Already I felt like I was saying too much.  I began to get out of the car.

“Your parents don’t mind?”

I paused, here was that question, soon it would lead to another question about why they wen’t around, and how I felt about it. 

  “Not at all.” I said lied coldly as I jumped out of her truck, “Urmm thanks for the ride, do you know how to get back?” I asked as I turn around before shutting the door.

 “Yeah, Austin isn’t that big.”

“Right, Los Angles” I said remembering that she wasn’t from here

“See ya later Carmen”

“Bye Shane.”

I shut the door then quickly turn away, I didn’t want to watch her leave, I didn’t want to even think about her anymore. I hurried up to the door and let myself in.

 My best friend was on her couch with her laptop and surrounded by a stack of papers.

 “Hey Shane, how was school” she giggled; she always thought it was funny to treat me like a 5 year old.

   “I’m in trouble Alice,” I said as I dropped in to the chair across from her, “I should just drop out.”

Alice shut her computer, and looked at me. We were only a year apart but she was almost done with college, and I was never going to be done with high school.

 “Shane what happen now? Did some one try to pick a fight with you again?”

“No” I said blankly

“No one is going to regozine you from the streets, Austin is safe for you. Trust me it’s worth it to graduate high school. No one will ever judge you again just because you have a silly piece of paper.”

“Alice.” I said firmly, then I paused. It sounded so stupid to say that I didn’t want to go back because some girl actually talk to me. That I didn’t want to be her friend, because I was afraid of who I am.

  “ Alice, why are you my friend?” I asked instead

She laughed. “We’ve been through it all since we were 10. Why would I give up on you now?” 

   Alice, Bette and Tina. The only people who actually stuck by my side. Why would it be so bad to let another person in?                                                               

         I was sitting alone at lunch when suddenly two brown eyes where sitting across from me.  “Hey there stranger.” 

“Hey there Carmen” I said trying not to be too happy to see her.

“How was your weekend?” She asked, she seemed happy to see me.

“urm it was okay, just worked and that’s about it, noting too exciting, what about you?”

 “Where do you work?”

She was so full of questions. 

“I’m a bar back at The Planet, it’s a small night club.” 

She paused then smiled, “ I drove past there the other day it looked nice.”

 “Yeah I like working there, my friend owns it, urm, this weekend we are having a local band play, they’re more of a folk band but they are really good.”  Don’t consider this a first date Shane. I told myself

  “That would be great, what time?”

“7, on Saturday, I’ll meet you at the door so you don’t have to worry about a cover.”

 “Okay we’ll make it a date.”

The lunch bell rang and I bolted to class to hide the big smile on my face. And I began to wonder if she knew how cute she was.