All the Reasons I Cry

13 years old - Meeting her

He had changed so much in three years. His grades went from B's to A's, his clothing was no longer t-shirt of silly video game characters, and even though it was hard, his eye no longer showed the weakness he hated so much.

It was lunch time at his dreadful middle school, and he was doing something very important. Studying for the end of the year tests, which were next semester. He didn't care if it was barely the third week of school, he needed to get a perfect grade. He didn't care if someone was currently getting food poisoning from the " freshly picked " apple, he didn't care if a fight was about to happen two booths away from him, what mattered themost was making father proud.

" U-um, excuse me? " a soft voice whispered next to him.

He looked up and saw a girl, maybe around his age, with short black hair, and sparkling honey  brown eyes.

" May I sit here? " the girl asked.

" I suppose you can. "

The girl smiled, said a quiet thank you and sat across from him.

This continued for two weeks. During that time, he got to know her a little bit more. She had just moved to town with her step-mother and had a younger brother, but he was unfortunately dead. 

" My only regret is that I didn't notice what was happening fast enough..If I had notice...then maybe...just...maybe..."

He didn't press on, seeing as she looked ready to cry whenever he mentioned the subject.

It wasn't until a rainy Thursday at lunch that she asked him a question that he didn't ask himself that offten.

" Why do you keep studying? "

He looked up from the history book he was reading.

" Excuse me? "

" Why do you keep studying? It's not like someone's not going to love you if you get an eighty on a test. "

That wasn't true....was it? Would father still love him if he got a B on a test? No, that...that couldn't be.

" I study because I have to make someone proud. If I don't, then I won't have anyone else.."

" Well, whoever that someone is, he or she is very blind! Who wouldn't be proud at someone who got a good grade on a test? "

My father, he said in his mind. 

" Trust me, there are people who want nothing but the best from their children. "

The girl went quiet, almost as if he brought up another sensitive topic.

" That's...true. However, " the girl stood up and held out her hand, " as your friend, I must show you the importance of fun! "

Friend. She was...his friend? His other friends had left him a long time ago, so the word was a little bit foregin to him.

He looked at her hand, then at her. Her eyes held a fiery determination, they show no sign of backing down.

" Friend..? I...suppose I could be your friend. " He said as he stood up, shook her hand, and did something he hadn't done in three years. Smile, truly smile.

And she smiled back.

" By the way, " she said, " I never did catch your name, did I."

" I suppose not. My name is Maxan. "

" Well then Maxan, my name is Jaiden Clarkson. I hope we can stay friends for- H-hey, are you ok? You have tears in your eyes. "

He did, and for that one single moment..he didn't care if he cried. But...only for that moment.