Hello. It's me again. My last relationship, well, while fun, was also short. What is they say? "The brightest stars shine for the shortest amount of time..." or something like that? My point is, that after a while, because it takes a while, trust me, eventually, I found it time to move on. Hopefully you've been through the first part, so you can see where this is going. So, who have I moved on to, you may ask? Well, she was best friends with Angela and I. In fact, we were friends before I dated Angela, so we actually go way back, but due to shyness and simply not knowing each other at the time, we never said anything. Her name, is Yin. Named after the character from my Powers trilogy? No, she's responsible for Yin from the Powers trilogy. Yin his her character. She just kept the name. Like what I did. Anyway, our relationship is actually rather new, so there won't be much written here until more time passes with us together. Hopefully, we can create a good and entertaining story for you, dear reader. In order to do this, I have to mix some true events with us and mix in some more interesting things. So, some of the story is true, and some of it is not. Kind of like a Hollywood movie, right? Although, the real stories are sometimes the most interesting. But a relationship is hard to maintain when both parties are 550-some miles apart. But nonetheless, I thank you for your time and for reading.

~ L.S.

2: How Things May Have Started

    It was a cool, late-winter day. I was sitting outside a coffee shop with my laptop computer, working on some of my writings. I was continuing the first part of the Powers trilogy, which at the time, I didn't think was going to be a trilogy. I didn't notice that there were others sitting around me, since I usually just keep to myself. That's when I noticed something. There was someone who had started to enjoy my work. Her username was Yin Harmony. She left a comment on every chapter of Powers as I published them to the website. Shortly after I began to think to myself, then I sent her a message. "Do you want be be in the story?" I had sent. "Yeah!" She sent back. She gave me her character, Yin Harmony, and her basic description. Once she was in the story, I would always ask her how Yin would react or what she would do in certain situations.

    It all sounds cheeky, right? But one day, this day at the coffee shop, I sent a message to Yin. Then, I heard someone behind me.

    "Okay," it was some girl, who appeared to be a year or so younger than me. "Yin'll do this." I looked behind me to see a girl typing away furiously at her laptop. I stared at her for a moment, then I realized that what she said could not have been a mere coincidence. I smiled, took ahold of my laptop, and moved to sit down next to her.

    "Excuse me," I say, causing her to stop and look up at me. "But you said 'Yin', right?"

    "Uh... yeah," she replied. "I'm helping a friend of mine write his story."

    "Oh really? Because I was just doing some writing of my own. What's his name?"

    "Leaf Soto. Have you heard of him? He's so great."

    "Yes I have heard of him," I say with a smile.

    "So far, Powers is great! He even added me to the story! Message him, and maybe he'll add you too!" I could tell she was super into me, even though she didn't know who I was at the moment. "Also if you want, I could help you with your writing too."

    "That's okay. But, he won't need to add me," I said.

    "Huh? I'm sure if you just asked him, he'd do it."

    "Yeah. I'm sure he would. But I just don't see the need to add myself, considering I already sort of have." She stared at me for a moment, not moving.

    "You what?" she asked after a while, blinking her eyes. I laughed lightly and looked her directly in the eyes through my glasses.

    "I am Leaf Soto," I said, telling her the complete truth. She stared at me with an expression of disbelief for what felt like an eternity.

    "I don't believe you," she said in a single breath.

    "Really?" I ask, feigning surprise.

    "Yeah. If you really are Leaf Soto, then answer this question."

    "Before I do, can you at lest oblige me if I buy you a drink?"

    "I'll take a milkshake."

    "Alright." I signal for a waitress and order a cup of herbal tea and a milkshake. "Okay then. Hit me."

    "Which do I like better? Pepsi or Coke?"

    "I believe you told me in a recent private message, that you, Yin Harmony, if I'm not mistaken, like both." She giggled and smiled.

    "Yep."

    "So do you believe me now?"

    "I guess so." Our order came a moment later. We gave the waitress our thanks and continued chatting, we even did a little bit of writing. After a while, the wind suddenly shifted, sending cold air around the two of us. "I guess I gotta go," Yin said.

    "Same," I said regrettably. We stood up with our laptops and looked at each other. It was a few seconds, but it felt as if time stopped as I looked into her dark hazel eyes and long, beautiful hair of a much darker shade. Her wonderful smile making her lips seem so inviting. So... kissable. She was nearly a foot shorter than I, but she still looked so elegant. All of her proportions were just right.

    "Well, I'll see ya around, Leaf," she said with a laugh before turning and hurrying away, holding her hair back. I knew then, that we would certainly be friends for a long time, but I didn't know that we would soon become way more... than just friends.

    I walked home, carrying my laptop, contemplating this in my head. Once I make it to my house, I check the postbox for any mail, only to find none. Not that I'm expecting anything. I walk up to the front door and unlock it, walking inside. I turn on some of the lights as I walk up to my room and set my laptop on my desk. I lay on my bed, thinking to myself. The next thing I know, I'm daydreaming of our marriage... and children. I sit up quickly, forcing the thoughts from my mind.

    "Calm down," I tell myself quietly over and over a few times, lightly slapping my cheeks. "Things like this... need time." I take off my jacket and scarf, and lay back down on my bed. "Yes. Time..." Still thinking, my mind starts to wander, so I get up and pace to help me focus on my current thoughts, ones I have deemed important. I walked to my window, looking out. "Hm. I wonder what she's doing right now..."

    "Ooh," I hear a wry voice suddenly say behind me, making me jump. I turn and sigh, seeing my younger-by-three-years sister. Leah. She looks like me, with our Mum's blonde hair and green eyes. "So Leaf, who's the lucky lady?"

    "Shut up," I say, walking out of my room. "And get out."

    "Hey! You don't have to be mean!" she pouted, crossing her arms and following me. "Come on! Tell me!"

    "Nope," I say, walking to the kitchen for a drink.

    "Leaf," she complained, drawing my name out as long as she wanted. "Tell me!"

    "No."

    "B-But..." she starts crying. I know you probably know that I just cannot stand it when girls cry. It's not annoying, but when I see a girl crying, I... I just have to do whatever I possibly can to help them. I can't really explain it, but that's just how I sort of am. But I've known Leah, she is my sister after all, and I know for a fact that her tears are fake. She's been doing this since we were little, and it's gotten me in trouble a few times. I turn away from her.

    "Don't start that now. I know you're faking it." She growled, narrowing her eyes behind her glasses.

    "Well, you know Mom's going to say the same thing. And she'll make you tell."

    "I'm sure she will, so I'll save you the surprise."

    "You could have just said so. Jeez."

    "You don't have to get salty. I will, okay?"

    "You better!" she said, scurrying off to her room. Boy, Mum was sure in for a surprise.

    "You what?" she asked in surprise that night during dinner, just after it started and Leah stood up, blurting everything out like a geyser.

    "I met a girl, and we're very close friends," I said. "She's even become one of my characters."

    "Well, as wonderful as that is," Mum said, being mentioned numerous times in my works that have featured myself. "You have to make sure it's healthy relationship, and hopefully, it won't end up like last time." I drop my fork, making it clatter loudly on my plate, my face darkening. "Oh my goodness, Leaf I'm so sorry."

    "Never mention it," I said slowly in a low voice.

    "Sweetie, I'm... I'm so sorry." I take a few deep breaths, calming myself down. The last thing I need is to make Mum cry. I might not be able to live with the guilt. I look back up and continue eating in silence for a few minutes, "So, what's her name?"

    "Yin Harmony."

    "Is that her character name?"

    "Aye, and her screen name."

    "So what's her real name?"

    "We only chatted for about 20 minutes, and I didn't quite catch it yet."

    "Well you better next time you see her. Oh, and you know you're 18 right?"

    "If I didn't then we'd be in serious trouble."

    "Leaf, I'm serious. If she's 15 or 16 even, and you do anything immoral you could be in some serious-"

    "Mum, I know. Don't worry, we're just friends." I've finished my food by now so I stand to take my plate to the sink. "Stuff like that isn't even coming to mind at all yet."

    "They better not," Leah said. "I don't need to see that."

