"ah, shit, i forgot to un set the alarm since school went out."

She tried in vain to fall back asleep, but her fatigue was won over by her meandering thoughts. Thoughts that involved the mysterious boy that she had met. She felt the urge to to take him in her arms and hug him so tight squuezing him out of all his worries. He had touched her in a way no one else had. Julie was never a Christian, but when she saw him, she suddenly believed in Angels. He was an Angel. On a sudden whim, Julie rose out of bed, quickly put some flip flops on and ran out the door. Luckily the rest of her family were asleep. In a few minutes she arrived at the woody area she had been visiting a lot lately. And there he was. He turned around. Zack. ZACK, what was he doing here??

"Hey Julie, i didnt know you were an early bird"

"I'm not," she gruffly stated

"Woah, someone got up on the wrong side of the bed"

"Thats so cliche. I thought at least you could do better than that," she joked, at a lame attempt to be nice. It didnt really work.

"Uh, ok jules. Hey I may not be your best friend, but i know when something's up. What is it?"

"Well its 6.30 AM, and i'm out in the middle of nowhere talking to you. hehe, i think thats my only problem"

"Oh thanks, I love you too," Zack replied sarcastically, yet he knew he meant what he had just said. Well maybe he didnt love her, but he sure did like her, a lot.

"Zack, you know i'm kidding."

"I'm not so sure, but I know what will make me believe you."

"And whats that?" she asked not knowing what was about to happen.

He took her hands, brought her closer and then hugged her tightly. This time the hug was perfect, no obstructions, they just laid in each others arms. And he kissed her softly on the cheek. He showered her with little kisses around her cheek, and then on the lips. It was Julie and Zack's first kiss, but it was perfect. They were in a world of their own, when suddenly Julie heard an earth shattering scream.

"I KNEW IT, I KNEW IT. I WILL NEVER TRUST A SOUL AGAIN. I HATE YOU, I HATE YOU SO MUCH," the mysterious boy broke into tears and started running.

Julie ran. She didn't know where she was going, she jsut followed the boy. Zack, stunnned for a moment, followed close behind.

"Julie where are you going?"

"Didnt you hear him Zack?? Hes in trouble..i ...i ..have to go and...help him...zack...he needs me."

"Who?? What are you talking about Julie, youre talking in riddles"

"Th..Th..The boy, that was just here."

"What boy?? Man, Julie, you need some sleep desperately."

Julie didn't hear him, but she didn't care at that moment. All she could do was follow fate. Destiny had already twisted her around like a child seeing how much damage one could inflict on a doll. Fate seemed to be the answer, it was not a time when she could make any decisions. But luck failed her. He disappeared. Her angel had deserted her. And she knew exactly why.

***********************************

She went home and cried. It could not be attributed to the usual teenage mood swings that everyone revelled in explaining things with. She cried because a part of her heart had just shattered. A week ago her heart had been a smooth mirror, reflecting her pure qualities and her caring personality. But suddenly the mirror had cracked, and with it, her life had been altered, to refract rather than reflect. Refraction through a new medium, in this case, a new life. A life that involved the boy she had met not so long ago in the woods. He was the catalyst that would produce her new medium. She cried, because it was time for change, and Julie did not like change.

**********************************

She hesitated for a moment, but fate guided her. "Hello is Zack there?"

"uh yeah hold on. who are you?"

"Just a friend"

"I hope you have a name"

"Uh, yeah sorry, Julie"

"Oh so youre Julie"

"Huh?"

"Oh nothing, nothing at all...i mean afterall, Zack's first girlfriend isnt such a big deal.hehe," the boy on the phone teased

"I have no idea what youre talking about, we're jsut friends. Infact, i barely even know him."

"And how did you get his phone number then?"

"He wrote it on my writing pad when he came over. And why am i answering all these questions? And who are you to ask me all these questions anyway??"

"Chill out, geez, i'll go get him"

"Sorry, i didnt mean to..."

"HEY JULIE! you didnt mean to what?"

"uh never mind. i was just saying something to whoever picked up the phone just now."

"Oh Issac, my bird brained brother"

"uh ok, yeah."

"So what did you want to talk to me about?"

"I dont know how to say this but..."

"Jules, i understand."

"You do?"

"Yeah, something happened yesterday and I dont know what it was either. And it scared you, and I'm sorry. Jules, we can just be friends if you like."

"Yeah I'd like that."

That was the response Zack had been dreading.

"ok", zacks voice missed a beat, Julie knew he was about to cry.

"Zack, i gotta go k? See u later."

"Yeah, bye Julie." He hung up the phone and ran to his room. He stuffed his face into his pillow and cried. What was wrong with him, he thought to himself. He barely knew her. He knew people who had to go through break ups after being together for years, but he felt like he had been with Julie for longer.

At Julie's house, Julie had stuffed her face into her pillow and cried again, but her eyes were dry. She had cried enough that day. Her eyes were red and swollen. She hadnt cried in ages, but in one morning her stored up tears had dried. To make things worse the phone rang. It was Nikki.

"Jules. I'm sorry"

"Oh..."

"Julie have you been crying?"

"uh, no"

"Hold on a second will ya Julie"

"uh, sure"

Julie heard Nikki cover up the voice piece and heard her scream "SHANE, HAHAHAHA, shes CRYING"

Shane replied "haha, shes one soft bitch."

Nikki, retorted "HEY, she was my best friend once ya know?? I know her better, shes not a bitch, shes a DOUBLE bitch. hahha"

Jules felt hot tears flowing out again. If this went on, shed suffer from dehydration.

"NIKKI. WHAT IN THE WORLD IS YOUR PROBLEM? YOU HAVE NO LIFE. YOURE THE ONE WHO WASTED YOUR PHONE BILL."

"hahah, but YOURE the one crying. Jules, youre so gullible"

Julie placed the phone down. She didnt need to bang it down, she was above that. She was above Nikki and she knew at that moment the mysterious boy had replaced Nikki's place. Destiny, had pushed her to meet him, the day she fought with Nikki. Ironic.

She needed to see him. This time, she was sure Zack wouldn't be there. She ran to the wooded area and saw him there. He was smoking again. But she didn't care.

"Hey..."

"Hi.."

They stared at each other for a few minutes.

"So,..." Julie began

"Shhhh." the boy replied.

She knew why he said it.

It was intense, looking into his eyes. The epitome of azure. Sparkling, glistening.

"Never leave me please?"

"I wont," the boy replied

They did not need to touch each other. Just knowing that each of them existed on the Earth was enough. He was the endpoint of her rainbow, more than just the pot of gold, he was the gems, the jewels, the life, the color, the splash of her life.

They just sat. Sat and looked. In awe, at each other.

"Come on," the boy said

The boy walked ahead, she only followed. He still inhaled on his cigarette ocassionally. Suddenly she was very aware of it.

"Cou..." she started to say

But he knew already. He put out the cigarette slowly and looked deep into her eyes again, and said,

"Tell me you will never leave me"

"You know i cant."

Her body felt tingly. She stole a glance at him. He was stealing a glance at her. They both quickly looked away. A few moments they were one person, but suddenly something had happened, they had become nervous. She knew what to do. She stared at him again and this time did not look away. She had a million questions to ask him, but he was going to answer them, not now, but in time. She knew it. This was just the beginning of a long journey.

They both ran into each other, and embraced. She never wanted to let go. Both of them held tightly. They could never let go. They cried. They cried more. And then they let go. They walked away from each other.

"Later"

"yeah, later"

They both looked back at each other at the same time, smiled and walked their own paths, back to their homes.

********************************