“Did you see my message?” I asked.

I was driving to school and was talking to Stephanie on the phone with it on speaker.

“Yeah, I told you I read it,” She replied.

“Why didn’t you answer me?” I asked and was at a stop light almost four blocks from school.

“I was going to,” She said then gave out a long sigh. “You know it’s been busy here with homecoming and I have dance practice. I don’t always have a chance to text back.”

“I know, but you left me on read for three days. I was only wondering when it was a good date to visit. I found out it’s not hard to buy a bus ticket,” I informed her and saw Millie walking.

I checked the lane before pulling to the side and waved them over trying to give a signal to get in the car.

“Three days isn’t even that long. Why are you mad about that?” Stephanie said and having her on speaker made Millie hesitate to get in the car. 

“Get in. We’re not that far from school. Come on,” I told them.

“Who are you talking to?” Stephanie cuts in.

“A friend,” I told her then looked back at Millie. “It’s not safe parking here on the side of the road. Get in.”

Millie pressed their lips together, looking shy, before opening the door and moving to sit on the passenger seat, “Thank you.”

Stephanie let out another sigh and I continued driving. “If you're going to be like this then I’m hanging up.”

“Like what?” I asked confused.

“Don’t get me started,” She replied and I was about to open my open when she cut me off. “I’m hanging up. I gotta finish doing my make-up. I can’t talk right now. I’ll text you.”

“Fine,” I gave in and finally drove inside the student parking lot. “Talk to you later. I love y-”

“Bye,” Stephanie said and hung up first.

“Did I interrupt something?” Millie asked as they saw me shut off my phone and I pulled into the school parking lot.

“No, we’ve been fighting for a while now. I guess she didn’t like that I took a week to send a message or call her and when I finally did she didn’t respond to me,” I explained and tried to not seem irritated. “It wasn’t easy moving and starting school. I don’t think she gets how hard it’s been for me.”

Millie let out a small laugh and I finally looked at them, noticing they were wearing the make-up they bought when we were at the mall. “Young love,” They said.

“We’ve been together for a long time but moving might change things,” I commented and noticed a few people staring at us as we’re getting off the car. “Hey. Come here.”

Millie turned to me, confused, and walked over to me after closing the door. “What? Didn’t like that I laughed at your relationship?”

“I don’t care about that,” I stated and stared at their make-up before giving a small nod. “Isn’t that the make-up, eyeshadow thingy, you bought?”

Millie's face turned red and started walking towards the school’s front gate. “That’s embarrassing. How can you tell?” They asked and I followed behind them noticing their outfit.

“I have a good eye,” I commented. 

They had on black leggings, with a bright blue shimmery top, but it was almost hidden behind a dark jeans jacket. “I know you weren’t looking at what I was buying,” They said and followed behind them as we made our way towards a building. 

I looked up at them and almost wanted to laugh. “I was bored, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t paying attention and you were talking the whole time trying to tell me the difference. Did you put it to go with your shirt?” I asked.

Millie turned to face me and their face was blushing red. “This is so embarrassing.”

“Are you getting shy 'cause it’s the first time someone noticed your appearance?” I asked, smiling, and raised an eyebrow. “Or you didn’t think someone would compliment your outfit?”

Millie smacked me right on the chest and turned around to continue walking. “You're being a jerk.”

“Ow,” I rubbed my chest and followed behind them. “Hey, I have a question for you?”

“If it’s about my outfit, I’m not answering.”

“No, it’s not that,” I said and paused as I thought over what my aunt told me. The conversation we had and I wanted to ask a few things, but I realized that maybe now would be a good place to ask. “Want to sleep over at my house?”

Millie smiled and raised an eyebrow, “A sleepover? Are we eight years old?”

“What? I can’t ask my only friend to a sleepover?” I asked, pouting.

“I know that I’m not your only friend. Do you not see all those girls waiting at your desk every day?” Millie asked as they leaned against the railing of the stairs and I walked over to stand in front of them. “Waiting for you to give them your number and hoping you would dump your girlfriend or she dumps you. You're the new toy in this town.”

“They don’t count as friends. Are you my friend 'cause you're waiting for Stephanie and me to break up?” I asked them.

“No. I’m friends with you because you’re the only person who sees me,” Millie shook their head and looked away shyly.

I reached out to ruffle their hair and continued walking. “I know that. I’ll see you in English class,” I said and looked over my shoulder to take one last look at them. Millie always seemed bothered whenever I messed up their hair, but they stayed standing there. “Think about it.”

I had almost forgotten that Millie and I don’t have our first class together so I had to take a longer route to find my classroom. I thought about the conversation we exchanged and never noticed how true it is that there is always someone waiting for me, but none of it had any meaning. I have Stephanie and we’ll work out our relationship, but this is just a small bump that we’re going through. She was there with me over the years and we were inseparable. Everything was fine. I had my best friend, Isaac, who I’ve known since middle school and we played football together, even Little League. I should also see how he’s doing as well.