Seven years later

Eyes closed I listened to my iPod. I opened my eyes to make sure the bus wasn't there yet when I caught sight of a blonde boy. One I used to know when I was in elementary, but then middle school happened. I looked down at my iPod blinking rapidly as I heard the kids beside me getting up. I then looked up to see the bus pulling around the corner.

I slowly followed everyone onto the bus and went to sit by my regular seat by the window. About a minute later I felt someone else sit down beside me and turned up the Reba song. After a few minutes of just staring at the scenery, someone pulled my headphone off my head.

"Well Hello there Usagi. How are you doing this fine day?" I looked over at the blonde boy sitting next to me.

"I'm fine Jacob. What do you want?"

"Just wondering how my friend is doing." Then he gave me one of those heaven-made smiles of his. I had to bite my lip to keep from smiling back, Just then I heard my phone go off.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Phebs can you bring me some chicken noodle soup please?"

"Lisa have you checked the time before calling me. I'm on the bus on my way to school. Sorry Lis." I ended the call and slowly slipped it back into my back pocket.

"Something wrong with Lisa?"

"It's nothing, she just has the flu." I put my headphones back on and attempted to focus on the music, but my eyes kept drifting to Jacob as he started hanging out with his friends. I could not hold back the smile no matter how hard I tried.

When I got to school I started heading for biology. I was almost there when someone grabbed my shoulder slowing me down. I looked over to see Jacob. He moved my headphone off my right ear.

"So you think you could tell me what you're listening to Usagi?"

"One you wouldn't like and two you really should stop calling me that."

"Don't see the point when you still look as cute as a bunny and who cares I am still curious."

"Country." I watched as his nose twitched like it did when I insisted on blaring these songs around him. I snickered and walked away while fixing my headphones. He ran back up to me.

"Do you still listen to anything other than country?"

"Avril Lavigne is pretty cool. So is Brittney spears, still. I listen to what I want to...Jaybird."

"I miss you. You're really funny."

"No, I'm not. You just have a horrible sense of humor. That's why everyone likes you."

"What's wrong with having your own personal sense of humor?"

"Nothing." I shook my head and went into the classroom and took my seat in the back. I sat my bag down beside the table and put my iPod and headphones into said bag.

"You are talking to Jacob Johnson?" I looked over at the girl sitting next to me.

"He's talking to me." She snickered and started copying down what was already on the whiteboard.

What the hell is her problem?

I stood up and grabbed my bag to head towards my English class. I had just left the class when Jacob ran up to me again.

"Biology's boring right?" I looked at him and sighed.

"Will you just stop it? We haven't talked in five years. Why now? Huh?" We stood there for a second before I walked off to my next class, blinking rapidly.

Dammit! I need my music!

I was sitting at my lunch table by myself, like always, when I heard the seat beside me move. I looked up to see Jacob sit next to me with his packed lunch. I rolled my eyes and went back to my lunch.

"It wasn't my choice for us to stop being friends you know and this was just the first chance I saw to talk to you in five years."

"Yeah well, I don't think you cared anymore."

"Why? I don't even get why you even decided to end it."

"I didn't."

"Then who did exactly?"

"Dad," I muttered before picking u my tray and bag while walking away. I threw what I left on my tray away and headed for my history class.

Was he ever going to understand and leave me alone?

I tried for the third time today to hold back my tears and walked away from my old childhood friend.

I slowly got onto the bus and sat down on the same spot as this morning. A few minutes later I felt someone sit down next to me. I did not have to look over to know it was Jacob. He grabbed my headphones and moved them off my head.

"Seriously are we going to do this again Jacob?"

"I still don't get it Pheobe."

"I don't either. My dad does though...so ask him."

"Why does your dad get a say on who you hang out with at school. He's not here." I closed my eyes and let my head fall back sighing.

"Maybe he just knew you would turn into a popular boy who would break my poor loner heart." My gaze fell to the device in my hands.

"Why would I break your heart? Pheobe you are the closest friend I have ever had. It would just keep you from being so lonely." I felt a slimmer of hope run through my heart.

"My father would hate us being friends. That's the whole point." I squeezed my eyes closed.

"Like I said it shouldn't matter if we hang out at school."

"If he finds out-"

"I can promise you he won't." He reached over and grabbed my hand and I lost control of the hope I was trying to squash.