"Wow Em," Harley said as I walked along the hallway, Harley and Mary by my side. Yeah, I'm stupid, I decided to explain to them what happened yesterday with Sid. 

"Did you cry?" Mary asked as we sat on the floor beside the lockers (we were early to are next class - it's more fun then going to a locker, if you know what I mean.)

"NO!" I said, though I think I might've. I didn't know that would happen if he didn't feel the same, but to be honest, I thought he would, since he's been blushing at me a lot. "I just feel so left out; you and Harley both have boyfriends - and apparently Awe does too."

I could feel the eye roll from Harley, "You don't need to have a boyfriend, Emily." She said. Dang, she was saying Emily instead of Em. That's when you know Harley's dead serious. "For real, Emily, there many people in this school who don't have boys."

"Yeah," I responded hastily, "But most of them aren't flocking eighth graders!" 

"Harley's right, Em." Mary said. Oh, why the heck does Mary have to take Harley's side? "No one needs a boyfriend, and for 'flocking' sake, you don't even need to marry anyone!"

To that ironic statement, I slammed my backpack against the lockers and stood up, "So, let me  get it straight, you want me to become a old women, and not having anyone around when you and Harley or on vacation or something?"

Yes, I know, very dumb idea, standing up like that just to argue. I should've know Harley would fight back. But I was to late, for I realized this after Harley had stood up.

Surprisingly, though, she didn't use a harsh tone like I thought she would, instead, her words were soft, and even a little calming, "We're not trying to hurt your feelings," She started, "We're trying to clean them, you know, make them bright again?"

Her statement wasn't that encouraging, and, honestly, it was kinda confusing, but I sat back down and grumbled.

"Sorry to break your buttons," Mary said, "But this is Harley's and my class... we gotta go, Em." To that, her and Harley walked in without saying another word.

Sid. Of course, Sid was next of the list of people to argue with, for he was coming up the alleyway. 

"Hey, Emma." He said to me. Yeah, I know, Emma, bad nick name, but the one he used in fifth grade when he couldn't remember Emily (for some reason.) "Sorry about yesterday."

I looked up at him, amazed he was actually apologizing, Sid doesn't ever do anything before thinking, so if he does something mean or bad, he doesn't say sorry, since he meant to do it.

"Awe." He said, with a sad smirk of some sort on his face, "It was her idea, she said she'll dump me if I try to 'talk it out' with another girl, even if the answer was a no."

Well, there goes another 'friend' - bye-bye Awe.

I nodded, and, unafraid to tell him my feelings, said, "Yeah, that whole move I made was idiotic. I just want to be like every other eighth grader and have a boyfriend."

"Ok, so, lemme ask you something." He said, and I really hope he wasn't going to return my dating question, "How many boyfriends have you had?"

"Real ones?" I said, and, now that I think about it, I've had many boyfriends throughout this year and last. My last boyfriend (be sure not the share this to anyone) was Wally. A few months ago, last summer, we went on dates, and we even kissed. But of course Wally had to ruin it by breaking up with me RIGHT AFTER WE KISSED! 

"Hmm... lemme count...  13 throughout my life, which is pretty much just this summer and last year."

"All boys?" He said.

"Yeah, duh!" I said.

"Hmm, well you should think on that," He said right as the bell rang - late for class. Flock.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

I thought about what Sid said all throughout the next period- just like he told me to do. But I couldn't figure out what he had meant, or why he needed to know I have 13 boyfriends in my life. It's not like I'm ever gonna date the same people again, right? That would be a stupid move, right? As you can tell, by the many dumb ideas I have had before, I can't really afford more mistakes in this life.

As I got out of History that day, I went straight toward Mary's locker so we could walk home together. 

"Hello." Mary said before she even turned to face me. "Walking home together?"

"Yep!"  I replied, "I need to tell you something, Sid said something... um... weird, i guess, today." Mary looked at me with the curious face that she always does when she isn't really interested. 

"Oh okay." She said, and I was excited she was actually listening. "I bet he just punched you in the face again."

"Wha- No!"

"Wow..." Mary said as she slammed her locker shut and we started walking down the hall to the exit. I rolled my eyes at her.

"Where's Harley?"  I asked as we walked by her locker. I was playing dumb, though, since Harley told me told me today at lunch that she'd meet us in the parking lot. I was trying to change the subject, since whatever was about to come out of my mouth would be stupid.

"Subject change alert." Mary called imminently after I tried to change the subject. Yeah, another stupid idea of mine, I know that Mary can detect stuff like that in a split of a second.

I sighed, "Fine,"  I said, "Today, after you and Harley walked into your English class, Sid came up to me and asked me how many boyfriends I have had."

"OOH! Trick question!" Mary replied sarcastically, then, in a monotone she said, "13."

"Yeah, but I guess Sid didn't know that, since he asked, but I don't know why he asked."

"Eh." Mary started, "Probably just trying to hook with you more."

"Mary." I said dangerously. She put her hands up in surrender.

"He told me to think about it." I continued, curiously. Why would Sid want me to think about my 13 boyfriends? The answer is still unknown.