------xxx-----Alive---xxx-------

----xxxx---- Alive -----xxx-----

Just a note this is NOT the whole story just a taste and it might change, but I was going to see if anybody liked it first...any suggestions would be welcome...I already have a few ideas, but still working on them....enjoy!

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I walked into the cold hallway looking for some form of direction. I was so lost in this school. A small sound distracted me from my panicked searching. A girl was down the hall a little ways. I wanted to talk to her, but I was a little worried that she would hate the intrusion. I watched her bob her head up and down as she sat outside the art room. You could hear loud music blasting from the little, white earphones in her ears. She was working on a sketch for her latest piece. Her lunch of pepperoni pizza, strawberries, and a creamy Sobe sat on her teal lunch tray only halfway eaten. Her long, dark hair with the purple tips slid onto her cheek revealing small, perfect ears. If you looked closed enough you could see a tiny tattoo of a heart made out of a treble and base cleft behind the base of her ear. It was discreet enough to see it meant something to her and that it wasn't just for show. I had to stop staring so that I could get to lunch. Not finding the courage I swiftly walked past her, pretending I knew where I was, but was stopped by the sound of her soft voice.

"My name's Anna, by the way" She spoke without even looking up, but a small smirk was on her face. She continued on, "You seem a little lost stranger. I could help you, but that would mean you'd actually have to talk to me and not just watch from a distance."

I stalked off without a word, strangely irritated.

He was not only obviously lost, but he had been watching me for awhile. I was waiting for him to say something, but I guess it was all up to me. I waited for him to walk his lost self past to introduce myself. I had to be a smart-aleck of course.

I could see in my peripheral vision the expression on his face. He scoffed and continued on his way. Well, I guess this is going to be harder than I thought. I quickly shoved a few more bites of my food into my mouth, picked up my tray, and tossed my bag unto my shoulders.

"Hey, I'm just trying to be friendly," I said, but he kept on walking. I touched the edge of his sleeve, "I didn't mean to be a jerk. Can we start over?" I held out my hand for him to shake, but no takers...at least he stopped.

"Whatever, I need to get to lunch. Can you point me in the right direction?" He retorted.

"Sure, but just to let you know eating in there isn't exactly a great idea. You'll never find a seat," I looked up to see that he was at least a head taller than me, and had brown eyes. He started walking again and I fell into the rhythm of his step. "By the way, what's your name?"

"It's Tristan... do you think you could just leave me alone already!?" he exclaimed.

Taken aback I shook my head and pointed in the direction of the cafeteria, "Lunch is that way, I'm sure you'll have no problem fitting in." venom laced my voice. I turned on my toes and walked back to the art room. I couldn't help feeling that I somehow was responsible for this kid even if he was a jerk. With a sigh I turned back and peered through the small windows on the doors into the cafeteria. He was talking to this group of people who were notorious for being nasty to anybody and everybody. They somehow were still quite popular. I watched as he sat down next to them and started to laugh at whatever they were saying. Tristan paused for a moment and made eye contact with me. All I could do was shake my head and walk away.

Later on in the day I walked into my English class and sat in my usual seat , fifth seat, back row, and closest to the window. The teacher was discussing the latest book we were reading in class and a new project. Unfortunately we needed partners and I preferred working alone. It didn't matter though because everybody was partnered up quicker than you could say "clique". All except for the new kid who looked vaguely familiar. Tristan! When did he get in here? One thing led to another and, big surprise, we were partnered up.

I rolled my eyes as he took the desk next to mine "Let's get a few things straight here, you will do your share, clean up after yourself, and we will socialize as little as possible. Got it?"

He shrugged "Whatever you say"

Needless to say we went on like this for a few days working together, only when absolutely necessary. Unfortunately I had left some of the materials at my house when we were supposed to go to the library. I went to Tristan rather begrudgingly and asked if we could swing by my house quickly to grab my things. Surprisingly enough he was willing to and even asked if he could help me carry anything.

"Yeah, I guess," frankly I was surprised that he was being this nice. All that I had gotten lately had been a gruff word or two in response (yes, yes I know I instated the rules, but I was quite peeved at him then). He was a good worker though. I jumped out of his red car and up the stone steps to my house. I unlocked my door and walked inside.

I glanced at my surroundings as Anna stepped inside. The rooms were fairly average and nothing too special, that is, until we reached her room. Artwork, posters, and bits of paper cover the walls, barely showing the color beneath. Nothing matched, but I could sense the unity. Closer looks revealed the painstaking process to create balance within all of the colors. Blues, yellows, and browns dominated, but the entire rainbow was present. A painting of a field lies unfinished upon a homemade easel. The field was not plain like you would expect, instead flowers dotted the canvas and trees darken the horizon. Above the bed there is a mobile of stars and a painting of the moon. It seems to me like they are a reminder to dream of good things.

Musical instruments are at every corner and a few sheets of music are scattered across the floor. Staff paper with notes scratched out here and there are among them, A signature of a blooming artist. Let Go sung by Boys Like Girls, is playing faintly on the radio.

Three Book shelves are stuffed as full as they can possibly get. Volumes of fantasy, mystery, Histories, and love are among them. Such a collection of genres can only belong to a serious book addict. I glance to my right and see a trash can, filled to the brim. It is spilling over with papers that contain half-starts, notes for the future, and broken endings. Pencil shavings and eraser dust lightly decorate the discarded pieces.

I peer outside the window and see that autumn has already washed the landscape in color...leaves litter the ground. I look around for the time, but no clock is found, none is needed. All of this added to the scent of moonlight path create a very eclectic, but interesting room. It seemed to me though that these things weren't just bits of paper and paint, but expressions of her soul. I then realized that she and I were not so different...maybe I had been judgmental. I shook these thoughts from my head and watched as she gathered her things.

"Here let me take that," I took the materials from her hands, "Anna I want to apologize. I feel like a real idiot...I should have been nicer to you. I'm so sorry, can we start over? Friends?"

She said nothing for a minute, but then a small smile crossed her features, " My name is Anna, by the way"

"Tristan," I replied as I reached out to shake her hand. And so began a beautiful friendship.