Mom was making dinner as she chattered with dad who was perched against the counter-top, the usual scene in my household. They were talking about our neighbors when I dragged my soaked self into the kitchen leaving a trail of water on the floor. I hadn't realized how cold it was outside until I entered the warm sanctity of my home.

The chattering of my teeth must have indicated my parents of my arrival and I was immediately met with the disapproving glare of my mother which was tinged with worry seeing how I currently resembled a popsicle. I slowly walked to the bathroom, afraid to make an even bigger mess and peeled the soggy clothes off of me. After changing into warm, comfortable clothes, I made my way to the living room and saw a steaming cup of hot chocolate kept on the coffee table.

I loved my parents, I thought as they sat beside me on the couch. The show 'F.R.I.E.N.D.S' was playing in the background, a constant when I had my off days. I could feel the warmth radiating off of my parents and I let out a small hum of delight.

My parents never hovered. They would just sit beside me in silence, providing me comfort and then they would wait for me to open up about whatever was bothering me. I really loved them, I thought again, closing my eyes.

I woke up to an eerily quiet house, still on the couch, my back groaning in protest at how uncomfortable the position was. I half- smiled at the blanket which was draped around me and took my own time getting off. It was half past six and I couldn't wait to get back into bed. It was a sin to be up before nine on a Sunday.

Rays of sunlight were streaming through the partially open blinds of my navy walled bedroom and I sighed. After about an hour of tossing and turning, I decided that maybe going for a run would elate my mood and I didn't know why I chose that either. I hated running with a passion. If I was being chased by a murderer, I would probably happily give myself up if it meant that I didn't have to run.

So after jogging for five whole minutes, I strolled leisurely to the lake nearby taking in the calmness when I was forcefully shoved against the asphalt and I could feel my body writhe in pain. The other person, who was currently on top of me, didnt seem to be in a better position either. The man, or whom I assumed to be a man given by the physique, rolled off and grunted in discomfort.

I slowly turned to lie on my back, looking at the azure sky when I could feel the man beside me let out a small laugh and it was the most contagious thing I had come across. Soon, we were having a full blown laughter spell and my mood was considerably better.

"I'm so sorry for ramming into you. I was skating and lost my balance."

"Its fine.' I grimaced as I stood up, brushing the loose gravel off of my shirt and saw the other man do the same as he tried to balance himself on his skates. I considered helping him but he seemed to be doing fine so I just stood there taking in the sight before me. It was his eyes that caught my attention, the first feature I usually look at when I see people, and I was blown away. To say they were ethereal was an understatement. One eye was lush green, the kind of green you would  expect to see in the densest of  forests whereas the other eye, in pure contrast was hazel and I couldn't help but stare in awe.

His gaze on me however was that of panic. It was only then that I realized that I had nearly split my lip and was bleeding all over the place. He handed me his handkerchief and I pressed it against the wound.

"Its a great day, isn't it?" I spoke, trying to make conversation with the clearly uncomfortable man.

"You have an odd definition of a great day. I hope getting rammed into isn't a daily ritual." He gave a small smile as he removed the skates, sighing in relief when they were off. I smiled back.

"I'm Raven. I moved here yesterday."

Raven held out his hand and I grasped it.

"I'm Sebastian. I moved here seven years ago." He raised his eyebrows in response to what could be the most pathetic thing I had uttered since I met him.

"It was nice meeting you Sebastian."

"You too."

"I really didn't want to ask you this and make things more awkward but are you following me?"

I snapped my head up, almost giving myself a whiplash in the process only to see the 'exquisite eyed' boy staring at me in wonderment. Great, now I was supposedly  a stalker as well.

"Don't flatter yourself too much, bedhead. I live in this area." I prayed as I looked around. After we had apparently parted ways, I had stuck my earphones in and silently hoped that I would subconsciously reach home as I entered the paradise that I had created in my head. It seemed like my subconscious was pretty good after all. We were only about a few metres from my house and I huffed in relief.

I looked back at Raven who was running his hand through his platinum blond hair, trying to somewhat manage the disarray the lied on top of his head. Bedhead suited him.

We walked in silence after that, the conversation lost and I could feel my heart pound. Do I say something? What if he thought that I was a loser who didn't know how to converse? I could feel my head swirling with situations in which I was made into a laughing stock and all I wanted to do at that point was to go back into the safety of my home.

We were still walking together, I noted as we reached the porch of my house.

"What are the odds?" Raven grinned and I glanced at him hoping to understand what he meant by that. He nudged me and pointed towards the house next door.

"I live there. Hi, neighbor."

'Bedhead' smiled at me once more and I was thoroughly disarmed. How could someone smile so much? Was he on something? Did he know some secret about me that I didn't know about and was finding ways to torment me with it?  I hated how my head worked sometimes.He clearly was a nice guy.

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When I was back in my messy bedroom, I flopped on the bed and gave muffled scream. The Smiths' had invited us for dinner in hopes to get to know us better and when they noticed me, they were ecstatic. It seemed that 'bedhead' was the same age as me, sixteen to be exact.