    "Well knowing you Leah, you probably won't," I say in a teasing manner. She gasped in horror like she'd just witnessed a murder. I laugh and walk away. "I'm gonna jump in the shower."

    "Alright," Mum said. "Leah you have dishes tonight."

    "But I don't wanna do dishes!" she whined. Yep, this is my family. I only hope Yin can get used to it.

3: Becoming Friends

    The next day, I walked to the coffee shop for my morning tea, only to run into Yin again.

    "Hey," I said. She turned and looked at me for a second then she smiled.

    "Oh. Hi Leaf," she said with a bright smile. "You here for c- I mean tea?"

    "Aye," I say with a light laugh, raising my cup slightly and taking a sip. "And the wi-fi." She giggled.

    "Well obviously. It's so fast here, it's the same with me." She ordered a milkshake and sat down with me. "I wanna know more about you. So tell me about yourself."

    "Uh," I muttered, unsure due to her sudden eagerness and she giggled again. It's so cute.

    "It's okay. I was just messin' with ya." I laugh lightly.

    "It's okay. Well, I guess I want to become a famous author someday and my favourite colour is orange."

    "Hey," she exclaimed happily. "I love orange too!"

    "Look at that. We already have things in common."

    "I know. So what else?"

    "Well, I really like cars. I go to a vocational school to get my certification in car mechanics."

    "Really?"

    "Yeah. Hopefully I'll graduate so I can get a good-paying job."

    "Oh, so you must like cars a lot then, right?"

    "I'm crazy about them," I admit and she laughs. "What's so funny?"

    "It's nothing," she says, dismissing me. "So what else?"

    "Well, I'm not really sure what else to say."

    "You like writing, don't you?"

    "Yeah. That too." I then opened my laptop.

    "You gonna write some more?"

    "Aye."

    "You know I've been wondering, why do you talk like that?"

    "I'm British. Well, part British, anyway."

    "Ooh, a foreign guy." I glanced at her and she laughed. She moved and sat next to me while I opened up my drafts for Powers. "So where are you now?"

    "Well, it's the final fight. They're about to get ready to fight Victor." She took my laptop and scanned through the draft.

    "Wait, where's Aaron and Yin?"

    "They're having some problems with... with him," I said, referring to the evil version of Aaron. Yin gasped as she read the draft again, reading carefully.

    "Oh whoa. This shit is gettin' real. I love it."

    "Really?"

    "Yeah."

    "Alright then," I say, turning my computer back toward me. "Let me finish some final grammar touch-ups and I'll publish it." When I said 'publish' I mean to publish it online. It's on a website called SparkaTale. Look it up. Oh wait...

    "Cool," Yin said, reading it. "Leaf, this is so amazing. This should totally be a movie."

    "Yeah, I guess. I want to get it adapted into an anime first though, maybe a manga, whichever one you make first." She laughed.

    "That'll be cool, too." I smiled back. I know we're just friends for now, but I'm wondering when I can tell her how I truly feel. I wonder how she'll react? "What?"

    "Hm?" I ask her.

    "You were staring at me with this weird look on your face. Are you okay?"

    "Oh," I said, blushing slightly and glancing away. "I'm sorry. I was just thinking."

    "About?" she asked wryly, smirking.

    "Just how the final battle will go down."

    "Of course," she said with her smirk. "I'm sure."

    "Hey come on," I said nervously dismissing her, my face feeling slightly warm. "Get those thoughts out of your head."

    "What kind of thoughts?"

    "Well... you know..."

    "Wow," she laughed. "You're hilarious in real life. Why haven't we met before?"

    "Um... okay."

    "So what do you think of me, then?"

    "What?"

    "This is awesome, seeing you in real life, so what do you think of me in real life?" I sit back and glance up and down at her, thinking profusely.

    "Well... you're a bit more serious then I thought, even though you laugh a lot."

    "Wha-? That's it?" she asked, surprised, almost sounding offended. She crossed her arms and had a childish, pouting expression. "Thanks a lot."

    "I'm sorry! I'm just... being honest." Crap, I screwed that up.

    "Well... at least your honest." Then she stuck her tongue out at me. "But I still don't like what you said."

    "Alright, alright. I'm sorry."

    "Thank you," she said with somewhat of a forced smile.

    "You're nice, wonderful, and a complete joy to be around." I take a deep breath and she starts laughing. "What?"

    "It's nothing," she laughs. Well, if you're laughing then it's something alright. "I'm sorry." She finishes her milkshake. Before she stands to throw it away, I decide to ask her.

    "Hey..."

    "Yeah?"

    "Do you think that... you might be willing to... possibly, go out, on Saturday?" She blushes slightly and glances away. That actually makes her look adorable. Don't tell her I said that.

    "Y-You mean like a... a date?"

    "Yeah, I guess," I say sheepishly. "What do you call something like that?" Even though she was still blushing, she giggled and looked back at me.

    "Sure. Okay. Saturday."

    "Thank you," I say, bowing slightly. I can see her raise her eyebrows slightly in surprise.

    "You're welcome," she says, smiling. "Sounds like fun." She checks her watch. "I gotta go. I'll see you on Saturday."

    "You too," I say. I watch her leave. But then I think to myself, hoping that this won't turn out... like the last time... a girl said 'yes' to me. You may remember the conversation with Mum last night. For the love of God don't ever bring it up. I'm trying to forget it. But anyway, as I push these thoughts out of my head, so I can focus on walking home, I put my headphones on and start walking down the sidewalk. A minute later, I see a large truck drive by and turn around. I sigh, knowing exactly who it is. Jason Randall. Biggest idiot who lives in the entire state and self-proclaimed womanizer. Out of the corner of my eye, I see the window roll down so I turn up the music a bit.

    "Hey douche-canoe!" he calls out. Yes, he called me that just now. He claims he was the first to use that insult. I do my best to ignore him and maintain a steady temper. "You hear me asshole?" I stop walking and sigh, before looking up at his ridiculously modified truck.

    "What?"

    "I saw you with that girl back at that stupid cafe. What were you two doin', hittin' it off or somethin'?" I just stared at him with a slight frown. He shuts his truck off and gets out, my heart rate increasing slightly as he comes over to me. "I said somethin' to you." He rips out my ear buds, sending my phone from its place in my pocket and onto the ground and he steps on my earbuds, crushing them. "Bet you can hear me now huh?" I bend down to pick up my phone but he kicks it into the street. "I ain't done with you yet." I just ignore him and walk into the street to pick up my phone. I see the car coming but he has plenty of space and time to stop. The driver honks at me while I pick my phone up. "You gotta death wish, asshole?"

    "Shut up," I turn and say to him before walking to the other side of the street and toward my house. See? I told you he was just a pig-headed idiot.

4: Saturday Night

    That upcoming Saturday, I met Yin outside of Wong's Buffet, my favourite Asian food place. We smiled and waved at each other. Hopefully, we weren't too overdressed.

    "Hey," I said with a smile, meeting her in front of the doors.

    "Hey," she said back and looked up at the sign. "Wong's huh?"

    "Yeah. It's my favourite all-Asian food place."

    "Cool. I love the food here too."

    "That's awesome. I also know Bo, one of the chefs." Bo was actually short for Bo-Ling. I know him from the vocational school I attend. He's a student in the school's culinary program, whereas I attend the automotive service program. He had a problem with his car, told me about it when I went to the cafeteria for a soda from the vending machine, and I talked to my teacher who let me fix it for him. We've kinda been friends since.

    "Oh, that's cool." We walk in and the waitress is already waiting for us with a table set up for both of us. "What's this?" she asks with surprise.

    "Leaf told me about your date," I hear Bo say from the sushi bar. Yin and I look over and he nods to us. "Figured we'd set you up with a table. On the quiet side."

    "Yeah, thanks man," I say to him.

    "No prob, bro." We walk to our table, Yin taking a hold of my hand.

    "Gosh Leaf," Yin says, smiling at me, blushing just slightly. "Thanks for this."

    "Sure," I said.

    "What will you have to drink?" the waitress asks.

    "A Pepsi," I said.

    "Same," Yin said.

