon looked straight at our hands and immediately I dropped his hand.

“Oh and how about how you two always tend to lean towards each other but never realize you’re doing it,” Spencer pointed out. Brendon and I immediately both shot up. I hadn’t realized how close we were. Spencer smirked.

“What about all the time you’ve been spending with each other?” Rain questioned.

“All the alone time…” Bree corrected.

Brendon and I were speechless. I didn’t know what to say. “We’re just friends, guys,” That was all I could come up with. They didn’t buy it.

“No, seriously,” Brendon said. “We’ve just gotten close over the last month. We’re friends.”

They still didn’t look like they believed us but they let it go for now. I thought about what they said. It was all true but that’s only because we get each other. We’ve become dependent on one another. To be honest if something were to happen to Brendon, I don’t think I would be able to stand it. His shoulder nudged mines and he shot me a quick smile. I could feel my eyes soften as I looked at him and grinned back. I needed Brendon. More then I realized. I just didn’t know how much he needed me.

******************************************************

You got these little things you wanted something for ‘em

You’ll either get it or guess you won’t

What does it really mean to get nothing from anyone

There’s a million ways it could go

So tell me right now, you think you’re ready for it

I wanna know why you got me going

So let’s go, we’ll take it outta here

I think I’m ready to leap, I’m ready to live 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Brendon and Izzy have found themselves in quite a pickle here... Do you think they'll ever figure it out?