"Kristen!" my mom called out from the other room. "Wake up before you're late to school again."

I groaned as I began slowly inching my way out of my bed. I slowly moved the shower lever hoping it would work today and out came gushing water. I placed my finger under the water and although it was cold, it was still water. I stepped into the shower and let my thoughts run free.

Another mediocre day of Grade 11. This year would be over soon. The thought of getting away from high school felt freeing yet frightening. It meant that I could possibly move far away from my current living situation. It meant leaving my absent mom
here to take care of herself while I lived in a far-away place. Although, it also meant leaving Willow, my best friend.

Willow had been my best friend since I was six years old. She was the complete opposite of me, an optimist, a straight A student and a sweetheart. Yet, somehow we worked together. She treated me like a sister, took me in the days my mom would work overtime and allowed me to treat her family as my own.

Our friend group also consisted of Elijah, our friend since grade 4. Trent, our friend since grade 8 and James our friend since last year.

We had known Elijah for the longest amount of time and he was definitely sort of like a brother to us.

Trent was just some guy who sat with us sometimes when he wasn't off volunteering, being on sports teams, etc.

Now, James. James is a guy that I met in my art class. He would constantly tell me how much he loved my paintings and always teased me about the fact that he would give big bucks, just to buy one. When James and I began getting closer, Willow took notice and talked to him one day, after my class ended. From that day on, she developed a major crush on him. She asked me if it would be okay to go for him and I couldn't crush her little heart so I said "yeah," hesitantly.

From that day on, whatever James and I had developed, our little "friendship" went away. He became a part of our group and I moved on pretty quickly because I'm pretty sure he likes Willow too. I mean how couldn't he, they were so much alike. They were both perfect little optimists. He had major golden retriever energy and she was a dog person... need I say more? Besides, James barely knew the person I was. I was the broken, tainted, dark version of Willow. I was the scarier and sadder part nobody likes to see.

********** When I got dressed, I rushed out the door and noticed the pouring rain outside. My umbrella had broken a couple of days ago due to the same pouring rain of Seattle. I rolled my eyes and began briskly walking in the rain. My hair began curling in the walk and I tried rushing even farther. I hated walking in the dark alleys of my neighborhood but it had to be done. I had to get to school.

"Kristen!" a voice exclaimed in the background. "Kristen? Is that you?"

It was James. Ten meters away. I pretended not to hear him and kept walking. He jogged towards me and lifted his umbrella over me.

"Kristen, you're soaked!" he exclaimed.

"Yeah, I am," I forced a laugh.

James knew that I lived with only my mom but I don't think he knew how tough things really were at home.

I made it a point to not tell any one of my friends (besides Willow, since she found out herself) where I lived. I lived in a one story creaky flat, it was all my mom could afford for the two of us.

"Kristen, you can't walk around in those wet clothes all day, you should go home and change," he said.

I tilted my head and scrunched my eyebrows. "It's fine, I'll dry off," I said, dryly.

"No, you'll get sick. It's fine, I could come with you." he suggested.

My eyes widened unwillingly.

"No, no that's not needed. I just don't want to be late, okay!"

Why did James even have to be here? I had never noticed him walking before. Besides, I wouldn't want Willow to be hurt by finding out I walked to school with her crush. That should be her!

A million excuses began popping up in my mind towards whatever James could say next. Although, my thoughts were interrupted by James' phone buzzing.

James dug for his phone in his pocket and observed the message he received. His lips began to curve up as he read the message, "Seattle High has been shut down for the day, because of a storm warning."

"What?" I asked.

He showed me the message and I dug out my old used iPhone and confirmed that it was in fact true.

"So, I guess since your place is closer, we could seek some haven there?" he asked, playfully touching my shoulder.

A knot formed in my stomach. "No, we could go to Willow's!" I suggested.

What a brilliant suggestion.

"You think, there's going to be buses running in a storm?" he asked.

Shoot, he was right.

Thunder began rumbling as the clouds began getting darker all the sudden.

"Here, come with me!" he said, grabbing my hand as he began running.

My stomach fluttered with butterflies. I hated that it did that though, James was Willow's, it had been established.

I gave him up for her because she truly deserved someone wonderful like him.

James led us to take cover under a nearby roof. What he didn't know was that my place was only a couple steps away. He probably thought that I lived in the townhouses near his house, but boy was he wrong.

"So, my place or your's?" he asked, with a sense of urgency.

I was debating saying let's go to our own houses, but I knew there would be no light or heat in my flat right now and his cozy house sounded too tempting. I wished I could've just bussed over to Willow's.

"Y-yours?" I said weakly.

He nodded, affirmatively and grabbed my hand and we began running again.

What had I just gotten myself into?