    "Okay, two Pepsi for the lovebirds," she said with a smile before walking off.

    "Lovebirds?!" Yin huffs quietly.

    "Don't mind her too much," I told her, taking ahold of her hand. She blushed a bit more and looked at me. "That's just Shi, Bo's aunt. She's like that."

    "Oh." Yin blushed slightly, glancing toward the floor. I thought it was kinda cute when she did that. Dang it, I'm saying it again.

    "So... shall we help ourselves to some dinner?"

    "Sure!" We walk over to the buffets and pick up our plates. I got some General Tso's chicken with vegetable noodles. Yin got some egg rolls. When we sat back down with our chop sticks and our Pepsi's were there. We ate in silence for a bit until Yin spoke first.

    "So," she started. "How's your food?"

    "It's good," I said. "How's your life?" I asked the relatively more important question during a situation such as this.

    "It's alright," she shrugged. "How's yours?"

    "Same," I said with an equally matching expression. "My younger sister is just annoying." Yin laughed.

    "I used to babysit okay, so I'm pretty used to annoying kids."

    "If you say so," I say, sipping my Pepsi. "I mean, Leah is pretty annoying." She smiled.

    "So you live with your family?"

    "My Mum and sister."

    "You Dad doesn't stay with you?"

    "He left when I was three."

    "Oh. I'm sorry, I didn't know."

    "It's okay. Really. But yes, it's just Leah, myself and Mum. What about you?"

    "It's just me and my Mom and grandparents. I have no siblings."

    "Doesn't that get lonely not having anyone around your age to have fun with?"

    "Kinda," she admitted.

    "Does your Mum let you have any pets?"

    "No. We don't have any pets, although I'd like a cat."

    "I like cats too."

    "Really?"

    "Aye." She giggled. "What? Cats are cute."

    "I know."

    "So then what are you giggling about?"

    "It's nothing, don't mind it."

    "Alrighty then," I say, taking a drink. "So, if you don't mind I want to get an obvious thing out of the way," I start, causing her to look at me curiously. "How old are you?"

    "Gosh you're elaborate," she comments, and I give her half a smile.

    "I'll start by saying I'm 18 at the moment." She smiles and clears her throat.

    "I'm only 16 right now, but I'll be 17 next April." I nod, taking mental notes, keeping eye contact the entire time. It's cute when she tries to mimic me. Just like a kitten. I think to myself, picturing her with cat ears and a tail. Perfect and absolutely adorable, but will she be into that? That's another thing we'll talk about later.

    "Okay." I take more notes.

    "Why would my age be a problem?" she asked curiously. "Is it cause you're 18? Or am I too young for you?" She's starting to sound worried.

    "Yin please, there's no reason to worry," I say, holding her hand. She blushes and looks at me when she realizes I'm holding her hand. I blush a bit too, since this is actually the first time we've felt each other's soft skin. I quickly let go.

    "No don't," she says.

    "What?" I ask and she takes a hold of my hand again.

    "Y-Your hand... it feels nice," she says, blushing. I look at her while she holds onto my hand. I wonder what she's thinking, but I'll mess with her a bit.

    "You want that to be yours?" I ask with a slight smirk. She blushes deeper and looks down slightly.

    "Y-Yes... maybe." She strokes my hand with her fingers. I have to try my best to not smile. "You're skin is so soft."

    "Um... can you stop now?"

    "Why?"

    "That kinda... tickles-stop it," I say laughing softly. She smiles and laughs.

    "Aw that's adorable." She smirks and continues. My chin moves to the table as I lean over laughing, so I have to poke her with a chop stick to get her to stop. "Hey, you got honey sauce on me."

    "Well I asked you to stop." She wipes it off with a napkin. Dang it, maybe I should have licked it off. No, we're not there yet. "Speaking of being adorable, would you do something for me?"

    "What are you saying?" she asks.

    "Would you put on cat ears and a tail for me?" She blushed, her face a deep red again.

    "Um... sure, I guess." She looked up at me. "But you have to too."

    "I'll do anything for you, Yin."

    "You mean it?"

    "Aye," I say with an honest nod.

    "Aw... you're so nice."

    "Well, that's how Mum raised me."

    "Of course," she giggled. "She did a good job."

    "I'll tell her that."

    "Maybe you could."

    "So when can I meet your Mom and Leah? They sound really nice."

    "Mum is, Leah is annoying."

    "I know, you told me already," she laughed.

    "Sorry. I sometimes repeat things." Yin laughed.

    "I figured." By about now we were done with our dinners. "So how about next Saturday?"

    "I don't know. Sometimes I help my friends from tech with their projects, so I don't know."

    "Aw, okay." Then, Shi gave us the check and two fortune cookies. "Thank you."

    "Sure," Shi said with a smile. "You lovebirds are welcome here any time." She walked away. Yin blushed again and I chuckled softly.

    "Yin, I'd love to go on another date, but I'll just have to wait and see what comes up," I told her, finishing my soda.

    "That's okay," she said with a small smile.

    "If Saturday's open, I'll call ya."

    "Okay." We put our money together to pay the bill and Shi picked it up and brought back change. We split the change and left the restaurant. "Tonight was fun."

    "It really was," I said. "I haven't dated for a couple years but, this was fun."

    "Really?"

    "Aye." I gave her a hug. She gasped in slight surprise, but she hugged me back. "So, I guess I'll see you later then?"

    "Sure. Okay." We looked at each other for a bit, but as I turned to leave, she grabbed my arm, stood up as tall as she could and kissed me. I would come to remember this kiss for the rest of my life. We stood back after a few moments and looked at each other, our faces red. That's when I definitely knew it. How we would end up. "Well, I gotta go," she said. "Bye."

    "I love you," I said somewhat softly when she turned around.

    "What?" she asked, turning back, still blushing so I didn't know if she heard me or not.

    "Nothing," I said quickly, looking away. "I'll see ya later." I turned around and walked the opposite direction, back toward my house.

5: PDA (Personal Displays of Affection)

    The following Monday, I woke up to go to Tech. It was any normal day at Tech. Mr. Clouser gave us another job sheet to do and Steven, Joe, Ruben, and I went out to the shop to do it. Today he assigned us mass-airflow sensors. You know, easy stuff. So it was pretty much a normal day at Tech. But what wasn't normal, was when I got back to school at 11:30. I got my laptop out, wrote for a bit, and waited for lunch, like any other day. The bell rang, marking the start of first lunch, so I stood up and got lunch and sat back down. When I looked up I saw someone sit down at a table in front of me. It was Yin. Oh. My. God. We go to the same school?! I immediately picked up my laptop and moved over and sat in front of her. She was busy with her laptop as well, so she didn't really see me.

    "Hey," she said indifferently.

    "Hello," I said, causing her to gasp and look up at me.

    "Holy crap. Leaf!" she said happily, reaching across the table and hugging me. "We go to school here together?"

    "I guess we do," I said. She laughed and smiled at me.

    "So how's tech?"

    "It's fine," I said, holding my dirty hands up. She gasped lightly seeing them.

    "You know, you really shouldn't eat with those dirty hands." I laughed, shrugging it off. "Didn't your Mother tell you that?" she asked with a sly grin.

    "Yeah, but really, it's fine. I've done this many times and I haven't died yet so..." She laughed.

    "Maybe not on the outside."

    "Sorry."

    "If we're gonna date then you're going to have to keep yourself clean." Wait, what?

    "What did you say?"

    "Hm? I said that if you and I are gonna date," she blushed slightly as she spoke those words, "then you should make sure your hands are clean."

    "Okay, I'll wash them after lunch."

    "You better. I don't wanna hold dirty, oily hands."

    "And I can promise that you won't," I said, finishing my food.

    "You're lucky though," she said when I came back to the table from dropping off my tray at the kitchen.

    "How so?"

    "Since you're wearing your tech shirt, you don't have to wear the school uniform. I hate wearing skirts!" Our school uniform was a rather bizarre mix of colours, like they couldn't decide on which one to have, so they made it somehow look decent with red, yellow, black, purple, and white. The shirts were red, the skirts and slacks were black as were the ties, the undershirts were white, and the socks had yellow and purple stripes toward the top.

