I have come to the conclusion that thus saying 'All is fair in love and war' is a lie. Want to know why? Keep reading and you'll find out.

Hi, my name is Scarlet Newman and am a bitch. That's right, life has treated me so unfairly that I call myself a bitch now.

I live with my mother, Anna Newman, and we're poor, not that poor. Just weren't able to buy fancy shoes or dresses like those rich kids.

We live in an alley along with other people that are like us, and and I go to school with sassy kids who always had fine dresses and nice shoes. Although, the adventures in this alley neighborhood never ceased and it just kept getting exciting, I feel like no one understands me it gets me completely. Being the leader of the Round dogs (skating group) was not enough. Being adored for my excellent skating skills was not enough either. Be it a roller skate or a skate board, I was exceptionally good but, that wasn't enough.

I always feel like my mom's hiding something from me. We never really got along and it was like a wall blocked us from interacting even when we saw each other daily.

I feel like there is more to the whole world that I didn't know about until...

A new family just moved to the vacant house next to Scarlets house.

Scarlet didn't take heed to it at all and thought it might have been another street far moving to her domain. But just as she looked through her bedroom window, she caught sight of him.

Alex was like any other boy but, Scarlet seemed to have sensed a difference. As she stared at him as he dropped his box, he turned and their eyes locked in a passionate gaze which non of them could break.

Alexander Sebastian just moved in with his mother. They were not exactly poor like the rest in the neighborhood, but they had come to put up with it as it was their only choice of option now. Alex's mother had fought with his father and vowed never to go back to him. The fights were frequent and those words were often heard but, this was the first time his mother had taken such a drastic decision. He on the other hand, had no say. Although he was sick of it all, he had to go wherever he was told to go and stay wherever he was told to stay.

All this made him uncomfortable. He felt like his parents had no time for him and all his needs were never attended to. Thus, he felt insecure. He felt like he was not wanted and that nobody understood him and will never understand him. Everyone he met were all the same, selfish!

But at this moment, staring straight into the eyes of this girl, he felt a warm feeling and saw a sense of familiarity in her eyes. Her eyes were so charming and felt warm towards him. Such warmth made him feel wanted and loved. Where has she been all my life?

Scarlet just couldn't keep her eyes off of him. He was a magnet that drew her stares closer. She had always considered herself a burden and never had anyone to talk to about her feelings but, staring at his eyes made her feel light, like an heavy weight has been lifted. She wanted to know him better. Wanted to be his friend and confide in him in all her sad and happy times. No! She wanted to be more than his friend. Where has he been all my life?

continue...

Days passed and Scarlet couldn't help but steal glances at Alex when he wasn't looking. Same went with Alex. He was too nervous to get closes to the girl that made his heart skip every time he laid eyes on her.

Of course, he wanted to approach her and get to know her but, she seemed to have a wall stopping anyone from getting close to her. She was distance and tough. Really tough.

Alex watched her for a while and discovered that she only communicated with people when necessary. Like when they practice roller skating/skate boarding and she has to give out few pointers as the leader. Or when a teacher talks to her, but of course, she doesn't care about the teachers or anyone at all. She had no friends to talk to or keep her company. She kept to her business, roller skating.

Alex felt sad for her. She may look tough and arrogant in everyone's eyes but to him, she was pitiful. How could there be such a situation where a girl has no one to talk to and is at the same time a bad ***. She was so antisocial.

'Doesn't she feel lonely?' Alex thought as he thought of her.

Just then, he heard a loud door slam from Scarlets house. She had shut her door so hard that anyone would guess that she had a fight with her mother, again.

Scarlet leaned against her door, tears whelming up at the corner of her eyes. She slid down the door feeling dejected and completely worthless. She stared into space as her tears fell down without control but she made no sound at all. She wanted to be strong and not let anyone know that she cried so there was no single sound coming from her as she cried.

For so long, she had lived like that. Shutting herself inside her room and crying silently.

Alex watched as this scene unfolded before his eyes. He felt pain in his chest just watching her cry so miserably. He wanted to go to her and hug her, assuring her that everything was going to be alright but...who was he to have such thoughts. He was no better off than her anyway. He had his demons to fight as well and what good would it do him to add someone's demons as well.

