Her pinkish hair blew in the wind as I watched her retreating form. I couldn't help the smile that brushed across my face. I had a feeling she would say yes.

    The thing was, I wasn't doing that bad in chemistry. I was getting a B currently in the class, but I had used it as a way to talk to her. I had noticed her always sitting by herself at lunch, and I just felt this pull to finally talk to her. I had heard from others she was supposedly into dark magic and considered herself a satanist, which I found highly doubtable. She just didn't have an outgoing personality and saw the world for what it truly is.    

    Terrible.

    People will always assume the worst of someone if they aren't outwardly nice and are even a smidge different from the 'normality' that is seemingly worshipped within today's society. I admire Noa for not caring and being herself, although, I do wish she would smile more. But, she might have a reason to not smile.

    I mean, I have a reason I try to smile all the time, and it's not because I'm just always in a good mood. Quite the opposite, actually.

    I remember I walked to my friend, Beckett's, house like I usually did after my appointments. I had checked the time on my watch, knowing he'd be home from football practice by now.

    Beckett, at the time, was basically like an only child as his only sister already graduated from college and just had gotten married. Beckett wasn't a fan of Brianna's husband, even though he's known him since he was little. I only met him once, at their wedding, and he presented himself as a decently nice guy.

    As I approached the white house, Beckett had opened the door, almost knowing I was coming over. He nodded his head as his usual greeting. I gave him a smile, which was actually my first genuine one in a long time. He didn't know that at the time, though.

    "Hey man, what's up?" He opened the door wider for me to slip in. He must have showered since his hair was still quite damp, and he had changed into some sport shorts and a t-shirt.

    "Hey Beck, and nothing much. I talked to Noa for the first time."

    He furrowed his eyebrows. "Noa Alvrezea?" I nodded and continued. "I wouldn't say that's nothing much. You're the first person to actually have the guts to talk to her in a long time. How was it? Did she curse you with her dark magical powers?" He laughed at his own joke. I didn't. I recall being slightly angry at him for that brief moment.

    "No. I asked her for help in chemistry. Which she said she'd help me."

    "Dude...aren't you getting a B or something in that class? And why would you ask her?" he asked, plopping down on the couch. He had on a crime show, something along the lines of NCIS.

    "I can always improve, right?" He rolled his eyes at my outwardly studious remark. I was always striving to get good grades in school, whereas Beckett was fine with the occasional C's in some of his courses.

    "Pfft. You sound like Coach Parker."

    "I like Mr. Parker, so I'll take that as a compliment. Plus, he made calculus fun." At that, Beckett's face contorted in disgust as he grabbed his cell phone.

    "God, why am I friends with a nerd?" He then looked up from his phone. "I'm kidding, Rhett."

    I smiled and was about to say something, but he continued. "You're a major nerd." I grabbed a pillow from the chair I was sitting on and threw it at his face, causing him to fake whine.

    "Hey, wait until lacrosse starts. I'll be a jock again!" I laughed as he scrunched his face.

    "A nerdy jock."

    I had laughed at the remark, knowing that the statement was, in fact, true. That's all everybody thought about when they saw me. I was the good boy that seemed to effortlessly excel at sports and studious things.

    If only they actually knew they were wrong. All of them. Except Noa.