    "Why? Because pervy boys can see up them so easily?"

    "Obviously!" she said, blushing, before looking around to make sure that no one was or could look up her skirt. "That and you're completely noticeable since it's blue."

    "Well, I'm not the only one here who goes to tech."

    "I know," she huffed.

    "But I don't really want to be noticeable. That, and I think you look good in a skirt." She quickly drew in her breath and blushed, staring at me.

    "Y-You really think so?" she asked nervously. I'll bet she was picturing us together, getting it on somewhere, judging by how red her face was.

    "Yeah."

    "Um... thanks." She stood up and took her tray to the kitchen and came back, but before she could sit down, the bell rang. "Aw!" she pouted. "I'll see you later then, Leaf."

    "See ya," I said standing and picking up my laptop. She kissed my cheek and smiled before we went out separate ways.

    "Ooh," some of guys around me said. I didn't know them, but they kept saying things to me on my way to my Economics class.

    "This guy's gotta score," one said.

    "Hey, have you tapped that ass yet?" another asked.

    "Lucky bastard," a third said. I walked into my classroom, smiling to myself at that last one. I like the way it sounds for some reason. I didn't do much in Economics, simply because we didn't do much. After that, I went to Ms. Temple's room. She's the Spanish teacher and I'm her Teacher's Assistant. That means I sit in the back at my own table and grade assignments. Luckily today, there isn't much to do, and I'm really good at grading papers. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I can grade them pretty quickly. After I'm finished grading papers, of which there were few, I opened my laptop and continued writing. I sent an e-mail to Yin. Sometimes we can talk whenever I finish, sometimes she's busy with her class. When the dismissal bell rings at 3:10, Yin catches me in the hallway.

    "Hey Leaf, I'm going to stay behind today," she said, her voice almost sounding guilty.

    "Why?" I ask.

    "Math tutoring."

    "That's okay. If you need me to help just ask."

    "Thanks."

    "Leaf!" I hear Leah yell from the other end of the hall. She is three years younger than me. Since I'm a Senior this year, she's a Freshman, but she prefers to be called a 'Freshwoman.' "We gotta go home!"

    "Is that Leah?"

    "Aye," I say, nodding. She comes storming over to us.

    "Leaf! I said- wait who's this?"

    "Hi Leah," Yin says, bowing politely. "I'm Yin."

    "You're his girlfriend?" she pried slyly.

    "Well," Yin said, looking away, blushing slightly and twiddling her thumbs.

    "Yes Leah," I say. "Now I'm sorry. Let's go." I give Yin a kiss. "I'll see you tomorrow."

    "O-Okay. Bye Leaf." She smiled and turned around, heading back to the math teacher's room. I smile and walk with Leah out to the car.

    "She seems nice," Leah says as we get in.

    "Aye," I obviously agree, starting the car and driving out of the parking lot. "She is. We've been friends for a while now, even though we've only really met about a week ago."

    "How's that?"

    "She's a fan of 'Powers'."

    "That book you wrote?"

    "Aye. She even became a character."

    "Obviously." I turned down the street we live on. "I figured."

    "You know, you should really appreciate me and my work more."

    "I try to," she said.

    "Yeah, only when Mum makes you."

    "Whatever," she scoffed, checking her phone. I came up to our house and pulled in the driveway, making sure to leave enough room for Mum. We get out of the car and walk inside. I hear Leah head for her room and set a textbook down on her desk.

    "Homework?" I ask her from my room.

    "Damn earth science."

    "That's easy stuff." I hear her walking toward my room.

    "Shut up!" she says from my doorway, throwing her heaviest pillow at me. I laugh as it hits me. She pouts and comes in to pick it up and she storms back over to her room. I take off my jacket and tech shirt and put them over the back of my desk chair and I lay on my bed with my laptop, hoping to hear back from Yin but nothing comes up for about an hour so I just play a game while I waited, thinking about Yin the entire time.

6: Faking an Injury

    The next day, Yin met with me during lunch.

    "My mom finally agreed to let me come over to your house this afternoon," she said. Wait, when did we talk about this?

    "Okay," I said. "Why?"

    "So you can help me with my homework, silly. But before she leaves me with you, she wants to see you, to... you know..."

    "I get it," I told her with an understanding smile. So later that afternoon, when her Mum stopped by, I greeted her with a nice and friendly smile. "Hello Ma'am," I said.

    "Is this the boy you're talking about?" Yin's Mum asked her.

    "Yes Mom," Yin answered. "He's really smart and he said he'd help me with my math so I wouldn't have to stay afterschool."

    "Well fine," she said after a while of eyeing me from top to bottom. "How old did you say you were again?"

    "18 Ma'am," I said.

    "What grade?"

    "Senior, Ma'am."

    "Good. If you lay your hands on my daughter in any way I can get ya arrested." I go wide-eyed slightly as she turns toward Yin. "Alright Baby, call me right when you're done. I gotta get your grandma to the doctor's office." Wow, she does not like me at all. I hope it's not because I'm white... is it?

    "Okay Mom," Yin said. "Thank you." She smiled at Yin, glared at me, and walked back to her SUV and drove off. Yin waved. She took a left up the street and Yin and I walked inside. In the matter of moments Yin and I were sitting on the couch together, cuddling. Mum picked up Leah earlier because she had a cavity she had to get filled in, so they were gone and wouldn't be home for another couple hours.

    "I don't think your Mum likes me," I told her, looking at her math assignment.

    "Yeah, she's really, really, protective."

    "I can understand. Mum might have looked at you the same way so long as Leah or I wouldn't notice." Yin giggled and we sat in silence for a bit.

    "Hey Leaf?" she asked.

    "Yeah?" I ask back.

    "Why aren't we having any fun?"

    "I thought we were." She looked over at me, climbing on top of me, gently pushing my back onto the cushions.

    "I mean, real fun?" she asked slyly, in a low and soft tone.

    "Yin please, not now."

    "Aw!" she pouted, sitting up. In a desperate attempt to cheer her up, I started tickling her. She gasped in surprise and giggled as a moved my fingers along her torso. I laughed softly and tickled faster, Yin laughing harder, wiping her eyes. "S-Stop!" she laughed. "S-stop it!" I continued tickling her and she continued laughing until she accidentally elbowed me in the stomach.

    "Ah!" I groaned, putting my hand on my stomach.

    "Oh crap!" she cried. "Leaf I'm so sorry! This is why you shouldn't suddenly tickle me so much," she rambled on for a bit. "God I'm so sorry!" I just looked up at her.

    "It's okay," I strained. She lifted my shirt and moved my hand, finding a red spot. "You'd love to do that everyday, wouldn't you?"

    "Oh shush!" she said, blushing. "Does it hurt?" She pressed her finger on it.

    "Ah!" I cried out.

    "I'm sorry!"

    "Please... just get me an ice pack."

    "O-Okay!" she stood up and scurried to the kitchen, filing through the freezer. She came back after a minute with a bag of frozen peas and gently pressed them on my stomach. I winced in response. "I'm sorry."

    "You apologize too much," I said softly, holding the peas.

    "Well... I'm sorry..."

    "Don't beat yourself up."

    "Why?" I laughed softly. "What?" I sat up laughing, totally fine. "Wh-what?"

    "I pulled a World Cup and faked an injury," I said, standing up. If you're mad right now, I'm sorry. But get pranked, bro! Or sis, I'm not judging. Anyway, Yin stands up in anger as I'm laughing.

    "Damn it Leaf!" she yells at me. I stop laughing and look at her, dropping the peas. "You had me so worried!"

    "Yin look, I'm sorry." She picks up the peas and storms away. "Can you put those back in the freezer on your way?" She turns and glares at me.

    "Why don't you?!" She throws the bag at me and it hits my chest and falls to the floor. She storms up the stairs and into my room I hear the door slam and lock and she throws herself on my bed. I sigh, knowing I shouldn't have made her worry like that and I put the peas back in the freezer and walk up the stairs to my door. "Don't you dare come in," she says.

