CHAPTER ONE

Winter was coming to an end and I was leaving with it.

This whole mess started because of him, I can't be happy anymore, I don't feel anything at this point and only he is to blame.

Roy was his name, a boy with a beautiful face, perfect eyes, skin, perfect everything.

It was exactly a year ago when we met, I was walking to school when I saw him falling on the concrete while being yelled at by his dad, I wanted to help, give him a hand but I just couldn't, I was a coward and I still am to this day, that's what hurts me more, if he was still here, I still wouldn't be able to help him.

I arrived at school hoping to run into him, make sure he was okay, ask him his name and how he was feeling, but he never showed up.

The next day at chemistry class he arrived late with a little bruise on his face, he sat next to me but I didn't ask about it, I knew who have punched him and still stayed quiet. Everyone started to make rumors about him, that he got into a fight with some gang and he beat all of them, they made him look so tough, I wish I had said something then, now it is too late.

Later that week a guy in our school named Jay invited everyone in our department to his birthday party, everyone started talking about how famous Jay's parties were, the drinking, the smoking, the fighting, one gossip was enough to convince me not to go, I would prefer staying in my room listening to some music or watch some Netflix.

By lunch, I met up with my friends Linda and Lucas, our friendship was really… random? Linda was known for being the prettiest girl in school and Lucas was the hottest guy in school and I was an outsider, never really had any friends besides them, I was known for being their best friend, it was actually how I didn't fit with them that made me "popular"

"Hey, Gray you sit with Roy, right? Did he really get into a fight?" Lucas asked. "I don't know, we didn't talk, like, at all" I shrugged and kept eating my food. "He is hot, do you think he is taken?" Linda was always looking for the hot guys, she couldn't 'ruin' her reputation with an 'ugly' guy. "Linda I just said that we didn't talk, I just sit beside him, we are not friends, okay?" I was getting annoyed, which is weird because I'm a patient guy but I was scared to spill the scene I saw yesterday morning at Roy's house, I'm bad at keeping secrets.

They stayed quiet, scared that I might explode or something, we really were a weird trio, each of us had different personalities and hobbies, Linda was part of the Cheerleading squad and Lucas had a band that performs on the weekends at a local pub.

Before leaving each of us to our classes Lucas broke the silence "Hey you guys are coming to the party, right? My band is going to perform" a huge smile appeared on his lips. "Everyone is going I already have my outfit planned, you coming too, right?" Linda looked at me smiling and then Lucas, they looked excited with puppy eyes so I had to give in. "Sure" Not really fond of parties but I like my friends being happy. "OMG SERIOUSLY? I was so sure you will blow us off" She hugged me before they both ran off after the bell.

After school, I got home and my mother was working on the dining table, yelling on the phone, I kissed her forehead before starting to make dinner. "SAMUEL YOU BETTER NOT HANG UP ON ME, YOU SHOULD DO YOUR JOB OR I SWEAR..." That's my background music when making dinner every day, I always ate alone in my room because by the time she was finished I would have starved to death. But I wasn't mad, it was just her and me and I knew how hard she was working for both of us.

It was Friday, the day of Jay's famous party, I was picking my outfit while regretting my decision but I decided to stay only 2 hours after that I was leaving, it was the perfect amount of time, a short time but enough for Linda to be pleased.

I skated to Jay's house, it was a small town it only took 10 minutes, and omg, you could hear the music from three blocks away, on the lawn a lot of crazy teenagers drinking, when I got in it was way worse, I could barely hear my thoughts, music blasting at full volume, people yelling, it was going to be hard to find Linda and Lucas in this place.

By the kitchen I spotted Linda's blonde hair shining in the distance, thank goodness I was tall, I walked up to her and she jumped "You scared me, jeez, but so glad you came!" She hugged me and handed me her cup "Drink" She stared at me, waiting, as the obedient person I am, I drank, "It is really good, what is it?" "You don't need to know, but finish it, when you run out, tell me, I'm going dancing, want to join me?" I shook my head and she left, I chugged the drink and started looking for a place to sit.

Before deciding to go outside and sit on the sidewalk I grabbed a beer from the fridge, it is cold outside and I heard alcohol helps you to warm up, I'm going to believe it because it's my only hope to not freeze out there. I walked outside ignoring the guys asking where Linda is, like I would now, we are best friends but I don't have a GPS on her.

I saw Roy sitting across the street, lonely so I decided to sit with him. "Hey, we sit together" "Yeah, I know" his tone was rude, maybe he was mad at someone? "You okay? I know we are not friends but-" He cut me off "Exactly, we are not friends, so stop being friendly and drink your beer or something" Okay, guess we are not going to be friends any time soon, I stayed quiet because the truth is, he is a little intimidating.

"Sorry, I know I'm being rude but I'm not in a good mood" I didn't want to make his day worst so I handed him the beer. "I won't ask you questions, just sit with you in silence" I gave him a warm smile before he grabbed the beer from my hand, grateful I respected his privacy. That's when something really bad happened, well, for me.

It started snowing, I was only wearing a hoodie. He looked up at the sky, smiling, I mean I like the snow but he was wearing a plain shirt and leather jacket, he was going to freeze. "Why are you smiling, you are going to freeze out here wearing only that" "Look up, I love the first day of winter but I love the last day way more, how everything from white and gray can change to full colors the smell of flowers, how people's feelings warm up too. I have never said this to anyone, you are a great listener Gray"

He walked away, hands in his pockets no even shaking by the sudden change of weather, I don't know why he just said that to me out of a sudden and he didn't talk to me enough to know that I'm a great listener, I mean, I am, but he doesn't know that just by one sentence.

The words he said made me feel different though, maybe because he finally said something nice and honest, not sure yet but I will try to figure out the reason why I suddenly feel so… warm?