I had my music blasting through my earbuds on high playing Despicable by Grandson as I walked back home from my last college class of the day. I was only about a block away from my house. Me being my oblivious self didn't notice a parked car until my music paused for a minute. It was just long enough of a pause for me to hear a sobbing noise coming from the car. I pulled out my earbuds and approached the car carefully. "Hello? Are you ok?" (I know dumb question. Who asks the crying person if they're ok? But that was all I could come up with.)

The sobbing got muffled into a few sniffles. Like the person was hoping I would take that as an "i'm ok" and leave. I ignored it and walked up to the car. I slowly opened the door to see a female that was around my age curled into the fetal position in the front seat. It took me a minute to recognize her. She was in my art class.

She always sat in the back and hissed at people as they walked by. She never hissed at me though. I've always wanted to ask her why. She looked at me and sniffed, "Close the door and go away! I don't want you to see me like this!" I flinched as she yelled at me. I thought about just walking away but if I was the one sobbing in my car I would want someone to help me.

So I closed the door and walked over to the passenger side and got in. She yelled at me again, "I said go the fuck away not get in!" I winced but didn't say anything back. I just pulled her into a tight hug. She tried to shove me away but gave up when she realized I wasn't letting go. She buried her face in my hair and started sobbing hysterically.

I just rubbed her back with slow soothing circles. After about ten minutes she started talking. I don't even think she knew what she was saying. I just rubbed her back and let her talk. "I-I got back from my apartment after finding out that my Great-Grandma is in the hospital... To find all of my stuff on the porch! I'm homeless! My parents kicked me out for being gay! And now the only person that cared about me is in the hospital!"

She sobbed through the entire tear stained explanation/rant. I felt really bad for this girl. I lightly pushed her away and wiped her tears with my sleeve. I kept my tone calming, "Hey, it's ok. It's going to be ok. I've got an entire house to myself why don't we go get ice cream. Then you can come stay with me for however long you need. And tomorrow i'll go with you to the hospital to see your Great-Grandmother."

She looked into my eyes for a minute, "I knew I had a crush on you for a reason." I blinked, "Is that why you don't hiss at me?!" She lightly blushed and nodded, "Ya, you wanna take away your offer now. Right?" She sniffed lightly. I shook my head no, "I just wanted to confirm it because I have a bet going. If you told me you liked me by the end of this month then my friend owes me a twenty. If not I owe her a twenty and I have to ask you out." She looked at me for a minute, "Are you serious?! I could have asked you out a month ago! I've been agonizing over this decision for weeks!" I smiled, "Come on, lets get ice cream. We're going to need the sugar for when we move all of your stuff in."