    "I wasn't going to," I said. But it is my room so... yeah. I sigh softly and sit down, by back to the door. "I'm sorry." Damn it... I really screwed up. I wipe my eyes, realizing that I'm starting to cry. I heard Yin gasp and climb off my bed.

    "Leaf?" she asked softly. I was too busy crying in self regret to answer. "Leaf... please don't cry." She was starting to cry as well. "I'm sorry." She unlocked and opened the door, causing me to fall back onto the floor. "I'm sorry." She hugged me and I hugged her back.

    "It was my fault. I shouldn't have tricked you."

    "But I shouldn't have been so mad at you."

    "Yin really. It was my fault. I'm sorry."

    "I'm sorry too." We hug each other for a while. "You're room is nice," she says, looking around. "You keep it really clean."

    "Yeah. I try to anyway." She giggles. "What's so funny?"

    "You do keep it clean. I try to keep my room clean but I still can't see my carpet," she laughs.

    "You're so dirty." She blushes deeply and stares at me.

    "What's that supposed to mean?"

    "Sorry. That came out wrong." Even though she was still red in the face, she giggled. Then, her phone vibrated with a text message. She picked it up and looked.

    "It's Mom. She's on her way back."

    "Well then we better finish your homework." We walk back downstairs and pick up her math book.

    "I just wanted an excuse to come here," Yin says, quickly filling out the paper.

    "You know how to do this?" I asked her, looking at it.

    "Yeah. This stuff I understand. Other stuff I usually don't."

    "I figured." By the time she finishes, I hear a knock on the door and I see her Mom's SUV parked outside. We walk to the door and I open it.

    "Hi Mom," Yin says.

    "Hey Baby," she says, taking Yin's hand and pulling her over. "You finish your work?"

    "Yes Mom. Leaf was a lot of help."

    "You better get a good grade then. If not," she glared at me. "You're gonna take the heat, you hear me young man?"

    "Yes Ma'am," I said with mild apprehension. "I understand completely, Ma'am."

    "Thanks a lot Leaf," Yin said.

    "Sure," I said with a slight nod as Yin and her Mum walked away. After they leave I let out a huge sigh of relief. "Man," I mutter. "Mrs. Harmony is one scary woman..."

7: Down Days

    I came into the lunch room after tech one day and later, during lunch as I was busy writing, Yin walked over and sat down next to me, letting her head fall onto the table top with a tired and bored sigh.

    "Hello to you too, Yin," I said. She muttered something to the table top, preventing me from hearing anything. "Excuse me?" She sighed and pulled her head up and let it lean on my shoulder.

    "I'm sorry," she said. I looked over, but she relatively avoided my eyes.

    "For what?"

    "For making you worry."

    "Are you just having a bad day?"

    "Y-Yeah. I don't want you to worry."

    "I'm not." I turned to face her. "I understand. Some days are nice and the others... just suck."

    "Really. I'm sorry."

    "Yin, there's nothing to be sorry about." We get up and look at each other. "If anything, I'm sorry your day's not feeling good for you."

    "But... Leaf... I don't want to ruin your day."

    "You aren't. You could never ruin any day." I give her a quick hug. "It's impossible."

    "Leaf..." She grabbed onto me as I hugged her. We sit like this for a few seconds.

    "Okay, that's enough over there," I hear the principal's voice across the lunch room and I let her go. "Thank you."

    "God," I mutter with half a smirk. "There's so many obstacles in our way." I see Yin crack the faintest hint of a smile.

    "Yeah," she agrees. Since her mood seemed to have improved just now, I'll give her some rewarding head pats, which I do. She blushes slightly and looks up at me.

    "There's that cute little smile." Yin smiled and giggled.

    "Okay, okay. You got me..."

    "Does this feel good?" I asked her out of mere curiosity, and curiosity only. You get those thoughts out of your damn head.

    "Mm-hm," she nodded. "Please... don't stop."

    "Hey, whoa!" I hear a few seats over and I stop patting her head.

    "Oh shush!" she says to the immature kid. We stand up and the bell rings, ending the lunch period. Later that day, when the bell rang for dismissal, I walked out of the classroom to see Yin waiting for me.

    "Wow. You waited." She hugged me.

    "Yeah. I missed you."

    "I missed you too." We walked together down the hall. "So what are you doing this afternoon?"

    "Math tutoring," she mumbled.

    "Again?"

    "Mm-hm," she nodded. Since I was a senior, I actually took my final math course last year. It was easy given it was only Algebra 1. There's a loophole in the system that allowed me to take it again since I last took it in 8th grade, or for those of you abroad, that's the end of junior high school. Anyway, she walked away and into the math room. I walked out to my car. Leah was waiting for me.

    "Come on, you take forever," she said.

    "I'm sorry, I was talking to Yin," I told her.

    "Really?" she asked as we climbed in and I started the car and I drove us home. "Damn it Leaf, you need to get your head outta the clouds."

    "It is."

    "Is it? All you ever talk to me about is her." She glared at me. "You talk about her so much, I never get time to talk to you."

    "Wait, what are you saying?" I asked her as I pulled into the driveway.

    "I don't get to spend time with you since you're always thinking about her," Leah whined. Is she trying the crocodile tears again, or is she being honest? I look at her as we walk into the house. She hugged me. "I wanna be able to spend time with my brother."

    "Okay fine."

    "I don't always have to be the annoying little sister ya know."

    "I know." We walk inside and set our stuff in our rooms. I open my laptop and check the messages. Yin hasn't written back. Well... good for her. That must mean she's really studying. I find myself picturing her dressed up in her uniform with glasses on. Wait, what am I doing?! We've only been on one date and I'm role playing?! I slap my cheeks to expel these thoughts from my head. Not now mate, that'll come later... probably.

    "Leaf?" Leah calls from her room. I sigh and get up and out of my revolving chair and walk to her bedroom doorway.

    "What is it, Leah?" I asked her.

    "Can you help me with my math?"

    "Do I?"

    "Please... Onii-chan?" God, not this again. I sigh and walk in and lay down next to her, propped up on my elbows. At least she always has a soft blanket on the carpet.

    "Alright, what is it?"

    "Graphing." She pulls out a graphing calculator that she borrowed from the math teacher, Mr. Kern. I type in her equations and we get the graphed lines. "Oh, so that's what it's supposed to look like?"

    "Did you type it in correctly?"

    "Obviously not." She grabs a box of strawberry Pocky from God knows where under her bed, and offers me one, but I decline. Shouldn't she know I only like chocolate and almond crunch? She eats while she watches me type in the equations. "I keep forgetting the exponents," she mutters, her mouth full. We're so busy working on the math that Mum walks in on us just before we finish. Shit... that sounded wrong, didn't it? Oh well, what's done is done. You know what I mean, okay? Get that damn smirk off your face. Anyway, Mum looks in.

    "And just what are you two doing?" she asks with a smile.

    "Homework," Leah says, looking up at her.

    "Math?" She comes in and lays down with us. She adjusts her glasses and looks at the text book. "Oh my. It's been a while since I've done this."

    "Don't worry, we're already finished," I told her.

    "Aw Leaf, you helped her?"

    "Yes," I said, blushing only very slightly.

    "Aw," Mum purred, pulling at me cheek a little. Leah giggled, and I dismissed her by rubbing my cheek and leaving. I know Leah struggles with math, but I also know that if she gets a good grade on the assignment, Mum might throw a little extra in my allowance. She's done that before. Anyway, I leave and go to my room. It's only 5:40 in the afternoon. Maybe I'll go and make something for dinner. I don't know, I'm kinda hungry. I go to the kitchen and open the refrigerator. Ooh, deli meats. I make myself a turkey pastrami sandwich. I eat it while pacing around the dining room table. Why? Don't ask, that's just what I do. Pacing helps me think. I see Leah come out and into the dining room and I look at her. She comes over and bites into my sandwich, much to my surprise. I just stare at her while she smirks and winks, bringing her teeth down and walking off with the bite of my sandwich.

    "Make your own sandwich," I tell her. Since Mum isn't looking she quickly smirks back and flips me off. God damn it Leah, why do you have to be like that?

