"I-I don't know what to say. It's all just so sudden."

Tears piled up in Zoey's ocean blue eyes, but in stark contrast her eyes, her mouth showed of her pure and true feelings. A smile that could not be described as anything less than pure joy had taken shape on Zoey's face.

"You don't need to say anything." Dylan started before he swiftly embraced his love.

"I love you too…" Zoey whispered into his ear before their eyes locked.

Maintaining eye contact, they slowly closed in on each other's faces, and before long, the space between them was gone.

"Yuuuummy!" Lilly blurted out as she ate a big spoon of her strawberry ice cream. Sitting opposite her, Chris could not hold back his laughter in response to Lilly's spontaneous reaction. Quickly composing herself, she could not help but be a bit embarrassed.

"How was your ice cream?"

"It's good." Chris started. He grinned as he continued. "But it's not worthy of a reaction like that. And isn't it kinda weird to eat ice cream in the winter?"

"Stop! You're ruining it."

Lilly's cute face turned a slight shade of pink as she turned away from Chris.

"A-anyway, how's your text coming along? We're supposed to submit them on Friday, right?" Lilly said, quickly trying to change the subject.

"Yeah, I finished it yesterday. What about you?"

"I'm just missing some finishing touches. I should be done by tomorrow."

"What did you end up writing anyway?"

"You'll have to wait and see!" Lilly gave Chris a small wink in response, before she turned her attention to the ice cream once again.

"Anyway, I heard you're going for a walk with Amelia on Saturday?"

"Who told you that?"

"She said it herself, and best of all, she looked kinda excited. Just don't forget to give some attention to your childhood friend after you become all lovey-dovey!" Lilly teased Chris.

"W-wha…I." Chris almost fell out of his seat as he turned bright red. Lilly, seeing how much he struggled, started laughing uncontrollably, which only made Chris even more embarrassed.

"You know nothing will happen between us!"

"And why is that? You two would make such a cute couple."

"Because…I-I don't look at her that way."

"Too bad… Well then I'll continue to have you all for myself!" She smiled.

"Y-yeah…" Chris started. "You know, could we hang out on Saturday next week? There's something I wanted to talk about."

"Hmmm. Sorry, I'm busy that day… " Chris was visibly disappointed by that answer.

"What about the Monday after that? We have winter break then after wall." Lilly said.

"Sure!"

Yet another sunny day blessed the town during summer. Even though the temperature had reached well over what a normal person would say was "comfortable", kids were running around the yard. Two elderly people were watching over them as the kids, numbering at least 30, played to their hearts content outside the kindergarten.

Not all children were as stoked about the burning heat and the smell of grass. In a small corner placed perfectly far enough away from the supervisors so that they couldn't keep an eye on it, sat a lone child, hiding in the shadows. Even though he was alone, he didn't seem bothered by it, it even looked like he enjoyed his own company.

That's how I used to spend the days in kindergarten, alone. I was quite a sheltered child, so being around so many people felt wrong. I tensed up and lost my ability to speak. Life seemed much simpler that way. I used to think that if I just stayed in the shadows, no one would notice me.

The child was slowly etching away on the ground some sort of pattern when suddenly a pebble hit him. Confused, he raised his head and looked towards where the pebble had flown from. There, three boys, also in kindergarten, looked at him menacingly.

The boys, clearly showing signs of ill intent, moved towards him.

"Well, look who's alone again today!" One of the boys said out loud.

"No one wanting to be around today either, huh?" Another of the boys said sarcastically as the two other ones started smiling in response. The child could do nothing but stare at them as they approached quickly.

"Well, makes sense that no one would want to be with someone like you. Must be soooooo boring. You never do anything or say anything!"

They started laughing.

"Why are you even here? You might as well go home. It's not like anyone's gonna notice or miss you."

The child did nothing. He merely looked down at the ground.

"Say something!" One of the boys shoved him and he fell face first into the ground, but yet again, the child did nothing but look at them. Despite his silence, sadness had befallen his face, and tears were slowly building up in his eyes.

"Not even that will get you to talk. Well, it looks like we have to make you talk!"

Yet again, the boys closed in on him even further, but before they could do anything, a loud scream stopped them in their tracks.

"STOP!!!!"

They all turned their attention to the person who shouted. In surprise, a petite girl came running at full speed towards them. She quickly forced her way between the child and the boys and put her arms out as to block them from moving any closer.

"What do you think you're doing?" One of the boys blurted towards the girl.

"Don't you dare touch him again, or else you're gonna be in big trouble!"

She was visibly angered by how they had treated the one she fiercely defended and showed no sign of backing down.

"What's all this ruckus about?" They heard yet another voice. This time an older one. Running towards them, one of the kindergarten teachers came running.

Seeing who approached, all the boys scattered quickly, but the girl stood still.

"What happened here? Chris, are you okay? Did you fall?"

"Y-yeah…" The child managed to say, albeit in a low voice.

"Let me get you all patched up! Follow me" The teacher grabbed his hand as he got up, an they both started walking.

The day at kindergarten quickly drew to a close after that, and all the children made their way home. While waiting for their parents to show up, the children got to play outside once more. Chris finally got out of the building, a little later than the others, as usual. This was as to avoid as many as possible. But to his surprise, he was met with another child outside, to be more specific, a girl. The same girl that had saved him earlier. They made eye contact, but Chris quickly moved his eyes as to pretend he didn't notice her and continued walking.

"Hey!" The girl shouted, following him onto the playground. This left the boy no choice but to acknowledge her presence. He quickly turned around and said a quiet "what?". Hadn't it been for the girl anticipating an answer, she probably wouldn't have heard it.

"You know, you shouldn't let them do whatever they want with you. Their just big dummies!"

"Why do you care? It had nothing to do with you."

"Of course I can't just watch someone get bullied!"

Her cute face turned into a frown as she spoke, but the frown quickly turned into tears as she continued.

"I-I would hate it if something like that happened to myself…. So, I can't just let it happen."

Her head lowered, Chris could not see her face as it was covered by her blonde hair. But he could see by her body language that she really meant what she said.

Silence fell upon them as the girl quietly sobbed in front of Chris. But suddenly, she felt a light touch on top of her head. It was Chris' hand. Beyond all odds, he had managed to do this gesture of friendliness. She moved her gaze towards him and was met by an awkward, but kind smile.

"M-my name is…Chris." He said cautiously.

The girl wiped away her tears, and quickly a smile managed to emerge from her previously weeping face. She quickly jumped up with a grin, and Chris pulled his hand back as he was surprised by her sudden energy.

"My names Lilly!"

And that's how I met Lilly. Kind of a wimpy story, but that's how it started. Since then, we've always been there for each other. Through thick and thin. She was the first one who saw me. Cared for me. And I'm eternally grateful for her.