My eyes twitched from the bright sunlight shining through the blinds from the window next to my bed. I felt velvety soft lips against mine, drawing a strange moaning sound from me.

“That was a cute sound,” he smiled down at me.

I could feel my cheeks starting to burn as I quickly turned away from him.

“What’s the matter?” he chuckled.

“N-nothing,” I mumbled, “I just don’t want you to, uh, smell my morning breath.”

“Don’t be stupid. I love everything about you, remember,” he stated as he kissed my shoulder, “Even your stank morning breath.”

“Oh my God!” I pushed him off the bed.

My mom came rushing into the room after the loud crash rang through the house when Keyz hit the ground.

“Honey, are you okay?!” she asked as she burst into the room.

We sat there staring at my mom as a creepy grin spread across her face. I couldn’t imagine what kind of ideas were flowing through that immature brain of hers.

“Before you say anything, “ I sighed, “he just spent the night, and WE didn’t do anything.”

“Uh-huh,” she crossed her arms.

“Nothing happened, Ms. James,” he flashed a grin as he got up off of the floor, “Honestly.”

“Okay,” she turned to leave the bedroom, “just practice safe sex.”

“Gross, mom,” I quickly hid my face under the covers in shame.

“I love your mom,” he laughed hopping up onto the bed.

“You would like her,” I turned over in the bed, “she has the same dirty mind that you do.”

“A dirty mind, huh?” he climbed over the top of me.

I looked up at him with the blanket still covering my mouth. He had a suggestive look on his face.

“W-what is it?” I whispered.

“Man, you are beautiful,” he blushed.

I rolled my eyes playfully, “You’ve told me that a million times already.”

“I know, but I don’t think I will ever get tired of saying it,” he smiled.

“I get tired of hearing the lie though,” I looked away from him.

He put his finger on my chin and turned my face back towards him, “It’s not a lie.”

Tears began to well up in my eyes as he leaned in and kiss me softly on the lips.

“You guys are going to be late for class!” my mom shouted from her room.

“W-we should get going,” I broke our kiss.

“Can’t I enjoy this just a little bit longer?” he whispered in my ear.

My heart began beating faster as his hand traced alongside my body. His lips grazed against my neck causing me to melt under him.

“W-we need to get to school,” I huffed.

“Pretty, please?” he begged.

I giggled as I leaned up and kissed him, “Let’s go.”

“Okay. Okay,” he finally surrendered.

It was surprisingly not awkward at school when we arrived. Keyz was his usual self, but something did seem different about him after last night. I guess since I showed him more affection, he felt that he could be more flirtatious with me than usual.

“Hey, beautiful,” he met me at my locker.

“Morning,“ I smiled back, “again.”

We both laughed.

“What’s going on here?” Jess frowned as she walked up to us.

“Morning, Jess,” I sighed.

“It’s Jessica to you,” she rolled her eyes at me, “Morning, Kris.”

“Morning,” he replied but didn’t turn around to face her.

Instead, he stood close to me as he whispered in my ear, “Wanna meet me in the locker room?”

My face started to turn red as my body began to heat up.

“K-Kris!” I stuttered, “D-don’t talk like that!”

“What are you mumbling about, piggy?” Jess scowled at us.

I had almost forgotten that she was there. Keyz had been so touchy this morning that I don’t think I’m going to make it through the day.

“Hello?!” she shouted again.

“Nothing. I have to get to class,” I pushed passed her and scurried to my next class.

“Wait a sec, Sam,” he called after me, but I ignored him.

We sat in class sneaking glances at each other the entire time. It was kind of weird the way I was seeing him now. I know our friendship will never end, but I do see him differently.

“Why do you keep looking at me?” he smiled.

“I wasn’t,” I replied.

Of course, I wasn’t going to tell him that he looks freaking sexy, and I want him all over again!

“Eyes up front, James!” the professor called out to me.

“S-sorry, sir,” I lowered my head behind my textbook.

After class, I met with Keyz and Vex at the coffee shop next to the school. They were sitting in the back at our usual spot.

“Hey, guys,” I waved to them, “Sorry, I’m late.”

“You’re not late,” Keyz smiled at me.

“Don’t start the mushy stuff till I’m gone,” Vex groaned as he sipped his coffee.

“We’re not being ‘mushy’, dude,” I laughed as I sat next to them.

This was the first time that we have hung out since the first year of high school. Vex had moved to the next city over and Keyz went overseas for an exchange student program that his parents forced him to do.

“It’s been a while since we’ve done this,” Keyz announced.

“I know right?” I agreed, “We have to start setting time aside for us to catch up.”

“Agreed,” Vex nodded.

“I know! I know!” I shouted aloud by accident.

“Why are you yelling,” Vex covered his ears.

“S-sorry, “ I quickly lowered my voice, “I just had a great idea. How about we have a movie and game night at my house later today?”

They both sat in silence for a moment before Vex finally stood up.

“I can’t make it,” he sighed as he tossed some dollar bills on the table, “I have to go back out of town.”

“All right. See ya,” Keyz waved as he collected the money from the table.