8: Rescuing a Damsel

    I came into school the next day after tech. Since it was an A day, we have block scheduling, I had lunch before the 3A class. I did some writing only to see Yin come into the lunch room.

    "Leaf!" she exclaimed happily and came over to me.

    "Hey," I said. She giggled happily and threw her arms around me. "Why are you out here?"

    "I snuck outta class."

    "You what?" I asked with disbelief.

    "Come on, it was boring anyway! Besides, there's only like a minute until the bell rings." The bell rang marking the beginning of first lunch. "Oh. Never mind then." I sighed, since she didn't have the same lunch as me that day. We watched each other's eyes as she walked away and back toward the classrooms. I sighed again and helped myself to lunch, which was terrible. After the rest of the day passed relatively quickly, thanks to the help of private messaging, I go to meet Yin in the parking lot. I see a big truck parked near my car. Shit. I see Jason Randall and Yin. He's holding her in a very inappropriate manner.

    "Damn it Jason!" Yin said. "Let go of me!" She struggled in his big arms.

    "Come on!" Jason yelled in her face. "You know you're the girl of my dreams, so why the hell are you hanging out with that nerd?!"

    "Jason," I say, causing them both to look over at me. "Let go of her." He stares at me with disbelief as he holds Yin in front of him, one of his hands clamps over one of her breasts. Yin gasps and blushes, groaning in pain, instinctively closing her legs slightly.

    "Leaf," she begs, tears in the corners of her eyes. "Please, help me." I growl as Jason tightens his hand.

    "You ain't got the guts to do anything, you little faggot," Jason smirks. I clench a fist and tap my leg with a pencil, hoping Yin sees it. She looks over, and sees the tapping, getting my sign.

    "Let go of me, Jason!" she said again.

    "Why should I?"

    "Because I'll do this!" she yelled, bringing her foot up behind her and kicking him in the crotch. He cried out and let go of her and with her bag picked up, she ran right over to me. "Come on Leaf, let's get outta here." She jumps into my car and me with her, with Leah coming out.

    "Hey, wait for me!" she said, running over and into the back seat. With her in, we haul ass out of the parking lot. I drive Yin to her house.

    "Thanks Leaf," she said. She leaned in and kissed me.

    "Ooh," Leah said. "What happened?"

    "Nothing," I answered.

    "Come on," she begged. "You gotta give Leah the scoop!"

    "Let's just say Prince Leaf rescued his damsel in distress," Yin said, vividly blushing and glancing away.

    "Ooh, that sounds sexy."

    "Oh please," I said, getting out to open the door for Yin. She smiles and takes my hand as she steps up and out of my car. "You did all the work."

    "Yeah, but you told me to kick Jason in the balls."

    "What?!" Leah burst out with shock and laughter. "You did what to the Jason Randall?!"

    "I said Leaf told me to," Yin retorted back to Leah, still blushing a bit. "Besides, he was practically raping my by the time Leaf came outside." She took a breath and straightened her hair a little. "Anyway, it was nice to see you Leah. And Leaf, thank you for saving me." She kissed me on the lips and I kissed back. I swear I barely felt the tip of Yin's tongue in my mouth, so I accidentally backed away a bit.

    "Sorry," I told her.

    "No, it's okay," she giggled. "Bye!" she purred before turning and walking inside. I watched and waited for her to get inside before I left with Leah climbing up front.

    "So what happened?" Leah asked.

    "Jason was groping her, but with my tip, she got herself out."

    "What were you doing?"

    "Honestly? Tapping my leg with a pencil, pointing to my crotch."

    "Okay, you didn't need to tell me that part. But now that you say that, I see what you mean. She's smart given that she saw that and Jason didn't."

    "Yeah," I said. We drove through town and we pulled into our driveway. "Any homework today?"

    "Nope," she sang as she flounced up to her room, probably listening to her favourite boy band or something. Anyway, I get on my laptop and do some more writing. A lot of times, when I want Yin's input, I try to ask her, but I feel like it's better to surprise her. Most of it she's actually enjoyed, but there were a few times where she said I needed to change a few things. God damn it, if you have a dirty mind, please stop reading this. I don't know why I keep doing that, but honest to God, I'm not doing it on purpose, okay? Well, that wasn't as bad as the other ones. But anyway, Mum comes home later at an unusual 6:00.

    "I brought home some chicken," she sang as she too flounced into the house.

    "Wicked," I said as I immediately helped myself to a chicken leg.

    "Leaf, please use a plate!" Mum scolded. I laugh between bites, as I've been doing this for a couple years now. Just eating a chicken leg whenever Mum brings it. You gonna judge me again? Don't be like that. Anyway, after I eat a few chicken legs, I go downstairs to watch some TV for awhile until it's almost 7 in which I go back upstairs to take a shower. Once I'm all clean and shiny, I get out and hurry to my room to get dressed. Once I am redressed I watch some YouTube on my laptop and for some reason, Leah does too after her shower.

    "Hi Leaf," she says, climbing in next to me on the bed. Please note how I said 'on' not 'in'. "Why are you watching Lost Pause?"

    "Because I can," I answered. "Besides, he's my go-to guy for funny anime stuff." Leah giggled and playfully punched me in the shoulder while singing the theme of One Punch Man.

    "One punch!" she laughed and I couldn't help laughing. We continued watching until Mum told us to go to bed at 9:30 but by then I heard Leah was already asleep. I smiled and got up, putting my laptop away. Then, I carefully picked Leah up and carried her to her room and laid her down on her bed and tucked her in. I gave her a couple head pats and left, Mum standing behind me and smiling.

    "You're so nice to your sister," she said softly with a smile.

    "Why wouldn't I be?" I asked her. Mum giggled and gave me a hug.

    "Good night, Leaf."

    "Night Mum." I walk back to my room and do a little bit of writing before finally going to bed at 10 o'clock. Curled up under the blankets I sigh and fall asleep, dreaming of Yin.

9: Opposition

    I came to school the next day after tech. I was in the lunch room waiting for the bell to ring so I could get to my 3B class. But then, a girl came over and sat in front of me.

    "Hi," she purred. I looked up and saw her. Who is this, and why does it sound like she's trying to seduce me?

    "What do you want?"

    "I want you," she replied. "You're kinda cute and you're really smart."

    "I don't even know who you are."

    "Tegan Ryer. You haven't heard of me?"

    "I'm quite sure we aren't even in the same grade."

    "You're probably right." God this girl... sure she's of larger structure than Yin, but her body proportions... they're all wrong. She doesn't look as pleasing to my eyes as Yin does. And are her breasts... enhanced? I steal a glance toward the clock on the wall and decide to head to class early, since the teacher has his plan period before so the room will be empty, save for him, probably. I close my laptop and get up, this Tegan Ryer following me. I decide to ignore her as I know for a fact that she isn't in my American Government and Civics class. You know, civics, like the Honda? Anyway, I walk into the classroom, this Tegan following me.

    "Who's your squeeze?" someone asked.

    "I don't even know who she is," I muttered.

    "If you're not in my class you need to leave," the teacher said.

    "Don't worry," Yin said, walking in and taking Tegan's hand. "She was just on her way out." Yin winked at me and scowled at Tegan, and after they left, we heard a very heated conversation in the hallway. Afterward, Yin peeked back inside. "Sorry about that."

    "It's okay," the teacher said. At the end of the day, I meet Yin in the hallway.

    "What was all that about?" I asked her.

    "Tegan's just a bitch," she said, crossing her arms. "We used to be friends, but now we're not. Damn slut," she muttered.

    "I understand now," I said. "She tried hitting on me."

    "She did what?!" Yin asked, with anger flashing in her eyes. I'm pretty sure her eye colours just darkened. "That bitch!" Yin stormed off.

    "Where are you going?"

    "Math tutoring."

    "Oh." I followed her and gave her a quick kiss before she walked into the classroom. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

    "Oh... okay," she said softly, her anger falling away. She walked into my arms as they found their way around her. I stroked her head a few times. Unfortunately, the mood was ruined by one Leah.

    "Come on Leaf, you can bang her later," she complained. "Let's go."

