On Friday, Kian doesn't mention what he said about the park, so I don't bring it up. I don't know what we'll do, but I'm curious to find out. We just casually talk about random things, and he still avoids certain subjects like usual. We talk about Hayden, and how he is showing signs of a crush. Towards me. I only wish it wasn't so. I want him to be that classmate I speak with; I don't feel anything else.

Caylen seems a little better. There's not much to say about the topic. He doesn't sulk around anymore, and he's smiled a few times.

The whole day, I'm just waiting for tonight. I get to hang out with Kian outside of school. That sounds so different. I hope he wasn't joking or anything. That would be cruel. And Kian doesn't really joke, does he? I guess he does, after what he wrote I my cast.

All through dinner, I'm feeling antsy. Tonight, I will sneak out! How rebellious! Of course, last time I snuck out, someone died.... At least I'll be close to home.

Mark drops by and announces that tomorrow he'll be giving me the tour, meaning he'll take some time out of both of our days for him to explain a bunch of rules and stuff.

"Get a good night's sleep so you comprehend everything, okay?" he says.

I nod, but he's not stopping me from going to the park tonight. Once he leaves, I just go back to waiting.

Finally, at ten o'clock, Shauna announces it's time to go to bed. So then I just wait in my room. I need something to pass the time, so I work on homework that I missed from the days I stayed home, recovering from trauma.

When the clock says 10:47, I can't wait any longer. I open my window (which is actually quite large), throw the crutches onto the lawn, and crawl over my desk, and out the window. I land in a bush, but I manage to stand just fine. I retrieve my crutches and head to the park.

It's right next to my house, so it doesn't take long. It's a really small park. There's a little playground and some grass all around it. I scan the area with my eyes, and then I see him. A dark figure laying in the grass. I hobble over on my crutches until I've reached him.

"You came," he says.

"Of course I did."

"Did you have a lot of trouble? I didn't even think about your crutches."

"Oh, I actually live right there." I point to my house.

"Oh," Kian says with realization. After a second he says, "I'm watching the stars. Do you want to join me?"

I drop my crutches (I really haven't been too careful with them) and lay on my back beside him. The sky is perfectly clear, and the stars are vibrant.

"Why'd you choose this time?" I ask.

"I thought it'd be late enough to escape your house. And we ought to be a little careful if it's right there."

"I wish you'd tell me about yourself, Kian," I say, out of the blue.

"Why?"

"Because...you're like my best friend now." Saying this reminds me of Jill, but really, Jill never made me feel like...this. Like I wanted to share everything and know her like the back of my hand. She's a good friend, but I'm not sure if I can consider her a best friend. And I don't even see her anymore. It makes me feel terrible, but Kian's been there for me in the few times I've needed him. And he's pretty trustworthy, after what I've seen tonight.

"Come on Natalie," he puts his hands on his face. "I can't."

"What?"

"Anything. I can't tell you anything, and I really shouldn't be your friend."

"Why?"

"Someday...I'll tell you. If you stick around that long." There was a long pause after he said "someday". He must have been contemplating deeply.

"I don't care if it's about something else, Kian. If there's something in your life holding you back, it's not worth it. Because you are worth it."

"Worth what?"

"Anything you have to put me through."

He doesn't say anything. I turn my head to see his face. The moon provides enough light for me to see his expression. There's a twinkle in his eyes, showing that he appreciates what I told him, but there's also sadness.

"Tell me about you," he says, "and I promise that someday you'll know about me too."

"Soon?"

"I'm afraid so."

"I'm so confused."

"I'm just very uncomfortable with some of the...events in my life. I'm sorry."

I stay silent.

"Now tell me about yourself," Kian says.

"What do you want to know?"

"Anything."

"Okay," I say, "I'll tell you my life story. It might be quite shocking, considering you don't know anything."

"Just tell me."

"I was born sixteen years ago on March 17, to Matthias and Emma Cace. I don't have any siblings, though my parents were going to adopt some kids when I was thirteen."

"Why didn't they?"

I blink away tears that have started to form. "You'll see. Just don't say anything."

