October wrinkles her nose, just as she always does when I talk about myself like that. This time I don't think she'll smack me in the chest and get over it. At least not like she normally does.

"Do not say that!" She smacks me with a little more force than necessary, making me lose my balance. "Don't ever say that. I don't care what people say, or what they do, or if they stare! They can shove it." I almost laugh, she looks so cute when she's mad.

"Alright, alright." I smirk, glad that I was the only one who could get her fired up like that. I was about to say something, but than her phone started ringing. She looks down at her pocket with an almost angry look, but smiles after a second.

"It's Sofia!" She chirps happily, "I'll be back soon. Love you!" She scrambles from her chair and plants a kiss on my cheek. Before I could say anything she's out the door.

"Love you too." I laugh, shaking my head. We always do that, but for once I wish I knew whether she loved me like that or just as friends. I wish she knew how I felt. Although our friendship is all I really need. I got to know her really well when I came to visit Wade.

I still couldn't believe I met her through Wade though. Any other girl Wade ever showed interest in was, well, a slut. At first I felt like I'd intruded on their "romance," but than I figured that October was different. She wasn't like other girls;  the ones that looked at me and squealed, "Ew a cripple!" It's all I got Grade School and Middle Schools. I once had a councilor tell me he was surprised I hadn't killed myself yet. Two weeks in his office and I had hit that dip shit where the sun don't shine. Expelled me from that school too.
My dad didn't care about me, that's why when they divorced I went with my Mom. Wade stayed with Dad. I wasn't surprised, Dad had always favored him. Why? Because he wasn't me. Everything, but me, he loved. Ruined my childhood. I laughed at myself now, look where I was. Right back in LA. But this time I had October. It was our Senior year in High School and my life was surprisingly well. I was capable of sticking up for myself, but that usually involved hitting people in the shins with my crutches.

"I'm an angry cripple." I laugh to myself, remembering when I had met October.

x-x-x

FLASH BACK

I hobbled towards my art class, not wanting to be seen by anyone. Today I wore my braces instead of using my crutches. My arms are mega sore, so I was in a bad mood, but of course, a lone girl decided to walk up to me.

"Do you need any help?" She asked timidly.

"I don't need help." I snapped, not bothering to stop.

"You shouldn't talk to people like that!" She snapped right back, "You don't even know me!"

"Yeah, your my brother's slutty girlfriend." I glared daggers at her, she was just like the rest of them.

"I am not his girlfriend!" She almost growled, "I am most certainly not a slut." I laughed wryly, she looked like she was going to explode. I rolled my eyes as she walked away. When I get into my classroom, Ms. Pennysworth greeted me and asked me how my day was going. I shrugged and told her it was alright. She than informed me we had a new student.

"I know." I answered her, propping my chin in the palm of my hand, "She's my brother gi-- friend." I stopped at the word girlfriend. From the looks of it, she didn't want Wade that way. I was glad somewhat. Finally a girl who didn't want my brother. She nodded and went back to some papers. Several minutes later, the bell rang and students poured into the class room. Oh great, it's that girl again. Even better, the only seat open is the one next to me.

"Class." Ms. Pennysworth hushed the class, "This is our new student--What did you say your name was, dear?" The girl blushed and mutter her name to our teacher.

"October." She said quietly. I could barley hear her. What happened to the loud obnoxious girl I had talked to early? I snorted when Ms. Pennsyworth directed her to sit next to me. Everyone groaned.

"Poor girl." Whispers floated as she sat down next to me, setting her backpack on her lap.

"Hi." She muttered and pulled out a notebook.

"I'm not your friend." I grumbled as I retrieved a fresh piece of paper from my backpack. New school year, new girl, new problems. I had a feeling I wouldn't be able to shake her like the others. She wasn't an idiot. Plus she looked like she could beat me to a pulp if she really wanted to. I stared down at the blank paper. "What to draw.." I wondered aloud, earning a stare from the new girl. She looked like she was about to say something but didn't. I wondered what she was gonna say. No actually, I didn't care. Although I was curious.

"So, new girl, where are you from?" I asked quietly.

"Washington." She answered, her eyes still glued to her paper. "You?"

"Uh LA." I tried hard not to stare. What was she drawing? She nodded, not talking at all after that. It was kind of nice not wanting to kill someone and actually talk to them. I peered over at her casually and tried to sneak a peek of her drawing. "What are you drawing?" I asked. She shoved her drawing towards me, not saying anything. It was of a wolf, standing next to a river that divided two lands. "Is there a..story to it?" I inquire, examining it.

