It was the last day of my eighth grade year, and words couldn't describe how thankful I was. The last year had literally been Hell for me. It was still a battle every single day, just to get out of bed and face the world, but as long as they thought I was the same, crazy girl I'd been only a few months ago, it was worth it. The day had been a sad one, saying goodbye to most of my best friends for what would probably be the last time. Once we left Middle School, we'd be tossed into the shark tank known as High School. It would no longer be the same faces we'd seen for the past three years, no, it would be many more. I knew we'd all change over the Summer, and I knew the chances of us being in the same classes were slim to none, but it was a risk I was willing to take. I craved a new beginning so deeply.

The last class of the day was probably the worst for me. It was my English class, where I had discovered my only talent, writing. I would miss my teacher, I would miss my crazy friends. I would miss the confidence I had in that tiny room and all the support said people had shown me, but as the bell rang to signal it was time to say goodbye, I was the only one smiling in a room full of tears. I half-heartedly waved them off, promising to keep in touch, though I knew I wouldn't. My small feet carried me through the twists and turns of the hallway until my arms threw open the double doors. She was waiting for me there, the girl I cared for most. She had her binder in her arms, and that mess of blonde hair was sloppily thrown on her head. A smile formed on her lips as she saw me drawing near, and I knew she was just as excited for our Summer together as I was.

We talked for the short moments it took us to walk to her bus, gushing on and on about how wonderful the Summer was going to be, but how sad we were to see our friends go. She would glance to me from time-to-time with those big blue eyes, and though she would never come right out and ask, I knew she wanted to know about my well-being.

"I'm fine, Rae," I mumbled, pushing a raven strand from my face. "Really. I need this Summer, don't make it start off on a bad foot."

"I just worry about you, Jessie," she sighed. Her short legs struggled to climb the bus stairs, and she shot me a glare when I simply laughed at her. "It's not funny. None of this is funny."

"I think it's funny," I shrugged, following her to the back of the bus. She sat in her usual spot, the very last seat, while I decided to stay a few seats ahead of her to avoid awkward conversation with people I'd only met a few times since she moved and got switched to this route.

Moments later, loads of children started to crowd on the bus. I scooted a little lower in the seat and shoved earbuds in my ears, hoping that no one would take it upon themselves to sit beside me, because I would just hate to have to tell them to get lost in front of everyone. Lucky for me, my seat remained empty, and the bus began a short journey to the High School, where we'd be picking up at least a dozen of other children.

Fifteen minutes we sat there, waiting as all the High Schoolers went their own ways. Today we had gotten lucky, because most of the Juniors and Seniors either brought their own cars or rode with their friends. I smiled to myself when I felt the gears kick and the bus begin to roll. I was left to my lonesome, and that's exactly how I liked it. I wasn't your typical kid. I didn't crave attention. I didn't belong in the spotlight. Admittedly, I was well known and well loved by everyone I went to school with, but the attention wasn't something I desired. To be left alone was all I asked for.

Twenty minutes into the bus ride, most of the kids were gone. With that in mind, I slid up from my seat and pulled the buds out of my ears. Conversation struck me from all directions, but I decided to watch instead of join in. That's always been one of my flaws, I suppose. I'm a sponge. Soaking in every little thing around me until it never really goes away, and I'm to be tossed aside, no longer useful.

I heard loud shouts of laughter coming from the front of the bus. My eyes grazed over the seats until I saw him sitting there, giddy girls all around him, basking in his glory. That boy was a charmer, I could already tell, but something about him caught my attention. For five minutes, I watched him bounce around seats, talking to anyone and everyone who would give him a moment of their time. I smiled slightly to myself and grabbed my books, quickly darting from my seat, to the seat just in front of Steph. She was crowded in between two females, twins, and she was talking to them about her dog. When she noticed me, she poked her head up and grinned.

"Finally decide to join us?"

"Only for a moment," I nodded. "Everyone seems so happy, almost makes me feel bad about being so blah."

"You're cute," one of the twins piped up, smiling brightly at me. "I'm Jamie, what's your name?"

"I'm Jessie," I offered a smile in return. "I guess you're kinda cute, too."

"This is Jessica," she motioned to her sister.

I nodded, giving her a smile, but found myself looking to the front of the bus again. The boy was turned around in his seat so that I could see his face clearly. It was no wonder everyone loved him so much, he was beautiful. So beautiful, in fact, my heart skipped a beat when his eyes scanned my own. That was unusual. I knew a blush was coming to my cheeks, so I quickly turned my head and stared at Steph, who was smirking wildly.

"He's cute, huh?"

"I guess.."

"He lives down my road. I've only met him a few times, but he seems pretty cool."

I rose my eyebrows and shrugged my shoulders, realizing how foolish I must have looked, gawking at a stranger on a school bus. I allowed myself to fall back into the seat, and with nothing else to do, I pulled out an eraser that had helped me many a time in my English class. With my free hand, I dug around in my purse until I found a needle I always carried with me, in case someone required my services at lunch time. By that, I mean, I would get paid in the girls bathroom by stabbing the cold metal through someone's skin. At that age, I wanted to be a professional piercer.

I was carving in it, random doodles, when the boy decided to come flirt with the back of the bus. He sat down opposite of me, but one seat back, and instantly started talking to my best friend. I snorted to myself when I heard her loud giggle, knowing my Stephanie well enough to know that she was nervous. However, by doing so, I had brought the attention on myself. He patted me on the shoulder, but quickly removed his hand so that the twins could make their way off the bus. I waved lightly as they sent a goodbye in my direction. With nothing to distract me now, I sat up, looking at the boy but feeling Steph's eyes on me.

"Hi, I'm Alex," he beamed. "What's your name?"

"Hi Alex, I'm Jessie," I laughed, finding it strange how comfortable I instantly felt around him.

"I live on Steph's road. She told me about you one time, I think. I also saw you once at T.J's house." He smiled, again, and began patting the side of the bus seat like a drum. All the while, I was stabbing the needle deep in the eraser, my heart thudding in my chest. "I'm sorry, I don't meant to freak you out. Most people think I'm weird."

"No worries," I grinned, watching the boy with nothing but wonder. "Most people think I'm weird, too."

That was the beginning of the most brutal Summer of my life. One where I learned much harder lessons than I should have, one where I lost myself in finding myself, and one where I would leave a piece of me behind.. Forever.

Notes

Yeah, I'm back with another new story.
What you're about to read, assuming someone actually reads this, of course; are actual events that happened in my past. Naturally, I have replaced people with the band members, but I feel it will still work how I want it to. Sometimes we all have a story that we need to tell, just to release it from our hearts.
Mucho love. <3.