Alex analyzed his thoughts and hit his head.

"What am I thinking about? She really needs someone right now and there's no one to care for her. So what if I have my own problems? I can fix mine as well as hers."

With that thought, Alex ran out of his room and moved to her house. Of course he wouldn't act foolishly and knock on her door. He decided to climb her window and succeeded due to his years of experience trying to escape his parents bickering through his room window.

As soon as he got to her window, he let himself in and that startled Scarlet a great deal.

Scarlet saw this intruder climbing inside her room through her window and noticed it to be the boy next door. She was startled at first but seeing him here made her wonder what his purpose was. She immediately wiped her tears to hide the fact that she was crying.

"What do you want?" Scarlet asked, her tone was cold but also had a hint of sadness.

Alex looked up and saw that she had already wiped her tears and was giving him the cold gaze.

"Am sorry to intrude but..." He took a step towards her but she evaded it by moving backward. No matter who he was, she still had to be at alert. Seeing this, Alex retreated as well seeing it was a little inappropriate to be so close to her when they clearly just met each other. "Ah, sorry! I shouldn't have intruded like that but I couldn't help it. I just wanted to make sure you were okay." He said

"What do you mean? Do I look like am not okay?" She asked, her tongue as sharp as a spear.

"That's not it!" Alex said. He looked so worried that he himself did not notice how worried he was. "You were crying, so I..."

"Who said I was crying?" She interrupted him rudely. 'I cleaned my tears before he saw my face so how did he know?' She thought.

'Of course, she wouldn't admit it' Alex thought. "I saw you," he pointed at his window "...and I couldn't help but worry."

Scarlet looked at his window. Indeed, he could see everything from over there. She turned to look at him. "Mind your own business. You shouldn't be sticking your nose into other peoples business." She looked away a bit annoyed at herself for letting him see her cry.

"You're right. I should mind my business but, how can I when it has something to do with you?"

Scarlet turned her head to him on hearing those words. What did he mean by that? Those words stung her heart as she felt it race, it was truly pleasing to hear that. 'What am I thinking about? He is clearly joking with me. There's no way he would be concerned over a person like me, he's toying with me. How dare he?' Feeling that way, Scarlet thought that he really had guts coming over to her room to make fun of her situation. Even if she had a crush on him, she wouldn't let him make fun of her. "Who do you think you are to come up here and pretend like you care. I don't need tour fake sympathy!"

This was the exact reaction he expected from her but he didn't think it would hurt him so much.

"You think am joking, right?"

"And then? This is my room. If you don't get out, am gonna beat you out, you hear me?" She warned.

"I knew you wouldn't believe me. I only came here with you in mind and didn't think of what would happen if you actually took me as a pervert." He turned to leave but stopped in his tracks. He turned and smiled at her. "I am Alex by the way. If you ever think it through and accept my concern, I'll always be a block away. Maybe then, we can be friends." He turned around looking sullen all of a sudden. "...or maybe more than that." He muttered to himself and got out through the window.

Scarlet was perplexed. She didn't know what to think about now. Somehow, the anguish she had felt from the heated argument with her mom had turned into a sweet feeling as she remembered the words 'friends'. He was truly remarkable and if he was really serious, she was ready to try it out with him.

Scarlet couldn't sleep as thoughts of Alex filled her head. His warm smile and amusing voice. Her insides were overjoyed.

'What is this feeling?' She thought to herself.

Alex was a little disappointed that he didn't get to show his concern and care for her, but at least he had told her his name and had proposed friendship with her. That was one accomplishment. He felt satisfied for the night and couldn't think of anything but her all through the night. But on remembering how miserably and dejected she looked earlier, he couldn't help but feel sad. He wanted to be there for her and comfort her in such times. He wanted to hold her in his arms and protect her from any harm that would come her way, and the only way to do that was to be friends with her and gain her trust. If she entrusted him with her heart, he would definitely not let her down.

continue...

