I'll meet you there

3

8 years.

It was two months into class and Blaze and I still weren't all that close. Since he was a lefty and I a righty we would always bump elbows as we wrote out our work, which caused a little argument but nothing very serious. He also always asked for my sharpener, which was a problem.

"Suede. Can I use your sharpener?" He whispers as the rest of the class works hard on their hand out.

"You just asked me for it last lesson!" I say not wanting to reach and shuffle my hand around my pencil case.

"I know but my pencil is dull and it won't work if it's not sharpened," he bats his lashes making me frown.

"Maybe if you didn't push so hard on your pencil you would still have a sharpened pencil!" I snap making all the other classmates heads turn to Blaze and I. Even my teacher looked up.

"Is everything alright. Blaze and Suede?" She asks as she stands up from her chair.

"No! She won't let me use her pencil sharpener!" He points at me for no reason.

"That's not true I let him use it. It's just that he always asks for it, and it's getting annoying. I think it's time for him to get his own," I scowl at him, he returns it.

"Suede please give him the sharpener," my teacher asks with her hands on her hips. I mimic her stance although I'm sitting down. "And Blaze it was in the list of things to get. Please go out and by a sharpener."

"But I can't," he pipes up. I look towards him.

"And why can't you Blaze. Surely your mom or dad would be okay with it,"

"They aren't home,"

"Well when they come home then you can ask for it is that okay?"

"They're never coming home," and that's when Mrs. Levi bits her lip, she was embarrassed at her comment. I knew it. I knew because she turned her back and went to sit down them began typing on her computer again. She didn't say a word the entire class until it was ready for us to pack our stuff and get ready for home time.

:

The bell rang when I ran to catch up to Blaze.

"Hey Blaze," I said as I tightened the straps on my pink backpack.

"Hey Suede," he answers still not looking up.

"Did your parents take a really long vacation?" I ask still confused over the conversation from earlier today. He stopped walking. And looks into my eyes.

"Yes they took a really long vacation to Heaven," then he starts walking not waiting up for me.

"Oh Blaze. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I didn't know. I'm really sorry. If you want you can come over to my house, mommy said she would bake me cookies," at the word 'cookie' he turns to face me and smiles.

"Would that be alright?" He asks. I think for a bit. Mommy would think it would be strange for me to invite a boy to come over. She wouldn't approve. But he wasn't even really a friend of mine so that was alright.

"Yep it's fine. Come follow me," as we walk it's silent. I skip over the chalk drawn hopscotch making Blaze giggle.

"What's so funny?" I ask scrunching my nose.

"nothing it's just that your wearing a dress," he puts a hand over his mouth hoping it would stop his laughing.

"And your point is?" I place my hands on my hips. He doesn't answer.

"I'm wearing tights underneath you weirdo!" I push him back making him fall to the grass with a thump. He smirks and quickly chases me. I scream and run all the way home, almost tripping over the uneven sidewalk.

By the time we reach my house I lie on the ground with exhaustion. He does the same. We lie there for a few seconds until I hear someone calling my name. I instantly stand up and brush the grass blades off my tights.

"Hi mommy," I nervously smile. Blaze stands beside me. His dark hair sticking out in different directions.

"Suede Catherine. What were you doing," she asks

"Lying on the grass," I gulp down the lump forming in my throat.

"And who is this," she nods her hard in the direction of Blaze. He sucks in a breath and his hands are behind his back.

"This is Blaze Jones. We sit beside each other in school. I decided to invite him over for cookies, because I thought it would be nice," I smile making my mom smile at my nice gesture.

"Okay you two come in before you get dirtier then you already are."

The cookies were delicious. And I knew Blaze thought the same because he ate about 3 cookies in the time I ate 1. He instantly licked his chocolate fingers after he finished off his last. I stared in disgust as I wiping mine on the napkin I was given. He realized his bad manners then mouthed sorry in my direction. At least mom wasn't watching.

It was about 5 pm when mom offered to drive him home. He shuck his head fiercely and mom stared at me with wide eyes.

"I don't want to go home,"he pleads.

"Sorry Blaze but you need to. You have school tomorrow and your family is probably worrying where you are."

"No they won't. They don't care about me. If I ran away they wouldn't even realize that I was missing until they heard it on the radio," he slumps down on the ground.

"I'm sorry Blaze but I can't keep you here over night. Your welcome to come here with Suede after school. I'm sorry but I need to take you home," my mom gives him a hand to help him up. He doesn't take it but walks out the house in silence.

The car ride was quiet the only time there was chatter was when my mom asked for directions. When we pulled up into his driveway it took a little while for him to in click his seatbelt,and open the car door.

His house wasn't even bad. In fact it was really nice. It was a big 2 story house with beautiful blooming gardens. The patio furniture was beautifully laid out and looked like it belonged in an Ikea home magazine. I didn't understand why he didn't want to go home.

"Good night Blaze. See you tomorrow," I give a small smile trying to lift his mood. Instead he looked at my mom.

"Thank you for having me, Mrs. Brooks," then he gets out of the car and walks into the house. The adults he was living with were no where in sight.