"Yeah," she answers. "She, the wolf, doesn't think she belongs with her pack. So she stands at the border between her home and the world." She explains, taking her picture back as Ms. Pennysworth walks past us. She asked October if she can see her drawing, whom hands it over grudgingly.

"Does it have a story?" Ms. Pennsyworth asked, examining it closely.

"No." October stated, reaching for her artwork. The teacher handed it back and continued on. So she told me and not the teacher. What's up with that?

"So you tell me and not the teacher?" I asked, snorting.

"Yeah and?" She retorted, "She wouldn't understand it." I sat silent. Like I said before, she was different. "What's your name?" She questions, "You know mine, but--"

"My name is Andrew." I interrupted her.

"Andrew? How about Andy?"

"No, Andrew."

"Grumpy pants." She muttered, making the last touches to her drawing. She was actually very good at drawing, not like I'd tell her that.

"Quit staring at my work." I averted my eyes, turning back to mine. It was of the ocean. "You know, for an ass you're quite the artist." I almost snorted, but turned back to her and shook my head. "You're blushing." She laughed, getting another piece of paper. I could feel people staring.

"He's TALKING to her."

"She's talking to him! Is she crazy? She's gonna get hurt."

"You're not gonna hurt me are you?" She asked as she looked up, raising an eye brow. I shook my head and looked down towards my blank paper. "Some kid told me that a cripple hit him in the shin with a crutch." She giggled, going back to her drawing.

"Lucky you, I'm not using my crutches today." I told her and  started drawing again. Class after that went by really fast, I had talked to her some more but I could tell that the staring were starting to bother her.

"The staring doesn't bother me, you know." She said.

"You're a mind reader now?" I laughed.

"The best." She smiled just as Ms. Pennysworth told me I could leave class early. I flinched slightly, class passed to quickly. "See you, than?" She asked pulling her stuff together, "Oh and here." She handed me a paper folded up.

"What is it?" I pushed my seat back and grabbed something to sturdy myself. I almost fell over when I felt her grab my arm and help me stand properly.

"You'll have to look at it." She told me as I collected my stuff. I started to open it but she shook he head and said, "No, open it while your walking." I nodded and left the room as fast as I could.
    
My next few hours passed painfully slow. That girl - October - hadn't been in any of my other hours. I didn't know why I had wanted to see her so badly. Probably because she was the only one I could talk without getting pissed off. I had been walking off campus when she popped up again.

"Hey Andy!" She smiled.

"Andrew," I told her stubbornly.

"No its Andy whether you like it or not." She said shaking her head. "Do you have--"

"I don't. I go home early." I interrupted her.

"Oh." She said, after I looked away so I wouldn't have to see her reaction.

"So see you than?" I smiled.

"Who said that? I get off early too." I looked over at her questionably, she leaves early too?

"How?" I question.

"Well in Washington I was in all advanced classes, so I had the choice of having only 5 hours." She explained, walking in step with me.

"Interesting." I mumbled as I hobble towards the street.

"Yup. Everyone hated me." She sighed heavily, "I was bestfriends with a girl names Sofia, who everyone hated too. So I left..."

"You left? Where are you living?" I asked, worried. Don't know why though.

"Yeah, I left! My older brother Lance helped me out and got me an apartment." I was somewhat, well extremely, relieved. Looks like I have a friend now.

"So what happened to us not being friends? Oh and can I walk with you? I have an hour to spare.." She trailed off.

"Oh yeah, sure, no problem." I mumbled, avoiding the "friend" comment. "Well my house is just a block away."

"So is my apartment." She laughed. "Are we friends or not?" She demanded, crossing her arms.

"Yeah, you're my friend. Drop it ok?" I grumbled. She scoffed and stayed silent. It wasn't one of those awkward silences, it was comfortable. Than I started wondering why I'd connected with her so well. Usually people just hated me right off the bat, well my attitude didn't help with that at all. She was too nice to be mean to, to fragile. Whoa, I had just met her and I already l--

Flashback over

x-x-x

"Andrew?" Wait... that's not what happened. "ANDREW?"

"Andy?" My eyes shoot open and I realize that I had been dreaming.

"Uh, oh sorry. I fell asleep." I stammer noticing that she's technically on top of me, her legs on either side of me. I bite the inside of my cheek, here's my chance to finally kiss her. I cup her chin and slowly press her lips against mine. Maybe I could have a happy ending after all.