    "Fine," I sighed, as Yin blushed, hiding her face in her hands.

    "Jesus Christ, Leah," she breathed. Leah just giggled mischievously, taking ahold of my hand and walking me toward the parking lot.

    "You really are evil," I told Leah as we climbed in the car.

    "So what if I am?" she retorted. "Someone needs to be the the devil in this relationship."

    "Don't say it like that, because you make it sound so dirty."

    "Well, it's your fault for having a dirty mind."

    "Most people these days do, so you need to rethink your sentencing."

    "Oh shut up." I drive us home and we walk into the house. Setting our stuff in our rooms, I throw myself onto my bed for a nap. I want to dream about Yin, but it's that weird Tegan girl for some reason, and because of this, I'm not asleep for long. I get up just as Mum's coming into my room.

    "Oh, I'm sorry Sweetie," she said. "I didn't mean to wake you."

    "It's alright," I yawn and rub my eyes. Mum giggles and hugs me.

    "Well, since you're up, I'll reheat some of the leftover chicken for you."

    "Okay." We walk to the kitchen and I pour myself a glass of chocolate milk while Mum heats up some leftover chicken legs. Leah come into the dining room.

    "Leftovers?" she whines.

    "Aye," I said. Leah groaned and dropped her head onto the table top.

    "Leah, if you're not hungry, then go ahead and not eat," Mum scolded her.

    "Fine," Leah muttered, nibbling on a chicken thigh. She nibbles like a kitten. Seriously, she does. It's weird. But anyway, after dinner, we watched TV then showered, like any other normal day. After my shower, I watched more YouTube, more Lost Pause, and I did some writing. Once everything was done and I was tired, I was getting ready for bed when I heard a tap on my window. I went over and saw a pebble tap my window. I open it and look down, hoping to see Yin. But to my dismay, it's Tegan.

    "Wrong girl," I tell her, loud enough for her to hear, but not attract Mum.

    "Nope," she says. "I was lookin' for you."

    "Get out of my yard."

    "No Honey." I can barely see her glare at me. I sigh and pull out my cell phone and hold it up to my face.

    "I'd like to report someone sneaking around my yard," I say as if I've called the emergency services. I see her turn tail and run and I smirk to myself, knowing I've done a good thing.

    The next day, I see Yin at school early.

    "Hey," I said, standing beside the bus to take me to Tech.

    "Hi Leaf!" she said giddily, hugging me.

    "Why are you here so early?"

    "You know that Kern also does morning tutoring, right?"

    "Oh right."

    "Anyway, since it hasn't started yet, I figured, I see you off."

    "Aw, that's so sweet of you. Oh, and I need to tell you something."

    "What is it?" she asked with an innocent smile.

    "Your friend Tegan."

    "Oh. What about her?"

    "She was throwing rocks at my window last night."

    "That damn bitch." Yin sighed and rubbed her forehead. "Just leave her to me. Please."

    "What are you going to do?"

    "Leaf, just please leave her to me." She kissed me on the lips. "I got this, okay?"

    "Okay. I trust you." I give her a quick hug. "I've gotta get on the bus, alright?"

    "Alright. I'll see ya after Tech then, Babe."

    "Babe?" I ask.

    "Of course. I mean why not, right?"

    "Yeah, I guess you're right." I smile and get on the bus, hoping Yin won't go too far over the top.

10: Frienemies

    When I came back from Tech later that morning, I walked by the office only to see Yin and Tegan sitting outside the principal's office. Oh great, what did she do? When the lunch bell rang, the principal walked out into the cafeteria with Yin and Tegan.

    "We can't have the two of you fighting like that here," he said to them. "Get some lunch and you'll both be in detention on Wednesday." I watched as Yin came over and sat down next to me.

    "God dammit," she muttered.

    "That sucks," I told her.

    "I know. But I didn't even do anything bad to her."

    "What did you do?"

    "Nothing!" She looked at me, and I could see in her eyes that she was lying.

    "Yin, what did you do?"

    "I... may have choked her a little."

    "Kinky," I said with a smirk. Yin drew in a breath and blushed vividly, hiding her face by leaning on me.

    "Jeez, Leaf. You didn't have to say that." She looked back up at me with tears in the corners of her eyes. "My Mom's gonna be so mad at me..."

    "Don't worry, Yin. I'm sure she won't be that angry."

    "Yeah, but when she finds out I was fighting with Tegan, she'll be pissed." She sniffed and wiped her eye. "She'll kill me."

    "Yin, I'm sure you're be fine. Just tell her the truth."

    "But I told Tegan to stay away from you! How do I explain that?"

    "What?"  I didn't quite understand.

    "If Mom learns that we fought because I told her to stay away from a boy I liked, she'll ask who, and why, and a whole bunch of other shit."

    "I'm sorry." I wasn't really sure about what else I should say.

    "Tegan's such a bitch."

    "Yeah. She is." Yin sighed and leaned on me again and we sat there in silence as people around us ate their lunch, which was terrible. When the bell rang to end the lunch period we stood up and went our separate ways for the day. I'm not really sure why, but when I see her leave, I feel something deep inside me. Something that I haven't felt in awhile. I know we're only friends for right now and we have been on a date, but why is it that as I watch her leave, I feel that same spark? The same spark of romance. God damn it. I'm going to have to tell her. I need to. I know I'm a senior this year, and that she's only a junior, but I need to tell her how I really feel... at least before the school year is up, even though it's only October.  have to do it. I have to. But also... I want to wait for the right moment. There needs to be a perfect afternoon or evening with a lovely orange sunset. Maybe when we're out on our next date? I snap my fingers.

    "That's it," I mutter to myself as I walk to class. "We need to go on another date." As I sit here in Spanish class, trying to actually focus on class, I also formulate a plan of action for the next time I see Yin, which is after the dismissal bell rings. "Yin!" I hurry over to her, a little out of breath.

    "Leaf?" she asks with a surprised tone. "What's wrong?"

    "Nothing," I say, trying to smile. "I'd, I'd like to go on another date, if that's okay with you and your Mum."

    "Leaf, of course it's okay with me," she says with a soft and cute giggle. "But Mom is another story."

    "I know. What did you tell her last time?"

    "Well, since I'm staying with my grandparents, I just told them I was going out with friends."

    "Then say it again."

    "But Mom was a little upset when I didn't clear it with her first. So it probably won't work again."

    "Well, surely something has to."

    "I know."

    "Hey," Tegan interrupts. "You going out on Saturday?"

    "Yes bitch, now get away from us," Yin growls. I nod in agreement.

    "You really are butting into our conversation, so I'll ask you nicely to leave," I told her. Yin looked at me.

    "Come on, pretty boy, ya know that ain't gonna work," Tegan said wryly with a smirk.

    "Okay then fine." I sigh as my anger is starting to get the better of me. "Look, Tegan. I am seeing Yin. Not you. Now, if you're going to keep this bull shit up, I will report you to not only the principal for harassment, but also the police for trespassing. Do you want that to happen?"

    "Hell no," she says, trying to stand firm, even though I am still a good five inches taller. My anger begins to boil over.

    "Then get the hell out of my sight," I say, my heart starting to race. "Now, Tegan." She looks at me with wide eyes, muttering something to herself as she turns and walks away quickly. My eyes are glued in her direction, making sure she doesn't rethink her decision.

    "Leaf?" Yin asks softly with a worried look. Oh crap, I must still be glaring, so I take a deep breath to calm down.

    "Sorry. But hopefully she'll be leaving us alone from now on." Now Yin cracks a cute smile.

    "Thanks." She leans on me. "But I guess I gotta get to tutoring now."

    "Yeah, you probably should." She giggles and blushes.

    "See you tomorrow." She stands up on her toes and kisses me on the lips. She leaves with a smile and a little skip to her step. I leave with a smile myself, only for it to disappear when Leah slaps me.

    "Where the hell have you been?!" she demanded. "It's almost 3:45!"

    "I'm sorry, Leah, I had a little run-in with an old frienemy," I told her.

    "Well Jesus Christ. Just punch them in the dick and be done with it."