The next day, Scarlet and Alex coincidentally came out of their house the same time. This was practically the first time they were seeing each other before going to school. Previously, Scarlet went to school at odd hours and so they never crossed paths.

They both made eye contact and Scarlet immediately turned and walked away with her skateboard in hand.

Alex thought that she was mad about the incident that occurred in her room that was why she looked away after seeing him. Truth be told, Scarlet was not mad but flushed. Seeing him reminded her of his smile and caring words, even if she hadn't confirmed if it was true or not.

Scarlet dropped her skateboard on the floor and hopped on it making her way to school as usual. Alex could only watch in admiration at how good she was at it.

That afternoon, just after school, Alex headed for band practice. He had joined a band and was the lead singer. He had a really good voice and was a guitarist as well.

Scarlet didn't know that anyone would be using that corner of the school, she rode her skateboard slowly with her head down thinking about life, then all of a sudden she heard his singing voice.

Struck by the melody, she paid no attention to the road and her board collided with some boxes and she fell. The fall caught the attention of the band members. Alex saw that she fell and hurried to help her. She looked up and saw Alex's extended hand. At first, she could just stare at his face. He saw the expression in her face and gave her a smile. It was one that she could never get used to. There was traces of blush on her face as she took his hand and he raised her up. Unfortunately, her ankle was twisted and so she stumbled and fell on him but she didn't pay attention to that at all. She could only focus on his face.

"Oh no, you sprained your ankle" Alex voice brought her back to reality. She looked down and saw the sprain on her ankle.

'But it doesn't hurt, it never does!' Scarlet thought and before she knew it, she was swept off of her feet. "What are you doing?"

"I'll take you to the infirmary." He said and carried her away.

'This has never happened to me before. No one has ever worried about me or taken me to the infirmary, not to talk about being carried. Why is he doing this?' She thought "Why..."

"Hm?"He looked down at her. Her face was hidden in his clothes so that he wouldn't see how embarrassed she was.

"Why are you acting like this to me? You're being k...ki..." She found it difficult to say the words 'kind'

"Kind?" He smiled and she looked up. "If I told you that I felt a connection to you when I first saw you, would you believe me?" He asked knowing she wouldn't believe but surprising she did.

"I believe you!"

"You do?" he looked at her surprised

"Don't look at me like that. I...I also felt that way too but, I didn't know what it was." She said but then looked away. "I'm not telling you this so that you can take advantage of it. If you do, I'll beat you up." She threatened.

"Sure you will. So, can we be friends now?" He asked with a polite smile and she turned to look at the smile on his face.

"Tch, you just want me to be your friend?" She asked disappointed

"You want to be more than friends?" He asked trying to guess what she was implying but she simply looked away.

"Don't think too Mich. We are neighbors after all. Just don't try anything funny or I'll beat you up."

"Then that's a deal." He smiled. 'I don't know why I always feel like smiling when am with her. I just can't help it, that dark expression of hers is just so cute. I want to look at it forever' Alex thought.

"Stop smiling so much or I'll beat you up!" She warned and he couldn't help but chuckle. 'So now we're friends, what next. What do friends do?' She thought while trying to hide her shy and nervous expression.

Alex sighed relieved. Another step taken and another wall breached. It would only be a matter of time before she finally open up to him.

After that day, Alex and Scarlet started getting along. They'd walk to school together, get together for lunch in school even if Scarlet pretended to not want to. When Alex was practicing with his band members, she would hide away and watch him. Even if he knew she was there, he wouldn't say a word and just let her watch. However, when she was practicing skating, he would openly cheer her on.

Scarlet was happy with the feelings she felt from being friends with him.

Just like that Scarlet was able to get social with the people around her and with Alex's help, she was able to get three other friends. Lukas, Dawn and Rose. They were also from her neighborhood. Nobody knew Lukas had a secret crush on Scarlet but he knew that he didn't have a chance as long as Alex was in the picture, so he kept his feelings hidden.

Being friends with more people was so great but, it was not as great as being friends with Alex. She felt fulfilled and satisfied. The most happiest thing was that she no longer had fights with her mom.

Things were going great and fine until a certain day...