“Really?” I frowned, “That’s a bummer.”

“Sorry, baby girl, “ Vex smiled at me, “I will see ya when I get back.”

“Okay. Drive safely,” I waved him good-bye.

“Well, now that he’s gone,” Keyz looked at me suggestively.

“Are you really gonna start that now?” I blushed.

He stood up and leaned across the table. I know what he was insinuating, but I was way too shy to connect the kiss.

“So, you’re not gonna kiss me?” he licked his lips still awaiting my connection.

“B-but we’re in public?” I whispered as I looked around to see if anyone was looking at us.

“I don’t care,” he grinned.

I timidly leaned over the table and pressed a tiny kiss on his lips.

“Aw, that’s it,” he frowned in disappointment.

“Yep,” I flash a smile as I turned to walk away.

“Hey! Where are you going?” he called out for me, but I just waved and kept walking.

I walked past a small boutique just as Jess came walking out. She stopped dead in her tracks and looked over at me.

Please don’t say anything to me! I repeated to myself.

Just like always, she opened that big stupid mouth of hers and repeat the same lame jokes over again.

“Well, hello. What brings you to this part of town, little piggy?” she smirked.

I could see the faces of her brainless posse turn into comical jokes. The onslaught of ignorance and hurt was about to start again.

“Hello? Earth to the blob! I’m talking to you,” she waved her hand in my face trying to get my attention.

I have grown tired of her constant teasing me, but for some reason, I can never bring myself to say something back to her.

“Hey, why don’t you back off, Jess!” I heard Keyz voiced getting closer to us.

“K-Kris! What are you doing here?” Jess quickly changed her tone as Keyz approached us.

“Don’t hey me,” he scolded her, “Why do you insist on talking to her like that?”

Jess took a step back as her face displayed complete shock. I couldn’t tell if it was the tone of his voice or what he said that made her suddenly mute and afraid.

“Keyz?” I whispered as my eyes faced the ground in front of me.

I don’t want to be this way. It isn’t my fault that it happened. Why can’t I just disappear?!

“Are you okay?” Keyz whispered to me as he noticed the tears flowing uncontrollably down my cheeks.

They started laughing as I turned on my heels and took off in the opposite direction of them.

“That little piggy went wee wee wee all the way home!” Jess and her friends laughed.

I don't know how far I ran when I finally stopped and looked around me. My clothes were soaking wet and my eyes hurt so much from the crying, I suddenly dropped to my knees in defeat.

After a few moments, I could hear Keyz’s voice calling out for me. I stood up and walked slowly towards the voice as his figure appeared in front of me.

“Sam, are you okay?” he asked me again as he stood in front of me.

“I-I,” I sniffed and tried to hold back as much as I could.

“You what? Say something, Sam,” he asked as he put his hands on my shoulders.

“I don’t want to be like this. I d-didn’t ask for this,” I sniffed and stumbled on my words, “I didn’t ask to be fat.”

“Sam, I know,” he smiled at me, but it made me feel even worse than I already did, “Don’t let them get to you.”

“It wasn’t my fault. He was—You were—” I tried to get out what I was feeling but the words were fighting back.

“I was?” he took a step back, ”Was it something I did?”

I suddenly felt a strong feeling within me telling me to let it out. Let it go. Stop hiding my feelings and just get them out of my heart.

“You left me, and he was gone, and nobody was there, and it all went—went wrong,” I cried as I shouted in his face.

I didn’t mean for it to come out so strongly, but I couldn't keep these feelings bottled up anymore. Everybody was blaming me for it. Picking on me because of it. I can’t stand it anymore!

“What are you talking about?” he asked confused, “I never left you.”

“Y-you did,” I sniffed, “ Why did he have to die?! Why couldn’t it be someone else?! Why did they have to take my dad?! Why did you leave me all alone?!” Why did you both have to go away?!”

I don’t know if the words came out of my mouth right, but I didn't care, I needed to say all of this. I had to let someone know how I felt.

“What are you talking about? You’re not making any sense,” he asked as he tried to figure out my encrypted speech.

“My dad died in that accident and he wasn’t even supposed to be there,” I cried, “Then you left me.”

“You’re talking about the exchange program,” he muttered almost if to start crying himself.

“I didn’t have anyone,” I whispered, “So I filled my empty heart with f-food. Before I knew it, I was getting bigger and bigger.”

I paused as he stood in silence watching me cry while explaining my story.

“He was gone, and you…” I bit my lip.

Suddenly, it suddenly stopped raining as I was overcome with silence.

“I’m sorry,” he spoke in a low tone.

He reached out and wrapped his arms around me and pulled me in tight. His warmth felt nice in the freezing rain as my heart began to beat faster.

“I’m so sorry, Sam,” he squeezed me tighter, “I promise that I will never leave you again.”

We sat there in the pouring rain for what felt like hours. He was genuinely sorry about what had happened to me after he left the country. I can’t say that any of it was his fault. He was a kid after all. Neither of us could’ve predicted that things would take a turn for the worse that year. I am glad he’s back in my life, and maybe, just maybe, things could get better.