    "It was a friend of Yin's who was being a complete bitch."

    "What was he like?"

    "She was acting like she deserved me, even though she clearly didn't."

    "Oh. Well sorry." I sighed as I started the car and drove us home. "So who was it?"

    "I don't know. Some Tegan girl."

    "You mean Slutty Tegan Ryer?"

    "Is that what she's called?"

    "A lot of us ladies do, because she's been with nearly every guy in school."

    "Seriously?"

    "Yeah. She banged half of those guys."

    "Good lord."

    "I know, right? Just imagine the number of STD's that whore's riddled with."

    "I'm sure she's got few. Now can we talk about something else now?"

    "Like what?"

    "Well," I pause as I pull into the driveway. "I don't know. Just anything else besides her."

    "How are you and Yin doing?" she pries with a smirk as she pulls her bag from the back seat.

    "We're doing fine. I'm hoping we can go on a second date."

    "Wait, you said you were going out with friends that day," Leah said, obviously remembering that Saturday a couple weeks back. Dang, those guys from Tech were right. Women do remember things that happened a long time ago. And please let me clarify that I am absolutely not being sexist. I'm saying it as a compliment, given that my memory is a bit crap to be honest. Anyway, with our stuff put away in our rooms, the rest of the evening goes by normally, with Mum going to bed early as she needs to leave early for work tomorrow morning.

11: A Heartfelt Truth

    It was Friday. I came into school from Tech, and this time there was no Tegan Ryer. Which was good, because when the bell rang for lunch, Yin came right over to me, wrapping her arms around my shoulders.

    "Hi Leaf," she said, sitting down next to me while I was doing some writing. I looked up at her and smiled.

    "Hey. So how'd it go?" I asked.

    "Hm?" she asked questioningly.

    "You talked to your Mum right?"

    "Yeah... about that..." she trailed off. God, what happened? This can't be good at all.

    "So, what happened?"

    "Well, she would really want to meet you first. She's very strict."

    "Did you mention the fact that I was the one who helped you with your math awhile back and that you got a good grade on that assignment?"

    "Yeah, but even still... she never met you properly. She knows you're 18, and that if you... you know..."

    "Yin, I know."

    "Leaf... I don't want this to end badly... then Mom might force us apart. That, and I haven't met your mother either so..."

    "Hey, so long as she knows that you and your Mum are cool with me, then she'll be cool with it." I take ahold of her hands and Yin gasps softly, blushing and looking into my eyes. "You'll love her."

    "Her name's Serena, isn't it?" I nod. "You've told me a lot about her already, in the books you write. She sounds really nice. Nicer than my mom anyway."

    "I'm sure once I get to know your mother, we'll get along well. Who knows, maybe your Mum and mine will get along better than we do. I mean come on, they have a lot in common."

    "Like?"

    "Well, we both don't have a father. Mine left when I was 3."

    "Yeah well, at least you knew him a little. Mine left shortly after I was born so, I don't have any memories of him."

    "I'm sorry."

    "Leaf..." I just smiled and hugged her. She hugged me back after a moment. I thought that for a moment she was crying, but she wasn't.

    "Besides, there's also your grandparents."

    "Yeah. I told Grandma about you, and she said that you sounded like a nice boy, since you helped me with my math assignments. For free." Should I tell her now?

    "I mean, you could pay me in other ways."

    "Okay," she blushed again, her entire face a vivid red.

    "Not like that. I mean, not yet anyway."

    "Oh jeez Leaf!" Yin breathed, hiding her face as it had become completely red. "Stop making me blush!"

    "I'm sorry. I meant you could pay in hugs or help with my writing."

    "Oh. Okay." She took a few deep breath before her face returned to normal and she put her hands down. "You really need to stop doing that." She gave me a small smirk and playfully punched me in the shoulder. "Anyway, I need to say this: we are able to go on a date tomorrow provided that you and Serena come over first."

    "Oh, Mrs. Harmony wants to meet Mum?"

    "Yeah, she told me to tell you that. Oh and... she might be here this afternoon to pick me up, so if you want to try to make a good impression first, then... you can, if you wanna."

    "I think I should," I said with a confident smile.

    "Okay just try not to-" She was interrupted by the bell marking the end of the lunch period. "Damn it!"

    "Hey, it's alright," I said as we stood up.

    "Okay. Just... please don't mess this up for us, okay?"

    "Okay." Wait a minute, when are we an 'us'? I haven't even confessed my love for her yet. Damn. My heart starts beating fast at these thoughts, and the image of me confessing, like they do in the animes. Although, usually, in anime, when they confess, it only comes back to bite them in the ass. Hard. Anyway, after the dismissal bell rings at the end of the day, Yin and I meet in the hallway. "So how should we do this?"

    "Well... I don't know."

    "We shouldn't hold hands, because that might raise suspicions."

    "Yeah," Yin agreed with a warm smile. "Just be polite. Like hold the door open for me or something like that."

    "Yeah, that's what I was thinking."

    "Okay." We walked together and out the front doors of the school, like everyone else. I held the door for her in the hopes that Mrs. Harmony saw it, but we didn't see her at first.

    "What kind of car does she drive?"

    "Well, it's a cocoa brown Saturn Outlook. We call her Cocoa."

    "That's cool." Yet another idea for a novel, you know, a character for it anyway. Where cars can take on a human form. It's in my current library, just look for it. It's called My Car is a What?! I like it, even though I haven't worked on it for awhile. Anyway, getting off track there. we see a Saturn Outlook parked behind the buses, and we make our way toward it. As we get over to it, I see Mrs. Harmony climb out.

    "There you are Yin," she said. "Is this that boy you were talking about?"

    "Yes, Mom," Yin said. "He helped me with my math a couple weeks back, remember?" Mrs. H. looks at me again.

    "Yeah, I remember him. 18 year-old senior, correct?"

    "Yes Ma'am," I say, trying my absolute best to not look nervous at all, even though my insides are screaming at me to run away.

    "Hmm." She looked at me thoughtfully. "What was your name again?"

    "Leaf Soto, Ma'am."

    "Hmm." She continued staring me down, even though she was only a bit taller than Yin. This isn't good, because that also means that Mum is taller than Mrs. H. and that'll be even more disconcerting. Why? Because I want to make a really good impression with Mrs. Harmony, but I'm pretty sure that being taller than her isn't a good start. "So... Leaf... you wanna date my daughter?"

    "Well... not only is she cute, but she has a lot of skills and abilities that I don't have. Yin is really smart and she's a really great writer. Her poems are amazing."

    "You write?" Mrs H. asks Yin.

    "Yeah," Yin answers. "Just in my down time."

    "And?" She turns back toward me.

    "Yin is the nicest girl I have ever met and known," I say, which is the cold, hard truth. "And, Mrs. Harmony... if you think that I am not good enough for her..." I see Yin draw herself back as I say that. Yin, I'm sorry okay, but this needs to be said. "...then I will accept and respect your decision." I give her a small and polite bow.

    "Hmm," she says thoughtfully. I look at her, not wavering. "You're wanting to go out tomorrow?"

    "Yes Ma'am. I'll be more than happy and willing to buy lunch."

    "Okay. I'd like to speak to your parents."

    "Yes Ma'am. Although-"

    "What?"

    "Only my mother, lives with me, Ma'am. My father left us when I was three."

    "Oh. I didn't know. Well... as I said," she stated as she straightened her back. "I want to speak with your mother tomorrow."

    "I can give you her business card," I offered, holding one of Mum's cards. Mrs. H. took it and looked at it, with a slight nod. Hopefully of approval.

    "Alrighty then. We'll be having this talk again tomorrow. Let's go." She and Yin stepped toward their car.

    "I'll see you both tomorrow then," I said with a smile, opening the door for Yin.

    "Thank you," Yin said.

    "You're very welcome," I said with a smile. This time, Mrs. H. does see this. She doesn't show any positive reaction, instead, she starts the car and drives away. I give a brief wave to Yin before I walk to Leah who is once again, waiting impatiently at my car.

12: Author's Note

She's broken up with me again and she says she'll be having me no more. I'm sorry I wasted your time.