1 Chapter 1

His black hair shined blue and purple, as it reflected against the moon. The decently long locks of his straight hair twirled from gentle breezes, as he looked to the balcony on his right.

Originally coming outside to look up at the stars from his apartment that he shared with his mom and older sister, he heard someone call him.

It's Courtney Windsor from class?

"Hey, you're Lauren, right? You got any Spirits on you?"

There was a small gap between these beige stucco balconies. Maybe just two feet at most. She was fairly close to him, with her head resting in her hands, looking out into the distance.

Confused, Lauren replied with another question.

"You're… Courtney Windsor… from class?"

With an unmoving expression, she answered.

"Dont use my last name. Thats me, yeah."

Following a lengthy pause, as Lauren failed to find any words, she sighed.

"I'm guessing you don't have any Spirits on you."

Lauren, who was looking at her in surprise not too long ago, also moved his attention. He watched the train zoom along the tracks, noting how it was empty. Boredom marked his face, accentuated by the coldness of his eyes.

The skyline reflected in his eyes as he spoke.

"Nope. No American Spirits."

Courtney's sandy hair was pulled back into a high ponytail. She turned to go back into her room. Before he heard her door shut, she said one last thing.

"That's a shame."

Lauren stood out there for a few minutes. Now alone, he slowly pulled out his phone from his pocket. Without moving his eyes from the screen, he turned around to go inside. He had opened up his messaging app, to talk to his only friend from school. It was a senior who took him under her wing. Carlotta Rodriguez.

As he typed out his message, he realized that he could say what he really needed to, through a call.

He pressed the call button, putting the phone speaker to his ear.

"Haah… please pick up…"

The ringing stopped and he heard a voice on the other side.

"What is it Lauren? It's late as hell, man. Did s-"

Lauren cut in. All the bewilderment from a few seconds ago set in. There was no use pacing himself.

"CARLOTTA, COURTNEY FROM MY YEAR LIVES NEXT TO ME HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT!"

Carlotta sighed, as she moved the phone from her ear, not trying to bother with his outburst.

Minutes had gone by, yet he was still going on.

She had set the phone down and went to grab a Monster from her fridge.

Once she returned to the phone, she picked it up and asked:

"You done yet?"

Following a pause, he replied.

"I think I like her."

Carlotta was surprised by his answer. She opened the energy drink and took a sip. Once she downed enough, she decided to make inquire further.

"Just from that little meeting with her..?"

Lauren answered her remark, with absolute certainty.

"Yes, I've never been so sure about something in my life."

The stupidity and confidence of his words sent a slightly painful ache throughout her forehead.

"Christ… your dumbass is giving me a headache. Hold on, I need to go get an Advil."