Once I was done showering, I walked up to the mirror to see the damage. There was a cut on the lower lip with a reddish hue giving a haunting contrast to my pale face. I looked like the brother of the girl from 'The Ring". My black hair accentuated the look. Sighing once more, I decided to go about my day.

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My parents knocked on the door of our neighbor's house while I took the time to calm my racing heart. My pleads hadn't worked. My mom just gave me a pointed look when I said that I was extremely busy and that I couldn't make it. I knew she saw through the crap I was spewing out of my mouth.

I was asked to look presentable and there I was standing in front Raven's door wearing a black v-neck sweatshirt with a pair of blue jeans. I could hear the thuds of someone running in the house and the door was opened with so much urgency, it probably came of its hinges.

"Hi, I'm Caleb. Raven asked me to get the door. He said he would give me candy if I did. I like candy."

My parents nearly cooed at the bubbly boy in front of us but I froze at the sight. I didn't know how to deal with kids, especially hyperactive ones. I felt a tug against my pants and saw the brown haired boy trying to gain my attention.

"Do you like candy?" He asked, clearly under the effect of a sugar rush.

I nodded and he smiled as he took out a stash of candy and shoved it into my arms. In the midst of trying to give it back, I saw Raven coming down the stairs and nearly did a double take. He was breathtaking to say the least. No one should be able to look that good.

He grabbed Caleb and carried him through the hallway and that was my cue to follow. There were multiple boxes strewn over in random places but that was to be expected considering that he had just moved. There weren't many pictures around though and the house seemed empty even though it had all the basic necessities but who was I to judge. Maybe the Smiths' liked it that way.

I quickly followed Raven into the dining room where I was engulfed by a hug from Mrs Smith and I instantly felt a little better, a little more calm. I was made to sit opposite to Raven and when he looked up at me, I was mesmerized yet again.

Boy, was this going to be a long dinner.

Dinner was interesting to say the least. Caleb was still being jumpy, constantly talking so there never was a quiet moment and Mr. and Mrs. Smith were trying to make small talk with my parents, but Raven was the one who caught my attention the most.

He seemed reserved. He had a smile on his face, probably to be polite but it never reached his eyes. He would answer every question in a curt manner and then go back to nibbling on the bread-stick, one which he had been eating for about fifteen minutes.

Mrs. Smith finally took notice of me as I put the last piece of bread-stick in my mouth.

"What do you plan on doing after senior year Sebastian? Any potential universities in sight?" Mrs. Smith asked and I could feel everyone's eyes on me. I really wanted to answer, I really did but I didn't want to choke so after making some random hand movements hoping they would understand that I needed a minute, I settled on looking like a deranged squirrel whose face was stuffed with nuts.

My mom, thank heavens, took pity on me and answered for me instead.

Psychology. It was the one subject that always intrigued me. How the human mind worked and what made people behave the way they did. It also included the fact that I was almost always incapable of social interaction and sometimes I wondered if I was wired different, hence the even bigger fascination with the subject.

This piqued Raven's curiosity, whereas Mr. and Mrs. Smith gave tight smile. The hint of disapproval was clear on Mr. Smith's face and I chose to ignore it.

"Well, Raven is going to  major in business. We have gone through some excellent universities and I' m sure he'll get admitted to them. It's an absolute shame that you chose a major like that with your intellect. I heard from your parents about how good of a student you are so why would you choose psychology?"

Mr. Smith was actually judging me. Me and my life choices. Normally, I would have ignored it and would have moved on but it was his tone that irked me. It made me feel like I was some pesky insect, way beneath his standards and I didn't like one bit. Sure, I had gotten a lot of weird looks and judgmental comments  for not wanting to be in a field where I could make it big and become extremely rich but this what I wanted to do ever since I was a wee child and to have someone talk down to me like that, made bile rise up my throat.

"It fascinates me." I replied in a tone which I hoped was polite and prayed that it ended the conversation. I wouldn't be able to keep the food down in my stomach if this went any further. Thankfully, the discussion steered away from me and I stared at the plate of food with mild irritation. A kick against my shin bought me back and Raven looked extremely apologetic, probably trying to ease to new found tension his father had put in me.

I half smiled at him and shrugged. At least I wouldn't have to deal with Mr. Smith on a daily basis.

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"I did not think my life would get any more cliche but here we are."

I flinched. Raven was right. This was getting way too cliche for my liking. He was leaning against the  window sill, his room facing mine and I had half the mind to draw the curtains and go to sleep.

"Seems so. You like 'The Beatles'?" I leaned against the window sill as well, referencing to his worn out grey t-shirt.

"I do." I hummed in agreement. 'Bedhead' had good taste.

It went back to being quiet again and I settled on gazing at the moon. The stillness was broken by a shrill ringtone and Raven mouthed me.

"Good night. I'll see you tomorrow."

I responded with a wave. Raven and I would be attending whole of junior year and senior year together. I wondered if everything was going to turn out okay and drew the curtains, plunging my room into darkness.