The girl that made him smile

[Saturday, Evening - 6 years ago]

Before Kaylee was even in secondary school, and Simon had only just started, they had never spoken to each other. Even if they would get together several years from now. Today could be considered the cause of Simon's feelings. The small reaction that would cause the reactor to meltdown and cause issues for years. Whatever happened today, no matter how big or small, seemed to have lasted with Simon.

A small party, housed by the mutual family friend of the two. Simon was against going to the party. He was aware that he would know no one there and didn't want to go as he thought it would be a waste. A fancy event that forced him to wear nice clothes and not act out. He complained and complained to his parents but they forced him to come along. He stood in a corner walking around taking food off of the plates that seemed randomly placed. He didn't care. He was fine with free food but he would rather be back at home.

"I don't want to be here." A young Simon said to his parents as he attempted to ask to leave for the hundredth time this event.

"There is nothing we can do about it." They said. "Find someone your own age… I'm sure there must be someone."

"There isn't anyone," Simon said going back into his corner and hiding under the table.

"What's up down here?" A cute young ponytailed girl said as she stared at Simon with a bright smile.

"W-what? W-who? Who are you?" Simon said retreating further back under the table.

"Heehee…" The girl said reaching out her hand. "Come on. Let's play!"

When you are a kid, this would seem normal to you. The concept of horror and creepy kids that approach you alone wasn't present in the mind of an 11-year-old. They didn't know about tales of demons and creatures that ate scared children.

"What's your name?" The girl asked.

"S-Simon…"

"Simon, huh? What a cool name. I'm Kaylee. Nice to meet you!"

Kaylee stood facing Simon, yet again reaching out her hand with Simon not knowing how to react. He attempted to shake it as he had seen his parents do it many times but had never really spoken to a girl before. As tragic as it sounds, even young kids break down around girls they think are pretty.

"A-ah… eh… ah… oh… N-nice to meet you too..."

The two of them spent their first moments together in silence. As you would expect. Simon stood around unable to make eye contact whilst Kaylee smiled. Each time Simon would look to see if she was still looking she would be, not breaking contact with him. Smiling with a pure innocent grin.

"W-what?" Simon said unable to make conversation. "Is there something wrong with my face?"

"No silly," Kaylee replied. "I was just wondering what you were doing at a party like this?"

"M-My parents forced me to come. I don't know anyone here."

"Oh, the same as me then? Well, we can be friends! That way we know someone!"

Kaylee's childish solution was one that a 10-year-old could easily come up with. She wasn't aware that Simon was older, to her he wasn't a stranger, he was a friend. Perhaps she just wanted the same as Simon, to not be bored at this party.

"W-what should we do?" Simon asked.

"Hmmm… you seem kinda shy." Kaylee blurted out. "How about we try and help that!"

"H-help it? I-I'm fine as I am. That's what mummy said."

"Eh?" Kaylee said bewildered by what she just heard. "I think it's better if you are confident! Stand up for yourself! Fight each other! WOW! FIGHT!"

Kaylee's speech alerted most of the guests at the party to look and laugh at her childish imagination, causing Simon to hide back under a table in a panic.

"Seeeeeee. This is what I'm talking about! You need to become better. Forget what others think!"

"I-I don't know. I stood up for someone once. but that didn't work out how I hoped."

"Really?" Kaylee said. "What did you expect to happen?"

Simon didn't want to answer as he was embarrassed to. He wanted to keep it a secret as he looks back on it and turns red. There are many embarrassing stories a person will experience in their life they don't want people to look back on. Even if the story isn't embarrassing to the other person or wasn't as remembered, people can still be embarrassed. Maybe one day that story will be told.

"Come on!" Kaylee said stretching Simon out like rubber. "JUST STRETCH!"

"OW OW OUCH!" Simon let out a rather 'mainly' scream of pain, as one would when they were having their arms almost dislocated by someone who doesn't really know what they are doing.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING STOP!" Simon screamed jumping away from Kaylee.

"Seeeee," She said. "You got confidence. Heehee. All it took was me. Now you can be better."

Kaylee never lost her smile the whole time she spoke to Simon. At some point, you can tell if a smile is fake by how long it lasts, but for lasting this long and by going through the little experiences together, anyone could see it wasn't fake.

"Ha...haha…" Simon let out a little laugh looking back on the events today.

"Wow," Kaylee said getting a closer look. "So you can smile!"

"Ah… eh… um…" Simon backed away from the Kaylee that was right in front of his face and hid back underneath the table for the last time.

"Kaylee!" A voice called. "Come on we are going!"

"Oh, OK!" She responded. "I guess I'm going! I hope we can stay friends, Simon!"

Kaylee extended her hand one last time with Simon firmly grabbing it cementing their friendship.

The two of them didn't see each other until a year before Kaylee would transfer into her current school. Simon didn't waste time the next time they saw each other, promptly confessing the feelings he had for her the whole time. Bringing the short story up to date with the two of them.