Her

**Sometimes, you just know about something.** Oh, man let me tell you, the way she walked, her smile, it was like- instant. I couldn't help but fall in love. And god does she have a personality of sorts. Ya know, when there's this amazing person that you meet and you can't help but want to click with them and become friends? That's what it was like for her.

And then of course she had to go and talk. Her voice, like silk, I can't even describe how much it pained me to be without her. It made going to school worth it, to be around her for just three periods a day. She was hotter than anyone else in those P.E. clothes, lemme tell you that. But this girl is dangerous. Ask her out and she doens't like you, she'll burn the heck out of you.

To get to her you go through her friends. And she's secritve about her money. Like it makes her different. It's true though, I mean; what kid's parents died when she was three years old and enheirts 2.6 billion dollads. What kid has a brother in the military and no real family, and lives with his fiancee, and a family of workers?

But like all love is, she is perfect the way she is. I'd trade anything in the world to be with her. And it's okay, if she doesn't see me like that. Just being around her is all I want. I was going to ask her out, but Ryan beat me. And then.. I knew I could never ask her out after that. I mean, you should know what happened, why I'm so terrified.

It went a little like this;

So you know, we were in Kreson, fifth period. Ryan, Robby, Jack and I, chilling in the back of the room, waiting around for the bullitin to finish. Then Ryan brings over Jenna and all of the sudden he's going; "So how do I ask out a girl?"

And she's like, "Who?"

And he's like, "Lanie."

And all of the sudden she's like, "Ryan whatever you do, don't ask Lanie out. I'm serious, you'll really regret it."

And his cocky self goes, "I'm going to do it anyway, she can't say no."

Oh man how wrong he was. We found her and her friends on the field. That emo girl, Ali was there, and so was Eric and Hardy, Elliott and Truitt, Kira and Remy, Emma and.. Lanie. They were all there, messing around, and then they started having fights. Man when Lanie went up with Hardy she went *flying* man it was so cool.

So we waltz over there, and kinda leave Ryan in the dust as he heads over and tries to get her attention. Eric beats him though;

"Hey Ryan!" he waves him over, Eric knows what's happening. Right away, the girls flock together, and kinda stand in like a protection circle around Lanie. Right then and there we shoulda left but no Ryan's dumb self went through with it.

By now, George and Walker, and everyone else has caught on. All the really cool girls come over and some other grades come to watch Ryan approach this wall of girls. He shoulda ran right then and there, but he trudged on until he was a few feet from Lanie.

"Hey, um, Lanie can I ask you a question?" he asks, in this meak little voice, and I don't think she heard him!

"Didn't you just ask me one?" she retorts boredly, "But go ahead."

He puts on this brave face, and asks boldy so everyone can hear it, "Will you go out with me?"

She gives him this look like he's the biggest idiot on Earth, and glares, "Tough question."

And his dumb self is all like, "Well if you hate m-"

But she cuts him off and laughs, "Hate's a strong word. It's not that I hate you, it's just that if you were hit by a bus, I'd be driving that bus."

He gets this real disappointed look on his face, and goes all mopey and says, "So it's a no?" She nods, and everyone goes oooh, as Ryan walks sullenly back to us. They disprese and then all of the sudden we hear this big laugh come up from the group, and they're all smiling like nothing ever happened.

That was Wednesday. Today is Friday. Today it is fifth period again. Today is *my* day. But I'm not doing it at lunch in front of all eyes. I'll be quiet, in English during the break. So nobody can see the ice cold drop. George, Walker, and Garrett know about it. They all sit near her, with me, so it's normal. I see George tell Santi as I walk in and he shakes his head at me like; *Dude she hates you* and I know that but it nevrer hurts.

The thing is, I never thought she'd say yes.

I didn't think we'd be at this table at CeCe's while I drink this cup of water, and she's sipping her iced tea, and we're laughing like we do this all the time and we're a real couple and acutal friends. I thought it would be awkward but she's so cool, and we're all over her Story and she's all over mine and I've never felt this good in my whole life.

At least, not until she takes me home and we sit down in her room after some homework, and we start talking real low even though nobody's around. Right now, we're sitting on her bed and it's all quiet, so you might as well listen in;

She catches my gaze, and I smile, realizing she scooted closer. She's wearing this thin white tank top with a pair of *way too short shorts* ones that never would get approved by the dress code. Her purple-brown hair is all done in this cute little messy bun, and she's giving me this sweet little smile.

I don't know what to do. I'm in these brown pants, with a normo gray shirt on, and all of the sudden she's looking at me real serious, and then she's pulling my leg like it's a joke.

And something just comes over me and I lean down and kiss her right on the lips, and I know it's dumb on a first date and she probably did this to pity me, but then I realize her hands are in my curly brown hair, and she's holding me real tight like she means it.

"Why did you say yes to go out with me? You totally burned Ryan back when." I ask, yes totally idiot move, but I want to know.

"Why do you think I said know to Ryan?" she smiles at me, and I realize I'm twisting her brown-purple hair around my finger and she's acting like it's no big deal. And to be fair, her hands are all over me so it's all cool.

I get home *really* late that night but my parents never care, as long as I'm home. They probably assume I was with George, and that's cool, because when I check my phone that night, I have this text that says; **When are we going out again?** and my heart does this flutter because ohmygod the girl I like likes me too. And yes, totally idiot behavior, I say the same place, but on Monday.

The funny thing is, we start doing that every week. And when I pop the big question all she does is smile nod and give me this sweet little kiss on the cheek and all of the sudden I'm like; so it's a no? and we're laughing so hard her tea comes out her nose. I'm starting to think that maybe she's just a sweet girl with a lot on her plate.

At least, that's until I meet Wyatt and Rachel. Oh god, I'd rather sit in a pit ful of lions that haven't eaten in a day with cobras for manes. That would've been easier to live than meeting them. Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating, but I as scared to death.

So I'm sitting at the counter, it's a bit like a bar, with cutting board type top, and there's this cup of water in front of me but right now I'm too afraid to touch anything this dude owns. I feel like I should get up out of this chair and hail him, he's that scary.

He's got dusty blonde hair and cold blue eyes. He's wearing this skin-tight black t-shirt and some pants like mine. He's got these *huge* and when I say huge think like bowling ball times ten kinda muscles, and his hair is still cut in military fashion (he just got back). And then there's this redhead who's his finacee, Rachel.

She's got these kind leaf-green type eyes, and she wears clothes just like Lanies. So anyway, they're sitting across me like they're kings and queens *which I'm fine with* because I'd do anything to please her folks.

Turns out, Wyatt's pretty cool about this whole thing, but his questions are scary. I hope I'm answering them right. But then Lanie calls him out of the room to go talk to some worker or something, so I'm left alone with Rachel.

"Don't worry about this, Evan. Lanie grilled me the exact same way." she smiles kindly.

I'm so surprised all I can utter is, "Thanks."

And she laughs, and then Lanie comes into the room, and we're in her bedroom all of the sudden like nothing ever happened. I'm starting to like this, the way she's so laid back, how everyone here is. It's nothing like my family. Sometimes I wish I could live here with them.