After a second, I continue. "When I was thirteen, they...they...." I can't bring myself to bring up The Red. I can sense that Kian is very sensitive about them, or at least about that burger restaurant. "They got in a car wreck...and died." I wipe away a tear. "I was sent to Madame Catherine's orphanage, as my parents had said should happen if anything happened to them. I've lived there for three years, until two weeks ago, when I was adopted." I would have said who adopted me, but I realize now that I don't know their last name. "That's basically all there is to me."

Kian sits in stunned silence. I look at his face and see his mouth slightly ajar, like he wants to speak but doesn't know what to say.

"Wow," he finally speaks. "I wouldn't expect that kind of past from someone like you."

"Someone like me?"

"You're so cheerful and persistent...unlike me. I always give up on things and look at many things negatively. I don't know how you do it."

"I...." I'm at a loss for words. Am I supposed to be depressed?

"It's amazing. You amaze me," he says.

My chest floods with warmth at that statement. Are friends supposed to feel this way about each other? Or do I-

Don't think like that! You'll only make things complicated!

I don't want things any more complicated.

"Can you tell me anything about you?" I ask. "I want to know something. Anything."

He pauses to think, and then says, "I was born sixteen years ago on January 13th." I smile. Kian started just like I did, but he's not smiling. "I always considered that 13 as my curse. That'll have to be explained later...when I'm ready."

"When will that be?"

He ignores me. "I don't have any siblings, and I was in fact, an accident. My parents were never afraid to tell me that. They aren't afraid of anything. But that's not a good thing. I wasn't raised properly. I was never taught right from wrong. I had to teach myself. I learned from mistakes. They never told me not to walk in front of cars, or not to touch the stove, or not to talk to strangers. They only planned to deal with accidents after they happened. I don't take anything my parents offer me. They disgust me in every way possible. So I got a job, and started providing for myself."

Wow. That answers quite a few questions. I want to hug him again but I'm afraid sympathy won't help. It might just make him mad.

So I just say, "Oh."

"When are you getting your cast off?" he asks, changing the subject far too quickly.

"Two weeks, probably. The break wasn't all that bad, and I'm one week in already. Why?"

"Just wondering."

"Do you have any happy events in your life?" I ask after a minute of gazing at the sky.

"April 4th," he answers immediately. "The day I looked up and saw that I wasn't alone."

I feel like I might implode at that statement. I reach over and give him a fake smack on the arm. He chuckles a little bit and says, "Really. I was actually happy on that day."

"You actually kind of frustrated me."

I see he is smiling, but of course, not the big smile I want to see. Tonight, since it's just us talking with no one around, I might as well bring it up.

"I want to see you smile, Kian."

"You're always wanting something."

"But the things I ask for aren't that hard to give."

"But why my smile?"

"Because I think it would make you look happy. People grin so often but then there's you, who sits there, not even trying to hold it back. You just don't."

"It's because I never reach my goals, Natalie. When I've accomplished something I've been holding back on, you'll see me smile."

"What are these goals?"

"Maybe someday you'll know. If only I could get over myself and do it."

I smile. "I'll be waiting."

He looks like I've slapped him, but he doesn't look pained; he looks surprised.

"What time do you think it is?" Kian asks.

"I don't know...," I say. "I'm not really tired."

"It's probably not a good idea to stay out so late. Your...family might be able to tell that you haven't been sleeping."

My heart sinks. I really don't want to leave. I haven't been able to talk to him like this before.

"Okay.... Should we do this again?"

"Let's not make it a habit." He smiles (not a grin, of course). "But I'll see you soon."

He stands, so I follow. I don't know how I'll make it through the weekend; I wish I could just talk to him forever.

Once we're standing, we face each other. I look into his beautiful deep blue eyes, and tell him, "Thanks for sharing."

"You too." He smirks. "Don't go missing school, okay?"

I chuckle. "I won't." And I don't want to.

I'm not sure what to say, so I just say, "Well, see you later."

"Definitely."

I nod, and turn around. As we head our separate ways, all I know is that I don't like weekends anymore.