Chapter 1

August 11^th 2013 was the date on the letter. The letter was placed onto my desk on top of my blue mac book. My dorm mate Lauren plopped onto my bed and shook me slightly. “Hey are you getting up or not?” She shook me again.  “School starts in 20 minutes you know!” She screamed. I opened my eyes immediately pushed her off my bed giving her the surprise of her life and then laying back in bed. She huffed and scratched the back of her head. “Elli!” She wined. “I can’t have the professor come to me when you are late!”

“Let me be late if I want to be late!” I yelled into my pillow making my voice sound muffled. Lauren sighed and pulled her dark ombre hair to the side. She went over to the side of my bed and cupped her cheeks.

“Wake up…” She said nicely. “Please???” She gave me a small smile and I blinked at her. She smiled a little more widely and I laughed at her before pushing her head away from my face before letting out a big yawn. “That’s so attractive.” She chuckled sarcastically.

“Why are you my dorm mate again?” I questioned as I pulled off my panda shirt I sleep in usually. Lauren gaped at the comment and chucked a shirt at me. “Thanks! That’s the one I was going to look for.” I smiled at her before slipping it on.

“We are childhood friends Elli Ana Min Yu!” I glared at her after I pulled on some khaki shorts. She knows I hate being called by my full name. I sighed and pulled all my hair into a side bun.

“Should I be saying the same to you? Lauren Mansworse.” I smirked. She gaped; she despised her last name more than anything else. Sticking my tongue out I looked at me in her mirror, Lauren gave me a death glare and I laughed before turning to her. I stopped and looked up and down at her; she stood there and then awkwardly played with her hair.

“What?” She questioned me as she started playing with her hair. I stared at her again the placed my hand under my chin. “Stop staring at me!” She screamed.

“Who’s the boy?” I smirked. Her cheeks immediately flushed a noticeable pink. “Tell me the details!!” I squealed grabbing her arm and jumping up and down like I do at a White Bay concert.

“I’ll tell you.” She said calmly before the corner of her eyes saw the time. “…In class!” She yelled grabbing her bag and pulling my arm. I had managed to grab my school bag right before she slammed the door shut.

 

“His name is Eric.” She smiled, just saying his name made her cheeks turn the most amazing shade of pink. “He’s a sophomore, he does track, and he’s hot.” Her words slurred on hot and I chuckled. “I call dibs if you fall for him too.” She pointed out.

“He’s all yours.” I laughed holding my arms up innocently. Then the door opened and I looked over to see Leon Davis, he’s in almost half my classes and he’s the class loner. He talks to no one and everyone ignores him. As if this boy is cursed. I looked back at Lauren. “I’m not interested.”

“So you say.” She smiled the noticed Leon. “Leon could be cuter if he cut his hair don’t you think?” I looked over at Leon then gave a small jump when he looked up and met my eyes. I smiled and waved but awkwardly put my arm down when he looked back down at his desk. “Elli.” She asked.

“Keep your thoughts to yourself.” I stuck my tongue out at her. She hit my arm and I laughed. “Leon is fine the way he is.”

“He’s fine as a loner?”

I scoffed and stared at her seriously. “You know what I mean.” We both laughed then the final bell rang and we both became quiet as the professor began talking about handing in homework.

 

“I’m going to check out the cafeteria.” Lauren smiled.

“Going to look for your future husband?” I smirked. Lauren hit my arm, winked at me then quickly escaped with a different group of students. I laid back in my chair thinking for a moment. “What should I do?” I whispered to myself. I looked over and jumped when Leon was standing right in front of me. “Leon!” I stuttered. “You scared me.” He remained quiet. “What is it-“

“Notes” He said in a quiet tone, but I can easily tell he had a deep tone in his own voice. I stared at him and he looked down.

“What?” I said. He tapped my journal. “Oh the notes Professor Garnam had us take?” He nodded. I laughed. “Where are yours?”

“I was asleep…” He said slightly embarrassed. I smiled at him.

“Make sure I get them back okay?” I said handing it to him. He seemed a little surprised. “Why the surprised look?” I laughed as he took the journal.

“You’re just going to hand it to me?” He said holding the book to himself.

“Well…” I said slowly. “I have no reason to refuse.” I smiled at him. “We’re friends aren’t we?”

“We are?” He said surprised again. I laughed again and nodded. “But we’ve never talked.” He looked down again. I just chuckled.

“You have some low self-esteem Leon.” He looked up and I blinked. “I’m Elli.” I held out my hand. “It’s nice to meet you Leon.” He was hesitant then took my hand.

“Nice to meet you Elli, I’m Leon.” He gave me a small smile and his presence seemed to be brighter than ever. His smile suddenly fell and he pulled his hand away first. “I’ll see you.” He waved then walked away.

“Let’s hang out some time!” I called over. He turned to me then continued to walk away without a response. I was quiet for a moment then stared at him as he grabbed his stuff and left me alone in the classroom. “Leon Davis…” I whispered to myself.

 

Leon sighed as he stared at my journal in his hands. He opened it and noticed the sketches in my journal. He continued to flip through the sketches and smiled again to himself. “She has nice writing.” He whispered to himself.

In the middle of the hallway he had stopped and turned back to the direction of the class he had left me in. Slowly he brought his hand up and bit his lips. “I shouldn’t have done that.” He said to himself. He clenched his hand into a fist and continued to walk away.

 

“Were you here the entire time?” Lauren said, I was sketching in my journal eating my lunch and looked at her. “Guess what!” She squealed as she quickly plopped into the seat next to me. “Eric wants me to go watch him at his track meet next week!” I gave a surprised look and smiled as she began to ramble.

I listened, but my mind was also on the thought of Leon’s actions when we talked. I gave a silent sigh and smiled again at Lauren. Maybe I’ll get to talk to him again.